Grand national

[Donnyjim]

Any tips?

Johnnywho, ticks all the boxes apart from not being Irish. Grangeclare West has been picked by many. First orders won well in the cross country at Cheltenham (possible outsider).

I was going to ask MS copilot to create a shortlist on previous trends and stats, but then I realised all of you would s*%t the bed!   

[Thorney]

I am maximus (the fav) is also being well tipped. 2nd in it last year.

[Donnyjim]

Captain Cody won the Scottish GN and Marble Sands is worth £1 e/w

[LincsRover]

Monty’s Star the pick for me but I’ve had a few antepost bets. Oscar’s brother second choice & Captain Cody 3rd. All decent prices - 16/1 or thereabouts.

[scawsby steve]

Sorry to be a spoilsport, but shouldn't this be in off-topic?

[DearneValleyRover]

Jordans 28/1

[EasyforDennis]

If tomorrow's game is anything like the last 2, maybe they should show it live on the big screen. 

[Goldthorperover]

Marble sands e/w and Jordans on the nose for me

[bobbymax]

Stella Story could be a massive price but it looks the most wide-open National in years. I reckon Jagwar is the pick of the JP legions.

[Draytonian III]

I’m on Stellar Story, well not personally with my weight, the horse wouldn’t get over the first fence.
I’ve backed it Each Way so I’ll get a run for my money. Got it at 25/1

[tommy toes]

Would like to see Panic Attack win it, she’s had a great season and this would top it off.
Currently favourite though.

[Rupee92ONLY]

A false favourite Panic Attack really, bit of Skelton effect. Mares don’t win nationals. It’s not the race of old but if she wins this they may as well scrap the race altogether.

Haiti Couleurs is a proper stayer but probably needed softer ground to get the better of this better calibre of opposition. It’s a no for me.

I don’t think you can look any further than McManus’ bunch tbh.
I Am Maximus definitely has a chance but he’d be my last pick out of his.
For ages I was fully intending on backing Iroko on the day but he was very disappointing in the Ultima and I just can’t now.
Oscar’s Brother it’s still early days for in terms of this race, will be interesting to see how he fares but far too short to be backing this year. Could be a nice ante-post price for 2027.

Leaves Johnnywho and Jagwar who were 1 & 2 in the Ultima and both look like they’ll see the trip out in ok ground in what’s not as taxing a race anymore. Also Percival Legallois, the mount of Harry Cobden who is taking over as the number 1 jockey for JP McManus. Done nothing since falling in this race last year but it fell before the race really started and went into it on the day quite fancied. Worth a punt that Cobden may spark some revival in the horse imo. So backing all 3.

Johnnywho, Jagwar & Percival Legallois.

Also trying a combination trifecta with 5;
Jonnywho
Jagwar
Percival Legallois
Monty’s Star
Imperial Saint

[LincsRover]

A false favourite Panic Attack really, bit of Skelton effect. Mares don’t win nationals. It’s not the race of old but if she wins this they may as well scrap the race altogether.

Haiti Couleurs is a proper stayer but probably needed softer ground to get the better of this better calibre of opposition. It’s a no for me.

I don’t think you can look any further than McManus’ bunch tbh.
I Am Maximus definitely has a chance but he’d be my last pick out of his.
For ages I was fully intending on backing Iroko on the day but he was very disappointing in the Ultima and I just can’t now.
Oscar’s Brother it’s still early days for in terms of this race, will be interesting to see how he fares but far too short to be backing this year. Could be a nice ante-post price for 2027.

Leaves Johnnywho and Jagwar who were 1 & 2 in the Ultima and both look like they’ll see the trip out in ok ground in what’s not as taxing a race anymore. Also Percival Legallois, the mount of Harry Cobden who is taking over as the number 1 jockey for JP McManus. Done nothing since falling in this race last year but it fell before the race really started and went into it on the day quite fancied. Worth a punt that Cobden may spark some revival in the horse imo. So backing all 3.

Johnnywho, Jagwar & Percival Legallois.

Also trying a combination trifecta with 5;
Jonnywho
Jagwar
Percival Legallois
Monty’s Star
Imperial Saint

Wouldn’t disagree with you on most of what you have written (as you may see from my post above) but not sure you’re right about panic attack. Fair enough, she’s far too short at 8/1 and is a bookies hype horse but I backed her EW straight after the Cheltenham run at 25/1 after Harry Skelton said it was a “cracking GN prep”. Thats more the price she should be but certainly not out of it - there’s a reason for the “Skelton effect” as his first trainers championship proves, and not many mares have gone into the GN with a Coral (Hennessy) gold cup win on their CV.

You may be right but I guess we’ll see at about 4.15 today. 

[Barmby Rover]

Iroko is set up well for this one.

