Enjoy D’Allen, another eight-year-old, rates the main
threat. He has been aimed at this race since finishing
third in last year’s Irish Grand National on his first try
at a marathon trip. He has raced only once over fences
since then, finishing a promising third out of 28 in a hot
handicap at Leopardstown in December, and is another
to have had a recent pipe-opener over hurdles. Enjoy
D’Allen will race for the first time in the silks of JP
McManus, the leading owner, here, having been bought
since his latest outing, and he merits plenty of respect.
Eclair Surf has benefited from a host of withdrawals
to make the cut and he is another who should not be
far away. The form of his latest second to Win My
Wings in the Eider Chase at Newcastle was given a
timely boost when the winner followed up in the
Scottish National a week ago.
The frontrunning Eclair Surf stays really well and,
provided he can cope with facing a lot of pressure for
the early lead in this cavalry charge, he ought to give
his supporters a good run for their money.
Any Second Now was arguably unlucky not to win
12 months ago, losing a lot of momentum when badly
hampered at the 12th and, in the circumstances, doing
well to finish third. He is now a ten-year-old and is 7lb
higher in the weights but he is still likely to make his
presence felt if getting a cleaner run through the race.
Escaria Ten is closely matched with Any Second
Now, having been beaten a nose by that rival at
Fairyhouse in February. He is 1lb worse off here but
lacks the experience of these spruce fences and may
struggle to turn the form around.
Rachael Blackmore will be hoping to repeat last
year’s heroics on Minella Times, who is sure to be
popular with once-a-year punters given Blackmore’s
remarkable run of big-race wins. However, Minella
Times is 15lb higher in the weights this time around and
he has failed to finish in two runs this season. He bids
to become the first horse carrying top weight since Red
Rum in 1974 to lift this prize and it looks a stiff task.
Delta Work won five times in the highest company
in his youth before losing his way but gained a first
success for two years in the Cross-Country Chase at
Cheltenham last month — beating stablemate Tiger
Roll — and fully merits his big weight.
The frontrunning grey mare, Snow Leopardess, has
attracted plenty of support in recent days and would be
a classic National story if she won. Sent to stud after
getting injured in 2017, she had a foal before returning
to training. She has been better than ever this season,
winning all three starts including the Becher Chase
here in December. However, the drying ground may
not be in her favour.
Of those at bigger prices, Kildisart makes most each-
way appeal at 33-1. He won a competitive handicap over
GRAND NATIONAL
2022734 Deise Aba
Jockey T J O'Brien Odds 66- 1
Runs 17 Wins 5 (3S,2GS) Places 3
Prize money £86,454
S tamina is unlikely to be a problem but
might la c k the ne c e s s a ry touc h of c la s s35 Blaklion
Jockey H S kelton Odds 66- 1
Runs 42 Wins 1 2 (7S,GS,3G)Places 10
Prize money £459,253
S ixth las t year but was beaten 37 lengths ;
unlikely to improve at the age of 1 336 Poker Party
Jockey R M Power Odds 66- 1
Runs 24 Wins 5 (S ,G ) Places 4
Prize money £1 81 ,831
W in in the 2 01 9 K e rry N a tiona l re a ds we ll
but has not s truck in five runs s ince then37 Death Duty
Jockey J Gainford Odds 40- 1
Runs 25 Wins 11 (7S) Places 3
Prize money £243,373
A fair s ixth over s horter at C heltenham;
this s tiffer tes t of s tamina is likely to s uit38 Domaine De L'Isle
Jockey H B annis ter Odds 1 00- 1
Runs 27 Wins 7 (4S ,3G ) Places 6
Prize money £1 34,594
Did not seem to relish these fences when
a well-beaten fourth in the Becher C hase39 Eclair Surf
Jockey T B ellamy Odds 12-1
Runs 14 Wins 5 (4S ) Places 4
Prize money £ 99, 485
S e c ond to s ubs e que nt S c ottis h N a tiona l
winner W in My W ings at Newcas tle; s olid40 Fortescue
Jockey H Nugent Odds 22-1
Runs 21 Wins 6 (5S , G S ) Places 6
