Tim Vaughan is keen for Eva’s Oskar to have another crack at the Randox Grand National after Alan Johns was unseated when going well in the big race at Aintree.
The nine-year-old carried 10st 2lb and was going well when the partnership came to grief when hampered by Delta Work, who had similarly unseated at the 21st fence in the four-and-a-quarter-mile showpiece.
Vaughan is now keen to return to Aintree with Sally and Richard Prince’s gelding after the bold showing.
He said: “It was sickening really that he was off a low weight, we know he stays, we had him in the form of his life.
“I thought Alan had done a tremendous job to navigate his way to that point and done all the donkey work, then we get brought down or hampered by one of the favourites in the race – of all the horses in all the world, having come to Cheltenham here and won here twice (over the cross country course), you wouldn’t have thought would fall.
“It is just an unfortunate set of circumstances.”
The Vale of Glamorgan handler will now ponder options which include the Grand Sefton at Aintree, though he is keen to protect his official mark of 141.
Vaughan added: “Would you have finished in the first eight or 10? I thought it was a no-brainer he would have, because staying is his strength and off that weight and on that ground.
“What I do know is he took the fences brilliantly well and whether we aim now for the Sefton in December or try to keep him especially for the National, I don’t know yet – we’ll have to speak to the owners.
“But we are thrilled with him. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is nice to be back on the right tracks with the right horses and in the thick of it.
“He still looks a progressive horse. Make no mistake about it – I will try to protect his mark. That’s my job.
“Hopefully we will have another crack in it. We have a few others in the background that might blossom.”
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Animal rights protesters attempted to disrupt the Coral Scottish Grand National on Saturday.
Just seven days on from the scenes at Aintree which saw the Grand National delayed by around 15 minutes, a handful of people broke on to the track at Ayr before the scheduled 3.35pm start time of the big race.
However, as soon as they were on the track, the protesters – some pictured sporting pink Animal Rising T-shirts – were tackled by security staff and police and the matter was soon brought under control.
Protesters being detained by police (Jane Barlow/PA)
There was an increased security presence due to last week’s protest where 118 arrests were made by Merseyside Police.
Ayr’s managing director David Brown praised the swift action of the police and security teams on course.
He said: “The police and security dealt with it like the consummate professionals that they are.
“The race went off to time, there was no notable delay and the professionalism of the team up here in Scotland was a credit to them, they dealt with it in a very efficient manner.
“What a great race it was and a great story, for Christian Williams to win it for the second year in a row with Kitty’s Light, after he finished second last year. I think for me this is Scotland’s showpiece race and it all ran to time.”
A tweet from Police Scotland read: “We are responding to a protest which is ongoing at Ayr Racecourse this afternoon. A significant operation is under way to safely remove those involved. A number of arrests have been made and an increased police presence remains at the scene.”
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Willie Mullins has revealed Recite A Prayer is fine after suffering a fractured eye socket while running loose during the Randox Grand National.
The 80-1 shot was a first ride in the Aintree showpiece for Jack Foley and the duo were one of the first to rise at the opening fence which was ultimately the only obstacle they would jump in unison in the contest.
Although Recite A Prayer cleared it perfectly, Cloudy Glen on the eight-year-old’s outer was less proficient, sprawling on landing and crossing the Closutton inmate’s path in the process – subsequently knocking Foley out of the saddle.
Runners and riders at the start of the Randox Grand National Handicap Chase on day three of the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse (David Davies for The Jockey Club/PA)
Recite A Prayer continued to run loose with the remainder of the field until just before Valentine’s on the first circuit where the gelding leapt the inside running rail and made his way to the Aintree infield.
“Recite A Prayer fractured his eye socket,” said Mullins on Sunday afternoon.
“They have done a little procedure on him in the Equine Hospital in Liverpool and I just got news that everything is OK with him. He has a few little cuts and bruises, but nothing more.
“He got loose on the inside and had to pull up where all the barriers were. That’s something Aintree are going to have to look at.”
Mullins also reported all of the other Closutton National runners to be in full health following their exertions on Merseyside.
“Gaillard Du Mesnil ran a cracker yesterday and jumped well,” he continued.
“He was very tired after the race, but he is fine. The same goes for Carefully Selected. Capodanno pulled up after getting very tired, it was probably just the lack of a run.
