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Grand National

Four horses to run and shine since Grand National weights announcement

11 months ago
| BY News Team

March’s Cheltenham Festival provided a number of entrants in the Grand National a chance to really showcase their best sides, and has, therefore, had a notable impact on the Aintree market.

For some horses, the quick turnaround between the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals comes too soon. Others, however, are perfectly suited to a four-week interval between races. Declarations on the Thursday prior to the Grand National will show us which horses are ready to go versus which are not, which – luckily – William Hill has catered for in offering Non-Runner Money Back on the National.

Read on to find out about four horses who have impressed since the Grand National weights were announced in February.

Corach Rambler

Although this gelding of Lucinda Russell’s won the Ultima at Cheltenham in 2022, his two prep runs for this year’s Festival had been reasonably average in comparison, finishing fifth and fourth in Listed and Grade Three company. He dropped a pound in the weights prior to this year’s renewal of the Ultima, running the race carrying 11st 5lbs, and his fair weight must have been a contributing factor to him running out a good winner.

Weighted only 10st 5lbs for the National, a stone less than at Cheltenham, Corach Rambler, who is a strong stayer, should have plenty in his favour to help him around the four miles and two furlongs of the race. Currently favourite at 11/2 down from his original 16/1, he could still be excellent value.

Corach Rambler ridden by Derek Fox during the Classic Handicap Chase at Warwick.

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Delta Work

Another who had been underperforming prior to Cheltenham was Gordon Elliott’s Delta Work. He had won an ordinary race on his seasonal reappearance, but had failed to replicate this result in two runs since. Nevertheless, the ten-year-old set off in the Glenfarclas Cross-Country on Day Two of the Festival as favourite, backed by loyal punters who believed he could reproduce his win from the previous year.

His two-and-a-half-length win of the 3m6f cross-country race has done much to inspire confidence in him once again in the Grand National, in which he will carry 11st 4lbs, 3lbs less than at Cheltenham. Now down to 9/1 from 20/1, Delta Work’s CV more than qualifies him to go well once again and he could be the horse to deliver Elliott’s fourth Grand National.

Delta Work ridden by Jack Kennedy (right) winning the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup.

Gaillard Du Mesnil

Seven-year-old Gaillard Du Mesnil is the same age as Noble Yeats was when he won the Grand National last year. That, alongside a potentially favourable handicap of 11st, could stand him in very good stead. The gelding, trained by Willie Mullins, has finished within the top three on each of his runs this season, most recently winning the 3m6f National Hunt Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.

Now a proven stayer on soft ground, he must be in with a good chance in the National, in which he will carry 7lbs less than at Cheltenham.

His price has shorted accordingly from 20/1 to 16/1.

Ain’t That A Shame

Given just 10st 5lbs by the handicapper when the weights were announced for the Grand National in February, Henry de Bromhead’s Ain’t That A Shame hadn’t looked too reliable this season. Beaten just a head in October, he had been expected to win his following start and was priced 9/2f to win at Leopardstown in December. Not running to his best, however, the gelding disappointed and finished fourth.

Post National weights announcement, the son of Jeremy redeemed himself in March with an impressive six-length win under Rachael Blackmore, who was the first ever female jockey to win the Grand National.

Down to 20/1 from his original 25/1, he could be one that’s generously handicapped, so this horse, who comes from a leading Irish stable, could be worth considering for the big race at Aintree.

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