17:15 Aintree
Saturday 8 April 2017
All13:4514:2515:0015:4016:2017:1518:15
Randox Health Grand National (Grade 3 Handicap Chase)
- 7YO plus  |  Class 1  |  4m 2f 74y  |  Good to Soft (Good in places)  |  40 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 17:22Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 9m 2.8s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Valiant runner-up in last year's renewal, seeing off 37 of his rivals before being run down by the final challenger after the last. Returns this year 12lb worse off but he's been running well this season off his revised mark and the fact he's proven he can cope with the unique demands of this race counts for plenty. Not many miles on the clock, versatile ground wise and no obvious reason why he won't go well again despite the extra weight.
Simply not good enough in this year's Gold Cup when sixth of 13 and he's yet to prove as good over the larger obstacles as he was over hurdles. Has been known to bleed on occasions and most of his success has come in small field affairs so wouldn't have one of the more attractive National profiles.
Made a promising start for this yard with a comfortable win at Cheltenham on New Year's Day but no match for Cue Card last time at Ascot. Proven in all sorts of ground and he has shaped like this sort of trip will suit on occasions but fell on only start over further than 3m2f. Still young but does have stamina to prove and has made jumping errors in the past so it's questionable whether his jumping will hold up over these fences.
All the way winner at Exeter last time in a veterans' race, jumping fluently throughout and often seen to best effect when able to dominate from the front. Likely to find it more difficult to execute those tactics in this and finished tailed-off on his only other career start over this sort of trip, so with a career high mark to contend with, he may struggle for win purposes. Could hang on for a place if he stays and he is proven in all types of ground.
Seems to have got the hang of things over fences this year and finished an excellent fifth in this year's Gold Cup, jumping particularly well. His third behind Foxtail Hill in January was an eye-catching performance and he shapes like he'll stay this trip. Seems to have cut out the jumping errors and while he doesn't appear to be particularly well-handicapped, he's versatile ground-wise and looks like an each-way player for a trainer who won this in 2012.
Can be a little untidy at his fences and it's understandable he was tried in first-time blinkers at Down Royal when last seen as he doesn't look like the most straightforward type. Best form has come with plenty of cut in the ground and not guaranteed to see out the trip so plenty of questions marks hanging over him.
Badly out of form this year, either pulled up or tailed off on his latest four starts and looks like one of the weaker runners for last year's winning owners. Recent headgear been left off this time and fair chance he could get left behind early doors. Needs to travel better, jump more efficiently and bounce back to form if he's going to become a factor in this event.
Good second behind Pacha Du Polder at this year's Cheltenham Festival but likely to struggle off this mark back in a handicap and taken off his feet in last year's renewal of this before being pulled-up. 2012's Grand National winning trainer has stronger candidates in the race.
Won a Listed race at Ascot with ease but failed to follow up at Kelso last time when he was an odds-on favourite. Needs to bounce back from that and all his best form has come on either soft or heavy (unplaced on all three good ground efforts) so likely to need plenty of rain and takes the odd risk at his fences, so not sure to get around.
Fine strike-rate of eight wins from 21 starts under rules and trainer has won this race twice before. His gelding's 4lb well in after running well at Haydock last time out and looks a certain stayer after that performance. However, doesn't give his fences much air and can take the odd risk here and there, so could be one to oppose at a short enough price with the yard short of winners in recent weeks.
Not seen since his win at Uttoxeter in June over 3m2f and up 8lb for that, but it looks a fair rise and he was going away again at the line. Hard to imagine that not seeing the remainder of this season will have been the plan in the build up to this and doesn't look the most straight-forward type (can refuse to settle) but this type of race could be up his street. If the ground comes up good, he could prove to be a bit of value at a likely big price.
Unplaced on six of his seven starts when tried over further than 2m5f and that would be seven if Minella Rocco had stayed on his feet on the Mildmay course here at the end of last year. Best efforts have come on softer ground and would appear unlikely to get that here.
Fell when tried over these fences in the Becher Chase but the fact he's proven over this sort of trip and on different types of ground shouldn't be underestimated. Can't say he looks particularly well-handicapped and niggling concerns over his jumping just temper enthusiasm.
Excellent jumper who has been a winner at the Cheltenham Festival in each of the last three years and took the Cross-Country race this time around having been successful in the Kim Muir and the 4m contest in previous years. Likes to be held up off a strong pace and finished eighth in this race two years ago; carries 8lb more this time around but probably not best suited to the way this race develops and could find himself too far behind to land a blow.
Very talented on his day but he's an inconsistent sort, borne out by him failing to finish on seven of his last 10 starts. Shapes like he will stay this kind of trip but never won at over 3m and his patchy profile leads to others making more appeal.
