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17:15 Aintree
Saturday 10 April 2021
All13:4514:2515:0015:3516:1517:1518:20
Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (GBB Race)
- 7YO plus  |  Class 1  |  4m 2f 74y  |  Good to Soft  |  40 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 17:16Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 9m 15.42s
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Popular grey who won the Betfair Chase for a third time in 4 years in November and ran well behind Native River at Sandown 9 weeks ago. Jumping is a lot better now and this scenario could be perfect.
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Big improver last season and returned with a fine second at Down Royal. Poor twice since, though, shaping with little encouragement at Cheltenham. Doubtful stayer and plenty of others preferred.
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Tremendous stayer placed in the last 3 Welsh Nationals and won again at Taunton in January under Bryony Frost. Fell first only start over these fences in December but should last out with more luck.
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Not recaptured his very smart best this term, well held back hurdling 7 weeks ago, and while he'll stay (second in the 2018 Scottish National), he's struggled over these fences previously.
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Saddle slipped early when fancied for this in 2017 and 9 lb higher having enjoyed lots of success since. Now 12 and suspect his best chance has gone for all he may have needed last month's return.
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Scotland's grey challenger who won messy Grade 2 here in December. 2 heavy defeats since (behind Cloth Cap at Kelso) but unfinished business in this after luckless 2019 run. Cheekpieces on/wind op.
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Won the 2019 Irish National as a novice and emerged as a huge contender for this with good run behind Acapella Bourgeois at Fairyhouse 6 weeks ago on first go over fences for 14 months. Lots to like.
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Smashing mare, second in this in 2019 off 5 lb lower and converted a penalty kick at Newbury in December. Outpaced over 20f at Cheltenham last month and a lot better expected now. Dangerous.
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Third to Burrows Saint in the 2019 Irish National and has won a good prep for this at Fairyhouse the last 2 years, giving weight and seeing off his less-exposed stablemate 6 weeks ago. Likeable.
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Lightly raced since his bet365 Gold Cup romp on good ground at Sandown 2 years ago, but that remains his only try at a marathon trip and he could be set for a big run if the fire still lingers.
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A while since the grey's last win and he's looked a fading force of late, falling at Down Royal 3 weeks ago. Not sure to stay (wilted in 2019 Irish National) and tricky to fancy.
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Fourth and fifth in the last 2 Nationals. Looked rusty after a year off behind Acapella Bourgeois and Burrows Saint at Fairyhouse and been given a big chance in the weights if finding his spark again.
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Very good on his day, successful in well-run 3m Ascot handicap in December, and ran well after a wind op at Kempton 6 weeks ago. Type to relish this test and may sneak under the radar. Tongue tie on.
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Second in last 2 runnings of the Becher with a wide-margin victory in the Classic Chase at Warwick in between. Long been in the notebook for this, crying out for another crack over 4m+. Player.
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Won the Kim Muir in 2019 and has long looked an ideal type for this, warming up with victory in 2m Navan Grade 2 last month. Should stay this much longer trip and lots to like for 2000s-winning yard.
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High-class at his best, but it's essentially been a struggle since his 2018 Ryanair win and offloaded by Gigginstown since a disappointing unseat in the Cross Country at Cheltenham last month.
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Formerly very smart, on a long losing run, but did show a bit more spark in the Cross Country won by stablemate Tiger Roll last month and fared well on second go over these fences in the 2019 Becher.
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Low-mileage 11-y-o with all-or-nothing profile over fences, successful in 2020 Sky Bet at Doncaster under this rider but showing little and finishing lame on first run since at Cheltenham 25 days ago.
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Boasts a remarkable haul of big handicap successes for a 12-y-o and beat Cloth Cap in the 2019 Scottish National. Triumphed again in the Sky Bet at Doncaster in January. Worse risks to take.
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Cheltenham Festival winner in 2018 and successful again at Clonmel (20f, heavy) in November. Fair run in the Mares' Chase back at Cheltenham last month but stamina is a big concern for her here.
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Another very good chaser at his best in Ireland but out of sorts. Took reasonably well to the course, albeit finished well beaten in the Becher in December, and leap of faith needed over this trip.
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All stamina, second in the NH Chase at Cheltenham last year and resuming winning ways at Haydock in the mud 7 weeks ago. Jumping was mixed in the Grand Sefton here in December but wouldn't dismiss.
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Thorough stayer flying the flag for Wales. Won the 2019 Midlands National and Welsh National in the mud. Inadequate tests this term and not badly handicapped in new headgear. Could go well.
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Patchy profile since starting out for Mullins with Tramore win 2 years ago. Good efforts in the mud in top handicaps the last twice though, and not surprising were he to be plugging on at the finish.