Mr Incredible (pale blue, centre) jumps a fence during the Randox Grand National (David Davies for the Jockey Club/PA)
“Mr Incredible was unlucky, his saddle slipped. I didn’t really get a chance to talk to Brian (Hayes, jockey) yet. It didn’t look like he was going great but that’s Mr Incredible, he never looks like he is going great until the business end.”
Similar, however, cannot be said for stable jockey Paul Townend who is set for a few days on the sidelines following a fall from the ill-fated Dark Raven in one the precursors to the big-race.
He added: “Paul is very sore. He is arm is very sore after his fall from Dark Raven yesterday. He is going to take a day or two off.”
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Cape Gentleman will head to America to spend his retirement with owner Pierre Manigault having sustained a career-ending injury in the Randox Grand National.
Trained by John ‘Shark’ Hanlon, the seven-year-old was sent off at 100-1 for the Aintree marathon and was looking to follow in the footsteps of Sergeant Murphy who stormed to victory for Manigault’s great uncle, Stephen ‘Laddie’ Sandford in 1923.
Despite taking to the unique jumping test the famous spruce presents, Cape Gentleman struck into himself in between obstacles and was swiftly pulled up by jockey Jody McGarvey before the 14th.
Trainer John shark Hanlon is the trainer of Cape Gentleman (Niall Carson/PA)
Cape Gentleman was transferred to Liverpool Equine Hospital post-race and Hanlon has confirmed that although the gelding will not race again, he is set for what will be a happy retirement with his owner in South Carolina.
“He’s gone to the clinic in Liverpool and he will be operated on. His racing career is finished, but he will be saved,” said Hanlon.
“He will be coming back to me for five or six months and then he is going on to America to be retired with his owner.
“He is a very good owner and it is the first horse I have had for the man and we were all very upset yesterday. But he still had his head with him and he wanted the horse to live and said ‘we have plenty of land, he can have a good life over with me’. It’s a very good outcome.
“I would probably like to be out there myself because there is probably more sun than there would be in Ireland. I would say it is a good retirement and fair do’s to the man who owns him for allowing it to happen.”
Hanlon was also keen to stress how the injury sustained by Cape Gentleman had little to do with the race itself and was simply an unfortunate incident which could have happened anywhere – while also praising the veterinary team on-site at Aintree for their swift action and care.
“He stuck into himself, it wasn’t over a fence, he had jumped brilliantly,” continued the trainer.
“It happened on the flat and that could happen out in the field at home. It was nothing to do with the race, it could happen in your own field.
“The very minute the horse got hurt the vets were there with him. He was brought back into the stable yard, he was bandaged up and was in no pain and then taken to the clinic. From the moment the horse got his injury, the horse came first as it should.
The Irishman was also keen to condemn the animal rights activists who delayed the start of the National by almost 15 minutes.
Hanlon added: “It probably shouldn’t have happened (the protests), but listen you had thousands of people watching the Grand National and you had 150 eejits trying to stop it.
“That’s my thoughts on it and no matter what game you are at you are going to have begrudgers and those who don’t understand it. Definitely the people who were doing that yesterday don’t understand racing and don’t understand how these horses are cared for.
“Overall the last three days in Liverpool were absolutely brilliant and it is a credit to Aintree the way they had the ground and the way everything was done.”
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Gavin Cromwell will return to Aintree for next year’s Randox Grand National with Vanillier after the grey stayed on to take a superb second place behind Corach Rambler in the 175th running of the world’s most famous race.
The 20-1 shot came from well off the pace under Sean Flanagan and was running down the idling winner with every stride, although he could not bridge the gap, which was down to two and a quarter lengths at the line.
Cromwell admitted to feeling a mixture of pride and disappointment.
He said: “I suppose the way he stayed on at the finish, you have to be a little bit disappointed, but he was good.
“He was a little bit sticky over the first three or so and got caught a little bit further back than Sean would have liked, but he stayed on really well, albeit from a little bit too far back.
“You have to be happy. Coming back next year will definitely be the plan, absolutely.
“He might not be as well weighted, but he will benefit for the experience.”
Flanagan briefly felt he could have overhauled the winner.
“I tucked him in early and probably got caught further back than I wanted to be,” he added.
“He’s a really strong stayer and we probably didn’t go forward early enough, but he’s stayed on and it was a super run, and he jumped really well.
