Check out the thoughts of Betfair ambassadors Paul Nicholls and Rachael Blackmore ahead of Randox Grand National day at Aintree.
Rachael Blackmore
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1.55 Mahon’s Way
Mahon’s Way will be stepping up into Grade 1 company when he runs in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Saturday.
He was disappointing in his two runs after he won his maiden hurdle at Naas in November. They were both at right-handed tracks and, back at Naas the last day, going left-handed again, he seemed to run much better in finishing second to Fun Fun Fun, in front of Mirazur West, who won the Grade 2 novice hurdle at Fairyhouse. He galloped out to the line.
We’re hoping that that might be significant, so, back left-handed now again at Aintree, we’re hoping that he can go well again. Obviously this is very competitive, he’s going to have to improve on what he has done so far if he’s going to be involved, but we really think that he is a horse who has a lot of ability and that we just haven’t seen the best of him yet. We’re hoping that he can be competitive.
3.05 Hiddenvalley Lake
It was great to see Hiddenvalley Lake bounce back to form last time in the Boyne Hurdle.
He was a high-class novice hurdler last season and, after he fell on his chasing debut at Navan in December, he went back over hurdles for the Boyne Hurdle and he ran out a very good winner of the race.
We’re really looking forward to him here. The conditions should suit him well, the trip and the ground should be ideal. He’s a lovely horse and he’s in great order. He might be a little under the radar, and I think that he can run a big race.
4.00 Minella Indo
I’m delighted to have such a fantastic ride in the Grand National. It’s such an important, special race. It’s brilliant to be riding in the race.
I think if you are down at the start in the Grand National, you have as good a chance as anyone. But to be down at the start on a former Gold Cup winner will be brilliant.
Minella Indo is a very classy horse who I’m hoping will take to Aintree well. It was really disappointing that he didn’t get to run at Cheltenham, that the Cross-Country Chase was abandoned. But he’s in great order and we’re really hoping that he can run a big race. It should be a great race. It always is.
5.00 Quilixios
I ride Quilixios in the Maghull Chase. Nothing went right in the Arkle at Cheltenham last time, but he was very good on his previous run at Naas. He appreciated the drop back down to two miles, he jumped well and he won nicely.
The Triumph Hurdle winner from 2021, he missed all of last season, so he is still lightly raced. He has been in good form at home, and we’re hoping for a good run.
Paul Nicholls
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1:20 Red Risk
I’ve kept him for this race since his last run at Haydock two months ago and he goes well fresh, though he has found life tougher since he was chinned by a whisker in the Lanzarote Hurdle on deep ground at Kempton in January last year. So it makes sense to make use of Freddie Gingell’s 5lbs claim which is great value.
1:20 Monmiral
He's been raised 6lbs to a mark of 144 after his excellent victory in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham. While I thought he had a sporting chance that day I didn't expect him to win like he did. He has always had loads of ability and won the Grade 1 four year old hurdle at this track three years ago. But he hasn’t taken to chasing and it was brilliant to see him bounce back over hurdles at the Festival in first time blinkers which he will wear again at Aintree. He seems to have come out of that race in good order.
1.55 Caldwell Potter
He is an exciting horse for the future, a chaser in the making, and he didn't run at Cheltenham because I wanted to give him more time to acclimatise after we bought him at a dispersal sale in February in Ireland. He doesn't show a lot at home but he's settled in nicely, has done plenty of schooling, jumps great, and I’m sure he wants this step him up in trip to two and a half miles. I'm still learning about Caldwell Potter who has done all his winning on testing ground. I can't wait to see him run for his new owners.
5.35 Sorceleur
He's progressive, ran with much promise when third in a Listed bumper at Cheltenham on New Year’s day and won his bumper easily by fifteen lengths from the front at Taunton on his latest start. While he is going the right way and has earned a shot at this valuable race he does have to improve on what he has achieved so far. I’d say he has a nice each way chance.
Best chance. 13:55. Caldwell Potter. His form in Ireland was smart and I've had this race in mind for him since he joined us early in February.
More Grand National tips and features
- Grand National Preview Podcast
- Horse-by-horse guide
- Statistical analysis and trends
- What the pedigrees say
- Graham Cunningham: Mission possible
- 'Jumpability' ratings and insight
- Key numbers behind the National
- Simon Holt on the remarkable Kitty's Light
- Record of Gold Cup horses
- Heavy ground Grand Nationals
- National runners who love soft ground
- Grand National Quiz
- Andrew Asquith's Weekend View
- Alex Hammond Blog
- WATCH: Grand National thoughts
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