Five-time NAPs champion names his Grand National longshots – including 80/1 poke
Ireland are set to dominate the Randox Grand National at Aintree as they field almost three-quarters of the 40 runners.
And I strongly fancy the bottomless stamina pit of 20/1 shot Vanillier to come to the fore at the end of the extended four and a quarter miles at the historical Liverpool venue.
Winner of the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, the son of Martaline has taken time to adapt his jumping style to fences with just the one win in nine outings. However, he showed he was shaping up into a top-class stayer when second to the classy Kemboy in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February.
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That day, a slight mistake at the fifth just knocked his momentum and although he slightly fluffed the last, he made up six lengths on the run-in and would have won in a couple more strides.
If Gavin Cromwell’s charge can get into a nice rhythm on the first circuit and not get too far behind, his bottomless stamina bucket and still further room of improvement could see him make the most of his weight concession from those at the head of the field.
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Gordon Elliott has six runners in a bid to land his fourth Aintree crown and Delta Work could be the best of the battalion.
A winner of nine of his 20 starts over fences, including five grade ones and two Cross Country crowns at Cheltenham, the 10-year-old has a 20lbs turnaround in the weights with last year’s winner Noble Yeats and is entitled to hit the frame at the very least.
I considered Our Power for a place in the frame along with The Big Breakaway, Eva’s Oskar and dual Cheltenham winner Corach Rambler, but I finally came down on the side of 33/1 poke Coko Beach.
Fully 66 lengths behind the winner 12 months ago, the grey took to the fences superbly, but just ran too free out in front, fading into eighth spot.
There are plenty of outsiders we could get our punting teeth stuck into but I am going to take a chance on 80/1 outsider Enjoy D’Allen.
Stamina is his strength and off a 2lbs lower mark than last year, when he unseated at first when sent off a 20-1 shot, I expect a massively improved display.
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