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2026 Grand National

archie said:
What do you think the cut-off mark will be? Probably get a better idea after scratchings on the 24th but it could be relatively well up the 140s.
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Not sure archie.
I was way off with Cheltenham as they all seemed to declare, but in normal years we'd get around half a dozen pull out over the next three weeks, but then we will have the ground dependent ones much nearer the time, and this may be a few or not many at all if the forecast is not extreme.
I'd be surprised if all the ones rated 147 didn't get a run.
So my best guess down to about No 42,43.
Unfortunately the big Irish yards and owners are monopolising it these days
 
Just to touch on the handicapper.

The cross country ratings and how they handle this going forward needs looking at.
You have a horse like Final orders who has ran three times over the cross country course at Cheltenham, against pretty much the same horses each time, and many of which are elders or on the downgrade, or French horses hard to assess.

Yet if his new performance rating of 157 is (as per usual) replicated as his official rating he has gone up from 138 to 157, for 2 wins by 4l and 2l and a 16l defeat.
Seems harsh.

Favori de champdou, who is 11 years old has also been given a performance rating of 162 for his Cheltenham 2nd. Meaning he has risen 13lb for his last 2 runs over C&D.

I know they finished well ahead of the third but still.

Seems daft that running in these cross country races puts you into graded rating territory, when we know they aren't.
 
archie said:
Cheltenham showed us that when all the form is on soft ground or worse, you can get surprises on quicker ground. I wouldn't be backing anything until we have a better idea of the likely going but, as it stands, my long list is the ones who ran in the Bobbyjo. If I had to do a shorter list I'd probably go with
Grangeclare West
Captain Cody
Lecky Watson
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….as a local, Archie, I will say that even during the summer, the ground there tends to be quite lush. There’s a footy pitch in the centre and even during the driest spells it always took a stud.
 
Eggs said:
….as a local, Archie, I will say that even during the summer, the ground there tends to be quite lush. There’s a footy pitch in the centre and even during the driest spells it always took a stud.
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I consider myself a semi-local having lived in the Wirral or North Wales for over 30 years. What I would say is that the drainage at Aintree ain't great and the course is vulnerable to late rain - I refer members of the jury to Little Polveir and Red Marauder. However, I also remember that the year after Little Polveir we had Mr Frisk on ground which absolutely didn't take a stud.

I'm not saying that the going will be anything other than 'magnolia' good to soft, just that I wouldn't be having a bet until I'd seen a 10 day forecast at the start of April.
 
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…..Matt Brocklebank;

‘One week on and I’m convinced we saw JP McManus’s principal Randox Grand National hope at the Cheltenham Festival.

Aintree regular (and current joint-favourite with a few firms) I Am Maximus obviously skipped the meeting entirely while for all the column inches taken up by Ultima trio Jagwar, Iroko and slightly overlooked winner Johnnywho, it’s not one of the handicappers who sits top of my Aintree hit-list.

Oscars Brother has never even run in a handicap chase, and by my reckoning he might only get one chance to do so before the season is out, but Connor King’s horse produced a fantastic effort when a staying-on fourth behind Kitzbuhel, Final Demand and Salver in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, and as a lightly-raced eight-year-old novice he very much fits the mould of a modern-day National winner.

Having outstayed Koktail Divin in Punchestown’s Florida Pearl before Christmas, and outjumped and outclassed The Wallpark when making all in the Ten Up at Navan, Oscars Brother proved easy enough to back at Cheltenham but arguably put in the perfect prep race – his sixth qualification run, don't forget – with Aintree in mind, especially as he’s now proven beyond doubt he can handle what had become lively enough conditions by the Wednesday afternoon.’
 
Quevega said:
Just to touch on the handicapper.

The cross country ratings and how they handle this going forward needs looking at.
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I agree.

In my opinion Cross Country ratings should have their own place, away from any other rating. It's a race like no other, and only 3 (I think) a year in Britain. It can't be hard to do!
 
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Really hope Johnnywho gets in. Think he’s tailor made for this test and would be confident he upholds the form with Jagwar.

Hopefully McLernon keeps the ride also.
 
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Luke95 said:
Really hope Johnnywho gets in. Think he’s tailor made for this test and would be confident he upholds the form with Jagwar.

