The horse racing broadcaster discusses every horse in the big race at Aintree and picks out his top five.
1. I AM MAXIMUS – Last year’s winner bids to follow up off an 8lb higher mark. He has likely been campaigned with this in mind all season but has only had two runs – unlike last year when he had four – and was a non runner with a respiratory infection just five weeks ago. ***
2. ROYALE PAGAILLE – His trainer Venetia Williams won this with 100-1 chance Mon Mome, but the ground will be too fast for a horse that is best up the North Lancs Road at Haydock. *
3. NICK ROCKETT – A progressive staying chaser who beat Intense Raffles in the Bobbyjo last time but is worse off with that horse at the weights in this handicap. Consistent and still has each-way claims. ****
4. GRANGECLARE WEST – Failed to back up his excellent Irish Gold Cup second last time and is also a query at the trip. **
5. HEWICK – The ground has come in his favour and while he isn’t the biggest, that didn’t count against Tiger Roll. The 2023 King George winner and not one to be discounted lightly. ****
6. MINELLA INDO – 2021 Gold Cup winner and third in the race last year, but at 12 years of age may find a few more progressive younger rivals too strong this time around. **
7. APPRECIATE IT – Winner of the Supreme at Cheltenham back in 2021 but even though he won for the first time in two years last time at Thurles, he has a massive stamina question mark. *
8. MINELLA COCOONER – Has placed in big-field handicaps and after a quiet season is only 1lb above the mark off which he won the Bet365 Gold Cup on similarly fast ground. ****
9. CONFLATED – A dual Grade 1 winner but has had a below par season and often makes errors late in his races. Ran second to Jonbon in last year’s Melling Chase but it has been downhill since then. *
10. STUMPTOWN – Winner of the Cheltenham Cross Country, the race Tiger Roll used for his preparation, from a yard that have had an excellent season. Blinkers replace the cheekpieces but not sure he quite has the chance the market suggests. ***
11. HITMAN – The first of the UK runners but he is a professional place-getter at shorter trips and hard to see him having the resilience for this type of test. *
12. BEAUPORT – In the 1983 winning silks of Corbiere, it is the beach just around the corner from that lighthouse. He has made great strides this season but, despite being campaigned over hurdles to preserve his mark, it may still be high enough after winning a weak Ascot race by a long way. ***
13. BRAVEMANSGAME – A King George winner and Gold Cup runner-up but he has looked as if earlier battles have taken their toll in recent starts and is hard to recommend. **
14. CHANTRY HOUSE – Bidding to end Nicky Henderson’s long Grand National drought, but his New Year’s Day win at Cheltenham looked more of a last hurrah than a revival. *
15. THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE – Placed in a Scottish National, he may go well for a long way but is more likely to finish just outside the places than creep into them. ***
16. PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS – Has given the impression this trip could really bring out the best in him. His trainer Gavin Cromwell is looking to land the Gold Cup-Grand National double and this horse has all the credentials to do so. *****
17. KANDOO KID – A grey who won the Coral Gold Cup and was placed over these fences in the Topham. The big question mark is whether he will stay, and the Newbury race in which he beat Broadway Boy does not look a vintage renewal. **
18. IROKO – He has been campaigned with this is mind all season and it’s worth remembering he chased home future Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin in a Grade 1 at this meeting last season. Another JP McManus horse with a chance. ****
19. INTENSE RAFFLES – An Irish National winner and better off with Nick Rockett for his Bobbyjo Chase second. Only seven years old and there could still be more to come, and he is 5lb well in compared to future races. *****
20. SENIOR CHIEF – Just looks to lack the class, although he will love the drying ground having won at Cheltenham on good earlier in the season. The cheekpieces he wore for the first time that day are back on here. **
21. IDA’S BOY – Having his second and first chase start for current connections, he should give them a good day out but looks unlikely to play much of a hand in proceedings. *
22. FIL D’OR – Usually campaigned around 2m 4f and his stamina is likely to give out a fair way from home. *
23. BROADWAY BOY – Had decent early-season form but has tailed off rather dramatically and Sam Twiston-Davies understandably prefers Beauport. **
24. COKO BEACH – A grey running in the race for the fourth consecutive time but has failed to get involved on any of the three previous attempts and he needs much softer ground. *
25. STAY AWAY FAY – His smart hurdles and early novice chase form seem to have deserted him. He has dropped a long way in the weights in a short space of time but has not really shown enough to suggest he can take advantage. **
26. MEETINGOFTHEWATERS – Finished seventh off the same mark last season when not looking to quite see out the trip. That was on softer ground and he could well outrun his odds. Each-way chance. ****
27. MONBEG GENIUS – Placed in a Welsh National and gained his first win for nearly two years last time out at Uttoxeter. His third a couple of seasons ago to subsequent Grand National winner Corach Rambler marked him as a progressive young horse who has not quite lived up to that billing. ***
28. VANILLIER – Runner-up two years ago off the same mark and has bounced back to form with the blinkers fitted, looking unlucky in the Cross Country at the Festival when nearly taking the wrong course after jumping – ironically enough – the Aintree fence. ***
29. HORANTZAU D’AIRY – Recently sold out of Willie Mullins’ yard to first-season trainer Michael Keady, who has yet to have a winner over Jumps. *
30. HYLAND – Probably the best of those towards the foot of the weights as he will love the ground and has placed in Grade 1 company this season in the Kauto Star. Could he be the one to end the Henderson hoodoo? ****
31. CELEBRE D’ALLEN – Has placed fourth in both the Topham and the Becher over these fences but at 13 years of age he looks to have a tough task against younger rivals. **
32. THREE CARD BRAG – Champion Jockey elect Sean Bowen is booked, but his form just does not look good enough. **
33. TWIG – One of the best stories in the race, having been bought by the Morgan family to give rides to their sons Luca (now retired) and Beau. He has not really progressed this season and has quite a lot to find. **
34. DUFFLE COAT – Shares his name with a previous National runner who got no further than the first in Red Rum’s record breaking third win in 1977. He should do better than that, and was running a decent race in the National Hunt Chase at a big price when brought down in the closing stages. ***
First Reserve – SHAKEM UP’ARRY. Even if Harry Redknapp gets a promotion with the first reserve he won’t be winning the title. *
Richard Hoiles’ Grand National 1-2-3-4-5
1. PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS 10/1
2. INTENSE RAFFLES 12/1
3. HYLAND 18/1
4. HEWICK 9/1
5. MEETINGOFTHEWATERS 22/1
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