“I briefly thought we could catch Corach Rambler, but at the same time I knew I had a lot of ground to make up. I’m very happy with that.”
At 10-1, Gaillard Du Mesnil was one of the best-backed horses in the build-up to the four-and-a-quarter-mile marathon, one of five runners for trainer Willie Mullins.
Gaillard Du Mesnil was a fine third and will return next season (David Davies/PA)
Cheltenham’s National Hunt Chase winner stayed on to be third, having also made up plenty of ground under Paul Townend.
Mullins, who was at home recuperating after having a hip replacement operation, said the 10-1 chance, who was a further four and three-quarter lengths back in third, will also make his return to the National next season.
“Gaillard Du Mesnil ran a cracker, jumped well and I was very happy,” he said.
“He put up a terrific performance, one that probably says he should be aimed at it next year again, so we will see how things go.”
Carefully Selected finishing 14th under Michael O’Sullivan for Mullins, with Capodanno was pulled up and Recite A Prayer and Mr Incredible both unseating.
“Carefully Selected ran well as well, so we’re happy,” added Mullins. “Capodanno was going well until he just got too tired. Probably a lack of runs maybe.
“As far as we know all of ours are all right, which is great. Mr Incredible was very unlucky at the Canal Turn the second time. I thought he was going well. It looked like his saddle slipped and he unseated well after the fence, which he jumped OK. That is what we were told.
“Recite A Prayer went at the first. He jumped the first all right, but I think some horse cannoned into him after the first.”
Noble Yeats stayed on well to be fourth in defence of his crown (David Davies/PA)
Last year’s winner Noble Yeats (10-1), fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month, produced another fine run to fill the same position under Sean Bowen.
“He never touched a twig, he was foot perfect with that weight, 19lb higher – what an effort,” said Bowen.
“To get into the position he did was incredible considering he was off the bridle a long way out. He’s absolutely run his heart out.”
Owner Robert Waley-Cohen added of the eight-year-old: “I thought Sean gave him a fantastic ride. You need the odd break but he made no errors whatsoever, and he finished very strongly.
“Remember Corach Rambler was 10lb well-in. Our horse has given his all.”
Peter Fahey was “thrilled” with the performance of The Big Dog, who was a neck behind Noble Yeats in fifth.
The 12-1 shot travelled well throughout under Aidan Coleman, and Fahey is hopeful he will similarly return to Aintree for another crack at the prize.
He said: “We are thrilled with him. It was an absolutely brilliant run. He ran a cracker and he jumped brilliantly. There are no excuses, he was beaten fair and square. That’s all you’d want.
“He loved it, he travelled good and strong and did everything right the whole way through.
“He did himself proud, and the owners, too.
“He will go home now and get his summer break, then we will come back and make a plan, probably working around the National and trying to come back here again, especially when he took to it so well.”
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Corach Rambler was a superb winner of the Randox Grand National for trainer Lucinda Russell and jockey Derek Fox.
Successful at last month’s Cheltenham Festival, the nine-year-old was kept out of trouble throughout after starting as the 8-1 favourite, in a race that was delayed by around 15 minutes after protesters from Animal Rising got on to the track.
Corach Rambler wins the 2023 Randox Grand National! 🏆
He jumped into the lead over the last and pulled away when passing the elbow, holding off a closing Vanillier with Gaillard Du Mesnil third and last year’s winner Noble Yeats running a gallant race under his big weight in fourth.
It was a second victory in the world’s greatest steeplechase for Russell and Fox, after One For Arthur in 2017.
Russell said: “Those guys that went out to protest on the course, they think it’s about horse welfare but that horse loves the sport. He loves everything that he does. He’s kept in the best condition and I’m just so delighted that he can run in a race like that and perform like that.
“He has got greatness and it’s what he deserves. Corach Rambler, in our hearts, is just the best horse. Now in the public hearts he is as well. To win the National, I know how important it is, I know how it changed my life with (One For) Arthur – for Corach to achieve that too is just fantastic.
Corach Rambler poses after the race (Peter Byrne/PA)
“It’s all about the horse, for me it’s not about the betting – though I did back him and quite a lot actually!
“I hope those guys who were protesting will look at our website and our Facebook posts and see how they are looked after. It is so important they understand how we care for them every inch of the way.
“It is about Corach, he is just amazing. He took to those fences brilliantly, he understood them, he worked them out – he loved it.”
