2023 Randox Grand National: Lydia Hislop's runner-by-runner guide

Age: 11. Races: 32. Wins: 7. Approximate odds: 14-1

Unfortunate not yet to have his name on this trophy. Pulled clear with the well-handicapped winner when second last year and recovered into third in 2021 after being badly hampered before halfway. Again brought to the boil by his shrewd trainer with a win at Navan last time, yet that incoming form isn’t as good as seasons past. Shrugged off the passage of time and a similar rise in the weights 12 months ago, but his winning moment has surely now passed.

Verdict: ✅

Age: 8. Races: 17. Wins: 6. Approximate odds: 12-1

Defied the typical run style of a National winner by picking his way through the field from last to first in 2022, when debut cheekpieces and a favourable handicap mark oiled his wheels. Ran with credit in graded company this season, but tends to lose a competitive pitch mid-race. Owes his Gold Cup fourth solely to the persistence of Sean Bowen. Unexposed at marathon trips and likely to be in the mix, but will need luck to pull off last year’s tactics from a 19lb higher mark.

Verdict: 😐

Age: 9. Races: 25. Wins: 13. Approximate odds: 22-1

Made an assured switch to the cross-country discipline last time out, finding only titleholder Delta Work too good at Cheltenham. Must concede 7lb to that more decorated stablemate here. Once a Grade One winner, he struggled at the stayers’ top table this term. A National first-timer, unexposed over extreme trips. Bids to provide Tiger Roll’s jockey Davy Russell with his third success in the race – and a fairytale second retirement story after a soap opera of a season.

Verdict: 😐

Age: 9. Races: 23. Wins: 7. Approximate odds: 50-1

Creditable thirds in the Savills Chase and Irish Gold Cup this season, but exposed as lacking tactical speed when a rallying sixth in the Ryanair last time out. Stays three miles but doesn’t obviously suggest marathon trips will suit. A sound jumper who should be able to hold a good position in this context.

Verdict: 🤦‍

Age: 10. Races: 20. Wins: 5. Approximate odds: 14-1

Won the Munster National and third under top-weight next time in the Welsh equivalent, pressing on with the winner five out but blundering at the second last. Haunted by chance-ending errors – a habit that caused him to fall for the first time under Rules when running big in the Irish Gold Cup last time out, albeit in a steadily run affair. Run style fine, but 7lb rise since Chepstow requires him to have improved yet further.

Verdict: 😐

Age: 7. Races: 12. Wins: 4. Approximate odds: 12-1

A Grade One winner over three miles as novice at last year’s Punchestown Festival, albeit in an underwhelming contest. Sighted only once this season, when third in February’s Red Mills Chase over an inadequate trip, and subsequently skipped his mooted Gold Cup target. Error-prone and best form to date at right-handed tracks, but tactically suitable and a thorough stayer in the making. Likely to prove better than this mark if he consistently remembers where to put his feet.

Verdict: 😐

Age: 10. Races: 32. Wins: 12. Approximate odds: 9-1

Crowded into an error and shuffled back at Becher’s first time around in last year’s race, yet rallied from that disadvantageous position to finish third – albeit the first two were well clear. Weighted 1lb lower this year. Jumped the National fences as scruffily as the conventional sort, so cheekpieces reapplied to help. Again, given the Tiger Roll preparation via successfully defending his Cross-Country Chase title. A leading player if responding positively to last year’s experience.

Verdict: ✅

Age: 11. Races: 17. Wins: 6. Approximate odds: 66-1

Capable staying chaser, suited by flat tracks. Delivered an emphatic career-best success on Aintree’s Mildmay course at this meeting last year. Yet 12lb higher here and not in the same form, albeit he got embroiled in an overly strong pace at Newbury. Respectable effort over hurdles last time. Has since undergone surgery to help his breathing. Races prominently. Handles double-figure fields. Versatile ground. Debuts over these fences. Others better treated at the weights.

