I'm a horse racing expert and these are my five top tips for the Grand National

Publish date: 2020-07-23

THE 2023 Randox Grand National is upon us and the great race, as ever, is wide-open.

Whether you're a huge racing fan or a once a year punter, we could all do with a little helping hand in finding the winner of the Aintree spectacular.

The Sun's racing writer Jack Keene has been picking his way through the field and has whittled the confirmed 40 runners down to a final five at a wide range of odds.

Most likely winner...

There is no doubt in my mind on this one - CORACH RAMBLER has an absolutely huge chance.

He successfully defended his crown in the fiercely competitive Ultima Handicap at the Cheltenham Festival last month, finishing with a wet sail from off the pace for the second straight year.

The manner of those victories up the stiff Cheltenham hill suggests he should have more than enough stamina for this race, which is a little over a mile further in distance.

When the weights were allotted for the Grand National in February he was given a handicap mark of 146, meaning he carries just 10st 5lb.

If the National was a regular handicap he would be running off 156 and carrying 10lb more - so he is well-in at the weights.

He is a solid jumper, goes on any ground and his trainer Lucinda Russell already has a National on her CV thanks to 2017 hero One For Arthur. There is plenty in his favour.


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Two with a chance at a juicy each-way price...

MR INCREDIBLE has his quirks - he has even refused to race on one occasion - but he also has a lot of talent.

He caught the eye when given a quiet ride to finish second in the Classic Chase at Warwick earlier this season, a race which has been a good National trial in the past.

And he ran a fine third in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham last month, keeping on nicely to hit the frame for all he wandered about slightly on the run-in.

It wouldn't surprise me if his legendary trainer Willie Mullins reaches for some first-time headgear on Saturday and he is very nicely weighted off a mark of 145.

Another in the middle of the pack who has a decent shout is THE BIG DOG.

It can be tempting to put a line through any runners with an 'F' as their most recent form figure, but his fall in the Irish Gold Cup was a pretty soft knuckle-on-landing job.

If you watch that race back he was still travelling strongly alongside Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs, no less, and earlier in the season he had put up career-best performances at Navan and Chepstow.

He is still improving as a 10-year-old and is a thorough stayer who should have the stamina for this 4m2f marathon.

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And a couple of lively longshots...

EVA'S OSKAR has some rock-solid staying handicap form to his name.

He won a big race at Cheltenham in December in gutsy fashion from the front and has followed that up with decent performances at Sandown and at Newcastle.

He ran a blinder in the 4m1f Eider at the latter course when he might have finished a bit closer than fourth after a couple of late mistakes.

The nine-year-old is an out-and-out galloper and should be up with the pace and out of trouble, so he could keep on into a place.

Another one at a massive price who could run well is DIOL KER.

He looked all over a Grand National horse when flying home for second in the big Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas - the exact same position filled by Minella Times in 2020, a few months before he won at Aintree.

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He had excuses when he flopped last time out as he was badly hampered by a faller midway through the race and his jockey took it easy after that.

The nine-year-old has improved for the fitting of blinkers and he gets in off a nice weight.

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