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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Gavin Beech & Will Freeman

Grand National runners list 2022: Guide to every horse in big Aintree race

It's the big one at Aintree tomorrow with 40 horses lining up for the Grand National, each with the hope of winning Europe's biggest jump race.

Rachael Blackmore won the 2021 race on Minella Times and lines up once again with Henry De Bromhead hoping that he can secure back-to-back Grand National winners after a difficult start to the year for the defending champion who is rated at 9/1 for this one.

Meanwhile, there are three joint favourites with Betfred currently as Snow Leopardess, Delta Work and Any Second Now all line up at 8/1 for the big race.

Here is our list of runners for the big event for you to make your own decision on who to back:

2022 Randox Grand National Runner Guide

1. Minella Times : Emphatic six-and-a-half-length winner12 months ago but much stiffer task this year off 16lb higher mark. No horse has carried topweight to victory since Red Rum in 1974.

2. Delta Work : Multiple Grade 1-winning chaser who edged out stablemate and two-time Grand National winner Tiger Roll in the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham last month. Aintree debutant but huge chance if he takes to the fences.

3. Easysland : Potentially well handicapped but has looked out of love with racing this season. Needs a huge turnaround.

4. Any Second Now : Beaten just over eight lengths into third last year but met trouble along the way and so although he is 6lb higher this time, he's a solid each-way player. Prep has gone smoothly.

5. Run Wild Fred : Classy novice that stuck to his guns well behind Stattler in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last month. Already proven in warm handicap chases having won the Troytown at Navan in November but will need a much bigger effort to land this.

6. Lostintranslation : Won a Grade 2 chase at Ascot by four lengths in November but not so good since and was beaten almost 20 lengths in the Ultima at Cheltenham. Grade 1 winner around Aintree as a novice but hard to fancy on recent evidence.

7. Brahma Bull : Run some solid races in defeat this year but appears to be in handicapper's grip and likely this 11-year-old's best days are behind him.

8. Burrows Saint : Travelled and jumped strongly 12 months ago before eventually coming home 27 lengths behind Minella Times in fourth. Needs to better that off just 1lb lower but wasn't a great deal of encouragement in his Bobbjo Chase run last time.

9. Mount Ida : Strong stayer but best recent form all come on right handed tracks and jumped badly to her right when well beaten in Mares' Chase at Cheltenham last month. Talented but needs jumping a big worry around here.

10. Longhouse Poet : Stays three miles well, as he showed when winning the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park in January. Career-high mark to overcome but by no means fully exposed as a staying chaser. Nice prep over hurdles last time.

11. Fiddlerontheoof : Fine second in this season's Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury and again last time off topweight in a competitive Ascot contest. Goes into unknown territory stamina wise but can't be ruled out.

12. Two For Gold : Career-best effort when second to Fakir D'oudairies in Ascot Chase but now sits on a career-high mark as a result. Unproven over staying trips and unseated rider on only previous try over these fences (2021 Topham Chase).

13. Santini : Formerly very smart staying chaser but not quite as good nowadays. Stays well and possible this sort of stamina test will suit but may not have the pace to hold a handy enough position in the early stages.

14. Samcro : Hugely popular multiple Grade 1 winner but almost a year since he last got his head in front and recent evidence suggests a race a competitive as this is beyond his reach.

15. Escaria Ten : Career-best effort on the figures when beaten just a nose by Any Second Now in the Bobbjo Chase on just his second start since last April. Stamina no issue after a solid third in last year's National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham and could have more to offer.

16. Good Boy Bobby : Needs to bounce back from a below-par run at Kempton and doesn't look particularly well handicapped but unexposed over extreme trips and trainer, who has won this race twice, has long had this race in mind for him.

17. Lord Du Mesnil : Soft ground lover whose best form has come around Haydock. Pulled up in this last year with ground given as an excuse by trainer (too quick). Unlikely winner.

18. Coko Beach : Lapped in the Bobbyjo Chase behind Any Second Now and Escaria Ten and very little in his recent form to suggest he can take a hand in a race as competitive as this.

