Grand National pinstickers guide including all horses ratings and 1-2-3-4 tips
Old boy TAKINGRISKS (5.15) is fancied to grab Randox Grand National glory at Aintree today.
Trained by Nicky Richards in Cumbria, he can emulate his father Gordon who won the great race with Lucius (1978) and Hallo Dandy (1984).
Takingrisks might be aged 12, but he has shown he is as well as ever this season.
He won the Scottish National in 2019 where he beat today’s hot favourite Cloth Cap . They reoppose on similar terms and while Cloth Cap has improved, so has Takingrisks who won the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster in January.
The Grand National is now less of a jumping challenge and more of a stamina test and Takingrisks is fancied to out-stay his rivals.
DAILY STAR PINSTICKERS’ GUIDE
Bristol De Mai
25/1
Would be odds-on if this was at Haydock. The class horse in the race but there are stamina doubts and he would ideally want softer ground. The lovely grey could still run a very big race.
Chris's Dream
40/1
An in-and-out performer but is capable of some very good performances. Was pulled up at Cheltenham and he would probably prefer softer ground today. Hard to fancy.
Yala Enki
33/1
Another horse who would want softer ground. Bryony Frost gets a good tune out of him and he will definitely stay the four miles two furlongs. Good bet to get round and possible place claims.
Ballyoptic
66/1
Has not fired this season and his best days may well be behind him. Was going well in this two years ago when falling four from home, but has looked a shadow of his former self lately.
Definitly Red
50/1
Ran in the race four years ago but was pulled up when the tack broke.Classy chaser, now in the veteran stage, who has a good record around the Mildmay course. Has serious place claims.
Lake View Lad
33/1
Pulled up when fancied two years ago and races off the same handicap mark this time. He needs softer ground but did well to beat Santini on the Mildmay course in the autumn.
Burrows Saint
8/1
Irish National winner in 2019 who has an excellent chance if he takes to the fences. He will relish the drying ground and has Patrick Mullins up bidding to be the first amateur to win it since 1990.
Magic Of Light
16/1
Second to Tiger Roll in 2019, although mares have a fairly poor record in the race. Course form is a major plus and although she is high enough in the weights, she could run a big race.
Acapella Bourgeois
20/1
Beat Burrows Saint giving him weight in the Bobbyjo Chase and now enjoys a swing in the weights. Better ground could see him in a better light, so he is definitely no back number.
Talkischeap
66/1
Looked promising when winning the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown two years ago, but afflicted by injury since. Would be massively overpriced if returning to his best. Will love the good ground.
Tout Est Permis
66/1
Not disgraced in the highest grade earlier this season, but has not progressed as once appeared likely and now looks plenty high enough in the weights. His form figures tell the story.
Anibale Fly
25/1
Grand old servant who has been placed in two Cheltenham Gold Cups and has been fourth and fifth in this race. A while since he has shown that sort of form but cannot be dismissed.
Mister Malarky
20/1
A smart novice a few years back who has become hard to predict, but at his best is capable of smart form. He could be the type to take to the fences and give his trainer a dream send-off.
Kimberlite Candy
10/1
Has been on many shortlists for this since finishing second over the fences in December 2019. Finished second again in the Becher Chase this season but would clearly want it softer. A player.
Any Second Now
10/1
Hails from a shrewd stable who have won and gone close in this from just a handful of runners. Won a Grade Two over two miles last time, but has won a Kim Muir in the past. Obvious chance.
Balko Des Flos
50/1
Won the Ryanair Chase in 2018, but has been a long way below that form this season. He was going okay in the Cross Country Chase until falling. Recently sold but is very hard to fancy.
Alpha Des Obeaux
66/1
Had shown nothing all season before a fair fourth in the Cheltenham Cross Country to Tiger Roll. That still leaves him with plenty to find and he does not look well handicapped.
Ok Corral
40/1
Interesting runner. Had last year’s race taken place he would have been among the leading contenders but his only run since came at Cheltenham and he was pulled up. Don’t discount him.
