The Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National are easily the two biggest dates on the National Hunt calendar. It’s commonplace for horses run at Prestbury Park before heading to Aintree for the steeplechase spectacular – and this year is set to be no different. The last two Grand National renewals were won by Tiger Roll after victory at Cheltenham in the Cross Country Chase, although he was the only horse in the last decade to enjoy success at the Festival before following up at Aintree.
A stack of horses are still entered for next month’s Grand National so Paddy Power News has saved you the effort of seeing how potential runners performed at the Cheltenham Festival. Don’t forget, we’re offering non-runner money back until final declarations so you won’t lose out if your pick pulls out! Right, let’s take a deep dive into the action from the four-day fiesta.
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Santini
Cheltenham Gold Cup – Pulled Up
The 2019 Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up blundered at the seventh fence and struggled to keep up with the leading pack before being pulled up. Santini’s form for the season reads 253P and coupled with carrying joint-top weight at Aintree, it could be a big ask for Nicky Henderson’s horse.
Magic of Light
Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase – 8th
The 2019 Grand National runner-up was the last horse to cross the line in the inaugural running of the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival after finding the pace set by Colreevy and Elimay after the 11th fence too hot to handle.
Deise Aba
Kim Muir Chase – Pulled Up
The Philip Hobbs-trained eight-year-old tailed off towards the latter stages of the Class 2 contest and jockey Richard Johnson called it a day after the third-last fence. Deise Aba has been pulled up in three of four runs this season, although he did land a Class 2 race at Sandown in February.
Farclas
Paddy Power Plate – 2nd
Farclas stayed on well to finish behind The Shunter, who claimed a £100,000 bonus after following up his Morebattle Hurdle win, in the 21-runner Paddy Power Plate over 2m4½f.
Milan Native
Ultima Handicap Chase – 9th
A sub-par performance from the 13/2 shot as poor jumping hampered his progress in the opening handicap of the 2021 Festival. The eight-year-old has had a real mixed bag of a season with form reading 12P09.
Ok Corral
Ultima Handicap Chase – Pulled Up
Nicky Henderson’s runner was found to be lame on its right hand after a post-race examination by the vet.
The Storyteller
Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle – 5th
It’s been a long season for The Storyteller, with a mixture of hurdles and chases comprising his nine runs. The 10-year-old headed to Prestbury Park off the back of a second place at the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup behind Kemboy and ahead of Delta Work, Minella Indo and Melon. The Storyteller went on to finish 9l behind Flooring Porter, who kept an electric pace throughout, in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle.
Balko Des Flos
Cross Country Chase – Unseated Rider
A rare disappointment for the Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead dream team as Balko Des Flos unseated at the 15th obstacle.
Chris’s Dream
Ryanair Chase – Pulled Up
A long shot for the 2m4½f – won by Rachael Blackmore on Willie Mullins’ Allaho – the Henry de Bromhead-trained Chris’s Dream wasn’t travelling fluently before calling it a day after the 12th fence.
Le Breuil
Cross Country Chase – Pulled Up
Another one that found Tiger Roll’s relentless gallop in the Cross Country too quick, although with an official rating of 139 the French horse is unlikely to make the final field of 40 at Aintree.
Shantou Flyer
Kim Muir Chase – 3rd
The popular 11-year-old is also unlikely to reach Aintree – off a mark of 136 – but ran a cracker to finish third behind Mount Inda.
Shattered Love
Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase – 3rd
Colreevy and Elimay battled it out for supremacy, which left Shattered Love to finish best of the rest.
Beau Bay
Kim Muir Chase – Pulled Up
Dr Richard Newland’s runner never recovered after a mistake at the 13th fence and pulled up four from home after drifting to the back of the pack. The 10-year-old’s extremely unlikely to make the final field off a mark of 136.
Cabaret Queen
Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase – Pulled Up
Cabaret Queen was struggling from the off and found herself at the back after the fifth fence before soon pulling up.
Glen Forsa
Grand Annual – 12th
An early front runner in the 2m Grade 3 contest before weakening late on as Sky Pirate came through to win.
Hogan’s Height
Cross Country Chase – 6th
Yet another runner that failed to impress in the Cross Country Chase completely dominated by Tiger Roll. The Irish horse was the last to pass the finishing post, although the vet said the gelding had lost its left-fore and left-hind shoes.
Hold The Note
Kim Muir Chase – 4th
Like the Cross Country, the Kim Muir Chase is proving a popular renewal for potential Grand National runners. Hold The Note stayed on to finish fourth of 21 runners, 20¼l behind Mount Ida.
Keeper Hill
Pertemps Network Final – 18th
A huge field and hitting the eighth flight contributed to a sub-par run. Keeper Hill has failed to score since November 2019 – and came fifth of five at Aintree in December 2020.
Musical Slave
Kim Muir Chase – 9th
Philip Hobbs’ eight-year-old is unlikely to reach the Grand National off a mark of 137 – and was never in contention finishing 43½l behind Mount Inda in the Kim Muir.
Another Venture
Kim Muir Chase – Pulled Up
A questionable jumping performance that prompted jockey David Bass to pull up after dropping to last place after the 16th fence.
Fingerontheswitch
Ultima Handicap Chase – 13th
A 66/1 shot for the Ultima Handicap Chase and was the last runner to pass the finishing post, 52¾l behind Vintage Clouds.
Plan of Attack
Kim Muir Chase – Fell
A late fall after a decent run, although Henry de Bromhead’s horse is unlikely to make the cut at Aintree.
Pym
Ultima Handicap Chase – 11th
A tough task carrying a weight of 11st7lb, Pym was travelling well before weakening with three fences to go in the 3m1f contest.
Some Neck
Cross Country Chase – 3rd
A respectable third in the Cross Country Chase behind Tiger Roll and Easysland. A win in December’s Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham has his mark at 144, which could be enough to make the field of 40.
Alpha Des Obeaux
Cross Country Chase – 4th
It’s been a tough season with form reading 595PP4, although the 11-year-old stayed on well in the gruelling Cross Country Chase.
Soupy Soups
Ultima Handicap Chase – Pulled Up
A struggle the whole way round for the 100/1 shot and nearly unseated jockey Robert Dunne two from home before being pulled up.
Crievehill
Kim Muir Chase – 11th
The last to finish after weakening towards the latter stages of the 3m2f renewal – a total of 44¾l behind the winner.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change
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- Grand National 2021 race information including date and start time
- Grand National 2021 to be run without dual winner Tiger Roll
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