Andy Holding confirms his two leading fancies for the Grand National 2023, before assessing the other market leaders for next week’s Aintree showpiece.
Andy Holding has doubled down on his February backing for Corach Rambler and Mr Incredible in the Grand National 2023 ahead of next Saturday's showpiece at Aintree.
Andy Holding’s Grand National Tips
Corach Rambler
There were quite a few horses who put their prospects of Aintree glory in the shop window over the four days at the Cheltenham Festival, none more so than CORACH RAMBLER in the Ultima Handicap Chase (now cut to a best price 6/1 for the Grand National).
Bidding for a repeat of last year’s win, Lucinda Russell’s inmate was ridden in typically confident fashion by his regular pilot Derek Fox and having taken the brave man’s route around the inside for the entire journey, they came through strongly at the business end to pull off a famous double.
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First impressions would be to say he’d had a hard race, but when you consider it was only his third start of the campaign, and his first since November, it’s probably wiser to take the approach he might actually come on for the run.
Whichever side of the fence you sit, there’s no denying the obvious claims the son of Jeremy holds heading into the toughest examination of his career and with his solid jumping being the biggest part of his game, he has every attribute in the book to succeed.
Mr Incredible
The Kim Muir was a classier race than usually this year and for once, the cream very much came to the top. Of those who were involved in the finish, MR INCREDIBLE (best price 14/1) ran a perfectly respectable trial for the Grand National, keeping on well from the back of the field to finish a creditable third, and his preparations seemed to have been timed to a nicety.
On his last two starts at Warwick and at Cheltenham, Willie Mullins’ inmate has been noted doing all his best work at the finish and he looks just the type who will relish every yard of the 4m2f journey.
If there is a slight negative with the son of Westerner, it’s his temperament, but as he didn’t show any sort of recalcitrance at Cheltenham both at the start or during the race (has refused in the past), hopes are high that he will cope with all the pre-race razzamatazz next Saturday.
Advised Ante-Post Bets
Corach Rambler - 1pt win at 12/1
Mr Incredible - 1pt win at 16/1
And what about the other Grand National favourites?
Noble Yeats
Other than Rough Quest back in 1996, who finished runner-up to Imperial Call, the Gold Cup isn’t usually a reliable guide to finding the Grand National winner, but in the case of Noble Yeats, he might be one who could buck the trend.
A surprise winner of the Aintree showpiece last year, Emmet Mullins’ gelding has actually improved his status since and his fourth in the blue riband at Cheltenham has only reaffirmed his rising stock.
Outpaced in the hottest part of the race over a mile from home, the son of Yeats did extremely well in the circumstances to finish a respectable 15-length fourth and with all the data pointing in the direction of it being one of the best Cheltenham Gold Cups run in recent times, his performance deserves extra praise.
Whether his second hard race since the turn of the year will have a detrimental effect come Aintree only time will tell, but as far as pure class goes, the eight-year-old carries easily the best form going into the race.
Delta Work
As Tiger Roll has proved in recent times, the Cross Country race at the Festival isn’t a bad trial for the National, so on that basis both Delta Work and Galvin have to come into the argument.
The former had a clear fitness edge over his stable mate going into Cheltenham and that proved to be the decisive factor in the closing stages. Going down to the last, it looked as though the latter might gain the day, but having his first run for 77 days prior to Cheltenham just took its toll on the long climb to the line and he had to settle for an honourable second.
On the evidence on their exploits at Prestbury Park, last year’s third has every chance of going well again while Galvin has the class and stamina in equal measure to join him at the business end.
Any Second Now
Having produced Herculean performances in the last two renewals of the Grand National, Ted Walsh’s charge has to be an automatic choice for anyone’s shortlist.
Badly hampered by a faller at an early stage two years ago, the 11-year-old showed all his class and determination to finish an honourable third to Minella Times and even though he faced a stiffer task on paper last year, he was the only one to offer any resistance to Noble Yeats in the final half a mile.
Looking at his preparations this season, everything appears to have gone to plan and with his experience and overall knowhow of the unique fences likely to count for plenty, the veteran looks sure to give his supporters with another great spin.
The Big Dog
A creditable third in the Welsh National, Peter Fahey’s gelding confirmed himself a stayer of some repute and he looks to have had the rest of the campaign geared around a tilt at this prize.
Not seen out since falling at the second last in the Grade 1 Irish Gold Cup eventually won by Galopin Des Champs, the pause that refreshes will have done him no harm and providing he gets his favoured soft ground on the day, he’s not one to underestimate.