Fox had sat out the first two days of the meeting in order to recover from injury in time to ride Corach Rambler.
He said: “He is just the most wonderful thing ever, he deserved to win this. I got a fall last week and banged my shoulder, it was far from ideal. I was worried all week, I thank God I was back in time because it was the thrill of my life to ride him.
“It’s thanks to the support of Lucinda and Scu (Peter Scudamore, assistant trainer and Russell’s partner) for having the faith in me to put me up after not riding all week. I feel very lucky to be working for these great people.
“I think he’d the profile and he’s loads of class – I just can’t believe it.”
Cameron Sword, Thomas Kendall, and Derek Fox celebrate after winning the National (Peter Byrne/PA)
Cameron Sword, a 21-year-old student who forms part of the winning ownership syndicate, The Ramblers, said: “Derek rode a blinder!
“He was leading, he was at the front for most of that race, and we were thinking he should be a bit further back, but Derek Fox rode a blinder. And Corach Rambler – what a horse. I’m lost for words.
“How can people be protesting against horse racing when your protests are making these horses wait out in the sun for even longer? It makes no sense. They can do one – this is our sport and I love it.
“I’ll be out in Liverpool tonight!”
Out of 39 runners, 17 horses finished the race with the Sandy Thomson-trained Hill Sixteen suffering a fatal fall at the first fence.
Dickon White, who runs Aintree as North-West Regional Director for Jockey Club Racecourses, said: “Hill Sixteen was immediately attended by expert veterinary professionals during the Grand National, but sadly sustained a fatal injury. Our heartfelt condolences are with his connections.”
Recite a Prayer and Cape Gentleman were also assessed on course by veterinary teams, with both horses reported to have walked onto the horse ambulance for further examination in the stables.
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Gordon Elliott is sweet on Delta Work as he goes in search of a joint-record fourth victory in Randox Grand National on Saturday.
The master of Cullentra was a fresh-faced and relatively unknown 29-year-old when first claiming the world’s most famous steeplechase with Silver Birch in 2007. But he is now very much established as one of National Hunt racing’s elite trainers.
Elliott has fond memories of that day 16 years ago, but does not believe Silver Birch’s triumph was a major factor in his meteoric rise through the ranks.
Gordon Elliott with Silver Birch (Niall Carson/PA)
“I didn’t get one horse out of training Silver Birch. I got my name out after that, but I had to prove I could go and train winners,” he said.
“We trained an awful of mid-range winners in the north of England after Silver Birch and that is what really got us going. That got a lot of owners on board to get us in a great position.”
Elliott was a household name by the time his second National winner came around, with the hugely-popular Tiger Roll striking gold in 2018.
Also a five-time winner at the Cheltenham Festival, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding became an Aintree legend by making it back-to-back victories in 2019.
Those triumphs have put Elliott on the verge of joining George Dockeray, Fred Rimell and Red Rum’s trainer Ginger McCain as a four-time winner.
Elliott added: “The Grand National has been a special race to me and I have won it three times. Obviously, I would love to win it again. Hopefully, I have at least another 20 or 30 years of my training career left, so hopefully it will happen at some stage.
“I rode around Aintree a few times and broke my arm the last time I rode there on a horse called Sheltering for Edward O’Grady (in the 2003 Fox Hunters’ Chase).
“I didn’t have much luck there as a rider, but I was just an ordinary amateur and enjoyed it. I like training a lot more.”
The shortest-priced of Elliott’s five-strong team is Delta Work, who denied Tiger Roll the fairytale ending to his career in the cross-country chase at last year’s Cheltenham Festival before finishing third in the Grand National.
The 10-year-old successfully defended his crown at Cheltenham last month and Elliott is confident he will be in the thick of the action again on his return to Aintree.
He said: “If I had to pick a horse to ride this year, it would be Delta Work. He got a little bit far back early last year, but ran a very good race.
“He was a bit careful, but he is in great form now and we couldn’t be happier with him.”
Elliott’s second string appears to be Galvin, who was runner-up to Delta Work at Cheltenham just over four weeks ago and will be ridden by Davy Russell, who steered Tiger Roll to his two National wins.
Russell came out of retirement to stand in for the sidelined Jack Kennedy earlier in the season and it would be a fitting end to his riding career if he can go out on a blaze of glory.
