The Wine Tipster: “Several interesting runners should see out the marathon trip”

The Randox Grand National looks wide open, and those are already proven over the Aintree fences. Several interesting runners should see the marathon trip and will also be suited to this quicker ground. Enjoy a fascinating renewal at Aintree or watch #athome on ITV Racing and Racing TV.

Cheers,

Catch Him Derry has the right run style for this and has to be on any shortlist. He was another to get stuck in the Haydock mud back in November but has turned in three solid efforts since then, not least last time out when doing plenty of good late work to be third to Doddiethegreat in the Pertemps final. He’s still going the right way and has a clear chance here.

Strong Leader never really runs his race at Cheltenham and you have to give him a pass after another disappointing effort in the Cleeve last time out, but at Aintree his record reads 121, including a win in this last year, and this has probably been the plan all along. This will be his second run back after wind surgery and better ground should suit.

Percerval Legallois (nap) has fulfilled his promise this campaign with a victory in a Listed Race at Leopardstown over Christmas in a 28-runner field when coming from well off the pace and then showed great speed too to move clear, winning by seven lengths on good to yielding. He then ran over hurdles at the Dublin Festival when victorious over hurdles in a Listed Race. Percerval Legallois has always been highly regarded and you can see him taking to Aintree with a plus that conditions are in his favour.

Hyland for Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson is an exciting prospect. While he might lack experience, he could run a big race if he handles the early stages of the race. He went in my notebook when beating Transmission by fifteen lengths at Cheltenham’s Showcase meeting on good ground and then followed up at their November meeting. He then stepped up to Grade 1 company in the Kauto Star when leading for much of the way before the very talented The Jukebox Man moved ahead to win with Hyland in second. His latest appearance at Kempton saw him runner-up over three miles to Katee Dori when coming from off the pace. Importantly, he stayed on at the finish. On this occasion, he could not front-run because of a false start, which didn’t work in his favour. Hyland if coping with the big field will be well suited by Aintree and this usually good jumper will like the conditions having won on good ground.

Kandoo Kid was third in the Topham last year, so he has that Aintree experience. This season, he won the big handicap at Newbury in November on good to soft over three miles and two furlongs. His next run was over a shorter trip, which didn’t work, but he can return to form over this marathon trip to reward each-way players.

Grangeclarewest showed his class on his penultimate start when second to Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup with Fact To File and Inothewayurthinkin in third and fourth. He had finished sixth to Galopin Des Champs on his previous start in the Savills Chase at Christmas, whilst Grangeclarewest wasn’t suited by the heavy ground and how his latest race worked out tactically, so ignore that run. He hasn’t run beyond three miles and half a furlong, though there is every indication he will stay the distance, and he is a very interesting contender.