[LincsRover]

Stella Story could be a massive price but it looks the most wide-open National in years. I reckon Jagwar is the pick of the JP legions.

Mark Walsh has chosen Jagwar so probably the best of JPs. Bit young for me at 7 but the profile of GN winners has changed in recent years so has a good chance in the most open GN in years. Can see 8/10 horses in with a chance at the last, it’s then down to the right combo of speed & stamina. 

[tommy toes]

I’m happy after yesterday anyway.
Last year I found myself standing next to the trainer Neil King at Donny before Storming George made his debut.
Got talking to him and he was hopeful the horse would run well, but because he hadn’t had a winner for ages couldn’t be confident.
Watched the race with him and we both cheered him home at 33/1. Won very easily.
He told me that the horse was only 50% fit and to follow him.
I have and he’s won 4 times since, culminating in a Grade One win yesterday. I got 28/1 on betfair.

[Rupee92ONLY]

A false favourite Panic Attack really, bit of Skelton effect. Mares don’t win nationals. It’s not the race of old but if she wins this they may as well scrap the race altogether.

Haiti Couleurs is a proper stayer but probably needed softer ground to get the better of this better calibre of opposition. It’s a no for me.

I don’t think you can look any further than McManus’ bunch tbh.
I Am Maximus definitely has a chance but he’d be my last pick out of his.
For ages I was fully intending on backing Iroko on the day but he was very disappointing in the Ultima and I just can’t now.
Oscar’s Brother it’s still early days for in terms of this race, will be interesting to see how he fares but far too short to be backing this year. Could be a nice ante-post price for 2027.

Leaves Johnnywho and Jagwar who were 1 & 2 in the Ultima and both look like they’ll see the trip out in ok ground in what’s not as taxing a race anymore. Also Percival Legallois, the mount of Harry Cobden who is taking over as the number 1 jockey for JP McManus. Done nothing since falling in this race last year but it fell before the race really started and went into it on the day quite fancied. Worth a punt that Cobden may spark some revival in the horse imo. So backing all 3.

Johnnywho, Jagwar & Percival Legallois.

Also trying a combination trifecta with 5;
Jonnywho
Jagwar
Percival Legallois
Monty’s Star
Imperial Saint

Wouldn’t disagree with you on most of what you have written (as you may see from my post above) but not sure you’re right about panic attack. Fair enough, she’s far too short at 8/1 and is a bookies hype horse but I backed her EW straight after the Cheltenham run at 25/1 after Harry Skelton said it was a “cracking GN prep”. Thats more the price she should be but certainly not out of it - there’s a reason for the “Skelton effect” as his first trainers championship proves, and not many mares have gone into the GN with a Coral (Hennessy) gold cup win on their CV.

You may be right but I guess we’ll see at about 4.15 today. 

Game of opinions. Love it

[Rupee92ONLY]

I’m happy after yesterday anyway.
Last year I found myself standing next to the trainer Neil King at Donny before Storming George made his debut.
Got talking to him and he was hopeful the horse would run well, but because he hadn’t had a winner for ages couldn’t be confident.
Watched the race with him and we both cheered him home at 33/1. Won very easily.
He told me that the horse was only 50% fit and to follow him.
I have and he’s won 4 times since, culminating in a Grade One win yesterday. I got 28/1 on betfair.

Quality. You get some yards who will tell you nothing, gatekeeping but plenty are sound and happy to have a genuine conversation.

I remember being at Musselburgh in 2024 and got chatting with an old bloke who was clearly involved in the sport. Turned out he did bits at Paul Nicholls yard, including driving Bryony Frost about. He’d drove her there for that day and she was on Monmiral in a novice handicap chase. I asked why they’re persisting with the horse over the big fences when it clearly can’t jump them for shit. Will it go back into an handicap hurdle for a big pot at a nice weight? His reaction told me all I needed to know.

Won the Pertemps hurdle at Cheltenham festival @ 25/1 a month later off its lowest weight since making its handicap debut. I was on at 28’s.

[tommy toes]

Good point Rupee.
I always look out for horses that have had decent hurdle form, go chasing but cant hack it.
They often win at decent prices on their first run back over hurdles.

[mpc123]

Iroko and jagwar, yet a bit of a lottery

[tommy toes]

Wade Out 1st 18/1
Eagle Fang 2nd 28/1

Both failed chasers back hurdling.
Backed them both, wish I’d done the forecast!

[Colemans Left Hook]

Iroko and jagwar, yet a bit of a lottery

you are a bit late mate saying "Lottery" might win . He won the first Grand National in 1839  Bentley Bullet remembers it well

[DonnyNoel]

Had 5Live on earlier. There was a hail storm at Aintree around 2pm and afterwards they reported that someone course side placed £100k on I Am Maximus at 8/1 which is one of the largest course side bets ever placed.