Takingrisks
25/1
Won the Scottish National in 2019 beating Cloth Cap. They meet on similar terms. He is now aged 12 but won the Sky Bet Chase and will stay every yard. Overpriced and great each-way value.
Shattered Love
40/1
Smart mare at her very best, and she was not far off that at Cheltenham when third to Colreevy over two and a half miles. Wants further these days, but this might be too far.
Jett
66/1
Was quietly fancied for this last year, but has not been in the same sort of form this time around. Very difficult to fancy but then stranger things have happened in this race.
Lord Du Mesnil
33/1
Will certainly get the trip. Won the National Trial at Haydock and if the ground was softer his price would be much shorter. Would be massive for his small yard to win this race and he has claims.
Potters Corner
20/1
Welsh (and Virtual) National winner who stays all day. But he really needs it soft to slow the others down. Has not had a totally smooth preparation but he could still run a decent race.
Class Conti
50/1
Has been running with credit in some of Ireland’s biggest handicaps. Winning form on good ground in France suggests he could find improvement and his trainer is a genius.
Milan Native
28/1
Won the Kim Muir at Cheltenham in 2020 but has been out of form and it is hard to see him troubling the judge here. But they also said that about Auroras Encore and Mon Mome…
Discorama
14/1
Many shrewdies have tipped this fellow and he has attracted plenty of cash. His ability is not in doubt. Has been placed at three Cheltenham Festivals and has proven stamina for four miles.
Vieux Lion Rouge
50/1
Has jumped as many of these fences as any horse, having run in this four times and the Becher five times, winning that twice. But has failed to get the distance each time in the big one.
Cloth Cap
4/1
Easy winner of the Ladbrokes Trophy and bolted up at Kelso. Third in a Scottish National proved his stamina. Is 14lb well in. Likely winner but this is the National and his price is still too short.
Cabaret Queen
100/1
Has won the Munster and Kerry Nationals, but they are a long way removed from the real thing. Recent form regressing and she has no chance of being the queen of Aintree.
Minellacelebration
66/1
Won two nice prizes at Uttoxeter and Aintree either side of a summer break, but has struggled since handicapper had his say. However, he may just outrun his odds.
Canelo
40/1
Struck off a 12lb higher mark at Wetherby than his win over the Mildmay fences in October. Not disgraced twice since. Stamina might be the issue but he could get round if he stays.
The Long Mile
40/1
An unknown quantity and is one of the most unexposed runners in the field. Runs as if this trip may bring about even more improvement. Not without some sort of squeak.
Give Me A Copper
66/1
Owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, among others, and has given connections something to cheer in the past. He is talented but pretty fragile and not sure a test such as this is what he needs.
Farclas
20/1
Won the Triumph Hurdle in 2018 and on the very best of his form he is not badly handicapped. Lacks the experience over fences most of these have but he could still be there at the business end.
Minella Times
9/1
Has been all the rage for this in recent weeks, but that is more down to the Rachael Blackmore factor than anything he has done. He has stamina to prove and is not very well handicapped.
Sub Lieutenant
100/1
Once a classy operator for Henry De Bromhead, for whom he was second in a Topham. Tabitha Worsley in the saddle and may just outrun his odds if he manages to get the trip.
Hogan's Height
66/1
A winner over these fences in the Grand Sefton but big doubts over his stamina. Lightly raced since having shot up the weights and tailed off behind Tiger Roll at Cheltenham.
Double Shuffle
40/1
Talented horse who was second in the King George in 2017. Excels at Kempton over three miles, but has another 10 furlongs to tackle here, and while the ground will suit, the trip is a worry.
Ami Desbois
100/1
Caught by Double Shuffle at Kempton in January and ran another solid race last time out. Has always shaped as a stayer, but needs to take form to a new level.
Blaklion
80/1
Fourth in the 2017 National and then won the Becher later that year. Favourite for the 2018 National, but brought down at the first and nothing has gone right since. But not a no hoper.
VERDICT
- TAKINGRISKS
- CLOTH CAP
- DEFINITLY RED
- TALKISCHEAP
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