A strong field of chasers is set to line up at Aintree on April 15 to compete in the 175th running of the Grand National. The race in Liverpool attracts strong interest around the world due to its rich history, and the latest renewal could be one of the best yet.
As well as the feature race on the final day of the meeting, there are 11 Grade One races set to take place across the three days at Aintree.
Corach Rambler Tops Grand National Betting
Corach Rambler's done it again! pic.twitter.com/JZ5quU3iph
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) March 14, 2023
Trained in Scotland by Lucinda Russell, Corach Rambler is the +750 favorite in the early odds for Grand National 2023. The nine-year-old chaser has impressed this season, with his most notable success coming at the Cheltenham Festival, where he won the Ultima Handicap Chase.
Corach Rambler is set to be suited by the marathon distance of 4m2½f in the race at Aintree. He is also a progressive chaser who is now rated as high as 156. Russell’s runner has been handed one of the lowest weight allocations of 10st 5lb, which will help his chances of success.
Russell won the Grand National in 2017 with One For Arthur. She is one of four female trainers who has won this famous steeplechase, and should she score twice, she will match Jenny Pitman as a multiple winners.
Defending Champion Back Again
Noble Yeats became the latest horse to be added to the roll of honor at Aintree when he won the Grand National in 2022. He will now attempt to become just the 10th horse to win the race twice when he lines up this year.
NOBLE YEATS HAS WON THE GRAND NATIONAL FOR SAM WALEY-COHEN!
On his final ride!
Follow all the action with our #GrandNational Live Blog 👉 https://t.co/3BmGBji299 pic.twitter.com/q38xPnJDLL
— Sky Sports Racing (@SkySportsRacing) April 9, 2022
Emmet Mullins’ runner took advantage of his weight allocation of 10st 10lb in 2022. He came home powerfully under the hands of amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen to prevail by just over two lengths.
The defending champion recently appeared at the Cheltenham Festival, where he finished fourth in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup. That performance indicates he is at the top of his game again, and he will need to be at Aintree if he is to replicate his success, as he has the second-highest weight in the race this year.
Strong Irish Challengers
A strong contingent of Irish horses is set to make the trip to Liverpool along with Noble Yeats. Any Second Now is the highest-rated of those horses. He has a rating of 167 following his victory in the Grade Two Webster Cup Chase last month.
Former Grade One winner Galvin will be bidding to be successful in the race on his debut this year. He finished second behind Delta Work in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month. Gordon Elliott’s runner will get the chance to reverse the form with his stablemate at Aintree.
Irish Champion Trainer Willie Mullins is set to be represented by Gaillard Du Mesnil and Mr. Incredible, two horses who are expected to be strong contenders. The two seven-year-olds are highly regarded, and if either is successful, they will give their trainer his second success in the race.
The final field of 40 horses for the Aintree feature will be announced on April 13, 48 hours prior to the race.