Galvin will be ridden by Davy Russell (Donall Farmer/PA)
Elliott, who also runs Dunboyne (Jack Tudor), Fury Road (Jonjo O’Neill Jnr) and Coko Beach (Harry Cobden), added: “With Galvin, the drier the ground, the better chance he has.
“He will have come on a lot from Cheltenham and is in good form. We are very, very happy with him.”
The horse bidding to emulate Tiger Roll by securing back-to-back Grand National wins is the Emmet Mullins-trained Noble Yeats.
The eight-year-old gave distinguished amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen the perfect send-off last year, returning to Aintree to win the Many Clouds Chase in December before finishing third and fourth in the Cotswold Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup respectively.
Mullins is hoping Sean Bowen can repeat Waley-Cohen’s tactics from 12 months ago, saying: “He was last over the first last time. He wasn’t in contention for the first two miles, but it all worked out in his favour.
Noble Yeats and Sam Waley-Cohen winning last year’s Grand National (David Davies/PA)
“There’s no rule of thumb for it, it’s just getting the horse happy and confident in a bit of space and running into the gaps. It’ll probably have to be the brave man’s route to get that space. He negotiated it last year and fingers crossed he can do it again.
“I think he’s getting a bit wiser every time and looking after himself a bit more. He’s just holding a bit back for himself, but hopefully we can get it out of him.
“Just a bit of space is ideal for him, it’s going to be hard in a National with 40 runners but I suppose I’ll just keep telling Sean to go back and look at Sam’s ride last year.”
In a market otherwise dominated by the Irish, the clear outlier is Lucinda Russell’s Corach Rambler.
It is six years since Russell’s One For Arthur became only the second Scottish-trained winner of the Aintree showpiece, after Rubstic in 1979, and there is no doubt her latest contender has a lot going for him.
Corach Rambler lines up officially 10lb well-in at the weights, with the handicapper unable to penalise him for his successful defence of the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival last month, and his trainer feels he provides her with a “fantastic chance” of bagging a second National.
“It was funny really because going in I didn’t expect to win at Cheltenham at all, I certainly didn’t expect him to win as he did,” said the Kinross handler.
“We knew that he had improved this season and before the race we knew that he had improved, so it was exciting to see him be able to go on and win like that. But the slightly scary thing is, I think he has improved again.
“Scu (Peter Scudamore, Russell’s partner) rode him just afterwards and he said that he had come out of that race so well. So if he can do (improve again), Aintree is the race for him.”
Stamina is Corach Rambler’s strong suit and with just 10st 5lb on his back, and One For Arthur’s rider Derek Fox set to return from injury just in time to take the ride, everything points to a huge run.
“Technically, if you look at it, he is extremely well in on the handicap,” Russell added.
“He’s gone up in the weights since Cheltenham and I think he has improved as well. From that point of view, technically, I think has got a fantastic chance.
“He has to take to the fences, he has to take to the whole Aintree experience, but again I am pretty confident that he will do that.”
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Saturday sees the 175th running of the Grand National at Aintree.
Corach Rambler currently heads the betting but here, the PA news agency runs through the entire field.
1. ANY SECOND NOW (Ted Walsh) Rating (out of 10) 7 Third in 2021 and runner-up last year, he bids to go one better for a trainer who has a good record in the race. This classy performer must buck history, for not since 1899 has an 11-year-old managed to win race carrying as much weight.
Any Second Now has a good Aintree record (Brian Lawless/PA)
2. NOBLE YEATS (Emmet Mullins) 9 A shock 50-1 winner last year, his Gold Cup fourth was a good effort and while he carries over a stone more than last year, age and experience are on his side.
3. GALVIN (Gordon Elliott) 9 Talented but inconsistent recently, stamina is seemingly not a problem for this Grade One winner who landed Cheltenham’s National Hunt Chase two years ago and finished fourth in the Gold Cup last year. Always regarded as National prospect.
4. FURY ROAD (Gordon Elliott) 6 A solid jumper who represents the same connections as dual winner Tiger Roll. A Grade One-winning novice chaser, he did seem to run out of steam when third in the Irish Gold Cup and was well held in the Ryanair at Cheltenham.
5. THE BIG DOG (Peter Fahey) 7 Bounced back this season to take the Munster National and the Troytown at Navan, and was placed in the Welsh National. Led to three out in the Irish Gold Cup but uncharacteristically fell at the penultimate fence. Each-way claims.