Prize money £1 09,638
S tamina proved decisive on heavy
ground a t A s c ot; this trip ought to s uit27 Class Conti
Jockey S Twiston-Davies Odds 1 00- 1
Runs 24 Wins 4 (S ) Places 3
Prize money £1 39,983
Never involved when fifteenth in this race
1 2 months ago and appears out of form28 Noble Yeats
Jockey Mr S W aley- C ohen Odds 50-1
Runs 12 Wins 3 (S ) Places 2
Prize money £32,678
S haped well when ninth at C heltenham;
would be the younges t winner s ince 1 94029 Mighty Thunder
Jockey D R Fox Odds 33-1
Runs 29 Wins 8 (3S,2GS,3G)Places 7
Prize money £1 80,343
L a nde d the S c ottis h N a tiona l in his firs t
s eas on over fences but below- par of late30 Cloth Cap
Jockey T S cudamore Odds 25-1
Runs 24 Wins 5 (2GS,3G) Places 3
Prize money £211,952
F avourite for this race las t year but had a
breathing problem. C laims on bes t form31 Snow Leopardess
Jockey A C oleman Odds 10-1
Runs 19 Wins 9 (3S,2GS,3G)Places 4
Prize money £226,566
T his ma re we nt to s tud in 2 01 7. H a d a foa l
be fore re turning to the tra c k; improving32 Agusta Gold
Jockey D E Mullins Odds 80- 1
Runs 25 Wins 5 (2S ,G ) Places 12
Prize money £ 1 3 0, 995
Returned to form when second at Down
R oyal las t month. Unexpos ed at this trip33 Commodore
Jockey C Deutsch Odds 33-1
Runs 21 Wins 4 (S ,2GS ,G) Places 3
Prize money £76,209
Had a breathing operation before a win at
C heltenham in December; has a chance13 Santini
Jockey N S cholfield Odds 50-1
Runs 18 Wins 7 (6S ) Places 5
Prize money £425,096
S econd in the 2020 C heltenham G old
C up but now operating below that level14 Samcro
Jockey S Bowen Odds 50-1
Runs 26 Wins 11 (6S) Places 3
Prize money £350,088
Twice a winner at the C heltenham
F es tival but has had his injury problems15 Escaria Ten
Jockey A P Heskin Odds 14-1
Runs 13 Wins 4 (3S ) Places 4
Prize money £42,1 00
B ack to form when beaten a nos e by Any
S econd Now at Fairyhouse. Fair claims16 Good Boy Bobby
Jockey D Jacob Odds 25-1
Runs 24 Wins 10 (7S,2GS,G)Places 8
Prize money £113,316
Has had a good s eas on but flopped in a
handicap at Kempton P ark las t time17 Romain De Senam
Jockey P Armson Odds 1 00- 1
Runs 41 Wins 9 (S ,2GS ,5G)Places 7
Prize money £21 0,353
P ulle d up in the Midla nds N a tiona l on firs t
try a t a ma ra thon trip. H a rd to fa nc y18 Coko Beach
Jockey Jonjo O'Neill Jr Odds 66- 1
Runs 23 Wins 4 (2S ) Places 5
Prize money £1 40, 747
S eemed not to las t home when s eventh in
the Irish G rand National last year19 De Rasher Counter
Jockey A Wedge Odds 40- 1
Runs 26 Wins 6 (3S,2GS) Places 7
Prize money £205,863
Has had his problems; needs to build on
a fair fourth at Newbury in F ebruary20 Kildisart
Jockey J Bowen Odds 40- 1
Runs 21 Wins 5 (2S,2GS,G)Places 7
Prize money £1 75,1 91
Had a recent pipe- opener over s horter at
Newbury; a lively outs ider21 Discorama
Jockey B J C ooper Odds 33-1
Runs 21 Wins 2 (S ) Places 8
Prize money £1 23,21 9
P ulled too hard early on when s eventh in
this race a year ago and is fairly weighted22 Top Ville Ben
Jockey T Dowson Odds 66- 1
Runs 31 Wins 10 (6S,3GS) Places 6
Prize money £1 50,965
Fell on his first try over these fences but
has been running well s ince23 Enjoy D'Allen
Jockey C J O rr Odds 14-1
Runs 22 Wins 3 (S ) Places 10
Prize money £1 02,925
Improved when third in the Irish National
a year ago. Looks a leading player24 Anibale Fly
Jockey L Dempsey Odds 66- 1
Runs 35 Wins 7 (3S ) Places 8
Prize money £550,959
F ifth in this in 201 9. At the veteran s tage
but well handicapped on his bes t form25 Dingo Dollar
Jockey R Mania Odds 33-1
Runs 27 Wins 6 (S ,3GS ,G) Places 7
Prize money £1 38,366
S e c ond in the S c ottis h G ra nd N a tiona l a t
Ayr a year ago and is no forlorn hope26 Freewheelin Dylan
Jockey R Doyle Odds 50-1
Runs 36 Wins 8 (S , G ) Places 8
Prize money £289, 087
Last year’s Irish G rand National winner
but has been s truggling for form of lateROB WRIGHT’S RACE OF THE DAY
GRAND NATIONAL 5.15PM, ITV THE RUNNERS ANALYSEDSTAT OF THE DAY
ROB’S FINAL WORD
Four of the past six
