We have the pace guide, Timeform view, Daryl Jacob insight, plus key video replays for the Grade 1 JCB Melling Chase on day two of Aintree.
Timeform Verdict
HEART WOOD looked better than ever when a dominant winner of the Ryanair at the Cheltenham Festival and shades the vote over Grey Dawning, who could well be suited by this drop back in distance but had quite a hard race in the Gold Cup. Gidleigh Park was let down by his jumping in the Clarence House but he's worth another chance having split Impaire et Passe and Jango Baie in the Manifesto here 12 months ago.
Daryl Jacob Insight
Here we have the Ryanair Chase winner in Heart Wood taking on the Cheltenham Gold Cup fourth GREY DAWNING and I prefer Dan Skelton’s horse dropping back in trip.
He’s a strong traveller and I don’t think coming back in distance will inconvenience him at all, and I would love to see Harry Skelton ride him prominently over this trip with the cheekpieces on.
I’m sure he’ll be up there and he could get a lovely tow into this off Solness, JPR One, Gidleigh Park, there could potentially be quite a strong gallop on.
Either way, Grey Dawning has the gears for this test and he’s the class act in the race, along with Heart Wood, but I prefer the Gold Cup form over a winning Ryanair effort.
Grey Dawning’s stablemate L’Eau Du Sud is fascinating and he could be a big price, but the concern that this comes too soon after Cheltenham is a valid one.
A better each-way bet could be Solness for Joseph O’Brien. You can chuck out his DRF effort as the ground was way too soft and he will love winging around here on better ground.
He won’t mind this trip in the ground, the cheekpieces are back on and with the way this could be run he could get in a real good rhythm on the front end.
Grey Dawning looks the horse to be on for win purposes, with Solness an each-way alternative.
Timeform Pace Guide
Pace Forecast: Even
Specific Pace Hint: So long as the leaders don’t go crazy HEART WOOD promises to be better placed than GREY DAWNING given what we know about how races at this trip here round here usually pan out.
Individual Price Hint: HEART WOOD can be expected to race prominently but even considering the probable pace scenario has a record of getting turned over after trading much lower than Betfair SP.
Free Video Replays
GREY DAWNING 4th, Cheltenham, 13/03/2026
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HEART WOOD 1st, Cheltenham, 12/03/2026
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsSOLNESS 1st, Leopardstown, 27/12/2025
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Randox Grand National coverage
- Horse-by-horse guide to the final field
- Punting Pointers: Our Grand National shortlist
- How to pick the Grand National winner and how different is the race now?
- The best Grand National performances on Timeform ratings
- Grand National fences: How they've shaped the race
- JockeyBox: Willie and Patrick Mullins reflections
- Simon Holt: The art of commentating on the National
- The remarkable story of Spanish Steps
- John Ingles: Remembering Red Marauder's remarkable win in the mud
- Alex Hammond Grand National Blog
- Patrick Mullins: National outsider 'catches the eye'
- Who are the main British hopes?
- 2026 Grand National preview podcast
- Dan Skelton: My Aintree squad
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