Verdict: 🤦‍

Age: 8. Races: 22. Wins: 4. Approximate odds: 50-1

Slick-jumping, zestful front-runner. Took beautifully to a short course of National fences in the Grand Sefton last December, making the Chair and Becher’s Brook look easy before fading late, as if needing that seasonal debut. Fine second to The Big Dog in the Troytown, surrendering his lead only with a tired jump and awkward landing at the last. Then highly tried until given a spin over hurdles last time. Could have won the Topham, but doesn’t run as though this marathon trip will suit.

Verdict: 🤦‍

Age: 11. Races: 13. Wins: 7. Approximate odds: 66-1

Returned from almost three years on the sidelines with a smart victory in the Thyestes Chase in January. Perhaps unsuited by slicker conditions in the Bobbyjo last time, but shaped better than his literal defeat. Error-prone as a novice chaser – and still inclined to make an ill-timed mistake, or jump slowly. Unproven over marathon trips. Might prefer testing conditions. Fast-rising star Michael O’Sullivan booked.

Verdict: 😐

Age: 8. Races: 28. Wins: 5. Approximate odds: 33-1

Part of the furniture in Ireland’s top staying chases, yet still only eight years of age. Steadily back to form this season. Marathon trips had stretched his stamina – such as last year’s National eighth, when keen and hastening on from before halfway – but his latest victory in Punchestown’s Grand National Trial suggests greater tractability. Jumps well. Gets on well with talented claimer Ben Harvey. Could hit the frame at long odds here, despite 5lb higher mark. Harry Cobden an interesting booking.

Verdict: ✅

Age: 9. Races: 19. Wins: 6. Approximate odds: 22-1

Took instinctively to the National fences last year, but paid for his exuberance and for pressing on after three out when fading to finish sixth. Campaigned this season with this race in mind, but fluffed his lines when unseating at the first in the Bobbyjo. Back on track with a gimme at Down Royal last month, beating Roi Mage on advantageous terms but more snugly than the bare margin. Big chance from the same mark if ridden with more restraint.

Verdict: ✅

Age: 7. Races: 20. Wins: 6. Approximate odds: 12-1

A second-season novice, unexposed as a marathon chaser. Perhaps fortunate to win Cheltenham’s NH Chase last time, but nonetheless stayed on strongly over 3m6f to claim victory. Can jump scruffily and adjusts mildly right, but should have the tactical pace to hold a good position. Feasibly weighted. Versatile ground-wise. Leading chance.

Verdict: 👑

Age: 10. Races: 41. Wins: 12. Approximate odds: 100-1

Adaptable and consistent performer, who’s retained a high rank over hurdles and fences for many seasons now. Arguably slightly better over the smaller obstacles, not always the most fluent otherwise. Yet to win at three miles, though finished a staying-on third in the speed-favouring Kerry National after a jarring early error. Usually faces smaller fields. Not an obvious candidate for this task.

Verdict: 🏳️

Age: 8. Races: 23. Wins: 7. Approximate odds: 16-1

Improved for joining Team Skelton this term, following up his opening success on heavy ground at Bangor when upped in grade under quicker conditions in the Coral Gold Cup (old Hennessy). Would surely have won at Kelso last time but for Harry Skelton going for home too soon and instead petered out late. Strong-travelling run style well suited to the National. Might well stay under a more conservative ride, but unproven in big fields. Raced wide at Newbury.

Verdict: 😐

Age: 9. Races: 16. Wins: 3. Approximate odds: 150-1

Mercurial character, without a win since 2020. Ran better than his distant ninth in last year’s race implies, holding a challenging position until his stamina suddenly expired at the second last. Yet he also needed a reminder soon after the start, raced wide and jumped scruffily at times. Weakened tamely in the Thyestes for the second year running on his penultimate start. Listless at Cheltenham last time, even if the trip was inadequate. Usual blinkers discarded. Unconvincing.

