Three big value ante-post Randox Grand National selections

The ‘world’s greatest steeplechase’ is very much on the horizon as the excitement builds ahead of this year’s Randox Grand National at Aintree on Saturday, April 11th. Thirty-four runners will go to post bidding to add their name to an illustrious list of equine heroes and snatch their own piece of racing immortality. The long-range weather forecast suggests there will be a mixture of sunshine and showers in the week before the race, likely to produce ground no faster than Good to Soft, maybe a touch softer if heavier showers forecast for the day of the race actually materialise. Here are three selections that have caught my eye in the current ante-post list; one among the market principals; one a mid-market selection; and one big odds outsider, writes Paul Alster.

MARKET PRINCIPALS: The first four home from the Willie Mullins-dominated finish of last year’s Grand National are all currently engaged and expected to renew rivalry: Nick Rockett (the 2025 winner); I Am Maximus (runner-up); Grangeclare West (third): and Iroko (fourth), trained by Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerreiro who are also expected to run the current second-favourite Jagwar, second in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham a few weeks ago. He has never gone beyond 3m1f or run over the unique National fences so is of less appeal to me.

Nick Rockett made a satisfactory but unspectacular belated return to action when third of four to the smart Gerri Colombe at Down Royal just a fortnight ago and will surely come on for the run. It feels as though connections have been rushing to get him ready to defend his crown off a 4lb higher mark, and while he will probably go very well, I will be surprised if he’s good enough to follow up.

Grangeclare West put up his best performance for some time when beating Gerri Colombe in February and rates a danger to all, while Iroko was found to have been under the weather when only tenth at Cheltenham a few weeks ago and is better judged on his two good runs prior to that, including a fine second to the subsequent King George VI Chase winner The Jukebox Man at Haydock in November. He is very much respected.

Not since the mighty Red Rum in 1977 has a horse won the race previously then regained his crown having subsequently been beaten in the Grand National, but I AM MAXIMUS (pictured above) looks set to arrive at Aintree as a potential favourite following a couple of fine runs, including his 50/1 second to Affordale Fury in the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting, and a solid latest effort when fifth to Fact To File in the Irish Gold Cup last time.

I AM MAXIMUS jumps really well at Aintree and in the last two renewals has found only Nick Rockett (now 3lb worse off) too good for him, having beaten Delta Work by seven lengths to win the race in 2024 before his gallant runner’s-up spot twelve months ago off an 8lb higher mark. Mullins’ smart staying chaser comes into this race in better form than last year, and the current 8/1 market leader is well worth his position at the head of the market.

MID-MARKET CONTENDERS: The Rebecca Curtis-trained Haiti Couleurs (16/1) disappointed in the Cheltenham Gold Cup a few weeks ago. Last year’s Irish National hero was very impressive though when carrying top weight to victory in the Welsh National in December before following up in the Grade 2 Denman Chase at Newbury. He is better than his latest effort, stays well, and is usually a sound jumper. This habitual front-runner will surely give supporters a good run for their money.

Jonjo & AJ O’Neill’s Johnnywho stormed home to win the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham and is now rated 6lb higher but is able to run off his previous mark due to this being an early closing race. My concern is that he is unproven over marathon distances having weakened into fifth over 3m5f in the Irish National last spring. Gerri Colombe (Gordon Elliott) is a class act who has won Grade 1s on the Mildmay course on both occasions he has previously visited Aintree. He was fairly impressive when scoring at Down Royal last time and shapes as though he will stay, so the current 33/1 each-way probably won’t be there on the day of the race.

Another classy performer is the Henry De Bromhead-trained Monty’s Star, an excellent fourth in the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup, and a staying-on fifth in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown in December before fading on the run-in back there last month. When in the mood, he is quite capable of holding his own in top graded company, so hailing from the yard that won this in 2021 with Minella Times he has to be worth considering at 20/1 each-way.

SPILLANE’S TOWER (pictured above), trained by Jimmy Mangan who famously won this race back in 2003 with Monty’s Pass, was a serious candidate for this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup until being a late non runner due to the faster than ideal conditions. Winner of the 2024 Champion Novice Chase over three miles at Punchestown, he has always been a good horse but hasn’t always been the most consistent.

After a couple of spins over hurdles earlier this season to sharpen him up, the 8yo was impressive when beating the smart L’Homme Presse in the Grade 2 Betfair Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January and looks the right type for Aintree, especially given the high regard in which he is held by a talented trainer who has been there and done it all before. SPILLANE’S TOWER is currently a tempting 33/1 each-way.

BIG ODDS OUTSIDERS: Close to the top of the list of best value long shots in the race is a horse who has pulled up on each of his last two starts. Mr Vango (Sara Bradstock) was in great form last season, winning the Grade 3 Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock prior to galloping the opposition into the ground in the 4m2f Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter last March. He began this term with a tremendous effort on his first start over the National fences, finishing a short-head second to the gallant Twig in the Becher Chase over 3m2f at Aintree in December, but since then things haven’t gone his way. If back on song, and ideally with as much give in the ground as possible, he could give a really bold sight over these fences so 80/1 each-way looks a big price.

Currently No.39 in the start list – and only 34 will get a run – Gordon Elliott’s Pied Piper was noted travelling strongly in the 3m5f Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival a few weeks ago when he fell at the 21st fence. He was running well the time before in the red-hot Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park in January when he fell three out when still not out of it, and is usually a sound jumper. With a low weight on his back and able to act on most ground, this one-time useful hurdler at 2m-2m4f has begun to shape like a proper stayer in recent starts, so current 100/1 odds might underestimate his each-way chance if he puts in a clear round this time.

Philip Hobbs & Johnson White’s IMPERIAL SAINT (pictured above) is currently number 40 in the handicap so will need six horses above him in the weights to come out in order to be guaranteed a run. He is an outsider with a really decent chance of springing a surprise granted better luck-in-running than he endured at the Cheltenham Festival a few weeks’ ago where he was very badly hampered and almost brought to a standstill by a faller soon after halfway in the Ultima Handicap Chase. Jockey Callum Pritchard would have been well within his rights to pull up after that, but instead he continued and was rewarded by an eye-catching run from the Minehead-based gelding who stayed on strongly from two out to pass many horses, eventually finishing eighth of 22 behind Johnnywho. I believe he might have gone close to winning had he not been so badly inconvenienced at a crucial stage of the race.

The Liverpool air seems to agree with this useful 8yo who won two good handicap chases at the Mildmay track in the first half of the 2024/25 season then was a fine second off a mark of 144 in last April’s William Hill Handicap Chase over 3m1f at the National meeting, staying on well from two out. He probably needed the run first time back at Aintree in November when fifth to Hitman in the Grade 2 Old Roan Chase, then won the prestigious Peter Marsh Handicap Chase over the extended 3m1f at Haydock in January to confirm his well being, prior to his unlucky Cheltenham run. Shaping as though he will stay further, IMPERIAL SAINT looks good value at 100/1 each-way.

Paul Alster has broadcast and reported on the British racing industry for four decades as a commentator, journalist, TV and radio presenter, betting correspondent, SP Returner, tipster and form analyst, among other things.