Grand National

GRANGECLARE WEST - 1.5pt WIN

Best price 11/1 at the time of publishing.

My main selection is Grangeclare West.

This ten year old wouldn’t scream the winner to most, but he was third beaten just three lengths in last season’s race.

He was over four lengths ahead of one of this year’s current favourites, Iroko.

He was choice of Paul Townend for the Bobbyjo Chase, in which he won in impressive fashion.

I know the likes of Jagwar and Iroko have the younger legs, hence their price.

But, it takes a classy horse to win this race nowadays, and Grangeclare West split Galopin Des Champs and Fact To File in last year’s Irish Gold Cup, ahead of Inothewayyourthinkin, the Gold Cup winner after that.

We know he stays, we know he has class, and we know he can jump the fences, as shown when third last year.

The age isn’t as much of a factor as most may think, as there is heaps of 10 year old and above winners, and in 2010, 11, 12, 13 and 2014, the race was dominated by 10 and 11 year old winners.

Hopefully his class prevails again this year, as he has a live chance to go two places better one year on, after a great trial win.

5.0
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NICK ROCKETT - 0.75pt WIN

Best price 20/1 at the time of publishing.

Second up is last year’s hero, NICK ROCKETT.

He sailed into the race two out under Patrick Mullins, looking like he had just joined in.

He’s way too big of a price to leave out, having jumped well and had a good prep run for this last time out when qualifying in third spot behind Gerri Colombe.

IROKO - 0.75pt WIN

Best price 12/1 at the time of publishing.

IROKO is added in, he was favourite for this last year, and was favourite for this up until the Cheltenham Festival.

He scoped dirty after a bad run in the Ultima, and now was more than doubled in price in places.

He finished fourth in this last year after staying on powerfully, and if in more of a rhythm then he could play a part.

Forgiving his latest run, and always worth forgiving one bad run, then his price would look too big as this race has been in the making for a while.