Andy Holding previews the remaining runners after the latest scratching stage for the 2024 Grand National at Aintree.
Grand National
Now the latest defectors for the 2024 Grand National have been announced (17 withdrawn), this year’s final line-up is a little easier to predict.
Even allowing for the fact there will only be 34 to face the starter on the second Saturday in April, the field can be whittled down to even more manageable numbers.
The first port of call must be last year’s winner, Corach Rambler, who will arrive at Aintree having run a brave race – arguably a career high – just 29 days previously in the Gold Cup.
Considering how hard a race he had (walked over the line), however, there must be some sort of doubt whether he can rise to the occasion again in such a short space of time and at his current odds, he makes limited appeal compared to 12 months ago.
Take away Kitty’s Light, who is not guaranteed to get a run, and the Irish runners totally dominate the landscape not only in terms of the betting, but numerically and the percentage call is to stick with those from a nation who have been responsible for four of the last five winners.
The first of the raiders to catch the eye is PANDA BOY (best price 12/1), whose connections will have no doubt had quite a few sleepless nights between when the weights came out a month ago and now, praying that many above him drop out (originally number 53 on the card).
Having many similar qualities to Martin Brassil’s previous winner Numbersixvalverde, being well versed to running in big-field handicaps, his effort in this season’s Paddy Power Chase lent itself to the view he has a big pot in his locker at some stage in his career and that’s not the first time he’s acquitted himself with credit in a long-distance chase.
Third in the same race at Leopardstown the previous campaign, he also went on to run a blinder when fifth in in a quality renewal of the Irish Grand National in the kind of test Numbersixvalverde, Rule The World and Minella Times all contested before going on to triumph at Aintree.
Catching the eye with the way he finished off his race in a competitive but slowly run handicap hurdle at the Dublin venue last time, the eight-year-old heads to Aintree without another run needed. With the strong possibility he will go off close to being favourite nearer the time, he makes plenty of appeal at his current odds. He just needs one more to exit stage left at time of writing.
PANDA BOY – 1-point win @ 12/1
MAHLER MISSION is another who has a profile to suggest he should go well in the 4m2f marathon, and he is also worth a few quid to back up that view.
A lightly-raced second season novice – a category which has produced many previous winners of this great race – the son of Mahler has already proven his suitability to a race of this nature with his performance at Newbury when last seen and if it wasn’t for the revitalised and ill-fated Datsalrightgino, he would have beaten a field of top-class handicap chasers with a bit to spare.
Unlucky to capsize at the notorious second from home in last season’s National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham when nicely clear of Gaillard Du Mesnil - who went on to run an honourable race at Aintree - connections have interestingly been steadfast in wanting to keep the eight-year-old fresh for his date with destiny.
Even though that policy hasn’t always been the most fruitful approach in recent times, trust in his shrewd handler to do all the necessary work at home is good enough for this writer.
Of the rest, we know I Am Maximus has the stamina for the demands of the National but whether his jumping holds up under the test is open to debate, while Vanillier will need to be ridden a good deal closer to the pace if he is to go one place better than last year.
Shrewd owner Paul Byrne sold Noble Yeats on the eve of his victory in the great race two years ago and he has two possible big players set to run in his famous all blue colours in the shape of Meetingofthewaters and Mr Incredible.
The former ran a nice trial for the National in the Ultima at the Cheltenham festival and that effort confirmed his suitability to competing at a high level in big-field handicaps, while the latter was still in contention and going well when unseating rider after the Canal Turn second time around last year. His effort in the Midlands National recently should put him spot on for a repeat bid.
