Back On The Lash
This fellow, who is part owned by former Spurs and West Ham gaffer Harry Redknapp, was last seen in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival where he was pulled up by Sean Bowen after the 16th fence, but despite that disappointment he has been furiously backed ante post.
The ground was soft that day at Prestbury Park and trainer Martin Keighley explained that his charge would be suited by a faster surface which he looks likely to get on Merseyside with the racecourse hoping to start the three-day Meet on Thursday on good to soft ground.
His jumping of the Aintree fences has to be taken on trust, but he’s previously been very good over Cheltenham’s quirky cross-country obstacles and course.
Delta Work
Despite being a winning favourite in last year’s Cross Country at Cheltenham, this guy was something of a villain for daring to beat the ‘public’s horse’ and stable companion Tiger Roll.
He then went to last year’s National and proved the Cheltenham performance was no fluke by finishing third to Noble Yeats.
That third came off a handicap mark of 160 and as he completed the Cross Country double last month and has a very similar rating in this year’s National renewal, punters seem to have come to the conclusion there’s no reason why he can’t go close again or even win.
Minella Trump
Whether this nine-year-old is in the best-backed sextet due to Donald Trump’s recent prominence in the news is anyone’s guess, but a win for Donald McCain’s horse 50 years on from the first of his father Ginger’s three successes with the great Red Rum will certainly generate further headlines.
His last of seven last time in a handicap hurdle at Bangor in March can be ignored as it was almost certainly just a pipe opener for this after 293 days off games and over an inadequate two miles and three furlongs.
Before that he landed two three mile handicap chases at Perth last year and he races here off a mark only 2lb higher than when he scored on the second of those two victories.
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The Big Dog
Irish trainer Peter Fahey has previously launched a couple of successful international raids on GB taking the County Hurdle with Belfast Banter and last year’s Paddy Power Imperial Cup with Surprise Package and this fellow has some pretty impressive National credentials.
He won the Punchestown Grand National Trial in 2021, but was then absent for 253 days before subsequently taking this season’s Munster National followed by the Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan.
A very decent third in the Welsh Grand National in December was enough to encourage connections to have a tilt at the top-class Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup and despite taking a tumble at the second last, he still led narrowly at the fence before that.
That last contest was won by subsequent Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs and if the fall hasn’t had any ill effects, this much longer trip could play to his talents.
Eva’s Oskar
Tim Vaughan’s charge was only beaten a couple of lengths by National favourite Corach Rambler at Cheltenham in 2021 when receiving 2lb and that piece of form could be the catalyst for him appearing on this list given he’ll receive twice that amount on Saturday.
Admittedly that Cheltenham run was only over three miles one furlong, but there might not be too much between the two contenders and this one is a far bigger price.
Indeed stepping up in trip seems to have assisted this Shirocco gelding as he won at Cheltenham in December and his last effort at Newcastle when fourth to Kitty’s Light in the four mile one furlong Eider Chase was encouraging enough to give his supporters hope here.
Cloudy Glen
Venetia Williams landed the National with 100-1 shot Mon Mome in 2009 which provides hope to whatever horse one backs in the world’s most famous steeplechase and her Cloudy Glen gets a place on this list.
The 10-year-old certainly wasn’t worried about his own price when winning the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury in 2021 at 33-1 before later enduring over a year off the course and returning with a lovely comeback when third in Haydock’s Grand National Trial in February.
He was pulled up on his last start in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham the following month, but is another for which the soft ground there might have been an issue and the support would indicate an improved performance is expected here.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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