Jane Mangan’s William Hill blog: Corach Rambler all the way in the National

William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan looks ahead to the final day of action from Aintree’s Grand National Festival.

Aintree, Saturday

In the first race of the day, the William Hill Handicap Hurdle (1.20pm) over three miles, I think Monmiral has a great chance of following up his win at the Cheltenham Festival. He only got six pounds for winning the Pertemps and I’m going to stick with the Cobden and Nicholls duo to pull off a Cheltenham-Aintree double at a nice price.

The Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (1.55pm) has been won for the last two years by Gordon Elliott and I think he could bring up the hat-trick with the mare Brighterdaysahead. I think she will have the measure of these provided there’s a more end-to-end gallop over the two-and-a-half-mile trip. She has an official rating of 143 and considering she’s receiving seven pounds, that should put her ahead of almost all bar Caldwell Potter, who lacks a recent run. I think she has the beating of the boys.

The Liverpool Hurdle (3.05pm) is a different race now with Teahupoo and Irish Point not declared. I’ve always been loyal to Flooring Porter who was second in the race in 2022 and third in 2023. Considering how well he ran in the Stayers’ in March, I think this is his time to go back to the top table. He lost nothing in defeat behind Teahupoo at Cheltenham and I think he is the horse to beat on Saturday.

Onto the Grand National (4.00pm) itself. Corach Rambler is the one I’ve been tipping all the way along and I’m standing by him. I think his Gold Cup run was a career best. I think his weight of 11st 6lbs is very fair off the back of winning the race last year. He took to the fences so well last year. But if people are looking for an outsider to run a big race I’m going to go for Minella Indo. Rachael Blackmore’s mount is the class horse in the race. He’d be the first eleven-year-old to win the race since Pineau De Re in 2014 but he’s never been over-raced in his career. 13 of the last 16 of the National winners won it at their first attempt. Let’s not forget that Neptune Collonges, who was not as good as Minella Indo through his career, bowed out in the best possible fashion when pipping Sunnyhillboy in the race in 2012. I wonder, could Minella Indo go close to doing something similar for Henry de Bromhead?

It’s a huge ask for Found A Fifty to still be at the peak of his powers for his sixth run of the season in the Maghull Novices’ Chase (5.00pm) straight after the National. I’m going to take him on with a horse who hasn’t been quite as busy in the shape of Hercule Du Seuil, who hasn’t run since October of last year. He’s a free-running horse, but I think the quick track will suit him and his jumping is very solid. He is Willie Mullins’ only representative in the race and I think he could land his sixth race on the bounce.