Today marks the third and final day of the Aintree Festival and the main event of the Liverpool meeting, the Grand National itself, is the highlight alongside three more Grade 1s and some competitive handicaps on a card that is jam-packed with quality.
In the big race, they will jump 30 obstacles over the course of the 4m2½f trip. You need everything to go in your favour to win the showpiece and plenty of class will be required this year, as it’s a quality field.
A grand total of 38 runners have been declared, although a maximum of 34 will go to post, and our expert has picked out a couple of selections to follow.
These include a Gavin Cromwell runner and he has several excellent chances to add the National to his CV this year.
Selection: Perceval Legallois @ 17/2 with BetMGM
Next Best: Nick Rockett @ 22/1 with bet365
Can Ireland dominate once again?
Irish-trained runners fill seven of the first eight spots in the market and with that in mind, they’re clearly expected to dominate once again. Iroko, Hyland and Kandoo Kid are the most likely to provide some competition.
The former has been targeted at this race for a long time and Coral Gold Cup winner Kandoo Kid is the leading hope for Paul Nicholls as Harry Cobden rides, having had five to pick from. This could be a year too soon for novice Hyland and trainer Nicky Henderson is yet to win the race.
Stumptown is very effective over Cheltenham’s cross-country course and many of those skills are transferable, including enough stamina to stay 3m5½f at Cheltenham.
Last year’s winner I Am Maximus has a tough task off top weight but shouldn’t be discounted.
The likes of Hewick, Vanillier, Intense Raffles and Minella Cocooner all have some sort of chance too and it should be a cracking watch.
Perceval Legallois has the right profile
Gavin Cromwell is having an unbelievable season so far and Grand National success would top it off emphatically. He finds it hard to split his three runners and you can certainly see why. Perceval Legallois has been very progressive so far this season and he has the right profile here.
An easy winner of a seemingly competitive handicap chase over 3m½f at Leopardstown over Christmas, there was plenty to like about that performance. Connections decided to mind his mark afterwards but that didn’t stop him from winning another decent pot over hurdles last time out.
A mark of 153 doesn’t look beyond him on the evidence that we’ve seen so far this season and it’s potentially telling that Mark Walsh has sided with him over McManus’ other runners.
Grand National Betting Tip 1: Perceval Legallois @ 17/2 with BetMGM
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Nick Rockett could defy a big weight
Life won’t be easy for Nick Rockett off a mark of 163 but Patrick Mullins’ mount might just have enough class to defy a massive weight.
There was loads to like about his Bobbyjo Chase success at Fairyhouse last time out and that race is a recognised Grand National trial.
Willie Mullins’ gelding was a staying on third in the bet365 Gold Cup last year and that effort offers hope that this even longer trip will suit. Having also won the Thyestes chase this season, connections haven’t protected his mark too much but that may not stop him from running a big race.
Grand National Betting Tip 2: Nick Rockett @ 22/1 with bet365
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