Irish stables have won six of the last eight Grand Nationals, during which time they had 25 of the 32 horses who finished in the first four, and although the British contingent is not entirely bereft of hope this year, Irish domination can continue. Stumptown, Perceval Legallois and Vanillier all have a serious chance for Gavin Cromwell but last year's winning trainer, Willie Mullins, can prevail again and not through his highest-profile candidate. His top weight I Am Maximus has conspicuous negatives alongside the glaring positive of having hacked up in last year's National and preference is for MINELLA COCOONER (nap), who is one of those that steps up in trip but he can prove well suited by it after ending last season with two fine efforts at about 3m5f, the best of which came on good ground, which may be a crucial pointer given the weather this week. Impressive youngster Intense Raffles beat him in the Irish National and is clearly well handicapped, but he has been running on soft or heavy ground and needs to adjust to a left-handed track. The chief threat to the selection may therefore come this time from Hewick, a proven high-class performer who has earned justified renown with his victories on good and good to soft ground, including in top handicaps and last season's King George. British hopes seem to be centred on Iroko, who brings as much potential as any but also a good deal more guesswork at the trip, while Beauport can run well if he answers the challenge of going left-handed.[Richard Austen]
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Far from a natural jumper but that matters a lot less in this race these days and the turbo has kicked in when he's moved into marathon territory; that resulted first in a last-gasp win in the 2023 Irish National and then a storming success in this race last year, both on soft; hugging the inner seemed to help somewhat with his jumping 12 months ago; 8lb higher this time and forced to miss his final prep race (with an infection) but he was mightily impressive in the closing stages last year.
All wins on soft or heavy; he's been a class act at Haydock but did not show it in two visits there this year, including on his second attempt at a marathon trip, and his sixth in last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup was a remote one; some conspicuous negatives.
Capped his first season over fences with third to Minella Cocooner in bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown (extended 3m4f, good) last April and took his form to another level with two Grade 3 wins on testing ground in Ireland this year; the latest was in a good scrap with Intense Raffles, who's now a whopping 15lb better off; that helps to show that even more improvement is needed.
Very weak in the betting when running moderately over 2m4f on heavy going five weeks ago, a sixth chase run he needed to qualify for this; second in the Irish Gold Cup (3m, yielding) one month earlier was a career best but the handicapper has been able to take that into account today, so this major step up in trip demands another new high.
Big-race winner in Ireland, the USA and twice in Britain; stormed clear in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown (extended 3m4f, good) in April 2022 and came from the clouds to snatch a dramatic King George at Kempton (3m, good) in December 2023; gave a strong reminder of that quality in November this term and won well over hurdles three weeks ago; with a competitive mark and dry weather, a lot is swinging in his favour.
2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, second in it in 2022 and third in last year's Grand National; what a staying star he's been and the first of his two runs this season was creditable (latest was over hurdles) but, off just 1lb lower than 12 months ago, this veteran could again be on the premises without winning.
Rarely seen over even 3m, though has run respectably at it; back near his best when a strong finish over nearly 2m5f secured him a Grade 2 win by 6l at Thurles (good) in January on latest start, for his first success in two years, but that has put him back up the weights.
Third to Intense Raffles in the Irish National (3m5f, heavy) and delivered late to win the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown (extended 3m4f, good; 6lb higher today) later last April; Grade 1 rivals proved far too hot for him this season and he failed to trouble Nick Rockett and Intense Raffles at Fairyhouse on latest outing, but he looks a far more interesting prospect for today's assignment and this could be when he wins again.
Not proven beyond 3m2f; contested Grade 1s at this meeting for the last three years, twice finishing runner-up, and he was third in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup; this season's results, contrastingly, look pretty grim but he did lead turning for home in a Cheltenham handicap last month (finished eighth) which showed that something is still smouldering.
Cross-country chasing could hardly have gone better, which augurs well, as does his markedly improved form over 3m5f in the Cheltenham version on last two outings; spending the last third of it off the bridle at the Festival last month (with first-time cheekpieces; last season's blinkers now return) is a niggling worry, and slogging it out was a taxing as well as serious achievement, but he finished well on top and can race off the same mark today; on the shortlist.
It's impossible to ignore that he's won only once (November 2022) in the last four years; minor honours include second in last three renewals of the Grade 2 Denman Chase at Newbury (2m7f) in February, which made it three creditable seconds from his three starts this term, but it would be bold to predict that this first go beyond 3m will take him back to the winner's enclosure.
Jumped and hung badly right in the Midlands National at Uttoxeter (4m2f, heavy) last March but nevertheless battled back to win, the clear highlight among seven chases going this way round; scoring by 31l at Ascot (3m5f, good; 12lb higher today) was a good way to start this season and he's run with credit over hurdles since; going left-handed is a concern but there are lots of positives otherwise.
Won the 2022 King George and second in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup (he's unraced beyond that 3m2f); a run of seconds late in 2023 was creditable but more substantial doubts have now set in and various equipment has been tried; to look on the bright side, he makes his first foray outside Grade 1 or 2 for over three years and his handicap mark has plummeted.
Very smart in his heyday; returned to chasing at Cheltenham (extended 3m1f, soft) on New Year's Day and looked much more like his old self, asserting late on in a five-runner handicap; however, he singularly failed to back that up in a Grade 2 over that same C&D over three weeks later.
Fourth in the 2023 Scottish National (4m, good); commendable efforts most starts since and he went down by a nose off today's mark at Ascot (3m, good) last time; big odds but place possibilities.
