The Grand National is the biggest race of the British National Hunt season, and with its £1million prize pot, the most valuable jump race in Europe.
Saturday’s field has been changed significantly since last season’s running, with the runners reduced from 40 entrants to 34 in a move designed to improve the race’s safety.
But despite the tweaks, there are some familiar returning favourites including last year’s winner Corach Rambler, fresh from his impressive showing in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
2022 winner Noble Yeats also makes his return, as well as a number of other previous runners, but the pack could yet be ripe for an upset with testing ground forecast for the historic contest.
Here, the first female jockey to win a Grade One race LIZZIE KELLY shares her thoughts on who can come out on top on Saturday afternoon.
On Saturday afternoon at 4pm, the most valuable race in European jump racing will get going
Last year’s winner Corach Rambler is back to defend his crown and remains a likely choice
The field has been slimmed considerably this year, and will feature 34 entrants down from 40
(Prices supplied by Paddy Power)
Noble Yeats
Still a novice when won in 2022 before finishing fourth last year. In good this season over hurdles and a big hope again despite carrying top weight (4 stars)
Price: 20-1
Nassalam
The easy Welsh National winner should be suited by the ground conditions but enthusiasm tempered by a poor run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup (3 stars)
Price: 22-1
Coko Beach
Jumps these unique fences really well but stamina gave out when eighth in 2022 and pulled up last year. Hard to see why that changes (2 stars)
Price: 20-1
Capadano
Classy and has run some good races this year but impossible to overlook that he faded and was pulled up last year. Difficult to see winning on that evidence (3 stars)
Price: 25-1
I am Maximus
Last year’s Irish National winner has been running well and comprehensively beat Vanillier at Fairyhouse in February. Looks made for this marathon contest (4 stars)
Price: 7/1
Noble Yeats took the crown in 2022 and has been good this season, despite carrying weight
Mudlark Nassalam could see the ground play to his strengths and has prior course experience
Last season’s Irish Grand National winner I Am Maximus looks tailor made for the testing race
Minella Indo
The 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner is not the force of old but retains enough ability to give Rachael Blackmore another decent shot at the prize (3 stars)
Price: 14-1
Corach Rambler
Last year’s winner was a fantastic third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. If that gigantic effort hasn’t knocked the edge off him he should go close again (4 stars)
Price: 6-1
Janadil
Hasn’t won a race beyond two and a half miles. Tough to make a case for him winning given the demands of the modern Grand National (2 stars)
Price: 100-1
Stattler
Proved stamina when winning a long distance chase at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival. Inconsistence since that ability means you can’t write him off (3 stars)
Price: 50-1
Stattler proved his staying power two years ago at the Cheltenham Festival (pictured in 2022)
Mahler Mission has been kept fresh since December for the Grand National (pictured in 2022)
Mahler Mission
Fell when looking likely to go close to winning at last season’s Cheltenham Festival. Two good runs this season and very much primed for this challenge (4 stars)
Price: 14-1
Delta Work
Three-time Cheltenham Festival winner and third to Noble Yeats in 2022. Unseated his jockey when going well on second circuit last year. Each-way chance (3 stars)
Price: 16-1
Foxy Jacks
Beat Latenightpass in a Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham in November but has a hit-and-miss record and needs an unlikely career best to figure (2 stars)
Price: 25-1
Galvin
Normally a good jumper but fell at the first fence last year. Classy horse on his day but seriously disadvantaged with all his best form is on much faster ground (3 stars)
Price: 33-1
Gordon Elliott saw Galvin unseat his rider at the first fence at last year’s outing in Liverpool
Farouk D’Alene hasn’t won since February 2022 and was pulled up over hurdles just last month
Farouk d’Alene
Hasn’t won since February 2022 and pulled up over hurdles at Cheltenham last month. Not much going for one of the race’s biggest outsiders (1 star)
Price: 80-1
Eldorado Allen
Started the season well with excellent fourth in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury but poor since and hard to get excited about his chance (2 stars)
Price: 100-1
Ain’t That A Shame
