11/04/26 4:00 Aintree - The Grand National System

 

The Grand National

 

1st Johnnywho 8/1 - 50

1st Imperial Saint 50/1 - 50

2nd Panic Attack - 45

3rd Jagwar 9/1 - 40

3rd Iroko 11/1 - 40

 

FYI I Am Maximus scored 35, those on 30 were Gerri Colombe, Haiti Couleurs, Mr Vango, Top Of The Bill, Deep Cave, Grangeclare West, Favouri De Champdou and Final Orders. 

I have been on Captain Cody and Grangeclare West for a while, so I was hoping they would make into the top list, alas they didn't. I am glad though, as it makes me look at the race much harder. 

Negatives were Gerri Colombe, Banbridge, Haiti Couleurs, Lecky Watson and I Am Maximus who all carry over 11st 9lb, It's tough to carry a big weight over this distance. 

Johnnywho won the Ultima at Cheltenham, and it's a good race to win seeing as Corach Rambler won it on his way the National victory in the same year.  Corach Rambler carried 10st 5lb to victory and Johnnywho has 10st 4lb. Good to soft is spot on for Johnnywho, he is definitely a better horse going right-handed and normally I would worry that he shows a preference for more undulating tracks, however over this distance maybe that negates it a little. I do worry about the right-handed thing though. On the whole a good jumper, and its his first time over these type of fences.

Imperial Saint I believe has made it in now. He likes Aintree with stats of 1, 1, 1, 2, 5. He was 2nd over the conventional fences at 3m 1f here. Obviously he has not been over these fences, but he is a good jumper. The ground is perfect. Now the interesting thing is, is he came 8th in the Ultima, and he was badly hampered and lost a lot of places, he stayed on really well 2 out though. No idea if he would have ever been closer, but it is something to consider especially at 50/1.

Panic Attack is doing it for the girls, she is the only mare in the race! She is such a battler, and that is great qualities to have, she has never been this far, but she has shown she stays, in fact he does everything, she can win at much shorter to and mix and match. She is a wonderful jumper. The track will suit, the distance is unknown, I can see why she is liked. Great weight to with just 10st 5lb on her back.

Jagwar is a giant of a horse, reminds me a bit of Party Politics. One negative for me is that he is only a 7-year-old. Noble Yeats won it at 7, but he was the first for a long time. Otherwise, he was 2nd in the Ultima so we know that's good form, he tries so hard and battled back to take 2nd there. Ground is perfect and like the others, it's his first time over these fences, so if he takes to them, he could run well. I like him. Mark Walsh rides him which is an indicator he is preferred over Iroko. 

Iroko from the same connections as Jagwar has the help of experience on his side as he was 4th in this race last year, so we know he ticks a lot of boxes. It's a little harder as he carries a tiny bit more weight, but that experience will count for a lot. I think you can ignore his last run, in fact any run at Cheltenham as i dont think it suits him as well as a flatter track like Aintree. He also shows a preference in left handed course. He could be a safe ew bet

I can see a lot of good points to the above runners. I will stick to my system and go with those who scored the most, but any of these have the potential to run big races. 

My Selection: Johnnywho 11/1 & Imperial Saint 50/1