His three handicap wins have all been in large fields; two were over hurdles, including latest start, and he also worked his way from well off the pace to surge 7l clear in the valuable Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown (good to yielding) over Christmas; looks sure to stay further than that extended 3m but this first attempt is over a lot further; not the most fluent jumper and needs to improve again but he comes here on a high.
Negotiated these fences in dashing style when staying-on third in the 2m5f Topham (soft) last April and returned from wind surgery to win the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (upped to 3m2f, good to soft) in November from Broadway Boy; 7lb higher today; had a run at Newbury five weeks ago and, although there are slightly mixed signals with that display and whether he will be suited by this distance, he looks set for a bold show.
Noble Yeats three years ago showed a 7yo can still win the National; this one has spent most of his career at about 2m4f/2m5f and his three appearances over 2m7f-3m1f were defeats but they were among his best efforts (two were Grade 1 novice places here) and contained mouthwatering suggestions of stamina not yet called upon; it is today and there's almost no doubt he remains capable of better.
Just a 7yo but he contested chases in France as early as March 2022; unbeaten last year in his first three Irish races, culminating in the Irish Grand National (3m5f, heavy) in which he was always prominent and overcame an uncharacteristic blunder four out; they'll go a lot faster today, while he's also on different ground (the big question) and switching to a left-handed chase, but he made an excellent return to fences just behind Nick Rockett at Fairyhouse six weeks ago and that makes him look one of the best handicapped contenders in this race.
Lightly raced 8yo; 10-1 when pulled up in the Irish National (3m5f, heavy) last April, in touch five out on his only go at a marathon trip; reappearance win at Cheltenham (3m1f, good) in October was a great deal more auspicious, staying on strongly; creditable sixth off this 9lb higher mark in Coral Gold Cup next time and had a hurdle race in February; needs a second look.
40-1 winner at Kilbeggan (3m1f, good to yielding; the furthest he's been) last July and ran respectably in the Galway Plate (his only race with today's tongue-tie) before leaving Noel Meade for 60,000gns last August; probably in need of the race over hurdles on debut for new yard five weeks ago, but this 11yo needs a big career best.
2-14 score over fences and the second win came at 1-40 in a two-runner race; a notch or two below his best this season and his penultimate start (sole attempt over as far as 3m) was not promising for stamina.
Started this season brightly, notably when second to Kandoo Kid in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft); he'd have a good shout judged on that display and going beyond 3m2f made plenty of appeal even before that; however, he disappointed at Cheltenham on New Year's Day and ran badly there last month; cheekpieces (tried at this meeting last year, tailed off) return.
Entered this race last year as one of the top weights and having been in career-best form, including at 3m2f over these fences; he duly came up with easily his closest finish here in three Grand Nationals but was beaten 33l even so; this season has continued well below form.
Won Grade 1 novice hurdle at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival (3m, soft) and made a promising start to chasing career last season, when he continued to look all about stamina; his career has taken a spectacular wrong turn since but there was a slight hint last time of getting back on track.
Big improver sent chasing by his new yard last season and he then disputed the lead over the final fence in this race, only to end up 16l behind in seventh; needs to see it out a lot better and, after he faded well out of contention on all three starts this term, he nevertheless returns to Aintree with a 1lb higher mark than last year.
Familiar contender in major handicaps who was better than ever when dictating the pace for a Uttoxeter win (3m, soft) in February with second-time cheekpieces; however, he's back up 5lb as a result and while his 13l fourth in the Welsh National (near 3m7f, soft) was respectable, today's task may also prove a bit too demanding.
Strong-finishing second off this mark in the 2023 Grand National (good to soft) but faded badly from turning for home on his second crack at it; blinkers have brought him back to his best in banks/cross-country races on his last two outings; latest was at Cheltenham last month when nearly taking the wrong course early on did not help, he was outpaced when the race warmed up and then finished strongly; that reminder of the 2023 National puts him back into each-way calculations.
Second in the Kerry and Munster Nationals but they are over just 3m; beaten 20l in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (3m2f; the furthest he's been) next time and similar in two more big handicaps since, making his recent form figures 999; first run since leaving Willie Mullins for 50,000gns one month ago.
Best away from soft ground; saw the 3m out well on last two starts when second at Kempton in a Grade 1 novice and a major handicap; reverting to a left-handed track here may help his jumping; however, he switched from hurdling only last June and, notwithstanding his three small-field wins, six runs over fences is a slight record for a would-be Grand National winner.
Completed on all three attempts over these fences, easily best of those efforts when close fourth in last season's Topham (2m5f, soft); has twice won well over about 3m/3m1f, including in November on sole start this term, but today's trip is a leap in the dark and this 13yo has easily his highest mark.
Can throw in a blunder and, although chase career began in 2023, he's had only six races in this sphere, winning a beginners chase at Navan (3m, soft) this January; however, he's played second or third fiddle to some very talented rivals and left the impression that he has strength in stamina.
Always-prominent runner-up at the Cheltenham Festival (3m1f, heavy; 3lb higher today) last March under his usual rider Beau Morgan; seems to have been campaigned with the National in mind this term (three hurdle races, then brief headway in a chase) and while obvious positives in recent races are hard to find, at his best he looks sure to stay beyond 3m2f.
Best away from soft ground; runner-up with big late gains in the 2m6f Galway Plate last July; sole chase win (13 attempts) was the Mayo National at Ballinrobe last May which is not much beyond 2m7f, but he was running a big race, keeping on in a 6l fourth, when brought down two out in the 3m6f NH Chase at Cheltenham last month; could belie huge odds.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3,4,5,6
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
