1. I AM MAXIMUS ****
Last year’s winner hasn’t really fired this season, but has clearly been teed up for the defence of his crown. He’s 8lbs higher than last year, and winning off top weight is notoriously tough, but he’s almost certain to be a factor
2 ROYALE PAGAILLE **
Started the season well, beating Grey Dawning in his beloved Betfair Chase, but his form has tailed off badly since then. A real mud-lover, he’ll almost certainly lack the pace required on the anticipated lively ground.
3 NICK ROCKETT ***
He’s had a good season, winning both the Thyestes and Bobbyjo Chases in Ireland, but that means he’s rapidly climbed up the weights. Has the class to go close, and relishes a marathon trip, but he might well have reached his ceiling.
4 GRANGECLARE WEST ****
Somewhat mercurial, but can be top-class on his day and has been mixing it with the best staying chasers in Ireland all season. Chased home Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup and looks one of the best outsiders.
5. HEWICK ***
A former King George winner who would be something of a fairytale winner given that he cost just £800 when he was purchased by his current connections. Should be suited by the smaller fences at Aintree these days, but his stamina isn’t a given.
6 MINELLA INDO ***
The 2021 Gold Cup winner ran a blinder to finish third in last year’s National, proving that the Aintree test suits him. He’s a 12-year-old now though and has only dropped 2lb in the weights. His best chance might have gone.
7. APPRECIATE IT ***
An interesting contender who looked to have the world at his feet as a youngster, only for injury to intervene. His ability is not in question, but he’s never tried anything close to this trip. If he stays, he could be an each-way shout at a big price.
8 MINELLA COCOONER ****
Proved his ability over a marathon trip last season when he followed up an impressive third-placed finish in the Irish National by running away with the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown. He’s been lightly campaigned and looks one of Willie Mullins’ leading lights.
9 CONFLATED *
Boasts plenty of back class, but has mainly been competing in the Cross-Country sphere in recent years and doesn’t look anything like the force of old. His mark has dropped as a result, but he has a lot to prove, especially over this trip.
10 STUMPTOWN ****
Triumphed in last month’s Cross-Country Chase at Cheltenham, and could well be the next Tiger Roll, who combined starring in that sphere with winning Grand Nationals. Boasts loads of experience and stays all day – the only worry is the fast turnaround from the Festival.
11 HITMAN **
Boasts plenty of second-placed finishes, but very rarely wins. Has run some big races in the past, but his stamina is a massive question mark and there must be a good chance the hurly-burly of the National doesn’t really suit him.
12 BEAUPORT ***
Runs in the colours of 1983 winner Corbiere, and won the Midlands National last year so should be staying on at the finish. He was easily brushed aside last time out though, and might just lack the raw ability of a few of his rivals.
13 BRAVEMANSGAME **
A former King George winner, who also finished second in a Gold Cup, but almost certainly on the downgrade now. His resolution has been called into question of late, and this race will expose any weaknesses.
14 CHANTRY HOUSE **
Looked gone at the game before a power-packed win at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. Finished a very tired horse when upped in class after that though, and will almost certainly find some of his younger rivals much too good.
15. THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE **
Looks to be a few pounds too high in the handicap to win, but has developed into a dour stayer who jumps reliably. Would probably have wanted softer ground, and might well have preferred the older-style National, which was a much more gruelling test.
16 PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS *****
Has been gradually building to this race, which comes after a season that his seen him achieve career-bests over both fences and hurdles. Gavin Cromwell looks to have made a decent job of protecting his mark and he ticks pretty much every box there is.
17 KANDOO KID ***
Aiming to do the double that was last achieved by Many Clouds ten years ago by winning what was the Hennessy Gold Cup and National in the same season. His third in last year’s Topham proved he can handle the fences, and he has a decent each-way shout.
18 IROKO ****
Former Cheltenham Festival winner who was second to Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin at Aintree last year. His season has been built around this race, but he lacks experience and to a degree, his wellbeing has to be taken on trust.
