Grand National Tips: Frank Hickey has two 40/1 tips among his five picks

Frank's done his homework for the big one.

Frank Hickey Cheltenham Oct 22

Grand National Betting Tips:

FRANK HICKEY’S SELECTIONS

Roi Mage
Velvet Elvis
Gaillard Du Mesnil
The Big Breakaway
Delta Work

*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.

This is it boys and girls! The biggest race of the year. Here’s my 5 Picks!

Roi Mage

A grade 2 & grade 3 winner in France, ROI MAGE was also good enough to finish 3rd in the 2019 edition of the Grade 1 Grand Steeplechase De Paris. Though 11 years old, he has shown he retains plenty of ability when narrowly beaten by Longhouse Poet at Down Royal despite conceding 5lbs to him, yet he is a far bigger price.

He has stayed 3m6f on testing ground in France, so stamina shouldn’t beat him. He’s a big price for one who ticks plenty of boxes.

Velvet Elvis

VELVET ELVIS was a fine winner of a good novice handicap at Navan last season off a mark of 133. That was his first start over three miles over fences and he ran a cracker for a six year old when sixth beaten by eight lengths in the Irish National on his next start off a 10lb higher mark.

Things didn’t really go to plan on his first three starts this season but he did manage to win over just shy of three miles at Fairyhouse in February and ran a fine second in a Grade 2 over an inadequate two and a half miles at Navan on his last start.

He will be a stronger horse than last year when he wasn’t the strongest finisher in the Irish National and he carries a lovely weight of just 10st 6lbs, so I can see him outrunning his big price.

Gaillard Du Mesnil

Third in last year’s Irish Grand National off a mark of 154, that run was preceded by a fine third in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham, which highlights the class GAILLARD DU MESNIL has.

He was a Grade 1 winner at Leopardstown over Christmas and won the National Hunt chase at this year’s festival when it looked all about stamina.

We all know what strength in depth Willie Mullins has, so it must be significant that Paul Townend chooses Gaillard Du Mesnil. Looks sure to run a big race.

The Big Breakaway

THE BIG BREAKAWAY carries below 11 stone which is a help and I would be willing to forgive the run in the Ultima off a three month break, with this the likely target since his fine second in the Welsh National.

That followed a head second in top class Haydock handicap over just shy of three and a quarter miles and proved that he was coming back to the sort of form that made him an exciting novice hurdler and chaser.

Stamina should be no issue and the first time blinkers might just help him here and he is a big price for one with plenty of ability.

Delta Work

A fine third last year off nearly top weight, DELTA WORK will actually carry only 11st 4lbs this time round but I do feel his whole season has been geared towards this race, as opposed to last year when it may have been more of a plan hatched half way through the season when he was struggling in Grade Ones.

He was as good as ever when winning the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham and he looks sure to go well here again and looks solid for the places at least.

Frank Hickey’s Grand National Tips:

Roi Mage
Velvet Elvis
Gaillard Du Mesnil
The Big Breakaway
Delta Work

*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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