BK Racing Grand National Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 9m 17.11s

Kings Eclipse²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: R D Day| T: A Wilson| OR: 112

11/1

Back to winning ways in small field at Carlisle in December and found it tougher off 4 lb higher in a deeper race back there since.

Form: 312-015

Shanroe Santos^b²⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: L Wadham| OR: 112

9/2

Out of sorts over fences since a mildly encouraging reappearance run at Huntingdon and fared no better back hurdling last time. Mark on the slide but has something to prove.

Form: 3-3P4U0

Buddha Scheme^t,v⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 112| C

9/4

Arrives in good form, finishing placed again at Ayr last time. Runner-up over C&D in November so his stamina is proven. Should go well again.

Form: P3-2232

Nakadam³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 107| CD

8/1

Veteran chaser who returned from a year off to win over C&D in November, with reopposing pair Buddha Scheme and Dontdelay behind in second/third. His last 2 efforts have been very tame, though.

Form: F4-13PP

Gangster^t¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny McMenamin| T: W Greatrex| OR: 107

20/1

Good second at Perth in September but has lost his way badly this winter. Can only be watched for now.

Form: 28PPP6

Love The Leader^v²⁸

Age: 13| Weight: 10-11| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽³⁾| T: J Farrelly| OR: 97

4/1

Veteran who has bounced back to form to win at Fakenham and Fontwell in recent months. Fortunate at latter track, though, so vulnerable on hat-trick bid even though he's been left on same mark.

Form: 456211

Dontdelay^p⁸¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-5| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 91| CD

4/1

C&D winner who was a creditable third behind a couple of these rivals on his C&D reappearance. Probably worth forgiving a poor run over hurdles at Wetherby in December. Respected back chasing.

Form: 1325-37

Forecasts

Buddha Scheme (9/4), Love The Leader (4/1), Dontdelay (4/1), Shanroe Santos (9/2), Nakadam (8/1), Kings Eclipse (11/1), Gangster (20/1)

BUDDA SCHEME has a much more solid recent profile than the majority of these and can deservedly get his head back in front, perhaps at the main expense of former C&D winner Dontdelay.