Grand National: A look at the runners in Saturday’s £1million Randox race

There were no surprise withdrawals for Saturday’s £1million Randox Grand National at Monday’s penultimate declaration stage.

Fifty entries remain in the race with the latest withdrawals being Royal Pagaille, who runs in Monday’s Irish National, Envoi Allen, The Shunter, Gin On Lime, Battleoverdoyen, Quick Wave and Captain Kangaroo.

Forty horses can run in the Grand National and the latest scratchings mean Back On The Lash, part owned by Harry Redknapp, is guaranteed a start.

Here, Racing Correspondent MARCUS TOWNEND runs the rule over the potential runners for Sportsmail – and their odds, courtesy of bookmakers Paddy Power.

Any entries who drop out will be replaced by the horses which currently fill the reserves’ places.

Sportsmail has taken a look at the runners ahead of this weekend’s historic Grand National

1 ANY SECOND NOW (11/1 with Paddy Power)

Third in 2021 after nearly being brought down early in the race and second last year. In good form but he has crept up the weights and top weight will be tough to defy. His best chance is probably behind him.

2 NOBLE YEATS (8/1)

Last year’s winner has to race off a 19lb higher handicap mark but he is only eight and still improving as his staying-on fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup showed. A major player again.

3 GALVIN (20/1)

Came up short when fourth in the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup but only a few rungs behind the very best. This is a more realistic target and he has been targeted at the race. Ran well when second to stablemate Delta Work in the Cross Country at the Cheltenham Festival.

4 FURY ROAD (50/1)

Mixed it with the best throughout his career with some significant successes. He was third to the brilliant Galopin Des Champs in this season’s Irish Gold Cup but there has to be a question mark about his stamina and whether this is the right track for him.

5 THE BIG DOG (20/1)

The Welsh National third has been in great form this season and can be excused his fall two fences from home in the Irish Gold Cup. No surprise to see him barking on the heels of the leaders and has decent place chance.

6 CAPODANNO 20/1

Lightly-raced grade one winning novice chaser who has some very solid form in the book and also room to improve. Fits the profile of the horses who tend to do well in the modern Grand National and one for your shortlist.

7 DELTA WORK (9/1)

Third last year, albeit 22 lengths behind the winner. Dropped 1lb in the handicap so should be competitive again. Showed he was in great heart by winning Cheltenham’s Cross Country Chase for the second year running, this time beating stablemate Galvin.

8 SAM BROWN (66/1)

Impressive winner at the meeting last year but has not looked in as good a nick this term and that makes him hard to get too enthusiastic about. Best form on soft ground. If you’ve got him in the sweepstake more likely to make you blue.

Noble Yeats has emerged as a frontrunner to win the £1million Randox Grand National

9 LIFETIME AMBITION (25/1)

Third over these fences in a shorter race (2m 5f) in November and looks to have been campaigned all season with a shot at this race in mind. His 2nd to The Big Dog in the prestigious Troytown Chase at Navan was a good trial and no surprise to see ambitions realised.

10 CAREFULLY SELECTED (25/1)

Off the track for almost three years but returned this season with a huge effort to win the prestigious Thyestes Chase off top weight. Slightly disappointing last time but maybe that effort took its toll and freshened up take care not to leave him out of calculations.

11 COKO BEACH (25/1)

Ran well for a long way but beaten over 60 lengths when eighth last year. Returns in good heart with a win in Punchestown’s Grand National Trial in February. Distinctive grey who should give you q run for your money but a place looks more likely than a win.

12 LONGHOUSE POET (14/1)

A big fancy last year when he jumped the second-last in front only to fade into sixth (beaten 34 lengths) on the long run to the finish. Returns on the same handicap mark and his runs this term have all been about being spot on for this. Each-way hopes again.

13 GAILLARD DU MESNIL (12/1)

Looks to have a lot going for him. A grade one winning chaser who landed the 3m 6f National Hunt Chase at last month’s Cheltenham Festival. He was third in last season’s Irish National and is still only seven-years-old. Some C.V!

14 DARASSO (50/1)

Pretty consistent performer over both hurdles and fences but those efforts have all been over much shorter than the Grand National’s marathon trip and his stamina reserves must be seriously questioned.

15 LE MILOS (14/1)

One of the lonely flagbearers for the British team. Best judged on his win in November’s Coral Gold Cup at Newbury – a good trial for this test. Looked to need his prep run at Kelso last month so defeat was not a negative.

Le Mils (right) has an outside chance of success during Saturday’s proceedings

16 ESCARIA TEN (66/1)

Mixed it for a long way last year but seemed to hit the wall approaching the second last fence and was treading water after that. Nothing he has done since suggests he can build on that performance.

17 THE BIG BREAKAWAY (25/1)

Two top efforts this season including second under a big weight in the Welsh National. But ran like he wanted to be on his holidays when pulled up at the Cheltenham Festival and it is a leap of faith to support him after that.

18 CAPE GENTLEMAN (100/1)

Hopes don’t look too good with his stamina for this race distance seriously in questioned. He can turn it on at times but it will be tough to do that here and there are plenty of others which make more appeal.

19 ROI MAGE (40/1)

Spent most of his career racing in France where he won eight races and was consistent. Won once since being switched to Ireland and ran well behind Longhouse Poet last time. An outsider who would be a surprise winner.

