Siruh Du Lac was an all the way winner in 2019 for Lizzie Kelly and Nick Williams and the pair ended three years of Irish Dominance.
The great Fred Winter does hold the record for the most wins in the race, with three although one was a dead heat. Richard Johnson and Bryan Cooper have two wins to there name so would only need one to join Winter, who won the race with the following horses:
Fred Winter:
Slender (1951, dead-heat)
Sy Oui (1953)
Caesar's Helm (1958)
2019 was a first winner for Nick Williams but Nicky Henderson and Martin Pipe lead the way for victories in terms of trainers, with the pair both saddling four winners of the race. Henderson won the race back to back with the same horse in 1985 and 1986 but hasn’t won the race since 2006. The pair had success with the horses below:
Nicky Henderson:
The Tsarevich (1985, 1986)
Liberthine (2005)
Non So (2006)
Martin Pipe:
Terao (1997)
Majadou (1999)
Dark Stranger (2000)
Blowing Wind (2002)
Despite going a while without winning it, Henderson should still be respected for anything he does run in 2020, such his is record, he will no doubt have horses ready for the race. Champion jockey Richard Johnson is going for three race wins and his mount should also be closely looked at.