1. TIGER ROLL (Jockey: Davy Russell) Rating: 9 (out of 10)
Became first back-to-back winner since Red Rum when racing to glory last season. Delayed start to this campaign and had hard race at Cheltenham, but impossible not to see him going very close.
Tiger Roll
Trainer: G Elliott Jockey: D N Russell
Form: 4111-52
2. BRISTOL DE MAI (Daryl Jacob) 7
High-class chaser on his day, finishing third in last season’s Gold Cup. Must go well if taking to the fences.
Trainer: N A Twiston-Davies Jockey: D A Jacob
Form: F34-229
3. ASO (Charlie Deutsch) 5
Very useful, but all his form is at trips way short of this and makes limited appeal as a result.
Trainer: Miss V Williams Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
Form: 62-3547
4. ELEGANT ESCAPE (Jonjo O’Neill Jr) 5
Winner of the Welsh National in 2018, but recent form a concern and is passed over.
Trainer: C L Tizzard Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr.
Form: 6-236P0
5. ANIBALE FLY (Barry Geraghty) 6
Has twice run well in the National, to finish fourth and fifth, and his performance over hurdles last month was not without promise.
Trainer: A J Martin Jockey: B J Geraghty
Form: 25-9883
6. TOP VILLE BEN (Tom Dowson) 7
Progressive this season and likely to run a lot better than his odds of 45-1 would suggest.
Trainer: P A Kirby Jockey: Thomas Dowson
Form: 13-5313
7. BEWARE THE BEAR (Jerry McGrath) 6
A former Cheltenham Festival winner, who should enjoy the trip but might want it a bit softer.
Trainer: N J Henderson Jockey: J McGrathForm: 411P-48
8. PEREGRINE RUN (Kevin Sexton) 4
Stamina a huge question mark for this Irish challenger, who has not run since November.
Trainer: Peter Fahey Jockey: K C Sexton
Form: 114215
9. JETT (Sam Waley-Cohen) 5
Second to Douvan in November was a fine effort, but while not disgraced in top company since, this is probably a step too far.
Trainer: Mrs J Harrington Jockey: Mr S Waley-Cohen
Form: 271264
10. ALPHA DES OBEAUX (Richard Johnson) 5
Fell in 2018, but interesting enough for Tiger Roll’s trainer with Becher Chase third over the big fences offering hope.
Trainer: G Elliott Jockey: R Johnson
Form: 22-2333
11. TOTAL RECALL (Paul Townend) 6
Lost his way after falling in the 2018 Gold Cup, but seemingly back to his best in winning the Thyestes Chase latest.
Trainer: W P Mullins Jockey: P Townend
Form: 3P-8631
12. THE STORYTELLER (Keith Donoghue) 6
Bits of his form could make 40-1 attractive for each-way backers and ran a blinder over hurdles at Cheltenham last month.
Trainer: G Elliott Jockey: K M Donoghue
Form: 388162
13. MAGIC OF LIGHT (Robbie Power) 7
Runner-up to Tiger Roll last year and aimed at the big race once more. No reason she should not have her say.
Trainer : Mrs J Harrington Jockey: R M Power
Form: 72-3118
14. TALKISCHEAP (Tom Cannon) 4
Decent in his novice days but a leap of faith to see him as the winner judged on his run at Kempton in February, where he was pulled up.
Trainer: A King Jockey: Tom Cannon
Form: 1251-3P
15. YALA ENKI (Bryony Frost) 7
Third in the Welsh National and likely to catch the eye of one or two given his jockey. Far from a forlorn hope.
Trainer: P F Nicholls Jockey: Bryony Frost
Form: 57-0313
16. BALLYOPTIC (Sam Twiston-Davies) 5
Fell last year and was disappointing in the Becher Chase. A winner since, but has it to do.
Trainer: N A Twiston-Davies Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
Form: F-11401
17. BURROWS SAINT (Rachael Blackmore) 10
Winner of last year’s Irish National and still has more to offer over fences. Tiger Roll might find it difficult to give him a stone.
Trainer: W P Mullins Jockey: Rachael Blackmore
Form: 111-531
18. DEFINITLY RED (Brian Hughes) 7
Was carrying plenty of stable confidence ahead of the real race on the back of a solid campaign.
Trainer: B Ellison Jockey: B S Hughes
Form: B-54421
19. SUB LIEUTENANT (JJ Slevin) 4
Finished runner-up in the Topham Chase at the National meeting last year, but not really what he was.
Trainer: H De Bromhead Jockey: J J Slevin
Form: 72P2-74
20. OK CORRAL (Derek O’Connor) 8
Has plenty going for him after very taking win at Doncaster. Would have had solid chance of finally giving Nicky Henderson his National winner.
Trainer: N J Henderson Jockey: Mr Derek O’Connor
Form: 11P-091
21. TOUT EST PERMIS (Sean Flanagan) 5
Bit of a puzzle, as has not hit the heights expected over fences but did run well at Cheltenham.
