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Martin Brassil's 11 year old will have to put up a career best performance if he is to win off a 9lb higher mark on ground that will be faster than ideal. However we know he jumps and stays and he goes there with a good chance. Hedgehunter, another previous winner has been tuned up for the race with a couple of runs over hurdles in Ireland. His last outing over 2 miles told us nothing from a form point of view except that he had a leg in each corner!! He will do well to win off top weight and like Numbersixvalverde he'd definitely appreciate a softer surface.
Point Barrow won last years Irish National and has been one of the best backed horses over the past few weeks. Similarly to Hedgehunter his last run came over hurdles over a trip well short of his best. He stayed on well to finish third in desperate ground, a run that will have put him spot on for Aintree. He acts on the likely good ground and looks to be best of the Irish challengers.
Paul Nicholls will be keen to add the Grand National trophy to his already bulging cabinet and he has a good chance with the talented but very fragile Eurotrek. Best when caught fresh he was ultra impressive when taking the Beecher chase over the National fences in November. Liam Heard gets on particularly well with him and he lines up after a decent break with a solid chance. He is my win bet selection. Royal Auclair is another runner from the Nicholl's yard and could be well handicapped. Although he fell at the first last year he did finish second to Hedgehunter in 2005 and can race off a six pound lower mark on Saturday. If you can forgive him a below par effort at the Cheltenham Festival he'd have to be on your shortlist at a nice price.
Simon arrives at Aintree in great form after an impressive win in a decent handicap chase at Kempton in February. He has picked up some valuable prizes this season and aged only eight he looks to be still on an upward curve. The one negative is his size as he isn't an over big horse and may well struggle over the demanding fences.
Monkerhostin looks a likely type for the race after a great run behind Kauto Star in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He has some solid form in the book and this is definitely his time of year. Past runners in the Gold Cup have a good record in the race with both Rough Quest and Miinnehoma
proving Victorious at Aintree after running well in the Gold Cup in recent
years. Philip Hobbs team continue in great form and with Richard Johnson in the saddle look out for a big run from him. Zabenz, another from the Hobbs yard has a great chance at a big price. 10 year olds have a great record and he looks ideally weighted off 10-08. Although he hasn't won a race this season he has been running consistently well in some decent handicap chases. On his last run he was beaten 12 lengths by Billyvoddan at Ascot giving that horse 1lb. In the National he has an 11lb turnaround and he is more than double the price of that one. The biggest attribute you need in The National is the ability to travel well and Zabenz does just that. He has been trained with the race as his target all season and he's my confident each way bet selection.
Invariably something at a massive price always defies its current form and runs a big race. Knowhere might be the one this year for previous winning trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies. He ran as well as could be expected behind Denman in the Royal and Sunalliance chase at the Cheltenham festival and if he comes back to his early season form he'd be in with a big shout. On his third run of the season he finished just a length and half behind Exotic Dancer in the Boylesports Gold Cup at Cheltenham. That form is top class given what the winner has gone on to achieve in finishing second in both the King George and Gold Cup. Admittedly Knowhere has to prove he stays the National Trip but his price reflects those stamina doubts and I can envisage a big run at a big price.
Enjoy the Worlds greatest race and I hope I've pointed you in the direction of the winner. If all else fails you could always get your pin out!!! Good Luck.
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