GRAND NATIONAL

***** - outstanding chance

**** - solid claims

*** - each-way consideration

** - slow

* - very slow

ANY SECOND NOW - ***

Third off a mark of 152 in 2021 and then second off 159 last year, this year’s top weight will now have to try and defy a mark of a whopping 167 and despite a lovely warm-up victory in the Webster cup over two and a half miles this will surely be too hard an ask at the age of 11.

NOBLE YEATS - ****

Beautifully handled by Sam Waley-Cohen to win 12 months ago, I would be more concerned that that Aintree specialist jockey isn’t on his back again rather than the 19lbs higher mark as he has kept progressing at a rate of knots finishing best of all when a never nearer fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

GALVIN - ***

Classy chaser down through the years and has taken well to the cross country mode, but the weather forecast suggests that he won’t get his preferred good ground which has always brought out the best in him.

FURY ROAD - ***

Has been running well in Grade One events all season from two and a half to an extended three miles, but a handicap mark of 161 asks a lot and we haven’t even ventured into the question of this extended trip.

THE BIG DOG - ***

Winner of the Munster National (mark of 140) and Troytown Chase (148) before a brave third off 153 at Chepstow in the Welsh National. Flattered by his run in the Irish Gold Cup when he fell leading at the third last, and off 160 needs a career best by some way.

CAPODANNO - **

Spring horse with some decent form at graded level and still relatively unexposed, but the trip is a big concern as would be genuinely soft ground.

DELTA WORK - *****

Tremendous servant to connections with no less than five grade one wins to his name and two Cross Country Championships at the Cheltenham Festival. A mark of 159 is probably a fair reflection of his current ability and he only backed out in the final 400 yards here last year, and is a pound lower.

SAM BROWN - **

May well be an 11-year-old but is lightly raced with only 17 starts under rules and 12 over fences. Testing ground would be a plus and he is one of the better outsiders in the field if the mud is flying.

LIFETIME AMBITION  - ***

Jumped these fences well when third in the Grand Sefton and followed that up with a good second in the Troytown (seemingly outstayed by The Big Dog). Had a nice warm-up in a handicap hurdle last time out, but really testing ground would make him a doubtful stayer in my book.

CAREFULLY SELECTED  - ****

Won the Thyestes Chase off 147 before a slightly disappointing fourth in the Bobbyjo. But has very few miles on the clock for a horse of his age and won’t mind the forecast rain this week and there aren’t many better entries with his claims around the 33/1 mark.

COKO BEACH - ****

A few other previews reckoned he didn’t stay last year, but I think that is a load of rubbish. In my eyes he was simply given an overly aggressive ride by Jonjo O’Neill junior. He need only race as more of a presser than leader to readily outrun his odds and improve on last year’s 66 length eighth of 40.

LONGHOUSE POET - ***

Unlike Coko Beach he was ridden with a lot more patience, but definitely didn’t get home. Comes here in good form following a ready win over three and a quarter miles at Down Royal and races off the same mark as last year…….but will he stay? Mmmmm.

GAILLARD DU MESNIL - ****

Stayed on strongly to readily beat Chemical Energy in the National Hunt Chase and should have no problem with this longer trip. I feel that a mark of 155 could even be slightly lenient and as long as he has recovered from those Cheltenham exertions his chance is there for all to see.

DARASSO - *

Has bits and pieces of form over three miles (hurdles and fences) that suggest he is worth trying at this trip. His last two runs in grade three and two events at both disciplines leave plenty to be desired though.

LE MILOS  - ***

Stayed on resolutely to land Trophy (old Hennessy) at Newbury when looking set to be beaten by Remastered. His whole season has been geared to this prize and he just looked a tad short on fitness at Kelso last time out. That run should have put him right and if he stays, there is no reason why he shouldn’t be involved.

ESCARIA TEN - *

Looked a really promising staying novice, but was beaten an acre in this race last year and was pulled up at Cheltenham over a shorter trip. Well handicapped off 151 but too many questions to answer.

THE BIG BREAKAWAY - ***

If you can forgive him after his last effort in the Festival Trophy Handicap Chase at Cheltenham, then the Welsh National runner-up has obvious each-way claims. A bit of rain would certainly help him and he is one of the remaining bits of value that the bookmakers haven’t stolen from our grasp.

CAPE GENTLEMAN - *

All of his best efforts over hurdles and fences have come between two and two and a half miles, and he is one of the least likely in the field to stay this demanding trip.

ROI MAGE - ****

Has run well on all three starts in 2023; a fair third to Minella Indo at Tramore followed by a 20th fence fall in the Cross Country at Cheltenham and then last time out a cracking length-and-a-quarter second to Longhouse Poet for which he has an 11lbs pull. Should outrun his price massively with a clear round.

DIOL KER - ***

A strong finishing second in the Extended Handicap Chase at Leopardstown and a fourth in the Thyestes have been his best runs this season. May have just needed his run back after two months out when down the field in the Grand National Trial at Punchestown last time out.

