Britain’s most famous horse race has a stronger than ever Irish flavour this year.
A month after yet another Cheltenham Festival dominated by horses trained across the Irish Sea, there are Irish horses everywhere in the £1 million Randox Grand National. Horses trained in Ireland have one five of the last seven runnings of the race and they would have won all seven, but for one trainer.
In 2017 Lucinda Russell, who trains in Scotland, denied Gordon Elliott victory with Cause Of Causes when sending out One For Arthur to a four and a half lengths win. Last year when her second winner Corach Rambler triumphed, the next six horses over the line were trained in Ireland.
Corach Rambler attempts to join an elite group of horses to win the race twice but ranged against him will be 26 Irish horses, of which Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliot train eight each.
So what chances do the home team have?
Officials hunt New Year's Eve revellers who threw beer cans towards race horses
Corach Rambler (11-2 favourite)
Secured a second win in the race for trainer Lucinda Russell and jockey Derek Fox in straightforward fashion last year and he will be a formidable challenger again this year. Seems to come good in the spring and arrives off the back of a career best run when third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Kitty’s Light (12-1)
The big hope of Wales scraped into the field as the last one in, to the relief of his many fans. Last year’s Scottish Grand National winner is another who excels at this time of year although he has run well below his best since his Ayr success.
Nassalam (20-1)
Hard to believe the winner of the Welsh Grand National has to carry more weight than the Grand National winner but he was hammered by the handicapper after scoring at Chepstow by 34 lengths. An out and out mudlover, he could need more rain to figure.
Caoilin Quinn says he can't wait to ride Nassalam in the Randox Grand National at Aintree (PA)Galia Des Liteaux (25-1)
Dan Skelton has proved a master at getting a horse ready for a big handicap. This is the biggest of all. His mare has looked exposed over shorter distances but seemed to relish a marathon trip when narrowly beaten in the Classic Chase at Warwick in January.
Latenightpass (40-1)
Has the advantage of having jumped round the Aintree fences twice, winning the Foxhunters two years ago. Will be giving amateur jockey Gina Andrews her first ride in the race and will be a first runner for her husband, trainer Tom Ellis, since he took out a public licence.
Eldorado Allen (50-1)
Experienced chaser with 20 runs over fences but who hasn't won since February 2022 and ran poorly in last two starts. Jockey Brendan Powell is the son of a Grand National-winning jockey, Brendan Powell Sr.
Mac Tottie (66-1)
Wales’s other runner won the Topham, over the Grand National course two years ago, and has won three out of four at Aintree. Not one to rule out for father and son Peter and James Bowen.
Chambard (66-1)
Trainer Venetia Williams was responsible for 100-1 winner Mon Mome in 2009. Chambord would cause another shock and would offer more encouragement had he not produced three stinkers since winning the Becher Chase over the course in December.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