19 INTENSE RAFFLES ****
Last year’s Irish National winner has been trained all season to peak for this race. His two runs over hurdles were followed by a good effort in the Bobbyjo Chase, but he would probably have preferred slightly more ease in the ground. Needs to keep up with the pace.
20 SENIOR CHIEF ***
A lively outsider who started the season with a bang, winning at Cheltenham, and was then a fair sixth behind Kandoo Kid at Newbury. Remains something of a dark horse, but his trainer, Henry de Bromhead, has finally rediscovered some stable form.
21 IDAS BOY *
Quite a smart novice chaser a few years ago, winning the Midlands National at Kilbeggan for Noel Meade, but is now in new hands. Has never really looked like an obvious contender for the unique test of the Grand National.
22 FIL DOR **
Was a top-class youngster, finishing second in the 2022 Triumph Hurdle, but has never really been able to rediscover that level of form. A questionable stayer, even though he looked to stay three miles on his only attempt at that trip, but Gordon Elliott has been talking him up.
23 BROADWAY BOY **
Looked an ideal type for the race earlier in the season when he was runner-up to Kandoo Kid at Newbury, but his form has declined alarmingly since. Ran poorly at Cheltenham last month and will have to take a major step forward to figure.
24 COKO BEACH *
Has been a fine servant to connections, winning a Thyestes Chase and a Troytown, but looks to be well past his best. Is fully exposed in the weights and would almost certainly have needed to be running in a bog to have any kind of chance of springing a surprise.
25 STAY AWAY FAY **
Looked a potential superstar when he won the 2023 Albert Bartlett, but has never really looked like matching that level of form since. Failed to sparkle again at Cheltenham last month, and while a new test might spark something, he deserves to be a big price.
26 MEETINGOFTHEWATERS ****
Ran with great credit last year, when he was still in with a chance at the last, only to fade away on the run-in. Was that because he didn’t stay, or down to a busy season? Has been campaigned much more quietly this term, suggesting Willie Mullins thinks there is scope for improvement.
27 MONBEG GENIUS ***
A proven stayer who lost his way somewhat last year, only to show signs of improvement in recent months. He was fourth in the Welsh National and then won at Uttoxeter, but he’s another that would probably have preferred more testing ground.
28 VANILLIER ****
Flew home for second in the race two years ago, but didn’t seem to enjoy things as much 12 months ago. Has shown real signs of resurgence of late though, finishing third in the Cheltenham Cross-Country despite almost taking the wrong course, and has got in off a really light weight.
29 HORANTZAU D’AIRY *
A nice sub-plot to the race given he represents much smaller connections, but realistically does not look good enough to get involved. Stamina is also far from guaranteed.
30. HYLAND ***
Could he be the one to give Nicky Henderson a first Grand National winner after all these years? He might not be a stable star yet, but he jumps well and will like the decent ground. Not without a chance.
31. CELEBRE D’ALLEN **
Has form over the Aintree fences, finishing fourth in both the Becher and the Topham, but is 13 though and while he won his only start of the season, others are likely to boast more class and speed.
32 THREE CARD BRAG ***
His third to Spillane Tower in a Grade One last spring reads well, and he could be dangerous off a featherweight. Lacks experience after only having six runs over fences, which could catch him out, but looks an interesting outsider.
33 TWIG **
Finished second in last year’s Ultima at Cheltenham, marking him out as a possible National candidate. Ran poorly last time out at Doncaster, though, and is another who is unlikely to be at his best on the fast ground.
34 DUFFLE COAT ***
Galway Plate runner-up in the summer, who has sneaked into the field at the bottom of the weights. Will relish the going and was running respectably when brought down at Cheltenham last month. Not without a hope.
SCOTT WILSON’S TOP FOUR
1 Perceval Legallois
2 Meetingofthewaters
3 Vanillier
4 Grangeclare West