6. CAPODANNO (Willie Mullins) 5 Owned by JP McManus, he bids to become only the second seven-year-old to win the National since Bogskar in 1940 after Noble Yeats last year. A Grade One winner but lacks experience and stamina is unproven.
7. DELTA WORK (Gordon Elliott) 7 Having denied stablemate Tiger Roll a fairytale farewell at Cheltenham last year, he followed up again in the same race last month beating Galvin. A distant third in this last year, he is slightly better off at the weights this time.
8. SAM BROWN (Anthony Honeyball) 6 Beaten just four lengths by Bravemansgame at Wetherby, he had not looked his best in two subsequent chase starts on unsuitable ground. Promising signs over hurdles at Uttoxeter and has won over regulation fences at Aintree before.
9. LIFETIME AMBITION (Jessica Harrington) 8 Only once out of the first four in 22 starts for his astute trainer. Likes to be up with the pace and has shown best form on soft ground. Fourth in the Grand Sefton on his first try over these fences. Could have a say if he sees out the trip.
10. CAREFULLY SELECTED (Willie Mullins) 7 Lightly-raced 11-year-old who justified favouritism in the Thyestes at Gowran on only his second run back after 30 months off. Has a touch of class and should go well if his jumping holds up.
11. COKO BEACH (Gordon Elliott) 8 Up with the pace before tiring from two out to finish eighth last year. Stronger this year, he jumped well when cosily taking the Punchestown Grand National Trial and his trainer’s runners must always be respected. Live outsider.
12. LONGHOUSE POET (Martin Bassil) 10 A fair sixth in 2022 despite racing with the choke out for much of the contest. Has had his mark protected with three hurdle runs this term by a trainer who won in 2006 with Numbersixvalverde. Prefers ease in the ground and if settling, holds strong claims.
13. GAILLARD DU MESNIL (Willie Mullins) 7 Opened his account over fences in a Grade One at Leopardstown over Christmas and stayed on from well off the pace to get up in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. Improver, though this may come a year too soon.
14. DARASSO (Joseph O’Brien) 3 Chased home Hewick in the Galway Plate but has never won beyond two and three-quarter miles. Not one for the shortlist.
Gordon Elliott has six runners (David Davies/PA)
15. LE MILOS (Dan Skelton) 8 Has come into his own this season, winning a decent renewal of what used to be the Hennessy Gold Cup. Jumps, stays and has a decent weight, so ticks plenty of boxes for a trainer who knows the time of day. Leading chance.
16. ESCARIA TEN (Gordon Elliott) 4 Beaten a nose by Any Second Now in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse last season but stamina limitations were exposed, not for the first time, when weakening late to finish ninth in the National last year.
17. THE BIG BREAKAWAY (Joe Tizzard) 7 Produced some decent form this season, including a another narrow defeat in the Welsh Grand National. Jumps, stays and has a decent weight. Potential to run a big race, provided his Cheltenham run did not take too much out of him.
18. CAPE GENTLEMAN (John Joseph Hanlon) 3 A fair novice chaser who has shown little in recent runs to inspire much confidence, but represents a very capable trainer.
19. ROI MAGE (Patrick Griffin) 7 Ex-French Grade Three winner who really upped his game on anything he had previously shown for his current yard in conceding 5lb when a gallant runner-up to Longhouse Poet at Down Royal. Could be a player at decent odds.
20. DIOL KER (Noel Meade) 6 One win in 13 over fences came in the Leinster National. Blinkers helped when short-headed in a valuable Leopardstown handicap but disappointed since. Capable of better for his savvy trainer, however stamina doubts remain.
21. A WAVE OF THE SEA (Joseph O’Brien) 4 Represents powerful connections and young enough to think there is improvement to come. Three chase wins have all come over two and a half miles or shorter, though, and was pulled up in the Grand Annual last time out.
22. MINELLA TRUMP (Donald McCain) 5 Rattled up a six-timer as a novice in 2021 and won Perth Gold Cup in June. Last over seven over hurdles on recent comeback.
23. VANILLIER (Gavin Cromwell) 6 Clearly has class, but not proven so good over fences, with a sole success coming in a weak four-runner Grade Two. Runner-up finish to Kemboy in the Bobbyjo showed improvement, but trip is a concern.
