With the announcement of the Randox Health Grand National weights earlier this week, several leading candidates aim to enhance their claims in the William Hill Grand National Trial at Haydock this weekend. The weights are headed by last year’s winner Yala Enki.
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 16 and that’s a little more than the average entry over the past decade.
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 Beauchene | 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 2F | 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 F | 138 | |
| 2013 | Well Refreshed | Joshua Moore | Gary Moore | 9 | 10-0 | 9/2 F | 129 | |
| 2014 |
Rigadin De Beauchene
|
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 |
- Carrying big weights hasn’t been a particular barrier to success in this race in the past with three of the last four winners carrying 11st6lb or more.
- Most recent winners were placed at worst in their previous outing with six having won their previous start.
- It’s been an advantage to have winning form over at least 3m.
- Only one seven-year-old has won this since 2000.
A repeat performance from Yala Enki (a general 8/1) is certainly not of the question as he ran a blinder from the front when third in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow. He did finish four lengths behind runner-up Ramses De Teillee (13/2 with William Hill) but is 3lb better off and there shouldn’t be much between the pair again.
Ballyoptic (16/1 with the sponsors) was sixth that day and VIEUX LION ROUGE pulled up but that was an uncharacteristic failure from the latter, who had run very well in the Becher Chase at Aintree a couple of weeks earlier. Maybe that last run came too soon and it’s significant that Tom Scudamore sticks with the 10-year-old rather than switching to Ramses De Teillee. His mount won this very race two years ago racing off the same mark so the general 14/1 looks a decent each-way bet as there will be place betting on four places if all stand their ground.
This year’s contest is an absolute cracker, however, as it features four of the first five in the Grade 2 Peter Marsh Chase, run here last month. Wakanda (a best 9/1 with Coral), Robinsfirth (a general 8/1), Ballyarthur (a best 16/1) and Red Infantry (a best 14/1) locks horns again and are joined by recent Taunton scorer Royal Vacation (11/1 in places) and Warwick’s Classic Chase winner Impulsive Star (a general 9/1). Fast-improving stayer The Two Amigos adds to the interest and can be backed at 14/1 with Unibet.
William Hill Grand National Trial Current Best Odds
Ramses De Teillee 13/2, Robinsfirth and Yala Enki 8/1, Impulsive Star and Wakanda 9/1, Royal Vacation 11/1, Red Infantry, Vieux Lion Rouge and The Two Amigos 14/1, Ballyarthur, Ballyoptic and Carole’s Destrier 16/1, Chef D’Oeuvre and Ah Littleluck 20/1, Pobbles Bay 25/1, Bishops Road 33/1
(Odds correct at 4.00pm February 14)
