2022 Grand National Guide

In what will now be the last ride for Sam Waley-Cohen, this 7 year old looks to have a tremendous career ahead of him but might find this task coming too soon.

He looks well enough handicapped and has run well in graded company as a novice this season. However he’s going to have to step up markedly to make an impact.

He ran incredibly well in this race last year to a distant 6th and he has shown somewhat of a resurgence this season to win a couple of veteran events.

However, he moved out of veteran company last time out and was out of his depth. Ending up pulling up. At the age of 13 he’d need a bold showing to have a say.

This 12 year old veteran has finished 4th and 5th in this race over the years but was well behind last year and failed to run any sort of race.

He did however shape well to be 3rd in his final start of last season. His best days are certainly behind him now and he’s got to have some major resurgence to be getting competitive.

A winner of an Irish National trail at Punchestown, showing some strong late stamina to rattle home to a comfortable victory.

The 11 year old then shaped well enough to be 6th in the Ultima last month at Cheltenham.

He stays over 3.5 miles powerfully and runs off the same mark here as he did at Cheltenham. Not without hope if showing a liking for the Aintree fences.

Finishing 3rd in last season’s Irish Grand National, Enjoy D’allen showed plenty of stamina to run well at Fairyhouse. He ran well in a big 3 mile handicap chase in Ireland over Christmas.

He looks to have plenty of stamina and this marathon trip could just bring about the best in him. At only 8 years old he’s still improving too and has plenty of scope to improve past a mark of 148. Solid each way material.

A decent enough staying chaser, Brahma Bull was a good 3rd in this season’s Ladbroke Trophy at Newbury. Beaten by a wide margin however, he certainly outran his odds of 40/1.

His season hasn’t gone too well since. Pulling up in the Thyestes Chase and unseating in the cross country at Cheltenham last month.

He’s shown winning form over 3 miles in handicap company previously but needs to take a major step forward to be threatening here.

Some form over 3 miles before a huge 666 days away from racing and returning with a poor effort.

He’s been poor in all of his outings this season, and his only try over 3 miles came when running over the cross country fences at Cheltenham last time out.

He failed to complete and needs to rekindle form to be involved here.

Beaten out of sight in this race last year, Class Conti has been poor all of this season too. Despite showing a few glimmers of form last season, he looks to have far too much on his plate to be competitive again this year.

A very poor showing in the 2020 Grand Sefton doesn’t bode well for this 10 year old and he really failed to have a good cut at the national fences.

However since moving to Sandy Thomson’s yard there has been somewhat of a rival and he was narrowly beaten into 2nd in last year’s Scottish Grand national.

Trying these fences over a longer trip might suit him better and he’s already proven his stamina. Not without hope.

A perfect 3 from 3 this season, Snow Leopardess showed she had an aptitude for the national fences when winning the Becher chase narrowly to Hill Sixteen.

She was ridden aggressively and was tiring late on but she does have form over 3 miles and 6 furlongs with a decent 4th in the national hunt chase last season.

Her stamina isn’t assured but a more patient ride might bring her into it and she flew over the obstacles here in December.

Showed his best form back a few years ago but hasn’t been disgraced since dropping back to hurdles recently. A faller in the Becher chase doesn’t inspire much confidence for his chance over the national fences.

He ran well enough in the Rowland Meyrick to be 3rd but has plenty to prove now. A mark of 148 also looks pretty unforgiving for this 10 year old.

A decent staying chaser a few years ago. Kildisart went agonisingly close to winning the 2020 Ultima and subsequently ran well over hurdles in grade 2 company.

He’s had his issues however and had a huge 462 day lay off before returning to action at Newbury in handicap company. Again running well enough until the lack of a recent run told and he faded.

He stays 3 miles and a furlong but is untried over further and has plenty to prove after such a long lay off.

The 2019 Irish Grand National winner, Burrows Saint showed his staying chase class but hasn’t upheld that form since.
He did run well in this race last year off a mark of 156 to be a very distant and tired finishing 4th place.

He returns this year only 1lb lower in the handicap. A very poor showing last time out saw him well beaten and it’s hard to make a case for him this year with how tired he finished last year.

It would be very Samcro of Samcro to run a stormer here. His form has been in and out all of his career and he has at times looked an absolute superstar.

This season has seen him campaigned over 2 miles right up to 3 miles and 2 furlongs and he’s run best over the minimum trip.

