The bet365 Gold Cup winner and Cheltenham Gold Cup 3rd have scratched from the Grand National 2023 but the race's main protagonists remain in contention.
The latest acceptance stage saw 16 horses scratched from the Grand National with 57 still in contention for the world’s most famous jumps race at Aintree.
Conflated goes for Aintree Bowl Chase
Gordon Elliott has taken out Cheltenham Gold Cup third Conflated, who instead tackles the Grade 1 Aintree Betway Bowl on Thursday, a race he finished second in last year. Also scratched for trainer Elliott are Death Duty and Farclas, who finished fifth in the race in the 2021 renewal.
Meanwhile, seven British-trained horses are no longer in contention - which include Paul Nicholls’ Threeunderthrufive, Kim Bailey’s Happygolucky, Dan Skelton’s Becher Chase winner Ashtown Lad, Henry Daly’s Rapper and Jamie Snowden’s Ga Law.
The latter is a surprising absentee, having run well to finish fifth in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, where he was doing all of his best work at the finish. He is still only seven though and perhaps next year will be the time we see him in the race. David Pipe’s Remastered is another notable no-show.
Henry de Bromhead has ruled out Chris’s Dream and Pencilfulloflead, with the latter more than likely going to be supplemented for the Irish Grand National which takes place on April 10th. Another Irish raider Glamorgan Duke had received some attraction in the betting but after a below-par display in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival, he is ruled out.
Hewick heads final scratching list
The highest-profile name removed is John Hanlon’s Hewick, who will not run in the Randox Grand National after his crashing fall in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The popular eight-year-old shot to fame after taking the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, as well as winning the American Grand National.
He was in the process of running a blinder in the Cheltenham Gold Cup until coming to grief at the second last fence and will now be given time to overcome his exertions. While sadly a trip to Liverpool is off the agenda, we are likely to see him in either the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in his possible defence bid or the Punchestown Gold Cup.
Meanwhile, last year’s Irish Grand National winner Lord Lariat is another to have been pulled in the second stage scratchings. He still holds an entry in the Irish version, so there is every incline to suggest he will try to win the race for a second consecutive year on home-soil. I quite fancied him to run well in Liverpool but there’s always next year.
Willie Mullins has also removed Cilaos Emery and Franco De Port, who is a surprise deflection, given he shaped very nicely on his cross country debut at the Cheltenham Festival when third to Delta Work and Galvin. Also holding an entry in the Irish Grand National, this Grade 1-winning chaser is presumably going to tackle that assignment instead.
The main protagonists remain in contention
All the main leading protagonists are still in contention for next month’s feature though, including last year's winner, the Emmet Mullins-trained Noble Yeats, who remains towards the top of the betting as second-favourite at a best-price 8/1. His late gains in the Cheltenham Gold Cup when fourth should set him up perfectly for his defence despite being 19 pounds higher than last year.
Ted Walsh's Any Second Now, who once again will carry the JP McManus colours, remains on course for a third tilt at the race having finished third and runner-up for the past two runnings.
He will be seven pounds higher in the handicap and is expected to shoulder top-weight 11st 12Ib, so while his task will be much more difficult, his experience will count for plenty. He is generally available at 14/1 and will have his loyal supporters.
Mullins’ Mr Incredible, fancied by Andy Holding, is also a 14/1 chance with various bookmakers who remained in at the latest scratching stage.
The seven-year-old finished third in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival off 145 when last in action and is eligible to compete off the same mark. A careful scrutiny of his credentials is recognising his lack of Aintree experience but he’s still popular amongst punters and has the right sort of profile despite being unproven over the distance.
‘Well in’ Corach Rambler remains the favourite
It is still all systems for the 7/1 ante-post favourite, Corach Rambler, after claiming a second successive running of the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
He is “well-in” at the weights as his win in the Ultima, which earned him a rating of 156 would have put him on 11st 1lb in this year’s race but instead, he is set to carry just 10st 5Ib. If he adapts to the course, he’s a big player.
Last year’s third Delta Work leads the Elliott team, who won the cross country at the Cheltenham Festival for the second consecutive year and is widely available at 12/1 with bookmakers. He is back, hoping to go two places better than last year, though he has ground to make up on Noble Yeats.
Additionally, he is better off at the weights this year, 20 pounds in total, but since 1961 only three horses have won at the Festival and followed-up in the Grand National in the same season, including legendary dual winner Tiger Roll. Furthermore, those who failed in the race the first time tend to struggle to come back and win it, but this is a top-class horse.
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I was visually impressed with the way Longhouse Poet conducted himself in the Grand National last year when sixth and he’s still featuring in the confirmations to participate next month.
He might have looked like a non-stayer 12 months ago having travelled well before weakening out of contention on the run-in but he looked good in winning last-time-out at Down Royal and he took for the fences like a duck in water last year.
Martin Brassil’s nine-year-old is available at 16/1 across firms and might be able to improve on last year’s encouraging display. Dan Skelton’s Le Milos has had Aintree as his main aim for a while since his big success at Newbury and can be backed with firms at 20/1, generally. He jumps and travels well and could be suited to a marathon distance.
Jessica Harrington has left in Lifetime Ambition (33/1), who Twice a winner over the larger obstacles, he won a Grade Three at Limerick at this time of year last season, before going on to finish second to Capodanno in a Grade One at the Punchestown Festival.
He took to the National fences well when an eye-catching fourth on his reappearance in the Grand Sefton and his whole campaign has been built around a return trip to Merseyside.