19. De Rasher Counter : 2019 Ladbrokes Trophy Chase winner (back down to same mark now) who hasn't seen much racing since because of injury. Very encouraging return in Newbury Grade 2 and well worth another go at extreme stamina test.

20. Kildisart : Almost three years since he last got his head in front but off the track for more than a year prior to his Newbury return in March. That run was not devoid of encouragement and trainer reports him fit and firing for this so could go well at a price if he gets into a rhythm but very difficult to see him winning.

21. Discorama : Not at his best when beaten 45 lengths into seventh in the 2021 Grand National (first run after a wind op) but looked to be on good terms with himself when a fine second at Fairyhouse last time. Place contender this time.

22. Top Ville Ben : Really likeable horse but best form has come at Wetherby; in decent form over hurdles recently but took a heavy fall in this season's Becher Chase and no evidence he stays this far.

23. Enjoy D'allen : Connections appear to have been keen to conserve his chase mark this year (two of his three runs have been over hurdles). Beaten less than five lengths when third in last year's Irish Grand National so already proved he can mix it in this type of race and very likely to be an even bigger run in him at some point.

24. Anibale Fly : Had his chances in this and not the force of old. Very difficult to see him well.

25. Dingo Dollar : Close-up second in last year's Scottish Grand National but dropped away pretty tamely after a mistake three-out at Kelso last time so needs to bounce back.

26. Freewheelin Dylan : Caused a 125/1 shock in the Irish Grand National 12 months ago and a player on that form but not on what he's been showing this season.

27. Cass Conti : Thrashed in this race last year and again in the Leinster Handicap last time. Bits of pieces of form that give him a squeak but overall profile makes him hard to fancy.

28. Noble Yeats : Lightly-raced 7-year-old who still has some potential but no horse of that age has won this since 1940.

29. Mighty Thunder : Last year's Scottish Grand National winner has had wind surgery after being pulled up the last twice. Strong stayer when in the groove and stable won this in 2017 so an interesting outsider providing his breathing is sorted.

30: Cloth Cap : 2020 Ladbrokes Trophy winner who went off favourite for this race 12 months ago when reportedly made a respiratory noise. 4lb lower this time and wasn't a bad prep at Doncaster on ground slower than ideal. Interesting outsider.

31. Snow Leopardess : Becher Chase winner who has been the subject of strong market support in recent days. Progressive profile this year and could easily have more to offer but record of mares in this race isn't great (last one back in 1951).

32. Augusta Gold : Only two wins in last three years have been in mares' only company and not well enough handicapped to win a race as competitive as this.

33. Phoenix Way : Came from off the pace to win a competitive handicap chase at Ascot in January (career best) but faller early on at Kempton since and jumping a worry over these fences. Also has stamina to prove.

34. Deise Alba : Best form at Sandown and although has run well over hurdles at Aintree, is 8lb above highest winning mark.

35. Blacklion : 13-year-old; winner of the 2017 Becher Chase but only two wins since have come on heavy ground around Haydock. Beaten 37 lengths in this last year and will struggle to keep up with younger legs.

36. Poker Party : Badly out of form and very hard to fancy.

37 Death Duty : Grade 1 novice chase winner; travelled powerfully when impressive winner of a Grand National trial at Punchestown in February and although not so good in the Ultima at Cheltenham, he's not without hope.

38. Domaine De L'Isle : Didn't look a natural over these fences when beaten 22 lengths by Snow Leopardess in Becher so hard to fancy.

39. Eclair Surf : Ran a blinder just under two lengths behind Win My Wings in the Eider Chase at Newcastle and that form took a major boost when the winner bolted up in the Scottish National last weekend. Well treated on by no means fully exposed as an 8-year-old. Officially 4lb well in and could run a big race off a light weight.

40. Fortescue : Progressive chaser who still has plenty of potential long-distance events. Finished with a flourish to beat Fiddlerontheroof in 3m Ascot contest in February and not hard to see him running a big race off a light weight. Due to go up 4lb in future.

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