Grand National 2023 - Winner

Grand National 2023 Runners

Any Second Now

Any Second Now will bid to make it third time lucky after placing third behind Minella Times in 2021 and second behind Noble Yeats last year.

Ted Walsh’s Aintree loving 11-year-old will compete from an 8lbs higher mark this year which clearly won’t make things any easier. However, his experience is invaluable and he should provide backers with a run for their money. 

Noble Yeats

Reigning champion Noble Yeats warmed up for his title defence with an impressive fourth placed effort in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month.

Emmet Mullins’ charge landed the Grade 2 Many Clouds Chase at Aintree in December and clearly enjoys the Liverpool air. However, he will have the burden of top weight this year (rated 19lbs higher) and won’t have the same partner on top.

Galvin

Grade 1 winning chaser Galvin was narrowly touched off by stablemate Delta Work in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham last month and he will attempt to reverse that form.

Galvin landed the 3m6f National Hunt Chase in 2021 and he was sent off a 10/3 chance for the Gold Cup Cup last year, which demonstrates both his stamina and class.

Fury Road

Fury Road has placed third in both the Grade 1 Savills Chase and Grade 1 Irish Gold Cup already this season and he was far from disgraced when placing sixth in the Ryanair Chase last month.

The classy nine-year-old should be well suited by a serious test of stamina and he possesses the ability to run a big race.

The Big Dog

The Big Dog has already landed the Munster National and Troytown Handicap Chase this season, in addition to placing third in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow.

His experience in big field handicaps is certainly advantageous and he cleverly possesses stamina in abundance.

Capodanno

Capodanno signed off last season with an impressive success in Grade 1 company at Punchestown and he remains open to significant improvement after just six starts over fences.

The JP McManus owned gelding blew away the cobwebs in the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park in February and he will be trained to the minute for this contest.

Delta Work

Delta Work won his second consecutive Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month and the multiple Grade 1 winning chaser will attempt to improve upon his third placed finish in the contest 12 months ago.

The Gigginstown house stud owned 10-year-old will bid to emulate former stablemate - and dual Aintree Grand National hero - Tiger Roll by completing the Cross Counry and Grand National double and he will compete from a 1lb lower mark this year.

Sam Brown

Sam Brown ran out a 15 lengths winner of the Betway Handicap Chase at this meeting last year and he has often shaped as though he would be suited by a trip of this nature.

Anthony Honeyball’s 11-year-old warmed-up for this contest with a spin over hurdles at Uttoxeter last month and he could easily outperform market expectations.

Lifetime Ambition

Lifetime Ambition placed second in Grade 2 company at Punchestown last year and filled the same position in the ultra competitive Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan in November.

Jessica Harrington’s charge boats plenty of experience in competitive heats and he could easily outrun his price.

Carefully Selected

Carefully Selected demonstrated his class when defying a big weight in the Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park in January.

The heavy ground made that race a true test of stamina and Willie Mullins’ charge relished the challenge. However, he may lack the tactical pace required to stay in contention.

Coko Beach

2021 Thyestes Chase winner Coko Beach bounced back to his best when landing the Grand National Trial at Punchestown in February and he could easily go well in this race.

The stamina-laden grey won with a fair amount in hand last time out and this race has been the plan for some time. 

Longhouse Poet

Longhouse Poet will look to improve upon his sixth placed effort last year and will arrive hot on the heels of a confidence boosting success at Down Royal last month.

He will run off the same mark from which competed 12 months ago and he could easily go well once again.

Gaillard Du Mesnil

Gaillard Du Mesnil stayed-on well to land the 3m6f National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month and he should relish this marathon trip.

The extra week in between Cheltenham and Aintree this year is advantageous and he boasts plenty of experience as a second season novice. 

Darasso

Darasso placed second in the Galway Plate last July and he again ran well when finishing third in the Kerry National at Listowel.

The JP McManus owned 10-year-old boasts plenty of good form over both fences and hurdles and he could easily outperform market expectations if taking to the fences.

Le Milos

The progressive Le Milos has won four of his last six starts over fences including the valuable Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Newbury on his penultimate outing.

Dan Skelton’s charge remains open to improvement over marathon trips and he is weighed to run well this weekend.

