Vaniller seeking to go one better at Aintree
VANILLER finished second in last year’s Grand National at Aintree will be aiming to go one better this year. Looking through his form line it does appear that he excels once he gets to 3m+. He has never finished out of the first four in 3m chases, apart from his debut when he was pulled up at a point to point on his debut. 14 horses have finished second in the Grand National twice without winning it; that is a stat punters should take note of.
I AM MAXIMUS is certainly worth noting. This horse won last year’s Irish Grand National at Fairy House. I backed him that day and tipped him out as well. He has won three Chases out of nine chasing races, a 33% win-rate. His three wins all being at Fairy House. I Am Maximus has never fallen, been pulled up, or unseated rider in any of his races. That is no guarantee that he won’t come to any mishap because anything can happen in the Grand National. I Am Maximus won his last race by 14 lengths, beating none other than Vaniller. He was evens favourite that day.
The last two winners of the National are both in again; they are COROACH RAMBLER and NOBLE YEATS. Coroach Rambler is the favourite. He carried 10st 5 when winning last year and has 11st 5 this year. I could not take him with an extra stone to carry even though he ran 3rd in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last time. The same can be said of Noble Yeats who has 11st 11 to carry this year.
MY VERDICT: I AM MAXIMUS and VANILLER to fight this one out.
Grand National Steeplechase at Aintree 4m 2F 514 yards
PAST WINNERS
YEAR WINNER ODDS WEIGHT FORM
2023 Corach Rambler 8/1f 10-06 1541
Last race-Cheltenham
2022 Noble Yeats 50/1 11-08 9P29
Last race-Cheltenham
2021 Minella Times 11/1 10:03 0122
2020 Race abandoned due to coronavirus lockdown
2019 Tiger Roll 4/1F 11-5 1411
LAST RACE-1/15 Cheltenham Country Chase 40k
2018 Tiger Roll 10/1 10-13 2P51
LAST RACE-1/16 Cheltenham Country Chase
2017 One For Arthur 14/1 10-13 3X151
LAST RACE-1/20 Warwick 3m 5f 34k
2016 Rule the World 33/1 10-7 2254
LAST RACE-4/7 Hurdle Naas 15k
2015 Many Clouds 25/1 11-9 1116
LAST RACE-6/16 Cheltenham Gold Cup
2014 Pineau De Re 25/1 10-6 2713
LAST RACE-3/23 Cheltenham Country Chase
2013 Auroras Encore 66/1 10-11 45F5
Last race-5th Kels Chase
2012 Neptune Collonges 33/1 11-6 P422
LAST RACE-2/14 Haydock Chase
2011-Ballabriggs 14/1 11-0 1112
Last race-2nd Kelso Chase
2010-Don’t Push It 10/1JF 11-5 423P
Last race-Pulled Up Cheltenham
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