With the announcement of the Randox Health Grand National weights earlier this week, several leading candidates aim to enhance their claims in the Unibet Hill Grand National Trial at Haydock this weekend.
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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. There are 22 fences to be jumped and it’s nearly always a searching test of stamina. This year’s field numbers 11 and that’s about par for the course.
Grand National Trial Recent Winners
Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Age | Weight | Price | H’cap Mark | |
2007 | Heltornic | Tom Scudamore | M Scudamore | 7 | 10-0 | 12/1 | 124 | |
2008 | Miko De Beau’ | Andrew Thornton | R H & S Alner | 8 | 11-12 | 17/2 | 144 | |
2009 | Rambling Minster | James Reveley | Keith Reveley | 11 | 11-0 | 18/1 | 143 | |
2010 | Silver By Nature | Peter Buchanan | Lucinda Russell | 8 | 10-11 | 7/1 | 143 | |
2011 | Silver By Nature | Peter Buchanan | Lucinda Russell | 9 | 11-12 | 10/1 | 149 | |
2012 | Giles Cross | Denis O’Regan | Victor Dartnall | 10 | 10-5 | 4/1 | 138 | |
2013 | Well Refreshed | Joshua Moore | Gary Moore | 9 | 10-0 | 9/2 | 129 | |
2014 |
Rigadin De Beau’
|
Robert Dunne | Venetia Williams | 9 | 10-5 | 16/1 | 131 | |
2015 | Lie Forrit | Peter Buchanan | Lucinda Russell | 11 | 11-6 | 8/1 | 139 | |
2016 | Bishops Road | Richard Johnson | Kerry Lee | 8 | 11-7 | 13/2 | 144 | |
2017 | Vieux Lion Rouge | Tom Scudamore | David Pipe | 8 | 11-6 | 8/1 | 146 | |
2018 | Yala Enki | Charlie Deutsch | Venetia Williams | 8 | 10-11 | 8/1 | 146 | |
2019 | Robinsfirth | Sean Bowen | Colin Tizzard | 8 | 11-4 | 8/1 | 148 |
- Carrying big weights hasn’t been a particular barrier to success in this race in the past with four of the last five winners carrying 11st 6lb or more.
- Most recent winners were placed at worst in their previous outing .
- It’s been an advantage to have winning form over at least 3m.
- Only one seven-year-old has won this since 2000 the last four winners have been aged eight.
Horse Racing Betting at Unibet
Best Odds for Unibet Grand National Trial
Lord Du Mesnil 5/1
Yala Enki and The Two Amigos6/1
Vintage Clouds and Elegant Escape 7/1
Geronimo 10/1
One For Arthur, Steely Addition and Ballyoptic 12/1
Pobbles Bay 20/1
Smooth Stepper 25/1
(Odds correct at 15.00 February 13)
Can the Welsh Grand National be the key race?
Several of this Saturday’s runners ran in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow in December.
Yala Enki fared best, finishing third, with The Two Amigos fifth, Elegant Escape sixth and Pobbles Bay eighth.
Paul Nicholls’ runner gained a morale-boosting victory at Taunton last month and won this very race in 2018. However, he was only fifth last year and, 12 months on, is a pound higher. Yale Enki is a best 6/1.
The Two Amigos is a thorough stayer who loves the mud and cam also be backed at 6/1 with Bet365.
Elegant Escape started favourite at Chepstow but usually makes at least one serious error and leaves himself with too much to do. He’s a stayer with a touch of class, however, and the 7/1 with the sponsors would be value if he managed to put in a clear round.
Can Clouds put in another Vintage performance?
Haydock specialist Vintage Clouds turned the Peter Marsh Chase into a procession last month but the handicapper took a dim view of that performance and raised him 11lb.
A best 7/1, the grey undoubtedly need to raise his game again this weekend and Peter Marsh third Geronimo (a best 10/1) is entitled to get much closer.
Lord set to rule again at Haydock
It is two wins from two runs at Haydock for LORD DU MESNIL and a further 10lb rise may not be able to halt the progress of the fast-improving novice, who is a general 5/1.
Richard Hobson’s seven-year-old has not looked back since opening his account over fences at Newcastle in November.
He was always going to make a better chaser than hurdler but his rapid improvement has started even experienced commentators and he certainly deserves a crack at a better company with the trip and ground in his favour again.
Best Of The Rest
Ballyoptic has faced some stiff tasks since winning the Charlie Hall at Wetherby in the autumn and is available at 12/1 while Steely Addition had little chance at the weights when last of four at Sandown in November and may have been saved for a spring campaign. He is also a best 12/1.