The Betway ambassador offers up her five fancies for the big race at Aintree along with a couple of other horses to watch earlier in the card.
And just like that, it’s here! It’s Grand National Day and I’m gutted to not be in Liverpool for the big race.
13:20
The first race looks wide open but there are two with strong chances, both of whom caught my eye at Cheltenham. Dan and Harry Skelton team up with Catch Him Derry 11/2 , who was third in the Pertemps and is clearly still improving. I thought he travelled well and was just outstayed up the hill, so this flatter track might suit him better. He has only been put up 2lb for a yard that has won this race three times since 2019.
The other horse is Park Of Kings 12/1 , who ran a belter in the Martin Pipe and looks sure to improve for this step up in trip. Paul Nolan is a master trainer and he rarely brings them over for the run, so I expect him to be in the shake up.
13:55
Lulamba coming here was a bit of a shock as he was expected to run in the Juvenile race on Thursday. He was only narrowly beaten in the Triumph and gets the four-year-old allowance, which makes him the obvious favourite, but this race might not be a penalty kick for him.
Koktail Divin 8/1 looked very good last time and skipped Cheltenham in favour of this, so I can’t see him being far away. Warren Greatrex has campaigned Good And Clever 28/1 very well. It’s mad to think that he’s still a maiden over hurdles, but he’s been pointed in some graded novice hurdles and been placed each time. He’s got a touch of class and he could be in the mix again.
15:05
Teahupoo ran another cracker in the Stayers’ Hurdle, but it just looks like the ground will be too quick for him here. His stable mate The Wallpark 17/2 has rapidly improved this season and finished a very good fourth in that race, and he won’t mind better ground and this flat track. I think he’ll be bang there. It’s going to be a great race as Willie Mullins saddles Kitzbuhel, who is so unexposed and could be anything, and when you add Home By The Lee and Hiddenvalley Lake into this mix – it makes it so exciting.
16:00 GRAND NATIONAL
The Grand National is still the big race everyone in National Hunt racing wants to win, and I’ve narrowed the 34 runners down to five that I think will go very. It could be an Irish 1-2-3-4-5 this year.
Perceval Legallois 10/1 – He’s always threatened to win a huge pot, and it seems to have really started happening for him this season. I loved the way he won at Leopardstown at Christmas, and then how he backed it up over hurdles at the Dublin Racing Festival shows the masterclass of a trainer that Gavin Cromwell is. He’s got some hand in this race with Stumptown and Vanillier too.
Minella Cocooner 12000/1000 – He’s one horse who will be very happy that the sun is shining and hasn’t stopped all week in Liverpool. We know he stays well on this ground from his win at Sandown at the back end of last season over 3m5f, and it looks as though it’s all fallen into place for him this season. He’s got a workable mark and surely will give Jonathan Burke a great spin.
Meetingofthewaters 22/1 – He ran really well in this race last year and probably just felt the pinch late on, but he is another year older and has been clearly campaigned for this as his target ever since he finished the race last year. He’s got a lovely racing weight and Danny Mullins must be very excited to hunt him around and play him late.
Three Card Brag 22/1 – This horse stays all day, and that’s one huge box ticked. Most of his form is on soft ground, but that might just be because he hasn’t run on good ground too often. He’s only had six chase starts and is still improving. If he does handle it and takes to the fences, there won’t be many more who will be staying on better at the end.
Senior Chief 33/1 – This horse bolted up at Cheltenham in October and I thought he’d be pointed in this direction from then. His run over hurdles to protect his mark last time confirms that and if he gets into a good early rhythm he could be a massive danger to them all. Darragh O’Keeffe will be relishing the ride.
The most important thing is that all horses and riders come back safe and that all connections enjoy the experience. It’s amazing to be a part of and should be savoured!
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