20 DIOL KER (66/1)

The 2022 Leinster National winner must be respected on his unlucky short-head second in the ultra-competitive Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas but was subsequently way below that form in Punchestown’s Grand National Trial Chase in February.

21 A WAVE OF THE SEA (80/1)

The longest distance he has won over is two and a half miles and his most recent run when pulled up at Cheltenham offered no encouragement. Back him and you are probably waving your money goodbye.

22 MINELLA TRUMP (50/1)

Doesn’t want the ground too soft but has a progressive profile and could not be written off if conditions are in his favour. Well beaten over hurdles on his prep run but that was his first start for almost a year and it was over a distance way short of his best.

Donald McCain, trainer of Minella Trump, pictured together at his Cheshire stables

23 VANILLIER (20/1)

Not achieved as much over fences as he did over hurdles and jumping has been an issue, But put in one of his cleanest rounds yet when second in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse. Stays well and has a chance if his jumping holds up.

24 VELVET ELVIS (40/1)

Starts to rock’n’roll in the Spring when he seems to come to life. Sixth in last year’s Irish National and ran well behind Any Second Now last time and has a big weight pull. Still a young horse – a seven-year-old won last year – and looks a decent outsider.

25 AIN’T THAT A SHAME (20/1)

Trainer has won the race before and a big player for Rachael Blackmore (?) at the foot of the weights with placed efforts this season in the Munster National and Paddy Power Chase before a confidence booster in a lesser race last time.

26 COACH RAMBLER (6/1)

Massive chance on paper after back-to-back wins at the Cheltenham Festival. That makes him one of the best handicapped runners in the race. If the handicapper could assess him again, he’d have an extra 10lb to carry. Has a big chance for a trainer-jockey combination who have already won the race.

27 ENJOY D’ALLEN (66/1)

Can’t do worse than last year when he stumbled and unseated his jockey at the first fence. He will hopefully get further this time but nothing he has done since suggests that you will be enjoying celebrations if you back him.

28 MR INCREDIBLE (12/1)

Could be re-named Mr Tricky as talented but far from straightforward. Finished well from a long when back when third in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup. If he takes to the track he could be dangerous.

29 MISTER COFFEY (33/1)

Has some good form and is 10lb better off with Gaillard Du Mesnil for the 15 lengths he was beaten by him in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last month. But it’s a negative he has yet to win in eight steeplechase starts and performed badly when he ran over these fences in the shorter Topham Trophy last season.

Mister Coffey has yet to win in eight steeplechase starts and is an outsider to win

30 CLOUDY GLEN (80/1)

Won last season’s Ladbrokes Trophy Chase over 3m 2f at Newbury but largely struggled to replicate that form since and hard to have faith that he is up to this after being pulled up in Corach Rambler’s race at Cheltenham last month.

31 HILL SIXTEEN (50/1)

Preparation has not been smooth and needed his last run after undergoing a procedure to help his breathing. The positive is that he has run well on his two tries over these unique fences, only being beaten a nose by Snow Leopardess in the 2021 Becher Chase (3m 2f).

32 GABBYS CROSS (50/1)

Third in last month’s Leinster National at Naas over 3m. That was a better showing than recent runnings and he looks like the marathon distance will bring the best out of him. He is at the foot of the weights and while he will probably find at least two or three too good for him, he is not totally out of it.

33 RECITE A PRAYER (100/1)

Second in this season’s Kerry National and third in the Cork National. Off the track since running very badly at Leopardstown in December. Hard to see him winning but any runner representing the powerful Willie Mullins stable has to be respected.

34 EVA’S OSKAR (40/1)

Solid performer who wins his fair share but seemed to find it too far when upped to four miles last time at Newcastle. Would be a surprise if he produces an award-winning effort in this tough contest.

35 OUR POWER (20/1)

This Welsh-trained runner is one of the best hopes of the home team. Not too far behind Corach Rambler when that horse won at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, he’s been in great form in what has been a tricky season for his trainer and would have an extra 6lb to carry if the handicapper could assess him again.

36 DUNBOYNE (50/1)

Placed in the Thyestes Chase (short head 2nd to Carefully Selected) and then fourth in the Kim Muir Fulke Walwyn Handicap Chase at last month’s Cheltenham Festival. With his low weight it’s easy to see him being in contention in the closing stages but the negative he has looked a tricky ride.

37 FRANCKY DU BERLAIS (100/1)

Has completed the course on the three times he has tackled it in shorter races but his form this season has been disappointing and with stamina not his strong point it is a stretch to see him playing a part.

Jockey Ben Jones pictured falling from Francky Du Berlais during the Glenfarclas Chase

38 FORTESCUE (50/1)

Came into last year’s race seemingly in better form but was beaten when he unseated his jockey four from home. His form this season has been more patchy with no suggestion that he will do any better. Tendency to get too far behind to play a part.

39 BACK ON THE LASH (33/1)

Has a decent record in cross country races which suggests the challenges of the Aintree course will not be a problem. An outsider but one who might still be in contention until deep into the race. Wouldn’t want the ground to get too soft.

40 DEFI BLEU (100/1)

Ran well for a long time at Cheltenham last month when fifth in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase but faded close home and this tougher test looks like it will be beyond him.

CURRENT RESERVE POSITIONS OCCUPIED BY 

41 GEVREY

42 PUNITIVE

43 MILAN NATIVE

44 BORN BY THE SEA

Odds courtesy of bookmakers Paddy Power.