Grand National Preview

The world’s most exciting horse race, the Grand National, is almost upon us with the race taking place this coming Saturday, 4th April. Our resident racing tipster Paul Jacobs has ploughed through the form guide to give us a lowdown on each and every one of the horses lining up to start at Aintree’s famous course.

Have a readthrough, pick your favourite and make sure you place your bets for racing’s biggest day of the year.

1. CLOUDY LANE

Went off a strongly fancied charge for last year’s race, but in the end ran way too freely and out of steam. This year he has arguably strengthened up again and has looked more of an out and out stayer when winning at Haydock. However, for such a small horse this weight will surely be too much.

2. CHELSEA HARBOUR

Like the top weight he too handled the fences well enough last year but also ran much too freely through the race. Has shown himself to be in fair form again this year, but a handicap mark of 156 looks beyond him.

3. SNOWY MORNING

Ran a fine third last year and has been aimed at this all year. Warmed up with a good, if distant, second to Black Apalachi on heavy ground, but even on his favoured quicker surface he arguably doesn’t quite get home. On the plus side has only raced over fences 15 times and there could be more to come.

4. KNOWHERE

Has developed into a high class chaser and a flat track is his domain. May well have been concerned in the finish last year had he not unseated his rider at Valentines second time around. Races off the same mark here and if granted a wee bit of give in the ground he cannot be discounted.

5. COMPLY OR DIE

Unlike Knowhere the 2008 winner is not surprisingly badly well weighted and has taken some time to show a semblance of his old form. This is certainly his set-up and although he needs to improve again on his Cheltenham run he cannot be discounted given he is tried and tested over C&D.

6. OLD MAGERN

Although he is well weighted on the best of his old form, this trip is way too far and it would be a huge shock should this veteran win.

7. STAN

Much improved this year, but the handicapper has reacted accordingly and this trip looks way beyond his best.

8. BLACK APALACHI

Absolutely hosed up in the Becher Chase over 3m3f in November jumping with great precision. Faster ground maybe a slight negative, but that point could have been overhyped by the press. Not brilliantly weighted, but capable and proven form over these fences a big plus.

9. HEAR THE ECHO

Hear The Echo is a bit of a conundrum for me, because although he won the Irish National in good style last year, good ground and trip was perfect, his jumping since and before that win has been inconsistent. Obviously enjoys the hurly burly of a big field, but is very badly weighted even on that Fairyhouse win.

10. PRIESTS LEAP

Like Black Apalachi soft ground is his domain. It means he can get into a rhythm in his own time. Should certainly stay, but they may go a step too fast for him and rush him into mistakes.

11. MY WILL

His recent fifth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup is by far the best form on offer at the weights and he has been solely aimed at this all season. If he too gets nicely settled and into a rhythm early on it’s very difficult to see him being out of the frame. Ruby Walsh an obvious plus.

12. EUROTREK

Eurotrek has a cracking record over these fences, but has also been on the sidelines for a long time being a fragile sort. Stays and jumps, but it would be the training feat of the decade were he to win.

13. STATE OF PLAY

A class act in the race, Evan Williams’ charge is already a Hennessey winner and has only really been well beaten in the highest graded races. Back to form at Wetherby this season and if he takes to the fences he must go well off the same mark as his Newbury success.

14. BIG FELLA THANKS

This is arguably the least exposed runner in the field and he destroyed his field in the Skybet Chase at Doncaster and followed that up with an improved display when running on third in the Racing Post Chase. Has masses of scope to progress again and if his jumping holds up I expect a bold display from this virtual novice.

15. MON MOME

A former second in the Welsh National, he has bounced back to something like his best form this year, but has since been raised by the handicapper to a mark of 148 which is high enough.

16. SILVER BIRCH

One of the best jumpers in the field and successful here in 2007 with a battling display. Now 12 he is surely on the decline and remains 10lbs above his Aintree winning mark.

17. BUTLER’S CABIN

Has not been the easiest to train, but has won over four miles at Cheltenham and looked set to play a major part in last year’s race even though it was some way out when he fell at Bechers second time around. Has his ground and is able to race off the same mark again. Jumping has to be a doubt, but everything else is in place for a huge run under McCoy.