He has stamina to prove and a reputation to get back on track but he’s the type that when you write him off he runs a belting race.

A mark of 152 probably has his measure but Samcro could yet do a Samcro.

The winner of the 2019 Ladbrokes Trophy, De Rasher Counter then had a few poor showings before having a mammoth 489 days off.

Last seen running in the Denman Chase at Newbury in February, he shaped well for a long way before the lack of a run started to take its toll and he faded out of contention.

With a run under his belt he’ll strip fitter and he won the Ladbroke off the same mark he lines up on here. Interesting.

A stark fall from grace. A close 2nd in the 2020 Gold Cup, Santini looked to be the next big thing in the staying chase ranks but his form deteriorated off the back of that Gold Cup run.

He’s since switched yards and did put in a slightly better showing in this year’s Gold Cup. Jumping better but being tactically outpaced.

He will stay the trip and should relish the tax of his stamina. His jumping went to pieces at Cheltenham last year however and this is his first try at the National fences.

A solid jumper and stayer, Freewheelin Dylan caused a major shock when bounding to victory in last year’s Irish National at odds of 150/1.

He has run well subsequently following his win at Fairyhouse but unseating over the cross country course at Cheltenham and pulling up over hurdles last time out chalk up 2 non completions in a row. however not without hope if running to the form he showed at the end of last year.

Regressing at an alarming rate of knots, Lostintranslation was a spectacular novice chaser and did the unthinkable to beat Bristol Mai around Haydock.

This took its toll however and his form tailed off until a win in a grade 2 at Ascot earlier in the season. Again however his form has dropped since.

A decent enough outing in the Ultima last month hinted that there’s still some spark in him but a mark of 157 looks incredibly stiff for a 10 year old who’s won once in 3 years.

A valiant 3rd in this race last year despite being hampered midway round, this 10 year old comes back to Aintree 7lbs higher in the ratings.

His form this season hasn’t been outstanding but he’s mainly run over hurdles. His sole start over fences recently yielded a grade 3 win when just getting the better of Escaria Ten.

He ran incredibly well in this last year despite being hampered and will likely put in another strong account.

A decent enough 7th in this race last year, Discorama faded out of contention from the back of the second last. However he didn’t have the ideal prep and came to Aintree off the back of a break.

He’s only been seen twice this season, running ok over hurdles back in October and then faring much better over fences when last on a race course.

A 2nd place in a national hunt chase almost guarantees his stamina so he’s not without hope.

Sent off favourite for this race last year off the back of a demolition job in the Ladbroke trophy and an easy listed handicap win at Kelso after.

He failed to really have a good go at the national fences and looked in trouble a long way from home before pulling up. This season he’s not been seeing out his races either and it's hard to make a case for him in this year’s renewal.

A brilliant chasing season for Good Boy Bobby, this 9 year old scored over 2.5 miles at the start of the season before going close in the Rehearsal Handicap behind Aye Right.

He took a step forward from that to win the Rowland Meyrick at the end of last year. His last run however suggested that the handicapper has got the better of him. He finished quite tired in the Rowland Meyrick so the trip here raises some serious questions.

Delta Work looked a world beater winning the 2020 Irish Gold cup but his form petered out since.

He did bounce back to form recently however when breaking hearts to outstay stablemate Tiger Roll on his swan song, in the cross country at Cheltenham.

He has plentiful stamina and looks well worth a go over the national fences. He brings a solid touch of quality here but a mark of 161 is probably stiff enough for this. Rightfully near the top of the market.

Last year’s hero under a phenomenal Rachael Blackmore, the two pair up again to try and shoulder top weight to success. He’s only run twice this season and has failed to complete both times, falling and pulling up.

If you can forgive his poor run of form, he did make light work of the national course last year but a 15lb hike in the weights and a poor season might have his measure.

A thorough stayer who has form in the books over 4 miles and over. A winner of an Edinburgh National, a solid 2nd in a Midlands National and a winner of a Scottish Grand National.

This season however hasn’t been anywhere near as impressive. Running averagely over 3 miles at Wetherby in the Charlie Hall, he has since pulled up twice in handicap company.

Needs to recapture his form but at least stamina is assured.

With a fantastic record over fences at Sandown, Deise Aba has failed to sparkle over fences at other courses.
Well fancied for the Kim Muir last year, he failed to show himself well and pulled up.