Excellent jumper in the main but can make the odd mistake when under pressure, as seen when winning at Haydock last time. Escapes a penalty for that success and due to go up 6lb further in future races so he's a well-handicapped runner. Proven over these fences having won the Becher Chase in December and finished seventh in this last year, appearing to fade in the final ½ mile. His ability to see out the trip would have to be the worry once again this year, but less to prove than plenty in here with course form in the book and no ground concerns.
10lb well in on official ratings after bolting up at Doncaster last time, beating The Last Samuri by 14L. Perhaps dangerous to take a literal reading of that form and very much a prep race for that rival who probably wasn't 100% and suited by further. Can take plenty of risks with his jumping, may not be suited by these fences and probably wants soft ground to be seen to best effect so may be one to oppose as one of the likely market leaders.
Finished sixth in last year's renewal and returns on the same mark but jumping can be untidy at times and very best efforts have come in soft ground. Seems unlikely to get those conditions here and yet to score over fences since his move from France. Trainer won this in 2007 and enjoying the best season of his career so far but yard have gone a little quiet since Cheltenham.
Never tried any further than 3m and looks a little inexperienced for this test. Capable of blunders at his fences, can jump markedly left and nearly whipped around at the start last time. Doesn't look like the easiest customer to handle and doesn't always settle well. Very much opposable but did score with a little in hand on his penultimate start and may have won last time if it wasn't for a bad blunder, so probably quite well-handicapped.
Very gutsy fourth last time in the Midlands National and ground probably didn't quite get soft/heavy enough for him to be seen to best effect. That race only three weeks ago, so this could come a little soon after such a hard race and connections will have similar ground concerns once again in this, with dry conditions forecast. He does stay all day and well-handicapped on his best form so one of the more likely ones to get around.
Didn't jump well enough to win at Gowran Park two starts back but much better last time when impressively reeling in Thunder And Roses at Fairyhouse. Looks light on experience for this race and jumping can be sketchy at times but he does look well-handicapped and connections obviously demand respect. Likely to be held up and can't be ruled out if he avoids the inevitable trouble that will come before him.
Impressive looking winner at Warwick last time and stayed on very well from the back of the field in the Becher over these fences at the end of last year. Up 11lb for his recent win looks fair and he's less exposed than plenty in the line-up but he doesn't get very high over his obstacles and hold-up performers have struggled in this race in recent years. Could be running on well late in the day, but his supporters main fear will be that's it's too late.
Pulled up on each of his three starts this season and blundered his way around this course in the race last year before unseating his rider. Can be effective on faster ground and no doubt he's well-handicapped, but good reason for his falling mark and impossible to fancy in current form.
Ran well for a long way in last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup before fading but not seen again until this February and shown nothing in two recent starts. Won the RSA at the Festival in 2014 and often jumps well but likely to have had his issues away from the track and hard to recommend having not won over further than 3m1f with the yard in relatively quiet.
Excellent effort in defeat to Vieux Lion Rouge last time in a bid to defend his Becher Chase, just failing to last home, but has failed to see out trips over 3m2f on three occasions in the past. Failed to get into the race last year but was well-fancied in the build-up and easy to see why as he jumps exceptionally well. Nagging doubts about his stamina, one of the few negatives having proven himself over these fences and on all sorts of ground.
Well beaten third at Haydock behind Bristol De Mai when last seen at Haydock. Jumping can be rather erratic at times and while he admittedly stays very well, he needs a deluge of rain to become of any interest whatsoever with most of his best form coming in heavy ground.
Pulled-up in last year's renewal of the race and didn't get far, but carries a stone less this time around. Usually jumps well, he's effective on this ground and obviously well-handicapped on his best form but he's been very disappointing on his last couple of starts and no signs he stays this far having never won over an extended 3m2f; best days are likely to be behind him.
Excellent second in this race two years ago, but made plenty of jumping errors and pulled-up in last year's renewal. Stayed on well for second at Doncaster last time in a veterans' race but that wouldn't look like the strongest bit of form on offer and suspicion is his best chances of winning this race are behind him.
Winner of last year's Scottish Grand National and his career best efforts have come over marathon trips. Jumps well in the main and gives the impression this kind of test will suit but may need some luck held up from off the pace. Ground versatile and top northern jockey booked so plenty to like about his chances.
Did well to win from way off the pace last time at Newbury but suspicion is they went too hard on the front end. Doesn't look the easiest ride and struggled in this last year when he couldn't go the early pace, eventually finishing tailed off. Should get around and gives his young jockey a good spin but he will need them to go much too hard on the front-end and he may just suffer a similar fate to last year.
Good fourth in the four-miler at Cheltenham last year behind Minella Rocco but fell on his next start in the Scottish National and hasn't looked the same since. Likely to be on a fair mark but hard to recommend in current form.