Escaria Ten

Escaria Ten finished ninth in this contest last year and will attempt to improve upon that placing off a 1lb lower mark.

It’s hard to see the nine-year-old winning on these terms. However, he could easily run into a place of bouncing back from a disappointing run at Cheltenham, when being pulled-up in the Magners Plate Handicap Chase. 

The Big Breakaway

The Big Breakaway was narrowly denied in the Welsh Grand National in December when attempting to concede 26lbs to the winner.

Joe Tizzard’s stayer will compete off a 3lbs higher mark this weekend and will need a career best effort in order to triumph. However, his experience in competitive handicaps could see him run well.

Cape Gentleman

Cape Gentleman hasn’t won a race over fences since October 2021 and he has shown little in two starts for John Joseph Hanlon.

The experienced seven-year-old is undoubtedly talented on his day and could easily run better than his price would suggest. However, he would need to bounce back to his very best and that is far from guaranteed.

Roi Mage

Roi Mage split Longhouse Poet and Burrows Saint when placing second at Down Royal last month, when conceding 5lbs to each of those rivals.

That was a fine effort on just his seventh start outside of France and he rates an intriguing contender.

Diol Ker

Diol Ker placed second in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown in December and is clearly capable on his day.

However, he didn’t bring his A-Game when finishing 10th (last) in the Grand National Trial at Punchestown and this is a much tougher assignment.

A Wave Of The Sea

A Wave Of The Sea is better know for his exploits over shorter trips and he is yet to win a race beyond two-and-a-half-miles.

The JP McManus owned gelding is 0-7 over three miles and he has achieved his best form at Leopardstown in recent years. He therefore makes little appeal.

Minella Trump

Donald McCain followed in this fathers footsteps when saddling the winner of this race in 2011 (Ballabriggs) and this year he will rely up Minella Trump, who has won eight of his 12 starts over fences.

Minella Trump’s last two victories have been achieved over three miles and he remains unexposed over staying trips, which renders him an intriguing contender.

Vanillier

Vanillier looked like a potential superstar when landing the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle in 2021, however, he is yet to reach the same heights over fences.

That said, Gavin Cromwell’s charge ran a fine race to chase home Kemboy in Grade 3 company at Fairyhouse in February and he could run well if taking to the fences.

Velvet Elvis

Velvet Elvis placed sixth in the Irish Grand National 12 months ago and has seemingly bounced back to his very best form this calendar year.

The intriguing seven-year-old returned to winning ways at Fairyhouse in February before placing second at Navan last month. However, there were six runners and five runners respectively in those contests and his trainer has suggested that he is better suited by small-field races.

Ain’t That A Shame

Ain’t That A Shame made it seventh time lucky over fences when comfortably justifying favouritism at Gowran Park in February.

That success was earned over a trip of two-and-a-half-miles and stamina is certainly a question mark heading into this race.

Corach Rambler

Lucinda Russell saddled One For Arthur to land this race in 2017 and she could easily have another Grand National hero on her hands in the form of Corach Rambler, who landed a second consecutive Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month.

The improving stayer is effectively 13lbs well-in on that form and he was only getting going up the hill. However, his preference to travel off the pace is less than ideal in a race of this nature and he will need to stay out of trouble.

Enjoy D’Allen

Enjoy D’Allen didn’t make it over the first fence in this race 12 months ago and he could only place 10th on his latest outing the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown.

Ciaran Murphy’s charge hasn’t tasted success since January 2021 and it’s hard to envisage that changing this weekend.

Mr Incredible

Mr Incredible shaped like a stayer or great promise when placing second in the Classic Handicap Chase at Warwick in January and he again showed up well when placing third in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham.

The promising seven-year-old seems to have re-discovered his best form since joining Willie Mullins in November and he clearly has scope for further improvement.

Mister Coffey

This race has thus far eluded Nicky Henderson and his sole representative this year is Mister Coffey, who was last seen placing third in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham.

That was the latest in a long line of respectable efforts and he looks sure to break his duck over fences in the not too distant future. Interestingly, Rule The World was a maiden prior to triumphing in this race in 2016.

Cloudy Glen

Cloudy Glen has already won a Southern National at Fontwell and a Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury and he could easily run a big race.