24. VELVET ELVIS (Thomas Gibney) 3 Two wins from 10 over fences have both come at three miles. Close-up sixth in the Irish Grand National last April and second to Any Second Now when last seen. Another for whom this looks too soon.
25. AIN’T THAT A SHAME (Henry De Bromhead) 6 Was close up in the Munster National and Paddy Power Chase before getting off the mark over fences at the seventh time of asking. Inexperience is the drawback for this lightly-raced improver from a top yard.
26. CORACH RAMBLER (Lucinda Russell) 8 Dual winner at Cheltenham, he bids to give the Scottish yard its second win in the race after One For Arthur in 2017. Had a hard race when winning at Cheltenham again, but always been regarded as a horse tailor-made for this race.
Corach Rambler leads the betting (Andrew Milligan/PA)
27. ENJOY D’ALLEN (Ciaran Murphy) 3 Third in the Irish National two years ago is as good as it has got. Unseated at the first last year and has shown little subsequently, yet cannot be discounted given his connections.
28. MR INCREDIBLE (Willie Mullins) 7 Relished the step up to three miles and five furlongs when chasing home Iwilldoit in heavy ground at Warwick. A fine third in the Kim Muir, he could win but equally could plant his feet at the start.
29. MISTER COFFEY (Nicky Henderson) 5 Did not appear to take to the fences in the Topham, but ran a cracker to be third in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. His master trainer may have to wait a while longer to win the one big race missing from his CV.
30. CLOUDY GLEN (Venetia Williams) 6 Former Coral (Hennessy) Gold Cup winner who finished third to stablemate Quick Wave on his first run following over a year off at Haydock in February. Pulled up subsequently in the Ultima. Stays well and soft ground would aid his chance.
31. HILL SIXTEEN (Sandy Thomson) 6 Last season’s Becher Chase runner-up was seventh in this year’s renewal of that race. More needed, though an assured jumper and no forlorn hope at big odds.
32. GABBYS CROSS (Henry De Bromhead) 6 Quick enough to win over two and a half miles as a novice, he had plenty of support when eighth in the Thyestes at Gowran Park. Followed that with a fine third in the Leinster National. Handles soft ground and should stay.
33. RECITE A PRAYER (Willie Mullins) 4 Cork National third needs to improve on his last two runs. Will likely stay, but in his own time.
34. EVA’S OSKAR (Tim Vaughan) 5 Was in good form earlier this season and put up a career-best in winning at Cheltenham in December. A distant Eider fourth was a fine effort under top-weight at Newcastle, but the grey needs to find a little more.
35. OUR POWER (Sam Thomas) 7 A tidy, accurate jumper who is well handicapped on the back of wins at Ascot and Kempton. Trainer does well with staying chasers and every chance of going well.
Noble Yeats won in 2022 (Steven Paston/PA)
36. DUNBOYNE (Gordon Elliott) 6 In good form this year. Came close to landing the Thyestes Chase before a decent effort when fourth in the Kim Muir. Will need to bely his relative inexperience to be a factor.
37. FRANCKY DU BERLAIS (Peter Bowen) 2 Easily held in the Becher and while he took well to Cheltenham’s cross-country course on his penultimate start, he refused after running well for a long way the second time. Plenty to find.
38. FORTESCUE (Henry Daly) 3 Becher fourth is the only worthwhile form shown this term and was going backwards when unseating four out last year.
39. BACK ON THE LASH (Martin Keighley) 4 Part-owned by Harry Redknapp, if transferring his liking for Cheltenham’s cross-country course to these iconic fences, he is not without hope. Should stay, yet perhaps lacks a touch of class.
40. BORN BY THE SEA (Paul John Gilligan) 1 Massive stamina doubts having spent the large majority of his career racing over shorter and even that form leaves him with plenty to find.
VERDICT:
Another wide-open renewal of the world’s most famous steeplechase in which Irish trainers have provided four of the last five winners.
Strength in numbers means it is worth siding with the Irish raiders again. While Gordon Elliott, who scored with Tiger Roll in 2020 and 2021, is well positioned with several live chances, Martin Brassil also knows what it takes to win this and in LONGHOUSE POET he has a horse with many of the right credentials. A little too keen last year, he has been primed for this all season and if keeping clear of trouble near the head of affairs again, he is expected to run a huge race.
All distances seem to come alike to Noble Yeats, who has done little wrong since scoring last year. History is against him, but he is one for the shortlist again, especially as there has been sufficient recovery time from his Gold Cup exploits.
