Corach Rambler won the 2023 Grand National at Aintree backing up its status as the 8/1 favourite.
Mister Coffey and Coko Beach led early on and throughout most of the thrilling race. But chaotic scenes early on saw a number of fallers, including Lifetime Ambition, who was taken out by a loose horse at fence 9.
However, Corach Rambler, ridden by Derek Fox and trained by Lucinda Russell took the lead from Mister Coffey over the final fence and kicked for home to record a memorable win.
The race had been delayed after protestors breached the Aintree racecourse fence and got on to the course. The Grand National attracted criticism from animal rights protestors in the build-up, with three arrests made in connection with potential co-ordinated disruption activities at Aintree, which became nine following the pre-race disruption
A look at all 40 runners: No. 15 - Lifetime Ambition
Form: 242343 / Official Rating: 158 / Weight: 11st 3lbs / Age: 8 / Jockey: S F O’Keeffe / Trainer: Mrs John Harrington
Blew away the cobwebs with a run over hurdles last time out in March (3rd) and has experience over these fences when a decent fourth in the Grand Sefton Chase here last November.
Is rated 7lbs higher this time though so more needed, but many feel he’s progressed since having run third to the now Cheltenham Gold Cup winner – Galopin Des Champs – to 14 ½ lengths at Punchestown in December.
Debut run in the National and would be the first winner in the race for Irish trainer Jessie Harrington.
Mike Jones15 April 2023 11:46
A look at all 40 runners: No. 14 - Our Power
Form: 135-11 / Official Rating: 141 / Weight: 10st / Age: 8 / Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies / Trainer: Sam Thomas
Won at Kempton in February when outbattling Flegmatik in the Coral Trophy Handicap (the Old Racing Post Chase).
That came off a 4-month break too, so can be expected to strip fitter this time. Would get in there with just 10st to carry having won 50% of his 8 chase runs certainly knows how to get his head in front.
First run in the race and represents the former Gold Cup winning jockey Sam Thomas. Not without an e/w chance of getting into the race and taking to the fences.
Mike Jones15 April 2023 11:43
A look at all 40 runners: No. 13 - Galvin
Form: 61462 / Official Rating: 166 / Weight: 11st 11lbs / Age: 9 / Jockey: D N Russell / Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Useful staying chaser that was fourth in the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup and was last seen running second in the Cross Country Chase to his stablemate Delta Work.
Has won over 3m6f in the past too, so stamina will be fine in what will be his first try in this race.
Another of those with a big weight though (11-11), so would be needing to defy some hefty weight stats to win, but is classy on his day and could easily hunt round the first part of the race and pick them off in the closing circuit. Chance, but a big weight burden makes life hard.
Mike Jones15 April 2023 11:40
A look at all 40 runners: No. 12 - Vanillier
Form: -636F2 / Official Rating: 147 / Weight: 10st 6lbs / Age: 8 / Jockey: S W Flanagan / Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
Interesting Irish runner from the Gavin Cromwell yard. Has a lovely racing weight (10-6) to carry and should be spot-on for this after a close second to the useful Kemboy in the Bobby Jo Chase last time out at Fairyhouse.
Maybe, however, a bit to prove over this trip after weakening aver 3m6f in the NH Plate at Cheltenham last season, but is only 8 and could have more to come.
Fell last time out in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown – so coming into the National, a race where jumping is key, off the back of a defeat isn’t ideal.
That said, is a useful staying chaser and prior to that tumble this 10 year-old was a fine third in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow.
Might also want the ground to have some degree of ‘soft’ in it to have a better chance, plus the 70-day absence from the track isn’t ideal with 77% of the last 31 winners having run within the last 34 days.
Mike Jones15 April 2023 11:34
A look at all 40 runners: No. 10 - Capodanno
Form: 2U4-13 / Official Rating: 160 / Weight: 11st 5lbs / Age: 7 / Jockey: D E Mullins / Trainer: Willie Mullins
Another from the Willie Mullins yard and owned by JP McManus. Still only a 7 year-old, so would have this stat against him and has only run 6 times over fences (2 wins).
Has shown that he’s certainly going the right way though and was a Grade One Novice Chase winner at the Punchestown Festival last April.
Overall, a promising sort that has time on his side, but his lack of experience and big weight (11-5) you feel are hurdles that would be against him.
Fancied to run well in the race 12 months ago and did run a fair race to be 6th. However, was beaten 34 lengths at the line by the winner Noble Yeats so has a fair bit of ground to make up.
Getting in here off the same mark as last year and another year older and wiser at 9 will help. Last seen winning at Down Royal in March, so heads here in winning form and his experience of the National fences will be a plus.
Ground to make up but will carry 4lbs less than last year which helps. Place claims for this Irish raider.
Mike Jones15 April 2023 11:28
A look at all 40 runners: No. 8 - Le Milos
Form: 14-112 / Official Rating: 152 / Weight: 10st 11lbs / Age: 8 / Jockey: Harry Skelton / Trainer: Dan Skelton
Has an exciting profile, with a nice weight at 10-11 and aged just 8. Moved to the Dan Skelton yard (from Tim Vaughan) last year and has done well to win two of his three starts for his new yard.
Won the Coral Gold Cup back in November and was a close runner-up in the Premier Chase at Kelso in March. Should be spot-on for this and despite yet to race beyond 3m2f, looks the sort to relish the test.
First run in the race and would be looking to give his trainer Dan Skelton a first National win. Live chance if taking to the fences.
Mike Jones15 April 2023 11:25
A look at all 40 runners: No. 7 - Mr Incredible
Form: RP-B23 / Official Rating: 145 / Weight: 10st 4lbs / Age: 7 / Jockey: B Hayes / Trainer: Willie Mullins
From the powerful Willie Mullins yard, whose only win in the National to date came in 2005 with Hedgehunter. Last seen running a fair third in the Kim Muir Chase at the Cheltenham Festival – staying on to be just 5¾ lengths back.
Lightly-raced with just seven career runs, so should have more to come, and the longer trip looks a plus.
However, despite a 7 year-old winning last year, that was the first horse of that age to take the National since 1940 – so, this is still a big stat for him to overcome. On a plus, would only have 10-4 if getting into the race.
Mike Jones15 April 2023 11:22
A look at all 40 runners: No. 6 - Any Second Now
Form: 12-241 / Official Rating: 167 / Weight: 11st 12lbs / Age: 11 / Jockey: M P Walsh / Trainer: Ted Walsh
This 11 year-old will be having his third run in the race, having finished third in 2021 and runner-up 12 months ago.
However, this JP McManus runner is not getting any younger at 11 and is also rated 8lbs higher this year. He’ll also have a big weight of 11-12 to carry – 4lbs more than 12 months ago.
The positives are that he’s still loving his racing – winning well at Navan recently, which will set him up for another big run in a race we know he loves.
Would be looking to give owner JP McManus his third Grand National win, after taking the prize in 2010 with Don’t Push It and 2021 with Minella Times.
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