What would've won this year's National?

Let's talk about... who would've won this year's Grand National

By Sporting Life

Horse Racing

Sat April 04, 2020 · 5y ago

There's no Grand National this year - but that isn't stopping us talking about what we could've won! And we want your thoughts - who did you fancy for the great race?

We want your feedback. Who did you fancy for this year's Grand National that sadly never was? Check out details of how to contact us towards the foot of the article...

Matt Brocklebank – Kimberlite Candy

A fascinating conundrum as one horse I believe could have won the real thing but seems unlikely to tick enough algorithm boxes (that’s how it works, right?) is Potters Corner.

He absolutely has the minerals for a severe stamina test like this but I’m just far from convinced his streetwise attitude and sheer will to win can be reflected in a computer-generated version of the great race.

Any Second Now was also high on the actual shortlist having been given the typical Ted Walsh prep in running over two miles when last seen. And he didn’t just run in the Grade Three WhatOddsPaddy? Chase at Naas – he bolted up.

His jumping looked neat and tidy there but he has fallen and unseated in two major handicap chases in the past so that’s probably just about enough to put me off, despite the lack of genuine carnage materialising.

Any Second Now’s owner JP McManus clearly had a strong hand set for Aintree and it’s his KIMBERLITE CANDY who gets the vote after the form of his impressive Classic Chase win at Warwick worked out so well.

Captain Chaos and The Conditional – who took the Ultima at Cheltenham – have franked the value of that effort with significant subsequent victories of their own and he just looks the type of progressive young chaser Tiger Roll will struggle to contain under such a low weight.

Ben Linfoot – Any Second Now

JP McManus cleaned up at the Cheltenham Festival and I fancy he would’ve in the Grand National as well.

It would’ve been tremendously hard for Tiger Roll to win off a rating off 170, especially as he looked a good few pounds below the form he was in last spring when a well-beaten second in the Cross Country.

Giving 18lb and 20lb and a beating to some interesting JP-owned horses at the bottom of the weights would’ve been really tough and Kimberlite Candy was on my shortlist, too, given how his form had been working out.

However, ANY SECOND NOW, in the same green and gold colours, appealed even more. He just looked like a horse that had a bit more up his sleeve from a handicapping point of view.

An impressive winner at last year’s Cheltenham Festival in the Kim Muir off a mark of 143, he was set to race at Aintree off just 8lb higher and that meant he was 1lb well-in off his Irish mark.

That’s because he won a Grade 3 over two miles at Naas after the weights were published – an identical prep his trainer, Ted Walsh, gave to Seabass before he was third in 2012.

Any Second Now had also caught the eye when a running-on third at the Dublin Racing Festival and, while his stamina wasn’t assured, the way he finished to win the Kim Muir over 3m2f gave plenty of hope.

On the 20th anniversary of Papillon winning for Walsh, Any Second Now was a worthy contender when it came to trying to follow in that horse’s hoofprints.

David Ord - Kimberlite Candy

It has to be KIMBERLITE CANDY doesn't it? What's not to like?

He was steadily building a very compelling Randox Health Grand National profile this season, starting with a second place behind Walk In The Mill in the Becher Chase.

He was taking on the winner in his own backyard that day but took well to these fences on his first sight of them, thumping a number of Aintree veterans in the process. He ran on strongly up the run-in suggesting he was ready for a stiffer test of stamina - which is exactly what the Classic Chase at Warwick provided.

And my was he impressive there, brushing aiside subsequent winner Captain Chaos in a career-best display with Ultima Chase hero The Conditional back in fourth. Cheekpieces have galvanised this fellow who could easily progress further.

10st 4lb was a lovely racing weight and everything was in place for a huge run.

He'd had earned the dreaded Ord vote with Any Second Now and Burrows Saint obvious alternatives.

As for Tiger Roll? He'd surely have been in the five but the road to Aintree this time around hasn't been straightforward and it would have needed performance better than his other two here to win again.

Michael Shinners - Magic Of Light

After an excellent second in last year’s race, MAGIC OF LIGHT trained by Jessie Harrington was my choice.

The daughter of Flemensfirth has had a good season, winning a couple of times already. Her last run was disappointing although this can be attributed to the very testing conditions.

If you look back to last year’s race, she tanked her way around for most of the race and despite a couple of significant mistakes, in particular at the Chair, jumped fairly well.

Conditions looked very much in her favour and with the excellent Robbie Power taking the ride, Magic Of Light looked the one to beat.

Send us your views

Send your comments and contributions on who would've won this year's Grand National to racingfeedback@sportinglife.com and if you’ve any ideas for more topics you want covering over the coming days and weeks please let us know.

Feedback from readers

Douglas Milne: Kimberlite Candy would have been my number 1 pick. Course form - tick. Stays - tick. Nice weight - tick. Form working out - tick. Definitely Red would've been in my squad along with Kildisart and possibly Talkischeap.

For the Virtual race Kildisart is the definite Value bet (Where's the column Ben?!) at 50-1!!! Been coming to the boil all season, was touched off at Cheltenham, won the 3m handicap on the National card last year and is quite classy. Has no National course form but no way should he be 4 or 5 times the odds of Burrows Saint and Any Second Now. Think I just talked myself into a bet!

Martyn Weston: Definitly Red was the one I was keen on. He’s had a lighter campaign this season, jumps ok and best form on flatter tracks. He’s used to lugging 12st around nearly every race he runs and would surely have had a great chance in here of 10st 10st.