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Won last year's Kim Muir at Cheltenham and successful again on return at Galway. Not been plain-sailing since though, well held back at the Festival after wind op. Needs a revival from somewhere.
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Placed at 3 Cheltenham Festivals, his second in the 2019 NH Chase suggesting he'll relish this extreme test. Too free when fancied for handicap there in November and better expected after wind op now.
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Great completion rate over these fences, winning the Becher for a second time when beating Kimberlite Candy in December. Struggled at Chepstow next time though, and 4 lb higher now. Fifth go in this.
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Big improver this season with cheekpieces fitted, making all in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury and listed race at Kelso the last twice. Proven stayer who ticks every box and a very worthy favourite.
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Smart staying mare, successful in the 2019 Munster National and 2020 Kerry National. Not so good more recently though, shaping as if amiss at Cheltenham, and yard has far stronger contenders.
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Fine record on the other course here, winning again in 25f veterans' handicap chase in October. No luck twice since but shaped okay behind Double Shuffle at Kempton in January. Has had a wind op.
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Done well in handicap chases this season, winning at Aintree and Wetherby (3m) before good runs at Doncaster (fourth to Takingrisks in Sky Bet first occasion). Career-best needed even if he stays.
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Good strike rate over fences initially, winning at Limerick in December. Chased home Acapella Bourgeois and Burrows Saint at Fairyhouse latest, proving stamina beyond 3m, but easy to prefer that pair.
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Lightly-raced but smart staying chaser, another fine run first time up when second at Doncaster (3m) in December. Not so good in the Sky Bet back there following month though and hard to fancy now.
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Classy grey (Triumph Hurdle winner like his connections' Tiger Roll) holding his own in top handicap chases at up to 3m this season and very much ran into one at Cheltenham. Big contender if he stays.
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Has progressed into a smart handicap chaser this season and has a cracking record under Rachael Blackmore, runner-up in top Leopardstown contests last twice. Positive profile and player if he stays.
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Fair efforts for new yard under Tabitha Worsley at Ascot last twice and took to the course well when a staying-on second in the 2019 Topham off 9 lb higher. 4m+ an unknown but far worse 100/1 shots.
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Looked a natural over these fences when bolting up in the 2019 Grand Sefton and seen just 3 times since, tailed off in the Cross Country at Cheltenham last month. Stamina doubts and career-high mark.
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Won for the first time in ages when taking 3m Kempton handicap in January and not disgraced off this mark back there since. Not taken to this course previously however, and stamina doubts to boot.
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Over 3 years since his last victories over fences in novices but has resumed with a couple of good efforts in 3m handicaps and genuine sort who could reward each-way backers at huge odds.
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Favourite when fourth in 2017 and dotted up in the Becher 8 months later. All downhill since though (big-money buy in February 2019), albeit showing a bit more at Newcastle last month.
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Forecasts
Cloth Cap (11/2), Any Second Now (15/2), Burrows Saint (9/1), Minella Times (11/1), Mister Malarky (12/1), Takingrisks (14/1), Magic Of Light (14/1), Farclas (16/1), Discorama (16/1), Acapella Bourgeois (20/1), Kimberlite Candy (20/1), Potters Corner (22/1), Bristol De Mai (25/1), Anibale Fly (28/1), Definitly Red (28/1), Shattered Love (33/1), Talkischeap (33/1), Give Me A Copper (33/1), Chris's Dream (40/1), Yala Enki (40/1), Blaklion (50/1), Sub Lieutenant (50/1), The Long Mile (50/1), Lord Du Mesnil (50/1), Lake View Lad (50/1), Milan Native (50/1), Class Conti (66/1), Canelo (66/1), Vieux Lion Rouge (66/1), Double Shuffle (66/1), Ballyoptic (66/1), Jett (80/1), Cabaret Queen (80/1), Alpha Des Obeaux (80/1), Ok Corral (80/1), Minellacelebration (80/1), Balko Des Flos (100/1), Hogan's Height (100/1), Tout Est Permis (100/1), Ami Desbois (100/1)
Often it pays to keep things simple and in CLOTH CAP we have a solid favourite who is progressive, stays, is a stone well-in, and represents an owner with a fantastic record in the race. He's hard to get away from and with luck should win. The last 2 Nationals have seen an Irish 1-2-3 and another formidable challenge is headed up by Burrows Saint, Farclas and Any Second Now.
- CLOTH CAP (IRE)
- BURROWS SAINT (FR)
- FARCLAS (FR)
Prize Money
1st: £375,000.002nd: £150,000.003rd: £75,000.004th: £48,750.005th: £30,000.006th: £22,500.007th: £15,000.008th: £11,250.009th: £7,500.0010th: £3,750.00
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