TimeformBlog

Don't Push It enjoyed his finest hour when winning the 2010 renewal of this race and his four runs over hurdles this year will have put him spot on for a repeat bid. However, no horse since Red Rum in 1974 has won back-to-back Grand Nationals and he also has to carry top-weight.

Tidal Bay certainly has his quirks but is a high-class chaser on his day, finishing runner-up in the Betfair and Argento Chases before a good sixth in the Gold Cup last time. However, it remains to be seen whether he takes to such a unique challenge as the National.

What A Friend, a dual Grade 1 winner in 2009/2010, was fourth in the Gold Cup last time, where he was equipped with first-time blinkers. Well handicapped here on that form, he's the class act in this, especially if encountering his favoured good ground, but is far from straightforward.

Vic Venturi, winner of the 2009 Becher Chase despite looking far from assured over these fences, fell at the 20th when in mid-division in last year's National. He's been largely below his best this term and has a lot to prove now.

Majestic Concorde produced a career-best when a 33-1 winner of the valuable Paddy Power Chase as Leopardstown in December, but it remains to be seen whether he stays this marathon trip and others appear better handicapped.

Or Noir de Somoza boasts an impressive winning record in his native France and has rejoined David Pipe with this race in mind. However, his best form has been achieved at short of 3m and his staying this distance has to be a big worry.

Dooneys Gate jumped boldly when fourth in the 2010 Topham and produced a career-best when winning at Clonmel in February. That said, he has raced largely around 2½m and the trip poses the largest question here.

Big Fella Thanks has no trouble with these fences after finishing fourth and sixth in the last two renewals when with Paul Nicholls. A very encouraging display last time proves he's in good form but the question remains as to whether he truly stays the trip.

The Tother One is relatively lightly raced for one his age but looks an increasingly hard ride these days and made mistakes when fourth in the Hennessy at Newbury on his penultimate start. Although he's likely to stay the distance, doubts over his current mindset means he's easy to oppose.

Ballabriggs won all 3 of his chase starts last season, including the Kim Muir at Cheltenham, and began with 2 novice hurdle victories this time around. Despite being caught close home by Skippers Brig back over fences at Kelso last time, he's a strong traveller and sound jumper and has to be considered.

The Midnight Club is a progressive chaser who was runner-up in the Thyestes on his return before beating several who reoppose here in the Bobbyjo at Fairyhouse in February. Despite having only won twice over fences, he certainly looks the type to excel at Aintree and is highly respected.

Niche Market, winner of the Irish National in 2009, was no threat in this race last year but has long looked an ideal Aintree type and had a breathing operation prior to running adequately on his latest start. He looks Paul Nicholls' best hope of finally winning the race.

Silver By Nature goes from strength to strength and put up a career-best when winning the National Trial at Haydock in February for the second consecutive season. He gets into the race on a very favourable handicap mark and ticks the right boxes as a sound-jumping front-runner, but the softer the ground the better his chance.

Backstage was still going well in this race last year when effectively brought down at the 20th and has been given an unusual preparation this year by winning his last two starts on the point-to-point circuit. However, the biggest question for him is whether he'll fully stay the distance.
Chief Dan George, winner of a competitive handicap at the Cheltenham Festival last year, hasn't looked in the same form this season and took a heavy fall when attempting to repeat the feat last month. The trip looks within his compass but reliability has never been his strong point.

Calgary Bay is a sound jumper who has largely performed with credit since winning a handicap at Doncaster in 2009. However, although he has a decent chance of navigating the fences, his ability to see out the trip is a big worry.

Killyglen was one of the leading novices of 2008/9 for Howard Johnson but his form has been very patchy since. That said, some encouragement can be gleaned from his 2 runs over hurdles this season and he shaped better than the result suggests when returned to chasing last time.

Oscar Time progressed well last season, winning a valuable 3m handicap before finishing second in the Irish National. A strong traveller, he shaped well back over fences behind The Midnight Club last time and must be considered.

Quinz improved a good deal to land the Racing Post Chase at Kempton in February and is the pick of the weights for this race. However, though he jumped much better than previously last time, his relative inexperience for such demanding race must be a worry.

Becauseicouldntsee was a progressive novice last term, culminating in a fine second in the 4m amateur riders' event at Cheltenham. Still lightly raced, he upped his game again when runner-up in a highly competitive handicap at Leopardstown over Christmas, and despite his tendency to jump left, must make.

