Victor Chandler's Charlie McCann gives us his take on all the Grand National runners in race card order, starting with last year's winner Don't Push It.
1. Don’t Push It: Looking to become the first horse since Red Rum in the early 70s to win the race in successive years. Must carry 5lbs more than last year but would that have stopped him in 2010?
2. Tidal Bay: Enigmatic chaser who was running on in sixth in the Gold Cup last time. Has a bit to find with What A Friend on that effort but if he takes to the fences has the ability to go very close. Just as likely to pull himself up however!
3. What A Friend: Owned in partnership by Sir Alex Ferguson and ran a cracker to finish 4th in the Gold Cup. Handicapper would have given him considerably more weight if he could and everything in place for a big run.
4. Vic Venturi: Winner of the Becher Chase over these demanding fences and never had the rub of the green last year being hampered on more than one occasion before unseating. Softer ground would have helped.
5. Majestic Concorde: Winner of a valuable handicap at Leopardstown over Xmas but doesn’t look to have been done too many favours by the handicapper; down the field in last year’s Cesarewitch and could return to the North West for another crack at Chester Cup!
6. Or Noir de Somoza: Makes British debut for David Pipe and gave a stone and a beating to Quolibet at Auteuil back in November. Limitations, seemingly, exposed in a better class last time and hardly looks well handicapped at face value.
7. Dooneys Gate: Yet to race beyond 3m and hardly looks first-string from the Willie Mullins yard.
8. Big Fella Thanks: Has finished 6th and 4th in the last two renewals on both occasions travelling very well and perhaps just failing to get home. Has changed stables since last year.
9. The Tother One: Below par last time but ran well to be placed in Charlie Hall Chase and Hennessy Gold Cup (where he stayed on very well) in first half of the season. One of the legions of runners bidding to give Paul Nicholls’ his first win in race and should not be underestimated.
10. Ballabriggs: Has been preserving his handicap mark all winter as connections believe him to be an ideal National type. Bidding to give McCain family their 5th win in race and owner Trevor Hemmings his second after Hedgehunter in 2005.
11. The Midnight Club: Not guaranteed to stay but long considered an ideal National candidate and landed the Bobbyjo Chase at Clonmel with other National principles Oscar Time and Arbor Supreme behind last time. A must for any short-list and the presence of Ruby Walsh in the saddle is a massive plus.
12. Niche Market: Long considered the first string from the Nicholls’ yard but I’m not convinced. Won the Irish National for Bob Buckler back in 2009 but didn’t look a natural over these fences when pulled up in last year’s renewal.
13. Silver By Nature: Bidding to become the first grey in 50 years to win the race and would have every chance if the ground was no better than good to soft. Does look ground dependent but excellent win in the Haydock Park Trial last time; supporters will be praying for rain (unlikely).
14. Backstage: Represents the yard of Gordon Elliot who had a cracking Cheltenham and landed the National with Silver Birch in 2007. Backstage has had a similar preparation to that winner easily landing a couple of points in Ireland; many believe he was going every bit as well as Don’t Push It when hampered by loose horse in race last year.
15. Chief Dan George: Early casualty at Cheltenham last time in race he had won previous year: winner of a Grade 1 at Aintree over hurdles back in 2007 but doesn’t look the force of old.
16. Calgary Bay: Has promised more than he has delivered throughout his career but ran one of his better races at Cheltenham last time; stamina a concern.
17. Killyglen: Winner at this meeting when trained by Howard Johnson a couple of years ago but now trained in Northern Ireland. Went too fast from the front at Doncaster last time and could give his supporters a run for their money from the front.
18. Oscar Time: Jockey Sam Waley-Cohen looking to be the first amateur to win the race since Marcus Armytage on Mr Frisk in 1990 and the first jockey to do the Gold Cup/National double since Jim Culloty back in 2002. Lost nothing in defeat behind The Midnight Club last time and finished runner up in the Irish National last year; major player.
19. Quinz: Racing Post Chase winner but nagging doubt that he is a better horse going right-handed. The last 7-y-o to win the race was Bogskar back in 1940 and connections appear to have had their hand forced as the horse will never have 10-8 in a handicap again.