Going well last year until stamina gave way before the second last fence as he ended up last of the 17 finishers. This looks a bridge too far (1 star)
Price: 28-1
Gavin Cromwell’s Vanillier could threaten the favourites, having targeted Aintree all season
Aint That A Shame (right) looked to be a contender until the last, but saw his tank run dry late
Vanillier
Last year’s runner-up is still well weighted. Best performance of the season behind I Am Maximus last time out and been trained to peak on Saturday (4 stars)
Price: 10-1
Mr Incredible
Running well last year when his saddle slipped and he lost his jockey after the Canal Turn on the second circuit. In with a squeak if has better luck (4 stars)
Price: 12-1
Run Wild Fred
Only one win in 20 steeplechase starts and failed to finish last three starts. Hats will be eaten if this one gets anywhere near the winner’s enclosure (1 star)
Price: 50-1
Gina Andrews will fulfil the dream of a lifetime when she lines up with Latenightpass this Saturday (pictured in 2023)
LateNightPass
Great course form with three runs in a shorter race yielding first, second and fourth places but the quality of opposition he faces here is on a different scale (3 stars)
Price: 28-1
Minella Crooner
Seems to have struggled every time he has been handed a marathon test which is a worry and his form has also flat-lined. His stable have some far stronger contenders (2 stars)
Price: 80-1
Adamantly Chosen
On a nine-race losing trot prior to winning when stepped up in distance on last run. That means he can’t be written off but his profile doesn’t convince (3 stars)
Price: 66-1
Mac Tottie has found Cheltenham a happy hunting ground and could be the outsider to back
Mac Tottie
A dual winner over these famous fences, albeit in shorter races. That means his achilles heel is a lack of stamina and recent poor form is also a concern (2 stars)
Price: 50-1
Chemical Energy
Second in a long distance chase at the Cheltenham Festival last year before being pulled up after jumping poorly in Irish National. Looks to need quicker ground (2 stars)
Price: 40-1
Limerick Lace
Big positive is her Cheltenham Festival win last month but there remain questions marks about her stamina as she tries to be the first mare to win since Nickel Coin in 1951 (3 stars)
Price: 11-1
Cheltenham winner Limerick Lace will try to be the first mare to win the race since Nickel Coin in 1951
Meetingofthewaters may not have experience but has promising stamina for the long race
Meetingofthewaters
Doesn’t have a huge amount of experience but made massive strides this season culminating in a third at Cheltenham last month. Probably still capable of better (4 stars)
Price: 10-1
The Goffer
Put in a good performances without winning last season. Interesting each-way choice at a big price on that form but recent runs much less encouraging (3 stars)
Price: 66-1
Roi Mage
Only beaten 14 lengths when seventh in last year’s race and leading French-based jockey James Reveley on board. One of the best outside bets (4 stars)
Price: 50-1
The Goffer (pictured right) has plenty of experience despite being only seven years old
Roi Mage (jockey in blue and yellow checked sleeves) has been trained to peak at Aintree
Glengouly
Second to Ain’t That A Shame in a traditionally ultra-competitive Irish race in February is a piece of form which means he can’t totally be written off (2 stars)
Price: 66-1
Galia Des Liteaux
Useful mare who ran a blinder in a long-distance at Warwick in January. Loves the deep ground and jumps well so plenty going for her at decent odds (4 stars)
Price: 25-1
Panda Boy
His fifth in last season’s Irish Grand National makes him a big player especially as he carries a handy low weight which will be an asset in the testing ground (3 stars)
Price: 9-1
Panda Boy (left) could be a big player, particularly carrying his low weight on the testing turf
Henry De Bromhead’s Eklat De Rire (right) has gone years without a win and unimpressive form
Eklat De Rire
You have to go back to October 2021 for last win, form which seems ever more distant memory and he was pulled up at last month’s Cheltenham Festival (1 star)
Price: 100-1
Chambard
Won over these fences in December. Struggled in long distance races on heavy ground since but as a former Cheltenham Festival winner he could outrun his odds (2 stars)
Price: 66-1
Kitty’s Light
Last season’s Scottish National winner is a proven marathon performer and he looks well handicapped. It’s a big plus that he blossoms in the Spring (5 stars)
Price: 12-1
Kitty’s Light is a proven marathon performer and well handicapped – Lizzie Kelly backs the Scottish National winner to take the top prize
VERDICT
1 KITTY’S LIGHT
2 MAHLER MISSION
3 NOBLE YEATS
4 CORACH RAMBLER