Proven stayer who finished an eye-catching second to Native River in this season's Welsh National and 7lb rise for that effort looks lenient. Been in the form of his life of late and goes on any sort of ground, so plenty to like about his chances despite his advancing years, but tends to wing his fences a little and wouldn't want to take any risks around here.
Good jumper in the main and running well since the switch to this yard last season. Yet to run over further than an extended 3m and doesn't look an obvious type for a marathon trip. Gets the services of last year's winning jockey who has been in fine form all season but he's likely to find things tougher this time around with his mount having had no experience over these fences and obvious stamina doubts.
Represents last year's winning trainer/owners and has followed a very similar route to his former stablemate. However, made mistakes in the Becher Chase at the end of last year when trying these fences for the first time and very best efforts have come with plenty of cut in the ground. Doesn't look as well-handicapped as last year's winner either but it is interesting he is the pick of the stable jockey.
Has long been touted as a National type by his trainer, but not shown why on the track and is a notoriously bad jumper. Has barely finished a race over further than 2m5f and impossible to fancy despite the yard being in flying form.
Another who represents last year's winning trainer/owners and beat last year's winner, Rule The World in the Irish Grand National in 2015. Not won since though and struggled back in that race last year. Still looks capable and jumping will hold him in good stead but best efforts have come with plenty of cut in the ground and he's struggled in the classier events he's taken part in, in recent times.
Failed to make it past the first in 2015's renewal of this race but dangerous when allowed an easy lead on the front end. No chance of getting that here and has plenty to make up with a couple in here that beat him at Haydock last time (Blaklion, Vieux Lion Rouge). Can also make jumping errors and quite low over his fences so may be best avoided around here.
Best form has come in the mud and can jump right at times, something he wouldn't want to do around here. Well beaten when pulled-up behind several of these in the Grand National Trial at Haydock last time and doesn't look well-handicapped enough to figure in this.
Disappointing at the Festival when last seen but won a Doncaster race over 3m is good fashion at the end of last year. Did jump right on occasions though, an obvious negative around here, and could struggle stamina wise having never finished a race run over further than 3m.
Went well for a long way at Cheltenham last time and gives the impression he's well handicapped but well beaten on both starts over further than 3m2f. Could be a lively outsider having proven himself on all sorts of ground but yard have more pressing claims with Vieux Lion Rouge.
Forecasts
Blaklion (8/1), Definitly Red (10/1), Pleasant Company (11/1), Vieux Lion Rouge (12/1), One For Arthur (14/1), Cause Of Causes (16/1), The Last Samuri (16/1), Vicente (16/1), Saphir Du Rheu (16/1), More Of That (16/1), The Young Master (20/1), Ucello Conti (20/1), Rogue Angel (20/1), Saint Are (25/1), Highland Lodge (25/1), Thunder And Roses (25/1), Wonderful Charm (28/1), Lord Windermere (33/1), Regal Encore (33/1), Just A Par (33/1), Perfect Candidate (33/1), Cocktails At Dawn (33/1), Double Shuffle (33/1), Wounded Warrior (33/1), Drop Out Joe (33/1), Raz De Maree (33/1), Tenor Nivernais (40/1), Measureofmydreams (40/1), Gas Line Boy (50/1), Houblon Des Obeaux (50/1), Le Mercurey (50/1), Roi Des Francs (50/1), Stellar Notion (50/1), O'Faolains Boy (50/1), Shantou Flyer (50/1), Doctor Harper (50/1), Ballynagour (66/1), Goodtoknow (66/1), Bishops Road (66/1), La Vaticane (80/1)
No horse has won the Aintree Grand National off top-weight since Red Rum in 1974, but if any horse can, it's THE LAST SAMURI. He went very close to winning last year and rarely does a horse take to these fences as well as he has. The better ground will help negate the rise in the weights and he may be able to make history. Saphir Du Rheu gave a career best performance in the Gold Cup last time and his jumping has come on no-end in his last couple of starts. Vieux Lion Rouge and Definitly Red both look well-handicapped but they're likely to be near the head of the market and they're not guaranteed to enjoy this test with the former fading in last year's renewal and the latter the sort to take risks at his fences. Last year's Scottish Grand National winner Vicente is preferred for the places. Nicholls holds a strong hand in this year's race with the aforementioned Saphir Du Rheu, and Vicente looks like a versatile sort who may be able to grab a place for his trainer looking for his second win in the race.
- The Last Samuri
- Saphir Du Rheu
- Vicente
Prize Money
1st: £561,300.002nd: £211,100.003rd: £105,500.004th: £52,700.005th: £26,500.006th: £13,200.007th: £6,800.008th: £3,600.009th: £2,000.0010th: £1,000.00
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