18. OFFSHORE ACCOUNT

This lightly raced sort is a real big player for me having shown good form at much shorter trips, while at the same time seemingly crying out for further. Ran a cracking return over hurdles after 14 months off the track and has obvious room to improve and the stable reportedly fancy him.

19. PARSONS LEGACY

Hails from a stable in form and again has been aimed at this race all season. Good/fast ground is his domain and likes to race prominently but has nothing to hide from the handicapper.

20. REVEILLEZ

Smart two and a half to three mile handicap chaser in his time, but has had his problems and won’t be winning here.

21. FUNDAMENTALIST

Veteran performer that just about gets home over three miles, but I fancy won’t jump these demanding fences.

22. GOLDEN FLIGHT

Former smart performer in France and held in the highest regard by his yard, but all the signs show this will not be his year.

23. L’AMI

Has taken well to cross country fences in the past year. Runs off the same mark as last year when he ended Mick Fitzgerald’s career with a crashing fall, but even granted a clear round off a fair mark I am positive he doesn’t stay this extended distance.

24. BATTLECRY

Top class novice and good jumper of a fence, three miles is surely his domain and he may do too much too soon out in front.

25. CORNISH SETT

Top novice that has had his training problems, but shown some mercy by the handicapper this lightly raced 10-year-old has bounced back to form being placed in the Welsh National. One of the better outsiders.

26. FLEET STREET

Lightly raced due to injuries, but has shown himself as good as ever. Game win of a fair handicap chase over three miles at Kempton, but this looks a shade too far.

27. MUSICA BELLA

Exposed as a fair chaser in native France, but this is her first run outside of France and previous attempts at a trip have been very disappointing.

28. CAN’T BUY TIME

A young and progressive chaser that has made rapid strides this year, but even under the perfect ride from a top amateur he couldn’t continue that sequence in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham, seemingly finding the four miles a shade too far.

29. DARKNESS

An out and out stayer as a novice, was off the track for two years before two fair starts from three this year, ran badly on very soft ground in the Welsh National in between. Won readily last time out in a poor contest and a clear round would see him go close, but his jumping is a cause for concern.

30. IRISH INVADER

Three wins in small field chases on his last three starts mark him down as an improved performer, but big field runs have been disappointing and there are doubts over him staying this far.

31. RAMBLING MINISTER

Defied a career high mark at Haydock last time out with a conclusive win over four miles and despite being 11-years-old, he has only had 15 starts over fences and apart from his age, he ticks all the right boxes.

32. SOUTHERN VIC

Smart novice hurdler and chaser, but even on his favoured soft ground he was left floundering by Black Apalachi in the Becher Chase. Good ground an unknown for him and he is far from being a safe conveyance.

33. KILLBEGAN BLADE

Gutsy winner at Towcester and Sandown this year and comes here fit and fresh, but runs off a career high mark so despite his light weight he has to improve again.

34. BROOKLYN BROWNIE

Has been the subject of plenty of support in the last few days, and has an outstanding record on good ground in his career. Not sure he wants to travel this far though and needs to improve yet again off this mark.

35. HIMALAYAN TRAIL

Very lightly raced 10-year-old thought to want plenty of give in the ground, but arguably his best performance came on good to soft in the Midlands National at Uttoxeter. Interesting were he to get into a rhythm and will definitely stay the trip.

36. ARTEEA

Simply not good enough.

37. CERIUM

Has seen much better days and doesn’t stay this far.

38. IDLE TALK

Idle Talk has always looked like the classic National horse, but needs to have things all his own way.

39. KELAMI

Second in the Racing Post Chase last year and has the ability to run well, but jumping remains a problem even though he has handled some of the most difficult grade one tracks in the past.

40. ZABENZ

Very lightly raced and a smart chaser at his best on good ground, but over two years off the track.

41. MALJIMAR

Ran a superb race when just caught on the line by Wichita Lineman in the William Hill Handicap Chase. Fancy him to jump around, but major question mark over him staying.

42. COMPANERO

Won two from three over fences in lightly raced career, but jumped terribly last time out when looking in need of a break. Best so far on soft ground.