Hopefully McLernon keeps the ride also.
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….from what I can see he’s one of four on 146 which just crept in last year but it’s going to be tight.
 

Finally, give us a horse for Aintree please that caught the eye at Cheltenham?​

Ben Linfoot: It’s a Dan Skelton one, obviously. BOOMBAWN. While all eyes were on Madara tanking away with the Plate, stablemate Boombawn tootled round very nicely for ninth and he’s starting to look well handicapped, certainly with Aintree in mind. He’s won a handicap hurdle in Liverpool, was a close-up fourth in the Grade 1 Manifesto and ditto the Old Roan earlier in the campaign. He’s in the Topham, I’d imagine he’ll be entered in a handicap chase over the Mildmay fences, too, and whichever race he runs in at Aintree he’s going to be of interest.

John Ingles: REGENT'S STROLL should make a bold bid in one of the novice chases at Aintree and even though he’s quite a keen sort, he looks worth a try stepping up in trip for the Mildmay. He didn’t get to take up his usual front-running role in the bigger field for the Jack Richards at Cheltenham, but he settled better as a result getting a lead and stayed on for third behind Meetmebythesea as though further might suit, being from the family of Denman after all. His sound jumping will make him hard to peg back around Aintree, and he only just failed to make all when caught late by Honesty Policy in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s meeting.

Tony McFadden: I thought JAGWAR ran a remarkable race to finish within half a length of Johnnywho when runner-up in the Ultima Handicap Chase and is now a leading contender for the Grand National. His jumping let him down at Cheltenham, and back in the day that would have had alarm bells ringing with Aintree in mind. But modifications mean that the Grand National course is no longer the formidable jumping test of old. The way Jagwar stormed up the hill, despite failing to jump fluently and forfeiting ground going wide, marked him out as a very talented horse who is still some way ahead of the handicapper.
 

cromwell leaning towards national for Final Orders, Perceval and Now is the Hour.
Casey also talking bout cheltenham also, he thinks maybe arkle for King rasko, which makes the 25-1 interesting.
good mention for the topham - will the wise 14-1 (looks like he might only get 2lbs vs 10lbs for madara)
 
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Quevega said:

cromwell leaning towards national for Final Orders, Perceval and Now is the Hour.
Casey also talking bout cheltenham also, he thinks maybe arkle for King rasko, which makes the 25-1 interesting.
good mention for the topham - will the wise 14-1 (looks like he might only get 2lbs vs 10lbs for madara)
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Went in again on him when Hills pushed him out to 40's!
 
…..with Resplendent Grey out, be interesting to see if S Bowen gets a ride.
 
….i live not too far away from the course, so will keep an eye on the weather for those interested. Generally been fine and dry but we’re forecast quite a deluge this week which could be welcome with a few weeks to go.
 
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Joseph O’Brien could be double-handed in the Randox Grand National at Aintree next month with Banbridge and Jordans.

The 10-year-old Banbridge has winning form at the Merseyside track after winning the Grade One Manifesto Novices’ Chase in 2023 but he is without a win since the King George in 2024.

O’Brien said: “He (Banbridge) came out of Cheltenham (where he was third in the Ryanair Chase) good. I’d say he could go to Aintree for the National.

“I think he might. We’ll keep his options open and a decision will be made late. We’ll discuss it with (owner) Ronnie (Bartlett) and see what he’d like to do.

“We’re leaning towards that at the moment. He loves the track and if it was three miles I’d fancy him!”

Jordans has been somewhat out of sorts this season but O’Brien feels the better ground on Merseyside can bring out the best in the seven-year-old.

“Jordans will run as well. A bit of nice ground would help him,” said O’Brien.

“I was a bit disappointed with him the last day but I think up in trip on better ground will help. He has a nice weight (10st 8lb) on his back.”

Regarding possible other Aintree runners O’Brien said: “Solness might run in the Topham and Home By The Lee could run in the Liverpool Hurdle, he came out of the race well in Cheltenham.”
 
In what world is Banbridge winning the National. They've just ducked the GC because he doesn't stay it
 
Grey Dawning
Gentlemansgame
Western Fold
Better Days Ahead
Croke Park
Search For Glory
Handstands
Pic Roc
Leave Of Absence
Resplendent Grey

All scratched today.

Panic Attack is now number 34 and in, along with Final Orders.
 
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