At 4pm on Saturday 13 April, the nation will stop to watch this year’s Randox Grand National at the world famous Aintree racecourse in Merseyside, England. But picking a winner from a field of 34 runners is like finding a needle in a haystack – fear not, though, we’ve asked some racing experts to share their Grand National tips ahead of this year’s race.
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The £1m Randox Grand National is on ITV on Saturday 13 April at 4pm with coverage starting from 12.55pm and H&H will be bringing you the latest stories online and in next week’s magazine, in the shops on Thursday 18 April.
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Grand National tips
Panda Boy
Trainer: Martin Brassil | Jockey: J J Slevin
Current odds: 10/1
ITV Racing presenter Ed Chamberlin says: “For a trainer who knows how to win the Grand National, this has clearly been the plan for a long time. He was very eye-catching over hurdles at the Dublin Racing Festival.”
Vanillier
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell | Jockey: Sean Flanagan
Current odds: 9/1
Four-time champion jockey Richard Johnson says: “He’s only 3lb higher than when finishing second in the race last year, so at the weights he has a chance of reversing the form against winner Corach Rambler. His form is very solid and the ground looks set to be testing this year, which I don’t think he’ll mind, so he ticks a lot of boxes. Since last year he has been trained specifically for this race again, with a run over hurdles and he ran very well behind I Am Maximus at Fairyhouse last time out. He has to go there with every chance.”
Racing journalist Carl Evans agrees: “Heavy, tiring ground will make life tough for those Grand National runners with the higher weights to carry, and so take a chance on Vanillier, who carries 10st 11lb, was second last year, has winning form on similar ground and at nine is the optimum age. At a bigger price the mare Galia Des Liteaux (10st 6lb) also ticks a lot of boxes – a win or second for her could clinch Dan Skelton the trainer’s championship he relishes.”
Kitty’s Light
Trainer: Christian Williams | Jockey: Jack Tudor
Current odds: 12/1
ITV Racing presenter Alice Plunkett says: “Christian Williams has done an amazing job training this diminutive star stayer. He has won seven times including the Scottish Grand National and the Bet 365 at Sandown. Christian and wife Charlotte had the worst news last year when one of their two daughters Betsy was diagnosed with Leukaemia. As a family they have spent the last year in and out of hospital facing the toughest of treatment. The news has been better lately. The Scottish Grand National was a huge tonic but to win the greatest steeplechase in the world would be everything the family deserve.”
The Goffer
Trainer: Gordon Elliott | Jockey: Sean Bowen
Current odds: 66/1
Racing journalist Tom Peacock says: “Has run well in a few staying chases in his time and his recent return at Cheltenham could see him run nicely from a light weight at a good price.”
Corach Rambler
Trainer: Lucinda Russell | Jockey: Derek Fox
Current odds: 5/1
Grand National-winning trainer Kim Bailey says: “He won the race last year and had a great prep run this year when third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He’s the class horse in the race with excellent Aintree racecourse experience – and he’s trained in Great Britain!”
ITV Racing presenter Oli Bell agrees: “Corach Rambler going for back to back Grand Nationals would be an amazing achievement – he has to have a great chance following his excellent placed effort in the Gold Cup and I’m sure he will give his team from Scotland a great run for their money.”
I Am Maximus
Trainer: Willie Mullins | Jockey: Paul Townend
Current odds: 7/1
Dual Grand National-winning jockey Davy Russell says: “I’m siding towards I Am Maximus – he won the Irish Grand National with Paul Townend last year, he has all the stamina and he can sometimes jump a bit left. With the new-style Aintree fences and this year’s smaller field, I think he’s the type that could do well. For a bigger price, I like Dan Skelton’s Galia Des Liteaux. If she takes to the fences, I think she’ll run a great race.”
Mr Incredible
Trainer: Willie Mullins | Jockey: Brian Hayes
Current odds: 11/1
H&H racing editor Jennifer Donald says: “I will be cheering home Corach Rambler, but Mr Incredible is my pick from a typically strong Willie Mullins team – who, surprisingly, hasn’t won the race since 2005. Mr Incredible was only seven when lining up for last year’s race on the back of a staying-on third in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival and he travelled well until the saddle slipped at the Canal Turn second time around, unshipping poor jockey Brian Hayes. His sole start since was a second-place finish in the Midlands Grand National on heavy going a month ago and the headlines will write themselves if Mr Incredible wins this year.”
Latenightpass
Trainer: Tom Ellis | Jockey: Gina Andrews
Current odds: 25/1
ITV Racing presenter Luke Harvey says: “The Grand National always seems to throw up a fascinating story and none would be bigger or better than a success for Latenightpass. This will be trainer Tom Ellis’s first ever runner as a licensed trainer, the horse is ridden by his wife Gina Andrews and bred by his parents.”
Keep up to date with all of Horse & Hound’s Grand National coverage this week via horseandhound.co.uk, where you will be able to read all of the latest news and features on the three-day meeting at Aintree.
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