A WAVE OF THE SEA - *

Has some fair staying chasing form to his name, notably when winning a Grade B handicap chase at Leopardstown 12 months ago, but his form has been very patchy since and he is 10lbs higher in the weights here.

MINELLA TRUMP - ***

Represents the all conquering McCain clan and beat the classy Hewick as a novice. Has been lightly raced since winning two from two over three miles in 2022, but was tailed off on his comeback run (293 days off) and is still 2lbs higher than for the second of those two wins.

VANILLIER - *****

Winner of the Albert Bartlett as a staying novice hurdler and has had his problems with his jumping. However, he really caught the eye with a strong finishing second in the Bobbyjo and granted a clear round, you could make an argument that he is the clear pick of the weights.

VELVET ELVIS - **

Trainer Thomas Gibney stated that his return to form at Fairyhouse in February may have coincided to his return to running in a small field. Didn’t stay in last year’s Irish National, and as you may well have concluded, this is a rather big field.

AIN’T THAT A SHAME - ***

Second in the Muster National followed by fourth in the Extended Handicap Chase at Leopardstown are both good staying performances. Warmed up for this with a comfortable win over two and a half miles last time out. This has always been his main aim of the campaign, but I just feel there are stronger stayers in the line-up.

CORACH RAMBLER - ****

Back to back wins in the Festival Trophy Handicap Chase at Cheltenham have seen him rise to the top of the betting pack for this. Gets to race from the same mark here although if there is plenty of rain, his non-staying distant fourth in the 2022 Warwick Classic is at the back of my mind. Has a lovely racing weight.

ENJOY D’ALLEN - ***

Went off at 20/1 for the 2022 renewal but didn’t get any further than the first fence. Has run in the last two Extended Handicap Chases at Leopardstown and was basically outpaced over three miles in the Bobbyjo. Has the talent to outrun his price, but needs to bounce back to form big time.

MR INCREDIBLE - ***

There is little doubt that this boy has real talent, but he has a questionable character to go with it. Looked to be coming with a wet sail to land the Kim Muir at Cheltenham, but belted the last and could only finish a one paced third. Second place in this year’s Warwick Classic suggests he has every chance of staying this trip if his mind is on the job.

MISTER COFFEY - **

Trainer Nicky Henderson has a truly horrendous record in this famous race, and this fella has plenty to find with Gaillard Du Mesnil on his National Hunt Chase form when he weakened badly up the final climb.

CLOUDY GLEN - **

Second in a Kim Muir off 140 and won the 2021 Gold Cup at Newbury in what looked a moderate renewal off the same mark, but is fully 5lbs higher here.

HILL SIXTEEN - **

Has run well and won over these fences before, second to Snow Leopardess in the 2021 Becher Chase when finishing strongly off a mark of 136. Ran well again when seventh in the race this term and is 2lbs lower, but needs a big career best with the distance a question mark.

GABBYS CROSS - ****

Caught the eye when a strong staying third in the Leinster National last time out and when a keeping on sixth in the Handicap chase at Leopardstown and has a lovely racing weight to potentially be involved here and is one of the more lively outsiders.

RECITE A PRAYER - **

Has won a nice handicap this season, but looked all at sea over these fences in the Becher Chase and looks highly unlikely to be involved at the sharp end.

EVA’S OSKAR - ***

A fair staying chaser at a lower level, but didn’t seem to get home in the four-mile Eider Chase at Newcastle when beaten by some 18.5 lengths. His second to Corach Rambler at the back end of 2021 reads much better now, but I am not convinced by his stamina.

OUR POWER - ***

Was under pressure from three quarters of a mile out when staying on well to land the steeplechase at Kempton Park last time out. However, he only just held on by a fast diminishing neck that day.

DUNBOYNE - ***

Unlucky not to beat Carefully Selected in the Thyestes Chase, staying on really well, but then didn’t look as though stamina was his strong suit in the Kim Muir. I suspect he needs heavy ground to show his best form.

FRANCKY DU BERLAIS - *

Beaten 58 lengths in the Becher Chase here in December and although his trainer has a cracking record over these fences, this boy has too much to find.

FORTESCUE - ****

His two best runs have come left handed over a distance of ground. A strong finishing fourth in the Becher Chase was a particularly solid piece of form, and this extra mile will surely hold no terrors for him and he runs off only a 2lbs higher mark than for his last success.

BACK ON THE LASH - **

Was pulled up in the Cross Country Chase last time out when the excuse was the soft ground, so the weather forecast looks very much against him.

BORN BY THE SEA - *

Is certainly in the right age bracket, but has not shown enough form to warrant an interest here even off bottom weight.

Farringdon’s forecast:-

1/ Vanillier

2/ Delta Work

3/ Corach Rambler

4/ Gaillard du Mesnil

5/ Forescue

6/ Gabby’s Cross