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GRAND NATIONAL - HEDGEHUNTER TO JOIN IMMORTALS
Current John Smith's Grand National favourite Clan Royal is a horse with a marvellous record at Aintree.
He ran a tremendous race in this event two years ago when veering off a straight line after the last and being just beaten by Amberleigh House. Then he was winging away in front when his run was halted by a loose horse at Becher's Brook on the second circuit last year, his saddle having slipped earlier in the race too.
He is a past winner over these fences over shorter distances and has been trained specifically with this race in mind to protect his handicap mark.
It can be argued that he looks attractively treated, he gets a 12 pound pull for example with last year' winner Hedgehunter.
Clan Royal is a worthy market leader but he does tend to race a little freely. Some people felt he was an unlucky loser last year but he had raced with the choke out for a long way there and I would just have a few doubts over whether he would have lasted home.
That is obviously completely hypothetical, we will never know, but I have doubts about his stamina if he doesn't settle.
Hedgehunter carries top weight of 11st 12lb but he is very well in after his magnificent run when second to War Of Attrition in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
He would be higher up the ratings if the handicapper had been able to take that run into account and like Clan Royal he has an excellent record at the course.
He was a last fence faller two years ago when very tired but ridden with more restraint last year, he fairly trotted up from Royal Auclair.
Willie Mullins' charge comes into the race at the height of the powers and while he would be the first horse since the great Red Rum to win the race twice, I feel he may well do it.
He isn't a great price but is the best horse in the race and he must have a great shout of repeating Rough Quest's achievement of 1996 by finishing second in the Gold Cup and going on to win the National.
Royal Auclair is back again as part of a six-strong team for his trainer Paul Nicholls.
It is hard to see him reversing form with Hedgehunter though, he was beaten pretty readily last year and was well beaten by that rival at Cheltenham last time. He has plenty to do for me although I can see him getting round again.
Of the other Nicholls horses I like Le Duc at an each-way price.
He has some good form on the course to his name, finishing second to Garvivonnian in the Becher Chase earlier this term.
He comes here a fresh horse, is only seven, and while he is a bit quirky, he could be the sort of horse to look after himself around Aintree.
He travels well too which is important and will help him get the trip. If he has a going day, Le Duc could well be placed.
Tony McCoy, who rides Clan Royal, could have ridden Innox who finished seventh last year and shaped as though not getting the trip.
He needs to do better on Saturday but arguably he is in much better form coming into the race after two recent victories.
I don't know whether I would completely trust him though, he has been rather in-and-out in the past.
Garvivonnian won the Becher Chase here earlier in the season and looks to have been laid out for this.
He finished second to subsequent Gold Cup third Forget The Past in Ireland last time and stays very well. There are very few negatives for him and he seems sure to run a very big race.
Last season's Irish National winner Numbersixvalverde has been campaigned over hurdles to protect his handicap mark and is another who stays very well. It would be no surprise to see him go well either. Ginger McCain runs three in his last National before retiring.
It would be stranger than fiction if he could win it again but Amberleigh House is proabaly past it now at 14.
He hasn't shown a lot of sparkle this term and while Aintree can fire him up, he is readily overlooked.
Ebony Light's handicap mark has gone up this season and I do feel some of his form of late flatters him, notably a Haydock defeat of the frustrating Kingscliff.
The best of Ginger's trio could well be the recent purchase Inca Trail who is a devilishly hard horse to get right.
He does travel very well though and Brian Harding's job is to try and guide him round the track and not hit the front too soon. That is no easy task - The Elbow may be too soon for Inca Trail!
He needs to lead on the line and is a huge task for Brian but if he takes to this, the horse does have plenty of ability.
Of the others Juvenigneur appeals as an each-way bet after coming back to form when second to Dun Doire at Cheltenham last time.
He has had a light season but last term ran a cracker when just collared by Jack High in the Betfred Gold Cup and seems to really come to hand at this time of the year.
I have one or two doubts over his stamina, it isn't absolutely guaranteed, and he has fallen over these fences before. But if he gets round he looks sure to run a big race for trainer Nicky Henderson.
Hedgehunter has a very strong chance of winning again and is my headline selection with each-way savers on Le Duc and Juveigneur.
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