Picking the best of Elliott’s bunch is no easy task, although Galvin has a touch of class and could run into a place. Lifetime Ambition is wholly consistent and, if taking to the course, might take some valuable prize-money for Jessica Harrington.
Corach Rambler, Le Milos, Roi Mage and Vanillier and are all of interest, but could just miss out on the placings.
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A spokesperson for Animal Rising has said its planned protest at Aintree on Grand National day is “the first of a campaign of events over the summer”.
Earlier this month The Mail On Sunday reported more than 100 activists had signed up to take part in a demonstration on April 15 with the aim of disrupting the big-race itself, which sees a full field of 40 head to post at 5.15pm.
The report said protesters planned to form a human barricade across the track at Aintree after sneaking into the event with ladders and bolt cutters.
Merseyside Police has said it has “a robust policing plan in place” for the meeting, and speaking to TalkSPORT, Alex Lockwood of the Extinction Rebellion offshoot confirmed a protest will begin at 9.30am outside the course.
Stewards on an entrance wait for racegoers during day one of the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse (Peter Byrne/PA)
He said: “We want to go there and stop the harm and what we are asking people to do is come and join us from 9.30am outside of the gates and protest, as we are allowed to do, and see if we can disrupt the race.
“We don’t believe that horse racing is right and we want to stop the harm.
“We don’t think it is right that business goes on as usual when animals are being harmed. We are sorry for the disruption but we stand by our morals. We believe horse racing is a dying industry – we’re helping it into retirement.
“We could stand outside and be polite and hand out fliers, but that has never stopped anything. We need to have a massive public conversation about our relationship with animals and this is the first of a campaign of events over the summer to really bring attention to, and shine a spotlight on, our treatment of animals.”
Officials at Aintree said they recognised the right of the protestors to peacefully demonstrate and outlined their willingness to work with the relevant authorities to ensure this can happen.
“We’ve obviously been in regular meetings over the past six months about this and it has focussed a little bit of minds in the last few weeks,” said Dickon White, North West Regional Director for Jockey Club Racecourses who own the Merseyside track.
“But we absolutely appreciate if people want to come here and peacefully demonstrate, then they have the right to do that and we will work with the police and security teams to allow that to happen.”
A spokesperson for the British Horseracing Authority said: “While we respect the rights of anyone to protest safely and legally, we condemn any action which is illegal, especially if it puts at risk the safety of horses, jockeys, officials or fans.”
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Ante-post favourite Corach Rambler heads a full field of 40 for Saturday’s Randox Grand National at Aintree.
Derek Fox has been declared to ride the dual Ultima Chase winner after recovering from a minor injury, with the jockey and trainer Lucinda Russell bidding for a second National success following One For Arthur’s triumph in 2017.
Next best in the betting is Delta Work, who is one of six contenders in the final field for trainer Gordon Elliott. The Cullentra House handler also fields the Davy Russell-ridden Galvin, Fury Road, Coko Beach, Escaria Ten and Dunboyne.
Noble Yeats triumphed last year under Sam Waley-Cohen (Steven Paston/PA)
Last year’s victor Noble Yeats defends his title for Emmet Mullins, with Sean Bowen in the plate this time after Sam Waley-Cohen famously retired on passing the Aintree winning post 12 months ago.
Willie Mullins’ five-strong strong team is headed by Gaillard Du Mesnil – a last-gasp winner of the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham – with Capodanno, Mr Incredible, Carefully Selected and Recite A Prayer also in the line up.
Paul Townend has opted to ride Gaillard Du Mesnil with leading conditional Michael O’Sullivan handed his first Grand National assignment aboard Carefully Selected.
The field is dominated by Irish-trained contenders with Any Second Now, The Big Dog, Longhouse Poet, Lifetime Ambition and Vanillier other prominent challengers.
Le Milos (centre) represents Dan and Harry Skelton (John Walton/PA)
Aside from Corach Rambler, only the Dan Skelton-trained Le Milos is shorter than 20-1 to keep the prize in Britain this time around.
Other home-trained hopes include The Big Breakaway for Joe Tizzard, Mister Coffey from Nicky Henderson’s yard and Back On The Lash, a winner over Cheltenham’s cross-country course for trainer Martin Keighley.
The last horse to make the cut for the race is Born By The Sea.
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