20. Becauseicouldntsee; Finished runner up in last year’s NH Chase over 4m at Cheltenham and improved again to finish 2nd in valuable Leopardstown handicap behind Majestic Concorde over Xmas; interesting.
21. Comply Or Die: brilliant winner of the race in 2008 and finished runner up in 2009. Finished down the field last year and although handicapper has given him a chance hard to imagine there is another National in him at the age of 12.
22. Quolibet: Very disappointing on his British debut in the X-Country race at the Festival and another 7-y-o looking to buck a 70 year trend; unlikely.
23. Grand Slam Hero: Needs good or faster ground and, with the ground drying out all the time, he could go well at a very big price. The Twiston-Davies team were out of luck at Cheltenham but the National has been kind to the stable winning the race in both 2002 and 1998.
24. State Of Play: Has finished placed (4th & 3rd) in the last two renewals of the race having made mistakes at vital times on both occasions. Goes well fresh so absence from the track no concern and has 10lb pull with Don’t Push It on last year’s running.
25. King Fontaine: Previously most progressive chaser although jumped poorly at Cheltenham upped in class last time. Back on a flat track he could return to form but much more needed.
26. In Compliance: Usually a sound jumper but made a most uncharacteristic error last time; finished 6th in the Topham last year and will give his supporters a good run for their money although he is likely to be swamped inside the final half mile.
27. Hello Bud: Former Scottish National and Becher Chase winner but almost old enough to vote and difficult to see him reversing the form with Don’t Push It as a teenager. No 13-y-old has won the race since 1923 and unlikely to buck that trend.
28. West End Rocker: Thorough stayer who ran below par on desperate ground last time but had looked most progressive until that setback. Has winning form on good ground and must enter calculations if he adapts to these unique obstacles.
29. Santa’s Son; Won a hurdle at Musselburgh back in February but no show at Cheltenham over 2m last time. The step up in trip by another two-and-a-half-miles will have to bring about significant improvement if he is to take a hand.
30. Bluesea Cracker: Winner of last season’s Irish National and bidding to become the first mare to win the race since Nickel Coin in 1951; below par so far this term but this looks to have been the objective all year and if she takes to the fences the 60 year wait could be over.
31. That’s Rhythm: The weight of the McCann money was enough to get him on the floor in the Scottish National of 2009 when he was travelling like a winner. Impressive winner at Bangor back in August and loves good ground but never struck me as the type for Aintree.
32. Surface To Air: Winner of the Summer National back in 2008 but was off the track for the best part of three years until finishing tailed off over hurdles earlier in the month. Hard to know how much ability he retains.
33. Piraya: Disappointing grey who has yet to win beyond 2m 5f and well below par of late: makes no appeal.
34. Can’t Buy Time: Has fell in the last couple of renewals of the race and made no show at the Festival last time. Does have a touch of class but unlikely that it will be third time lucky.
35. Character Building: Has long been considered an ideal sort for the National but was beaten nearly 40 lengths in race last year when he took time to warm to his task. Previous Festival winner and although there others with more obvious claims not one to dismiss out of hand.
36. Ornais: Even money and couldn’t win a modest Hunter Chase at Newbury last time but Paul Nicholls is reported to be very sweet on his chances (yes I know he is with all of his horses!) given the horse has only just returned from a two-year lay off.
37. Arbor Supreme: Faller at the Chair last year and put up a career best when runner up to stablemate The Midnight Club (8lb worse off) in the Bobbyjo last time, one to consider off his feather weight.
38. Royal Rosa; Finished 2nd & 3rd in the last couple of renewals of the Becher Chase but has never fulfilled early promise; hard to make a case for.
39. Skippers Brig: Beat leading contender Ballabriggs (giving 4lbs) fair and square last time and would meet that rival on better terms if sneaking into the race; would have liked the ground softer.
40. Golden Kite: Won Munster National in October for Adrian “Mutley” Maguire and loves good or faster ground. Made no show in recent prep race but that is easily forgiven on ground far too soft.