Verdict: 🏳️

Age: 8. Races: 15. Wins: 3. Approximate odds: 40-1

Thorough stayer, lacking tactical speed. Good seconds on paper at Haydock and in the Welsh National, but struggled to hold a competitive pitch on both occasions before responding to pressure. Plain lazy in the Ultima last time, labouring and detached in rear when pulled up before four out. Sketchy jumper at times. Headgear is necessarily upgraded from his usual cheekpieces, but unlikely to be transformative.

Verdict: 🏳️

Age: 7. Races: 22. Wins: 7. Approximate odds: 150-1

Better form as a novice chaser for Emmet Mullins last season than he’s mustered so far in two starts for Shark Hanlon this term. Reverted to fences and showed more last time, but still uncompetitive and jumping scrappily. Best form short of three miles to date, but was keeping on from too far back when crumpling at the last in the 2022 Kerry National. Again wears cheekpieces. Hard to fancy.

Verdict: 🏳️

Age: 11. Races: 51. Wins: 9. Appoximate odds: 40-1

Eight-time winner when trained in France. Formerly smart, now a veteran. Sole reserve to miss out on a spin in last year’s National, following an encouraging win on just his second start for this yard at Down Royal. Didn’t match that form in the same race 12 months later, when runner-up on disadvantageous terms to Longhouse Poet. Jumped well against Gold Cup hopefuls at Tramore on New Year’s Day. Stamina and ability to handle big fields unproven. Tongue-tie again discarded.

Verdict: 😐

Age: 9. Races: 22. Wins: 3. Approximate odds: 80-1

Won last term’s Leinster National. Bounced back to that form in first-time blinkers when just failing on the nod at Leopardstown over Christmas. Followed up with a lesser performance in Punchestown’s Grand National Trial, losing his pitch and increasingly making errors. Has failed to feature on all three occasions he’s tried marathon trips, though twice hampered in last year’s Irish National. Probably lacks tactical speed. Perhaps surprising not to see another headgear swap.

Verdict: 😐

Age: 7. Races: 37. Wins: 8. Approximate odds: 80-1

Versatile but inconsistent. Fourth in the Munster National over three miles last October, yet as effective over 2m1f when placed at the Dublin Racing Festival in February. Unsuited by even greater emphasis on speed when laboured and pulled up in the Grand Annual last time. Doesn’t obviously shape as a potential marathon chaser. Cheekpieces reapplied, replacing usual blinkers.

Verdict: 🏳️

Age: 9. Races: 21. Wins: 11. Approximate odds: 66-1

A nine-times winner last Jumps season, more than any other horse then in training. Began this season in a similar vein last June but then absent for almost ten months. Ridden with unfamiliar patience over hurdles on comeback, shaping as though retaining his ability. Stays three miles. Never faced more than ten rivals. Represents a training dynasty synonymous with this race.

Verdict: 😐

Age: 8. Races: 16. Wins: 3. Approximate odds: 18-1

Cheltenham Festival winner as a staying novice hurdler. Slow to take to fences, jumping deliberately. Cheekpieces have helped. Career-best over fences on latest start when a gaining second, conceding weight, to classy veteran Kemboy in the Bobbyjo Chase. Unexposed at marathon trips, but likely to relish them. Fell on sole occasion he faced a double-figure field over fences, albeit when taken along more quickly than ideal over an inadequate trip. Dangerous if jumping swiftly enough.

Verdict: 😐

Age: 7. Races: 17. Wins: 4. Approximate odds: 40-1

Ended last season with a promising sixth in the Irish Grand National, tiring in the straight. Struggled for form this term until winning a small-field affair at Fairyhouse and following up with a good second behind Any Second Now at Navan. Debutant over these fences. Stamina for marathon trips a doubt. Not yet categorically proven to enjoy racing in large fields such as this, but probably overpriced.