Trainer: N Meade Jockey: S W Flanagan
Form: 424453
22. VINTAGE CLOUDS (Danny Cook) 6
Represents a National-winning yard and looked really good at Haydock a couple of runs ago. Always been thought the type for the race, but did fall last year.
Trainer: Mrs S J Smith Jockey: Danny Cook
Form: 5P3158
23. CRIEVEHILL (Tom Bellamy) 5
Like a lot of these he is not completely out of it, but equally would be quite a surprise if he was good enough.
Trainer: N A Twiston-Davies Jockey: Thomas Bellamy
Form: 44-1199
24. LAKE VIEW LAD (Henry Brooke) 6
Was quietly fancied last year only to be pulled up. Few pounds lower and could give a good account without winning.
Trainer: N W Alexander Jockey: Henry Brooke
Form: 13P-533
25. JURY DUTY (Mark Enright) 6
Only a 10-1 chance for the real thing 12 months ago, but unseated. Three times those odds now and nothing from his yard can be written off with confidence.
Trainer: G Elliott Jockey: M A Enright
Form: P-64002
26. PLEASANT COMPANY (David Mullins)
Just a head separated him and Tiger Roll in 2018, but age seemingly catching up with him now.
Trainer: W P Mullins Jockey: D J Mullins
Form: 00U-095
27. ACAPELLA BOURGEOIS (Danny Mullins) 7
Softer ground might help, but loads to like about Bobbyjo Chase win and every chance of being in the shake-up.
Trainer: W P Mullins Jockey: Danny Mullins
Form: 3-00261
28. SHATTERED LOVE (Lisa O’Neill) 6
Classy mare, whose 66-1 odds would be tempting but has never looked like she wants extreme distances.
Trainer: G Elliott Jockey: Ms Lisa O’Neill
Form: 517326
29. ANY SECOND NOW (Mark Walsh) 7
Represents the very shrewd Ted Walsh and last win at Naas was in a race his trainer has used before for his National contenders.
Trainer: T M Walsh Jockey: Mr Mark Walsh
Form: F-62U31
30. POTTERS CORNER (Jack Tudor)
Welsh Grand National hero. Certain to stay every yard, but might find a couple too good on this quicker ground.
Trainer: Christian Williams Jockey: Jack Tudor
Form: 1-5P011
31. DOUNIKOS (Luke Dempsey
Yet another for the Tiger Roll team, but odds of 50-1 probably flatter him.
Trainer: G Elliott Jockey: L P Dempsey
Form: F1PP-5P
32. KILDISART (Nico de Boinville) 7
Ran a massive race to be second at Cheltenham and will enjoy the ground from the right end of the handicap.
Trainer: B Pauling Jockey: Nico de Boinville
Form: 1-36652
33. DEATH DUTY (Gavin Brouder) 4
Top-notch novice in his pomp but not the same since returning from a long time off the track.
Trainer: G Elliott Jockey: G Brouder
Form: 1F/4402
34. RAMSES DE TEILLEE (Tom Scudamore) 6
Has thrived over hurdles of late, but no back number over fences, either, as witnessed by his second in 2018 Welsh National. Will give his backers a run for their money.
Trainer: D Pipe Jockey: T Scudamore
Form: P-14110
35. VALTOR (James Bowen) 5
Sent off at 66-1 last year and is the same odds again, which is fair.
Trainer: N J Henderson Jockey: James Bowen
Form: P0-1532
36. SAINT XAVIER (David Maxwell) 4
Grade One-placed in France, but has not looked a world beater since moving to Britain.
Trainer: P F Nicholls Jockey: Mr David Maxwell
Form: 46-7123
37. WARRIORS TALE (Harry Cobden) 4
Returned recently at Doncaster and did not show anything like enough to suggest this is anything over than a massive task.
Trainer: P F Nicholls Jockey: H Cobden
Form: 41P0P-6
38. DOUBLE SHUFFLE (Jonathan Burke) 4
Has been a fine servant to his yard, but hard to seeing him rekindling the sort of form that once saw him finish second in the King George.
Trainer: T R George Jockey: J J Burke
Form: 2P0-857
39. KIMBERLITE CANDY (Richie McLernon) 8
One to be feared from the bottom of the weights, having finished second in the Becher to Walk In The Mill and then winning the Classic Chase at Warwick.
Trainer: Tom Lacey Jockey: R P McLernon
Form: 935P-21
40. WALK IN THE MILL (James Best) 8
Fourth last year and squeezes in right at the bottom. Becher form looks smart and raced with plenty of enthusiasm over hurdles at Chepstow in January before being saved for this.
Trainer: R Walford Jockey: James Best
Form: 334-P12
VERDICT:
All eyes on Tiger Roll, but BURROWS SAINT can spoil the party. Walk In The Mill and Kimberlite Candy will be hard to keep out of the frame, while Acapella Bourgeois and Ok Corral are other place contenders to consider.
Free Tips for the Virtual Grand National
1. BURROWS SAINT 12/1
2. Tiger Roll 5/1
3. Walk In The Mill 16/1
4. Kimberlite Candy 16/1
5. Acapella Bourgeois 33/1