Ahead of the 2018 Grand National weights being revealed on February 13, we take a look at five horses to follow for this season’s renewal of the Aintree showpiece.
Who are the some of the possible contenders who could be going in for the 4m 2f Merseyside marathon on April 14? These are some Grand National horses to follow.
Blaklion
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Becher Chase winner Blaklion heads the ante-post betting with William Hill at 10/1 following his victory over the National fences at a shorter trip in December. This nine-year-old has never finished outside the first four in as many career starts at Aintree, so clearly loves the track.
Although only fourth in last year’s Grand National to One For Arthur, he may have been produced by jockey Noel Fehily to take up the running too early. Gavin Sheehan rode Blaklion with more restraint in the Becher, having partnered him to be a creditable half-a-length runner-up to stablemate Bristol De Mai in the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on seasonal reappearance.
With a 9lb rise in weight from the 2017 National (and 8lb from the Becher) to defy, former RSA Chase winner Blaklion still looks the one to beat at Aintree this spring.
Cause Of Causes
As the Grand National second last season, Gordon Elliott and JP McManus’ Cause Of Causes has leading claims too. Don’t be put off by a poor return to action when well-beaten in a Grade A handicap at the inaugural Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown in February as this horse needs his first run in a season to strip fitter.
The handicapper may cut three-time Cheltenham Festival victor Cause Of Causes further slack for that lacklustre display, but even if he doesn’t a mark of 152 is only 2lb higher than the rating he raced off in last season’s National. At 25/1, this 10-year-old is strong each-way value for powerful Irish connections once again.
The Last Samuri
A horse with plenty of experience of those unique Grand National fences is Kim Bailey’s The Last Samuri. He was runner-up in 2016 to Rule The World and still completed this gruelling test at Aintree again under top weight last year. It’s 20/1 The Last Samuri makes its third time lucky at Aintree.
It’s been a highly respectable campaign for this Paul and Clare Rooney owned 10-year-old this season so far. The Last Samuri ran in a hurdle race on reappearance before finishing second to Blaklion in the Becher and then a closing fourth behind Bristol De Mai, American and Definitly Red in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day.
Total Recall
Ladbrokes Trophy winner Total Recall is unbeaten since joining master Irish trainer Willie Mullins, but connections are waiting to see what weight their horse is given by the handicapper before deciding whether to take up the entry. He is 16/1 second-favourite in the Grand National betting.
Prior to his Newbury success in the race formerly known as the Hennessy Gold Cup, Total Recall took the Munster National on debut for Mullins. The nine-year-old also landed a Grade B handicap hurdle at Leopardstown last time out to prevent any rustiness.
Vyta Du Roc
What a season Vyta Du Roc’s owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede are enjoying. Although this particular horse of theirs was well-beaten in three hurdles outings at Aintree, Nicky Henderson’s charge is entered in the Grand National Trial at Haydock. He is 33/1 ante-post for the big race itself in April.
That suggests connections are seriously considering Vyta Du Roc for a tilt at the big prize, provided he performs well in this prep run. The nine-year-old put another below-par performance in the Ladbrokes Trophy behind him last time out with an impressive victory and round of jumping in a staying handicap at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
