Last year’s RSA Chase winner Blaklion heads the weights for this Saturday’s Betfred Grand National Trial and trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies is on record as saying that the eight-year-old will head to Aintree if running up to expectations. Blaklion hasn’t won since his Cheltenham triumph but has been keeping good company and is only a best 9/2 at Haydock this weekend to enhance his claims in the big one at Aintree.
Grand National Trial History and Trends
First run in 1947, the Grand National Trial is a Grade 3 handicap chase for five-year-olds and upwards contested over 3m4f at Haydock. There are 22 fences to be jumped and it’s normally a searching test of stamina though, for the first time since 2008, the race this year is due to be run this year on ground that won’t be soft or heavy. This year’s field numbers 14 and that’s bang on the average entry over the past decade.
Blaklion and Wakanda, too big at 16/1 with Bet365 and ahead of the former on slightly better terms when second in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby, carry big weights but that hasn’t been a particular barrier to success in this race in the recent past though both, along with Houblon Des Obeaux (a best 14/1), are above the normal cut-off as regards official ratings. Most recent winners were at least placed in their previous outing with six having won their previous start – winning form over at least 3m is also a good pointer. Only one seven-year-old has won this since 2000, which is bad news for Aqalim, Cresswell Breeze and Vintage Clouds.
Several are short-listed in this year’s renewal with the in-form Kruzhlinin (7/1 with Bet365) much respected as he won over 3m on heavy going at Haydock in November. Goodtoknow was second in the Classic Chase at Warwick before winning with plenty in hand at Hereford and only has a 5lb penalty. He is a stand-out 9/1 with Coral while Vieux Lion Rouge can be backed at 7/1 to add to his victory in the Becher Chase. He will definitely back at Aintree in April having finished seventh in the Grand National last year.
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TOUR DES CHAMPS, representing first-season trainer Sam Drinkwater, could be the value this weekend at a general 14/1. He may have been a 50/1 chance when beating Doctor Harper and Warrantor at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day but there is no reason to question the merit of that form. He does appear to go well fresh but has won a Sussex National and been placed in a Scottish National so staying is his game and he should play a leading part in what looks a wide-open handicap.
Betfred Grand National Trial Current Best Odds
Blaklion (9/2), Vieux Lion Rouge and Kruzhlinin (7/1), Goodtoknow and Vintage Clouds (9/1), Gas Line Boy, Houblon Des Obeaux and Tour Des Champs (14/1), Doctor Harper and Wakanda (16/1), Vicente, Cresswell Breeze and Warrantor (20/1), Aqalim (50/1)