Verdict: ✅

Age: 9. Races: 10. Wins: 2. Approximate odds: 9-1

Progressive second-season novice chaser with comparable profile to trainer Henry de Bromhead’s 2021 National winner Minella Times. Strong performances this season when grabbed late by The Big Dog in the Munster National and fourth in a fiercely competitive Leopardstown handicap over Christmas. Didn’t need his best to get off the mark over fences last time. Jumps well. Stays three miles strongly. Comfortable in large fields. Only doubt is whether he might race too keenly.

Verdict: 👑

Age: 9. Races: 12. Wins: 6. Approximate odds: 10-1

Talented and characterful chaser, well ridden by Derek Fox. Dual winner of the Cheltenham Festival’s Ultima Chase, holding his position in soft ground more easily last March than 12 months earlier and then idling when he hit the front. Got going too late in the Coral Gold Cup (old Hennessy). Sure to relish this greater test of stamina. Well treated at the weights. Needs rain in sizeable quantity to slow the ground or else he will get too far behind. Dangerous if a mere dot on the horizon at the last.

Verdict: ✅

Age: 9. Races: 26. Wins: 2. Approximate odds: 40-1

An awkward landing saw his rider get no further than the first in last year’s National. Has twice run with credit in the Irish National and shaped as though even further should suit. Yet his form is neither as good nor as consistent these days. Makes mistakes more often. Listless effort at Fairyhouse last time. Tongue-tie added to blinkers, the combination he wore last year.

Verdict: 😐

Age: 7. Races: 9. Wins: 2. Approximate odds: 14-1

Twice reluctant to race as a novice chaser when trained by Henry de Bromhead. Seemingly sweeter since joining Willie Mullins, but remains quirky. Ridden with exaggerated waiting tactics the last twice, when second in the Classic Chase and a wandering third in the Kim Muir. Lack of tactical speed at a critical latter stage exposed on both occasions. Likely to relish extreme distances - but will struggle to hold a good pitch here.

Verdict: 🤦‍

Age: 8. Races: 15. Wins: 3. Approximate odds: 40-1

Clumsy and untrustworthy maiden chaser. Ostensibly unfortunate when second in last year’s Kim Muir, badly hampered early on. Disliked these fences in last year’s Topham, soon behind and blundering at Becher’s. In fine form this season, but chucked away a winning chance at Uttoxeter on his penultimate start. Respectable third in the NH Chase on unfavourable terms last time. Stamina unproven. May sulk again here.

Verdict: 🏳️

Age: 10. Races: 29. Wins: 6. Approximate odds: 80-1

Useful staying chaser on his day, including when second in the 2021 Kim Muir and winning the Ladbrokes Trophy (old Hennessy) later that year. Form then deteriorated. Rejuvenated by a 13-month absence when third in Haydock’s Grand National Trial in February, jumping magnificently. May have found the Ultima coming too soon in that context, pulling up after losing his position on the final circuit. Might not quite have the stamina for this. Must bounce back again.

Verdict: 🤦‍

Age: 10. Races: 26. Wins: 4. Approximate odds: 100-1

Patiently ridden and narrowly failed in the 2021 Becher Chase over a short course of these fences. Missed the cut for last year’s National. Booked for a place at best when all but brought down four out in the Scottish version. No impact in this term’s Becher from a 9lb higher mark on less testing ground. Returning from wind surgery, never involved in a preparatory run at Kelso last time. Will stay this trip, and equipped with first-time cheekpieces. Needs rain to slow his opponents down. First-time cheekpieces might help him travel.

Verdict: 🤦‍

Age: 8. Races: 18. Wins: 4. Approximate odds: 66-1

Steadily improving second-season chaser, thwarted by habitual scrappy errors. Successful at Galway over the summer and since performed creditably in a series of competitive staying events, most notably when sixth at Leopardstown over Christmas and third in the Leinster National. Lacks tactical pace. Ridden with exaggerated patience. Unsuited to this task.