All of his best runs have been at Sandown, running well twice in defeat to be narrow 2nd’s this season.

Hasn’t shown enough at other courses to suggest he can get involved.

Rising from the handicap ranks well, Two For Gold has won handicaps off marks as high as 150 and sealed a good win in a conditions race at Lingfield back in January.

Last seen running a stormer to be 2nd to Fakir D’oudairies in the Ascot Chase, he stays 3 miles well and has been highly progressive this season. Going further could unlock yet more improvement.

Tried over long staying trips when pitched into the Irish Grand National last season, Augusta Gold only managed to come home in 11th and was weakening late on.

This season she’s put in a few weak outings, failing to finish twice. However she did shape much better last time out despite being a beaten favourite.

Maybe lacking quality and stamina to play a major role.

The winner of the 2020 Tolworth Hurdle, Fiddlerontheroof took to fences well and kept running well in defeat in graded company as a novice.

This season has been much the same. A winner of a listed chase on seasonal return, the then ran a career best to be 2nd to Cloudy Glen by only half a length in the Ladbroke Trophy.

Given plenty of time to freshen up after that he was outstayed by Fortescue at Ascot in handicap company when last seen in February.

Threatening to be a very good horse, he jumps well and showed great resilience and stamina to run on well in the Ladbroke Trophy.

Bundles of class but she also brings an equal amount of quirkiness with it. Most famous for being sent off favourite for the 2021 Kim Muir and taking no interest in proceedings until rattling home late to victory.

This season she’s won twice in mares’ events over 2.5 miles and scalped Elimay at Fairyhouse.

She ran poorly at Cheltenham last month however but she’s shown she has a good amount of stamina. Not without hope if taking an interest and her jumping holding up to the test.

Stamina is certainly no concern for this second season novice chaser. Running a mighty 2nd place in last year’s Irish Grand National.

He’s been highly consistent this year, winning the Troytown, coming 2nd in a grade 1 and coming 2nd in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham.

Going over further looks likely to play to his strengths but a tendency to put in a poor jump will be a concern as he tackles the national fences for the first time.

Running well enough over the national fences to be 4th in the Becher behind Snow Leopardess, shaping like the 3 miles and 2 furlongs wasn’t far enough.

However he didn’t quite seem to last the 4 miles and 1 furlong in the Eider chase at Newcastle at the end of February. Stamina isn’t assured.

Getting in right at the foot of the weights, Fortesque has been steadily improving over fences. Despite being well beaten in the Ladbroke trophy, he ran a valiant race to be 3rd to Royale Pagaille in the Peter Marsh.

Last seen outstaying Fiddlerontheroof at Ascot to capture a listed race, he stayed on powerfully.

He hints like he might stay further and is certainly overpriced compared to Fiddlerontheroof. Young and open to progress as a stayer.

Luckily sneaking in at the bottom of the weights, Eclair Surf was an impressive winner over 3 miles and 5 furlongs at Warwick with the form working out well since.

He subsequently ran another stormer to be 2nd in the Eider chase behind Win My Wings, who’s since franked the form with a marvellous display in the Scottish National.

Well handicapped, his form is working out well and he stays. This 8 year old is in with a massive chance.

This season’s Thyestes winner, Longhouse Poet has shown plenty of stamina in his career. Scalping Run Wild Fred last season, he’s fairly lightly raced but has a lot of unexplored territory to cover here.

He looks a thorough stayer however and has shown his class to pick up a couple of decent handicap pots already. Only 8 years old and still improving, a mark of 154 could be more than exploitable.

Suddenly finding his feet as a staying chaser when winning the Thyestes chase to get the better of Run Wild Fred. He followed that up with a solid 3 mile grade 2 win.

This season his form hasn’t been quite as good however. His rating left handicaps being a tough ask but he did run well in the Irish National Trial at Punchestown in February.

He was fading late on in that race however and has to prove he can get this marathon.

Sent off favourite for the National Hunt chase last year, he ran a good race to be 3rd to Galvin. He proved he stays at least 3 miles and 6 furlongs that day, however he pulled up in the Irish National subsequently.

A good run last time out saw him just edged out by Any Second Now in a group 3. His mark of 152 certainly looks about right and he looks back on song.

Only 8 years old he’s still progressive over fences.