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2026 Grand National

And with 4 clear weeks next year between Cheltenham and Aintree, what more for trainers who've won both but to go for the double. Tough, but possible

What hasn't been mentioned anywhere from what I can see is that those horses had a tough race on going a lot faster than most of them would have liked. Will have left it's mark on them.

Just look at the performances since for all those that ran in the King George.
 
Just amended this thread, to this years Grand National, rather than create a new thread every year, especially as this one is hardly used anyway.

Anyway, the reason for doing so because I think I've found the next 100/1 Venetia Williams winner, in L'homme Presse.

I assume he's going to turn up, and for anyone that wasn't keeping tabs on the runners towards the rear of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, I'd suggest having a look at him.

Honestly thought he was going to end up out the back of the TV (he was at one stage, in fairness) and pulled up, but no, he ran on incredibly well into 5th. He got detached around the 2m3f mark, and at the 2m6f mark he was still well in rear with the ill-fated Envoi Allen :cry: and Haiti Couleurs, who had just started to weaken. It was a combination of horses weakening and L'homme Presse finishing well that saw him get up for 5th though. At 11 years of age, it was highly unlikely he'd be quick enough when it mattered in a Gold Cup, however, the 4m2f trip, where he doesn't get so readily outpaced, may now be up to his liking and at 100/1 with Bet365, I'm happy to play him.

Something a little less out there, I've also played Nick Rockett @ 28/1 with Bet365. He needs little introduction though, so I won't bore you.
 
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ComplyOrDie said:
Something a little less out there, I've also played Nick Rockett @ 28/1 with Bet365. He needs little introduction though, so I won't bore you.
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Looks a no brainer with 365 going NRNB today doesn't it?

Of the other fast finishers from last week, fellow 100/1 pokes Imperial Saint and Leave of Absence finished strongly in the Ultima, both with Aintree form in the book - though both may struggle to get in. Oscars Brother also stayed on very nicely in the Brown Advisory to potentially add to JP's battalion.
 
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TonyGalopin said:
Looks a no brainer with 365 going NRNB today doesn't it?

Of the other fast finishers from last week, fellow 100/1 pokes Imperial Saint and Leave of Absence finished strongly in the Ultima, both with Aintree form in the book - though both may struggle to get in. Oscars Brother also stayed on very nicely in the Brown Advisory to potentially add to JP's battalion.
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What time did they go NRNB, do you know?
 
I've gone for Gerri Colomb and Grangeclare West as my main darts so far. GC as big as 100/1(140.0 on the exchange for a few pennies too!) before his 2nd in the Thystes, GCW unsurprinsingly at the front of the market.

I've thought GC needed 4 miles since he went over an obstacle, and I'm hoping he smacks Nick Rockett into the ground tomorrow recieving 7lbs - could be an idea to wait until tomorrow if you are a NR fan? Unless you think he wins in which case I'd get on today. Possibly WTAF options??

I am confident I will talk myself into Better Days Ahead and Stellar Story in the days before the race/with the bigger places on offer.
 
I wouldn't be betting until I was a little more confident about the going but I'm currently looking at Grangeclare West and Lecky Watson. The latter is 33/1 nrnb and 50/1 ante post which seems fair enough for a BANC winner who has run in the right races this season.
 
Of the highest rated horses, the only one I have backed is I am Maximus.

He's better off with them all by a pound or two, and been their and done it.

Cannot really rule any of them out though, as it's a funny kind of race these days.
Could easily see them all fighting out a finish again, but I'll still be focussing lower down the weights.

The Ultima and Cross Country look worth following IMO, and also the novices from last years graded races,

So Johnnywho 16-1 I think rather than Jagwar, as I think I'm swaying to the thought that Jagwars jumping may not suit Aintree, although he handles fences so strangely that he could easily excel over them. Johnnywho looks like he could hunt round quite nicely and will be officially well in so likely to shorten.

Final Orders I backed as soon as I got back from Spain on the exchange. Had I been at home I'd likely have got bigger odds.
Backed also at 50-1 Hills before they cut it.
Not even sure it's intended to run but on good to soft ground it should go well for a long way and will be officially well in by a few pounds so likely to shorten also.
I think I'll leave the second from the cross country for now.

Then there is the two from last seasons novices that appear to have been laid out for the race from fairly early on.

Stellar Story at 33-1 is very good value as I don;t think ground really matters and he is bred to stay forever. He is 21lb better off with the front 2 in the bobbyjo so must have an excellent chance of reversing the form with Grangeclare and Gerri Colombe.

Lecky Watson reminds me of the last two winners and is on a reasonable mark. Probably not that well in but fits the profile of previous Mullins winners as a second season novice, although the worry is they've not got a win into him and he may just not be on form. But at 50-1 is well worth a bet each way I reckon.

I've backed Panic Attack also at 25-1 B365 as I mentioned her for the national on here back in November, but her price then was 33-1 so I never backed. 25-1 seems fair.

So that's 6 so far, and I'll be doing my very best to not add too many more as I do worry that the race has changed dramatically, Used to be able to back 10 easily and make a healthy profit 80% of the time.
 
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Johnnywho, Final Orders & Stellar Story are all on my shortlist of 12 @Quevega

But I'm probably going to end up with 5 or 6 of them, I just need to whittle it down.

I have a couple I'll be waiting on ground for too.
 
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Got Captain Cody from a while back but I'm not as sold as I once was.

Equally I'm probably not adding anymore mind. As there's too many I could :LOL:
 
……from Sporting Life;

‘But to this pair of eyes one of the best performances at Cheltenham by a horse with a National entry came from Final Orders, who ran away with the Glenfarclas Cross County Chase for trainer Gavin Cromwell, happily back in form, and the impressive rider Conor Stone-Walsh.

He has a set weight of 10-5 and needs half a dozen above him to come out which shouldn’t be a problem if recent years are anything to go by. Nor, too, should the marathon trip.
 
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….i’ll pop these WTAGN in here. Hills offer;

Nick Rocket 33-1
Gerri 50-1
Percival 150-1
 
Can't believe the price of Mr Vango at 80/1 NRMB with Bet365. I know he has pulled up on last couple of starts but three miles off top weight at Sandown wasn't going to suit before stopping quickly in the Eider on ground that was definitely on the faster side of good to soft, similar conditions to when he was pulled from the Welsh National. We already know he handles the course and distance, if they can get him back and he gets his favoured soft ground then he is a cracking bet.
 
Agree about Mr Vango, but it’s a massive if with the ground at Aintree
 
Eggs said:
….i’ll pop these WTAGN in here. Hills offer;

Nick Rocket 33-1
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Given he is 28/1 for the race with bet365, I don't think 33/1 is enough to tempt given he has to navigate a 6lb swing vs national weights with Gerri
 
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….PP cut Gerri to 25s, more generally 20-1 after that win.
 
Johnny who raised 6
Jagwar 5
Final orders performance rating 157 - official rating 147
All three well in on new ratings
 
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Quevega said:
Johnny who raised 6
Jagwar 5
Final orders performance rating 157 - official rating 147
All three well in on new ratings
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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.
 
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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