Comply Or Die is a fine jumper who won the 2008 National and was beaten only by Mon Mome 12 months later. He hasn't been the same force since, however, fading into twelfth in latest running of the race and now firmly into the veteran stage.

Quolibet had a poor strike rate for one of his ability when trained in France, and showed little in the cross-country race at Cheltenham on his British debut last month. Consequently, he's hard to make a case for, especially given doubts over the trip.

Grand Slam Hero's form took off over fences on rejoining his present yard last year, winning the Summer Plate at Market Rasen and valuable event at Ffos Las, but his lacklustre effort after a break last time doesn't bode well.

State Of Play is a genuine sort who has been laid out for this having reached the frame in the last 2 renewals, coming from some way back to take third in 2010. He reopposes Don't Push It and Big Fella Thanks on much better terms and will understandably be on many a shortlist.

King Fontaine was progressive over fences last year, winning 4 on the trot, but his jumping has been a problem in more competitive races recently and that's a huge concern faced with this test.

In Compliance unseated last time but usually jumps well and was revitalised by the fitting of blinkers when making all at Thurles in February. However, that was only over 2¼m, and 3m has looked the limit of his stamina in the past.

Hello Bud is a bold-jumping front runner who's done well over the National fences in the past, including when rallying gamely to land the Becher Chase in 2010. However, he appeared very tired when fifth to Don't Push It last year and has to prove he truly stays the distance.

West End Rocker improved like so many from his yard earlier in season, winning good handicaps at Newbury and Warwick. That said, despite shaping as though still in form last time, he stopped quickly and his jumping hasn't always been fluent.

Santa's Son was quickly back on track after rejoining his present yard, landing a 2½m Musselburgh handicap hurdle in February. However, his jumping has let him down over fences and his stamina is also likely to fail him here.

Bluesea Cracker improved further over fences last season, winning the Irish National at Fairyhouse from Oscar Time. She's had another light campaign this time and has a lot going for her, though her chance would be greatly enhanced by rain.

That's Rhythm won a 3m handicap with some comfort in August, where the fitting of a visor seemed to do trick. However, he can't be relied upon from a jumping or attitude point of view, and hardly appears the sort to excel here.

Surface To Air came into his own over fences in 2008, completing a hat-trick when landing the Summer National at Uttoxeter. Quickly weakened over hurdles on his reappearance last month, and it would be a big surprise if he was good enough to figure.

Piraya, whose only win in Britain came over 2½m at Warwick over a year ago, was back to that level when placed on his first 2 starts this season, but has lost his way sinceTailed off in this last year and a similar fate awaits.

Can't Buy Time showed improved form when winning a 21f chase at Cheltenham in January 2010, but has not matched that form since. He's twice failed to complete in the National and seems unlikely to be involved once again.

Character Building, a Cheltenham Festival winner in 2009, was placed when back down the weights in a veterans event here in October, but has generally struggled since. Seventh in the race last year, he will do well to improve upon that.

Ornais was one of the better novice chasers in 2007/8, but injury had kept him off the track for 2 years until his reappearance in a hunter in February. He's going to find this much tougher and looks out of his depth.

Arbor Supreme is a hold-up horse without a win since 2008. However, he put up a career best when second to The Midnight Club last time and certainly has claims of bettering last year's effort when unseating at the Chair.

Royal Rosa hasn't won for over 4 years and is largely inconsistent to boot. Retried in headgear, he did produce one of his better efforts when placed in 2010 Becher Chase for the second successive year, but ran a shocker on his only outing since.

Skippers Brig was a progressive chaser in 2009/10, culminating in a third to Poquelin here on his final start. He looked better than ever after a year off when beating Ballabriggs at Kelso last month and needs consideration, although rain would enhance his chance.

Golden Kite has been better than ever this term, mixing hurdling with winning over fences at Kilbeggan and Limerick (Munster National). He is not without a chance off a very low weight.

Timeform 1-2-3:
1. The Midnight Club
2. Oscar Time
3. Niche Market

Timeform View: Irish-trained horses have won half of the last dozen runnings of the National and it's not hard to see them taking the prize home again this year, with the Bobbyjo Chase first and third The Midnight Club and Oscar Time making the most appeal. Niche Market has long looked the type to go well in the race, while In Compliance isn't sure to stay but could out-run his odds.

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