winners of this race
have been eight-year-
olds (the other two
have been aged nine),
while four of the past
five winners were
trained in Ireland. Five of this field fit
both trends4
CLASSHighest class each horse has won at
GRADE 1 Delta Work, Lostintranslation,
Fiddlerontheroof, Santini, Samcro, Blaklion,
Death DutyThe ground will be watered to ensure
that it is as safe as possible but it will
still be faster than many of the
runners have been racing on through
the winter.GOING GOOD TO SOFT
With 40 runners
attacking the big
spruce fences, this
great race is as
wide-open as ever.
Longhouse Poet
has some classy
form and is open to
improvement, so
just gets the nod
over Enjoy D’Allen,
Eclair Surf and
Kildisartthe regular Mildmay fences at this meeting three years
ago and was beaten only a neck in another good race at
the 2020 Cheltenham Festival.
He has had his problems since then, running only
three times in the past two seasons, but shaped well
over an inadequate trip at Newbury last month. He has
cheekpieces fitted here, which has suited him in the
past, and he could well make the frame.
There are several in this line-up with form in other
Nationals. Mighty Thunder and Freewheelin Dylan
won the Scottish and Irish versions respectively last
year but both have been struggling for form this term.
Perhaps of more interest is Dingo Dollar, who was
second to Mighty Thunder at Ayr a year ago. He
shaped well enough when a staying-on third in the
Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle in November and
probably needed the run after a three-month break at
Kelso last time. The drying ground will suit himand he
has better claims than odds of 40-1 suggest.
Run Wild Fred was second in the Irish National and
has continued to run with credit, most recently
finishing second in the National Hunt Chase at
Cheltenham. His consistency has not been missed by
the handicapper, though, and he has plenty of weight.
Burrows Saint was fourth last year, when he
appeared not to last home after travelling as well as
anything for a long way. It is interesting that his
brilliant trainer, Willie Mullins, again sends him over
and it would be dangerous to dismiss him.
Fiddlerontheroof just came up short in grade one
races last season but has been running well at a lower
level this campaign. He stayed on well when a good
second in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury in
November and this stiffer test could bring further
improvement.
The withdrawal of Easysland has allowed School
Boy Hours, who is in the same ownership and was
among the reserves, to take his chance. He won a
decent handicapat Leopardstown in December and
shaped better than the result suggests when pulled up
at Cheltenham last month, as he was travelling well
enough before a mistake four out put paid to his
chance. He is not a forlorn hope.
There were three late non-runners yesterday and
Commodore, who was also among the reserves, is
another who could make his presence felt. Trained
by Venetia Williams, who sprang a 100-1 shock with
Mon Mome in the 2009 National, Commodore was
impressive at Cheltenham in December on his first
start after a breathing operation and there could be
more to come.
Luck in running will be essential, whichever horse
prevails, but Longhouse Poet could just prove the
class act of the race.PAC E
There will not be any shortage of
pace in this massive field, with Run
Wild Fred, Commodore, Top Ville Ben
and Snow Leopardess the most likely
frontrunnersRun Wild FredCommodoreTop Ville BenSnow LeopardessThe National fences are not as
fearsome as they used to be and
previous experience of the course
is not essential when searching for
he winnerTRACK
GRADE 2 Any Second Now, Two For Gold,
Coko BeachGRADE 3 Minella Times, Run Wild Fred,
Brahma Bull, Burrows Saint, Mount Ida,
Anibale Fly, Agusta GoldRD
secon
Nove
impro
Th
Boy
am
dece
shap
at CCo
ano
by
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imp
start
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