Verdict: 🤦‍

Age: 8. Races: 17. Wins: 3. Approximate odds: 100-1

Steadily improved from latter novice-chasing days, winning the Killarney National and placing in the Kerry and Cork versions. Progress came to an abrupt end when encountering a short course of these fences for the Becher, losing his position at the eponymous fence. Ran poorly at Leopardstown over Christmas and absent since. Doesn’t obviously shape like a marathon chaser. Needs to bounce back.

Verdict: 🤦‍

Age: 9. Races: 27. Wins: 7. Approximate odds: 66-1

Gutsy and likeable. Holding his improved form well since fitted with a visor in March of last year. Career-best effort at Cheltenham in December, jumping well and responding gamely under pressure. Creditable fourth under top-weight in the Eider last time, weakening only approaching the last. First-time tongue-tie added to his habitual visor. Versatile ground-wise. This is tougher than his usual grade.

Verdict: 😐

Age: 8. Races: 28. Wins: 8. Approximate odds: 25-1

Lightly raced this season, winning at Ascot on debut but missing the Coral Gold Cup with a minor setback. Registered a career best at Kempton last time, needing all of a strongly run three miles to get his head in front. Well treated at the weights here. Versatile ground-wise. Untested at marathon trips. May lack a touch of tactical speed but nothing for application. Wears cheekpieces as usual.

Verdict: ✅

Age: 8. Races: 16. Wins: 2. Approximate odds: 80-1

Capable if in the mood, but often isn’t. Has refused to race and often travels begrudgingly. Yet only lost out by a short-head in a bobbing finish with Carefully Selected in the Thyestes in February. Ran creditably but less willingly when fourth in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival last time. Wears his usual cheekpieces. Detached run style unsuitable. Might mentally disengage, too. Hard to predict how he’ll react to first-time blinkers replacing his usual cheekpieces.

Verdict: 🤦‍

Age: 10. Races: 44. Wins: 9. Approximate odds: 100-1

Best efforts over conventional fences are short of three miles, including tenacious victory in last year’s Summer Plate. Makes National debut but has safely negotiated these fences three times, albeit making less impact over the longer Becher trip than when fourth in the 2022 Topham. Revived by switch to cross-country discipline the last twice. Can be forgiven his last-fence refusal in a weakening third at the Festival, when tired and distracted by a loose horse. Big stamina doubt.

Verdict: 🏳️

Age: 9. Races: 26. Wins: 6. Approximate odds: 100-1

Twice displayed antipathy for these fences, uncompetitive in last year’s National after ballooning the second – though he hung in there until unseating four out – and similarly disengaged in the Becher. Not in the best frame of mind of late. Soon struggling when pulled up in the Welsh National. Plodded grudgingly on for an improbable fifth at Haydock last time. Cheekpieces the last twice haven’t helped, so headgear upgraded to first-time blinkers. Fundamentally unsuited to most elements of this task.

Verdict: 🏳️

Age: 9. Races: 25. Wins: 9. Approximate odds: 33-1

Dependable performer. Now firmly established as a cross-country specialist, with a brace of triumphs at Cheltenham – albeit he has disappointed in the level-weights Festival edition for the past two seasons. Ran with great credit over conventional fences at the same track last November. This demands far more, both in terms of class and stamina. Races prominently. Not a forlorn hope.

Verdict: 😐

Age: 9. Races: 46. Wins: 3. Odds: 100-1

Creditable fifth behind Gabbys Cross at Galway over the summer. Below that form in four starts since, frequently – as here – out of his depth. Soon lost his position and beaten in the Festival’s Magners Plate last time. Stays three miles but effective at shorter. Not an obvious candidate for marathon events.

Verdict: 🏳️

Verdict:

1 Aint That A Shame

2 Gaillard Du Mesnil

3 Longhouse Poet

4 Corach Rambler

5 Coko Beach

6 Any Second Now