15:05 Doncaster

Sunday 24 March 2024

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

William Hill NRMB On The Grand National Handicap

Off time: 15:06 | Winning time: 1m 14.35s

(1)

Aleezdancer¹⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Curtis Wilson-Ruddock⁽⁷⁾| T: K A Ryan| OR: 93| CD

9/2

Kicked off 2023 with a comfortable win in this race on heavy. Failed to reproduce that form subsequently but has dropped to an identical mark as 12 months ago and evidently capable when fresh. Taken to bounce back to form with a bang.

Form: 097506-

(13)

Dream Composer¹⁷⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: D C Costello| T: H J Evans| OR: 91| D

40/1

Improver last year, winning 3 times, including on soft. Not at his best on final 2 starts but that has resulted in him dipping to a favourable mark. Contender if ready to roll. Placed on last year's reappearance.

Form: 108304-

(11)

Tinto¹⁸³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 91| D

33/1

Winner at Redcar (6f, good to firm) last August and a good second of 25 to Wobwobwob in the Ayr Silver Cup on his final start of 2023. Was well beaten on his reappearance in this race 12 months ago, though.

Form: 437172-

(5)

Wobwobwob¹⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Harry Russell| T: A Keatley| OR: 90| BF| D

9/1

Proved better than ever when landing 25-runner Ayr Silver Cup last autumn. Not at his best in 2 subsequent outings last year and remains 3 lb above his Silver Cup mark.

Form: U23105-

(10)

Dakota Gold¹⁶³

Age: 10| Weight: 9-6| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 90| CD

22/1

Fine servant to connections who was smart at his peak (won C&D listed in mud in autumn 2022). His 2023 exploits suggest his powers may be on the wane but his reduced mark reflects that. First outing for 163 days.

Form: 370000-

(12)

Chairmanoftheboard¹⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: Charles Bishop| T: J Channon| OR: 88| D

25/1

No win for a while but he was placed on 4 occasions last year but lost his form at the campaign. Reappears in this race for the third year in succession and he's failed to make an impact the previous times.

Form: 772309-

(6)

Zip^v²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: Alec Voikhansky⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 88| C

13/2

Added another course win when seeing off 9 rivals over 7f last October. Arrives fit from AW and he's back to only 1lb above that successful mark. 7f is his optimum trip but he still can't be discounted.

Form: 153-556

(4)

Woven¹⁸³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Phil Dennis| T: M Dods| OR: 86| CD

11/2

Goes well at this track, ending a long losing run when scoring over C&D on his 2023 reappearance. Respectable 3 lengths sixth of 25 to Wobwobwob (stablemate Tinto second) in Ayr Silver Cup when last seen in September. Second to Bernardo O'Reilly in this on his 2022 reappearance. Respected.

Form: 177346-

(2)

Knebworth^p1¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Ethan Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hughes| OR: 85| D

6/1

Consistent sort who won twice on turf last summer. Ended 2023 with 2 good runner-up efforts and shaped well when second again on recent Wolverhampton return. Has form in the mud. Considered in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 19422-2

(9)

Roach Power^t1¹⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 83| D

12/1

Thrived on testing ground last September, winning over 7f at Thirsk and 6f at Haydock, beating the reopposing Knebworth by 4¼ lengths at the latter track. His peak fitness has to be taken on trust but he still looks competitively handicapped after an 8 lb rise. Tongue tied first time.

Form: 203011-

(7)

Blind Beggar^b²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 83| D

20/1

Three 5f wins last year. Started 2024 with 2 good in-frame efforts over 6f but he needs to shrug off a couple of lesser runs since.

Form: 19-4360

(8)

Bernardo O'Reilly¹⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 8-10| J: Hollie Doyle| T: R Spencer| OR: 80| CD

8/1

Won this race in 2022 and respectable fifth last year. Also won at Ayr and second over C&D last April so spring seems to be now. At the veteran stage now but he hasn't been this low in the weights for a while and gets a place on the shortlist.

Form: 748456-

(14)

Brazen Idol⁷⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Frederick Larson⁽³⁾| T: J Butler| OR: 78| D

22/1

Gained a sixth career success when leading late on over 6f at Kempton in January. Up 4 lb to a clear career-high mark but he will be fine on this ground (won on heavy at Ffos Las in September).

Form: 32145-1

(3)

Parisiac^b¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: K T O'Neill| T: Alice Haynes| OR: 73| CD

16/1

Blinkered when winning 5f Newmarket handicap in November. Creditable fourth on his Chelmsford reappearance but not in the same form back there since. Others arrive with more pressing claims.

Form: 3921-46

Forecasts

Aleezdancer (9/2), Woven (11/2), Knebworth (6/1), Zip (13/2), Bernardo O'Reilly (8/1), Wobwobwob (9/1), Roach Power (12/1), Parisiac (16/1), Blind Beggar (20/1), Dakota Gold (22/1), Brazen Idol (22/1), Chairmanoftheboard (25/1), Tinto (33/1), Dream Composer (40/1)

ALEEZDANCER was an impressive winner of this race under similar ground conditions on his 2023 reappearance and can repeat the feat having dropped back to the same mark as 12 months ago. Knebworth shaped well on his AW reappearance and is second choice ahead of 2022 winner Bernardo O'Reilly. Woven, who has a fine record here and when fresh, completes the shortlist.