Grand National Tips: The best backed runners for the big race at Aintree

It's the most famous race in the world and Paddy Power punters have latched onto these 5 for Saturday's Grand National (4pm).

By / Grand National, Horse Racing Tips / 4 weeks ago

Grand National Racing Tips

1. Nassalam
2. Coko Beach
3. Kitty’s Light
4. Mr Incredible
5. I Am Maximus

*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.

1. Nassalam

NASSALAM ran away with the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow by 34 lengths. That followed another victory in the trial for that race at the same venue in December when he proved over five lengths too powerful for Wayfinder.

Both successes came on heavy ground, so the more rain the better for Gary Moore’s charge, and with the going in Liverpool riding soft, conditions could be perfect if more rain arrives. The Welsh equivalent is four furlongs less than Aintree, but getting home over that distance on heavy ground at Chepstow takes some doing so he looks to have stamina. He was last seen when pulled up in the Gold Cup and if that outing hasn’t left its mark, he looks sure to run well for his supporters.

 

2. Coko Beach

This will be COKO BEACH‘s third attempt at the extravaganza after an eighth behind Noble Yeats in 2022 and being pulled up after the third last 12 months ago. Some punters think it will be third time lucky and he goes into the race with some solid credentials having earlier this term, having beaten Limerick Lace in the Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan. The runner-up subsequently won the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and is fancied to go well at Aintree.

Gordon Elliott’s nine-year-old put up his best performance over the National fences when runner-up to Chambard in the Becher Chase in December before warming up nicely for Liverpool with a comfortable success in a cross-country race at Punchestown in February. All three of those runs would give him a chance at a tasty price and connections will be excited.

 

3. Kitty’s Light

KITTY’S LIGHT was plundering major prizes for fun at this time last year, landing the Eider Handicap Chase, Scottish Grand National and bet365 Gold Cup. Those victories meant Christian Williams’s stable star took a bit of a hammering from the handicapper, and he hasn’t looked like winning on his two chase starts this term, albeit they were the Coral Gold Cup and Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

But punters are well aware that the Welsh wizard will have been aiming him at the big one and he has been backed furiously.

4. Mr Incredible

MR INCREDIBLE suffered the misfortune of his saddle slipping in last year’s National, causing the unseating of pilot Brian Hayes at the Canal Turn the second time. An absence of not far off a year was followed by a very good second to Beauport at Uttoxeter in the Midlands National on the day after the Cheltenham Festival.

The Westerner gelding stayed on that day over the same distance as this on heavy ground so given conditions look like being relatively similar, his backers must be full of optimism. A decent novice who was second to Ahoy Senor in a Grade 2 contest at Newbury in 2021, it has to be said that he does have a habit of not finishing races, but on the five occasions that he has completed over fences, he’s always been in the first three.

5. I Am Maximus

As an Irish Grand National winner, I AM MAXIMUS deserves the utmost respect and he’s run extremely creditably all season over shorter trips. His campaign began with a Grade 1 victory in the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse in December, followed by two defeats to subsequent Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown.

He returned to winning ways last time in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February when he outpointed Vanillier by 14 lengths in a race that is considered a key trial for the Aintree National. Willie Mullins’ Hedgehunter won that contest in 2005, before he struck at Aintree two months later.

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