Willie Mullins Runs Eight in Grand National
The Grand National has a reduced maximum field of 34 from 40 runners this year at Aintree. Chambard has turned up lame this morning so he is out reducing the field to 33 runners.
Irish Champion Trainer Willie Mullins brings a big team of eight horses to try and win the Grand National and possibly his first UK trainers Championship! The soft ground and lung busting trip of four miles two and half furlongs will suit his super fit charges.
I Am Maximus has a massive chance if getting around. He proved last year when he won the Irish National that he stays all day. Winning jockey Paul Townend said he didn’t enjoy being amongst horses that day on his fifth chasing start and only picked up the bit when shown some daylight out wide.
I Am Maximus powered home over the final furlong to win the Irish national going away rated 149 & carrying 11-1. This season he started off with a Grade 1 win in the Drinmore Chase at the Fairyhouse Winter Festival, outstaying Found a Fifty.
He was put in his place twice at Leopardstown in Grade 1’s by subsequent dual Gold Cup winner, Galopin Des Champs. Once the National weights were published the handicapper was fair allocating 159 to, I Am Maximus. He proved himself better than that mark (159) with an eye taking win in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse.
I Am Maximus beat last year’s national runner up Vanillier by 14 lengths while carrying 12lbs more! This horse has loads of stamina, handles soft ground, and has no problem carrying weight. Paul Townend rides for the first time since winning the Irish National on I Am Maximus.
Dan Skelton’s stable remains in top form with Katiera winning at Aintree today. A lot of focus is on the Cheltenham winning mare Limerick Lace; however, I prefer Dan’s mare Galia Des Liteaux. She loves testing going which she gets and ran a serious good trial when second, beaten only ¾l in the Classic Chase at Warwick in January.
She carried top weight of 11-10 that day, conceding 20lbs to winner My Silver Lining. Galia Des Liteaux wore first time pieces at Warwick on her eight starts over fences. I am prepared to forgive her last run at Exeter when well held in a mare only chase. Surely, connections had an eye on the National and didn’t want to go any higher in the ratings than her current mark of 146.
One For Arthur won the Classic Chase on route to winning the Grand National. It is a proper stamina test and Galia Des Liteaux rallied strongly at the end of the Classic Chase. She was highly tried in her novice chasing days. She finished fifth in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory chase at Cheltenham Festival 2023.
I like that she has course form, having finished fourth behind Gerri Colombe in the Mildmay Novices' Chase (Grade 1) last season. She gets to carry a lovely low weight of 10-7 with Harry Skelton riding better than ever this season.
A few on the shortlist that didn't make the fina cut were Limerick Lace, Panda Boy, Galvin, Delta Work & last years winner Corach Rambler.
Aintree 4:00
0.5 point each way I Am Maximus 7/1 Betfred & Betway 7 places else 15/2 Unibet 6 places.
0.5 point each way Galia Des Liteaux 28/1 William Hill 6 places else 25/1 Betfred 7 places.
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Past Results
Click to see past Big Saturday Race Preview Tips results
The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse, Aintree, Merseyside, England. First run in 1839, it is a handicap steeplechase over an official distance of about 4 miles and 2½ furlongs (4 miles 514 yards (6.907 km)), with horses jumping 30 fences over two laps. It is the most valuable jump race in Europe, with a prize fund of £1 million in 2017. An event that is prominent in British culture, the race is popular amongst many people who do not normally watch or bet on horse racing at other times of the year.
The course over which the race is run features much larger fences than those found on conventional National Hunt tracks. Many of these fences, particularly Becher's Brook, The Chair and the Canal Turn, have become famous in their own right and, combined with the distance of the event, create what has been called "the ultimate test of horse and rider".
The Grand National has been broadcast live on free-to-air terrestrial television in the United Kingdom since 1960. From then until 2012 it was broadcast by the BBC. Channel 4 broadcast the event between 2013 and 2016: UK broadcasting rights were transferred to ITV from 2017. An estimated 500 to 600 million people watch the Grand National in over 140 countries. The race has also been broadcast on radio since 1927; BBC Radio held exclusive rights until 2013. Talksport acquired radio commentary rights in 2014: Both the BBC and Talksport currently broadcast the race in full.
The most recent running of the race, in 2023, was won by Corach Rambler. Since 2017, the race and accompanying festival have been sponsored by Randox.
Winners over past 10 years
| Year | Horse | Age | Handicap (st-lb) | Jockey | Trainer | Owner(s) | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Corach Rambler | 9 | 10-05 | Derek Fox | Lucinda Russell | The Ramblers | 8/1 F |
| 2022 | Noble Yeats | 7 | 10-10 | Sam Waley-Cohen | Emmet Mullins | Robert Waley-Cohen | 50/1 |
| 2021 | Minella Times | 8 | 10-03 | Rachael Blackmore | Henry de Bromhead | J. P. McManus | 11/1 |
| 2019 | Tiger Roll | 9 | 11-05 | Davy Russell | Gordon Elliott | Gigginstown House Stud | 4/1 F |
| 2018 | Tiger Roll[77] | 8 | 10–13 | Davy Russell | Gordon Elliott | Gigginstown House Stud | 10/1 |
| 2017 | One For Arthur[78] | 8 | 10–11 | Derek Fox | Lucinda Russell | Two Golf Widows | 14/1 |
| 2016 | Rule The World[79] | 9 | 10-07 | David Mullins | Mouse Morris | Gigginstown House Stud | 33/1 |
| 2015 | Many Clouds[80] | 8 | 11-09 | Leighton Aspell | Oliver Sherwood | Trevor Hemmings | 25/1 |
| 2014 | Pineau de Re[81] | 11 | 10-06 | Leighton Aspell | Richard Newland | John Proven | 25/1 |
| 2013 | Auroras Encore[82] | 11 | 10-03 | Ryan Mania | Sue Smith | Douglas Pryde, Jim Beaumont & David P van der Hoeven | 66/1 |
Best of Luck,
Nicky