The stout staying 10-year-old boasts a wealth of experience in competitive handicap company and could easily run well at a big price.

Hill Sixteen

Hill Sixteen placed second in the 2021 Becher Chase before recording a seventh placed finish last December.

His experience over the fences is clearly advantageous and he has likely been trained with this race in mind. However, he still needs to prove his stamina over this trip. 

Gabbys Cross

Gabbys Cross was priced at 22/1 for each his last two victories, which suggests that he is hard to assess. However, he ran respectably when placing third in the Leinster National last month and will compete off the same mark at Aintree.

That said, this is clearly a much tougher assignment on paper and he will need a career best effort in order to be competitive.

Recite A Prayer

Recite A Prayer placed twelfth in the Becher Chase at Aintree in December and could only finish 20th in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Willie Mullins’ charge hasn’t been sighted since and it’s hard to envisage him landing the spoils on the back of those outings. 

Eva’s Oskar

Eva’s Oskar ran out the gutsy winner of a 3m2f handicap chase at Cheltenham in December and he will compete from just a 2lbs higher mark this weekend.

Tim Vaughan’s stayer placed fourth in the Eider Chase last time out, which suggests that he will stay this trip.

Our Power

Our Power hasn’t looked back since placing fifth in the Ultima Handicap Chase last year, landing his two subsequent outings in the London Gold Cup at Ascot and Coral Trophy at Kempton. 

Sam Thomas’ charge is 6lbs well-in on on official ratings and he could be a big player if seeing out the trip.

Dunboyne

Dunboyne chased home Carefully Selected in the Thyestes Chase in January and he again ran well when placing fourth in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month.

Gordon Elliott’s Charge will compete from a mark of 141 - just as he did at Cheltenham - and he could easily outperform market expectations.

Francky Du Berlais

Francky Du Berlais could only place fifteenth in this season’s Becher Chase and he refused to race in the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham last month. 

They are both red flags heading into this contest and it’s hard to see him featuring prominently.

Fortescue

Fortescue stayed on well to claim fourth place in the Becher Handicap Chase in December.

That was a respectable effort from the battle-hardened nine-year-old. However, he was pulled-up in the Welsh Grand National in December and could only place fifth in the Grand National Trial at Haydock. 

Back On The Lash

Back On The Lash scored over the Cross Country obstacles at Cheltenham in January but was pulled-up in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month.

His success in that sphere suggests that he make take to these fences. However, he may find this level of opposition too hot to handle. 

Born By The Sea

Born By The Sea could only manage a midfield finish in the Magners Plate Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month and he is yet to prove his stamina beyond three miles.

It’s hard to be optimistic about his prospects in this contest.

Grand National 2023 Tips & Prediction 

Defending champion Noble Yeats should run well once again but may ultimately come up short with an extra 19lbs on his back.

Any Second Now clearly thrives over this course and distance and could hit the frame once again, while last year’s third Delta Work ran out a cosy winner of the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham last month and looks attractively handicapped off a 1lb lower mark than last year.

Corach Rambler commands respect and could easily feature prominently if navigating a safe passage through the race. Kim Muir third Mr Incredible also rates an intriguing contender whom remains open to further improvement.

The progressive Our Power is another name for the shortest. As is The Big Dog, who boasts rock solid form in competitive handicap company.

However, GALVIN looks tailor made for this race given that he landed the 3m6f National Hunt Chase in 2021 and had the class to finish fourth as a 10/3 chance in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last year.

Gordon Elliott’s stayer landed the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown last season and he took to the Cross Country fences at Cheltenham like the proverbial duck to water, which suggests that he should take to these obstacles.

Galvin ran a fine race in the Cotswolds on ground softer than ideal and he should appreciate the extra yardage on a slightly better surface.

While experience can hardly be considered a negative, it’s interesting to note that only two of the last 14 winners had run in this race before, meaning that 12 winners were experiencing this unique contest for the very first time, just as Galvin will be this year.

The Donald McCain trained MINELLA TRUMP will also be having his first outing over these obstacles and he rates an intriguing each-way proposition at the prices. His impressive strike-rate draws the eye and he remains unexposed over staying trips.