Saturday 8 April 2017 17:15, UK
Our own racing expert Alex Hammond looks at every runner in this year's Grand National field and makes her selection.
THE LAST SAMURI (trainer Kim Bailey): Second to Rule The World in last year's race and now 12lb higher in the ratings. Tough, consistent and could well run into a place again.
MORE OF THAT (trainer Jonjo O'Neill): The pick of Barry Geraghty for JP McManus. Finished sixth behind Sizing John in Gold Cup. On that running, he is well handicapped here.
SHANTOU FLYER (trainer Rebecca Curtis): Decent runs since joining trainer from Ireland. Second to Cue Card in Ascot Chase latest and been kept fresh for this since.
PERFECT CANDIDATE (trainer Fergal O'Brien): This will be his first run over the National fences. Won a Veterans' Chase at Exeter last time, but only just old enough to run in that sphere. Trainer spent 16 years as head lad to Nigel Twiston-Davies and has trained Alvarado to be fourth twice in the National.
SAPHIR DU RHEU (trainer Paul Nicholls): First string for the championship-chasing trainer and the mount of Sam Twiston-Davies. He's 6lb 'well in' after his Gold Cup effort (fifth) but some doubt about his jumping ability over these fences.
ROI DES FRANCS (trainer Gordon Elliott): Elliott saddled Silver Birch to win the National 10 years ago when he was just 29 years old. Won at Down Royal last time out and the mount of teenage sensation Jack Kennedy.
WOUNDED WARRIOR (trainer Noel Meade): Pulled up in the Bobbyjo Chase last time out when wearing first-time blinkers.
WONDERFUL CHARM (trainer Paul Nicholls): This would be one of the the most famous stories of the great race if Katie Walsh becomes the first female jockey to win the race. Winner of the Foxhunter at the Cheltenham Festival but may not be good enough here.
TENOR NIVERNAIS (trainer Venetia Williams): Mon Mome was this trainer's 2009 National winner at 100/1. Well-beaten second in Premier Chase at Kelso last time when losing a shoe.
BLAKLION (trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies): Beaten by Vieux Lion Rouge in National Trial at Haydock and now 4lb well in i.e. the handicapper would give him another 4lb on his back if he was given the chance to reassess him. He had top weight that day and must have a good chance of reversing the form with the winner. Twiston-Davies has won the race twice with Earth Summit (1998) and Bindaree (2002). 42-year-old jockey Noel Fehily is riding as well as ever and replaces the injured Ryan Hatch.
DROP OUT JOE (trainer Charlie Longsdon): Off since June when winning at Uttoxeter and will enjoy underfoot conditions but a big price to win this.
LE MERCUREY (trainer Paul Nicholls): The last seven-year-old to win the race was Bogskar in 1940. Sean Bowen takes the ride and has ridden in the race twice in the past. Apparently this horse doesn't like to be crowded, which doesn't bode well in a National! Has some decent form though, including finishing runner-up to Many Clouds and Native River in the past.
THE YOUNG MASTER (trainer Neil Mulholland): Sam Waley-Cohen rides and is an amateur with a great record over the big fences. He has won six times over them and was second in 2011 National on Oscar Time. This horse fell at the second-last here in the Becher Chase in December when beaten.
CAUSE OF CAUSES (trainer Gordon Elliott): Only the fifth horse to win three different chases at Cheltenham Festival - the NH Chase, the Kim Muir and the cross-country race. Ridden to each win by amateur Jamie Codd who is on board again. Eighth to Many Clouds on only run in this race. Bred to be a star on the Flat, he's closely related to 2003 Derby winner Kris Kin. Rejected by Barry Geraghty.
REGAL ENCORE (trainer Anthony Honeyball): Completion rate not great, but poor runs interspersed with some decent form. Can make jumping errors.
VIEUX LION ROUGE (trainer David Pipe): Officially 6lb well in after winning Haydock National Trial after weights were published. Seventh in this race last year. Only unseated his rider once in his 21 starts.
DEFINITLY RED (trainer Brian Ellison): Another famous 'Red' after Red Rum and Red Maurauder who both managed to win the National. No less than 10lb well in after an easy win in Doncaster's Grimthorpe Chase. Won 10 of his 19 starts and very well backed for this race.
UCELLO CONTI (trainer Gordon Elliott): Sixth in last year's race. Hasn't won a race for this trainer since joining him in 2015 in nine starts, but strong chance of finishing in the first five this year. He's a half brother to Silviniaco Conti.
DOUBLE SHUFFLE (trainer Tom George): His age is against him if the statistics are to believed, nor has he ever yet run beyond three miles. Trainer also has Saint Are in the race. First Grand National ride for Adrian Heskin.
HOUBLON DES OBEAUX (trainer Venetia Williams): Stays well, but having first run over these fences.
PLEASANT COMPANY (trainer Willie Mullins): Only run six times over fences and had just 13 starts overall. Beat Thunder And Roses in Bobbyjo Chase in February (a recognised trial for Aintree). Didn't enjoy heavy ground there, so Aintree conditions will suit. Mullins won the race with Hedgehunter in 2005 and great chance of winning it again.
ONE FOR ARTHUR (trainer Lucinda Russell): Only one Scottish-trainedwinner of the race in the past; that was Rubstic in 1979. Won the Classic Chase at Warwick on latest outing in January. Goes well fresh.
BALLYNAGOUR (trainer David Pipe): Failed to complete last three starts. Unseated his rider in the race last year. Has broken blood vessels.
O'FAIOLAINS BOY (trainer Rebecca Curtis): Grade One-winning novice chaser (RSA Chase). Pulled up last twice.
HIGHLAND LODGE (trainer Jimmy Moffatt): Recently bought by Mrs Patricia Thompson (owner of Party Politics). She has tried to win the race twice since with last-minute purchases, without success. Second in Becher to Vieux Lion Rouge. Missed the cut last year and has been kept fresh for the race.
BISHOPS ROAD (trainer Kerry Lee): Third to Bristol De Mai in Peter Marsh on latest start. Unseated at first in Topham last year. Won Haydock's National Trial last year and latest run his best effort since but ground not soft enough here.
LORD WINDERMERE (trainer Jim Culloty): Gold Cup winner in 2014. Hasn't won since. Pulled up when top weight in this last year. Good jockey booking in Leighton Aspell who has won this twice before.
SAINT ARE (trainer Tom George): Run in this race three times, finishing runner-up to Many Clouds in 2015. Only fallen once over these fences in six starts in the Becher last December - departed at the first. Ran a cracker in a Veterans' Chase at Doncaster since and should be a good ride for Davy Russell.
VICENTE (trainer Paul Nicholls): Another runner with a new owner as Trevor Hemmings bought him in March. Won the 2016 Scottish National off a slightly higher handicap rating. Hedgehunter, Ballabriggs and Many Clouds Hemmings' three previous National winners. Only four owners have won the race three times.
JUST A PAR (trainer Paul Nicholls): Finished a distant 15th in last year's race. Should be a safe conveyance as he's never fallen or unseated his rider.
MEASUREOFMYDREAMS (trainer Noel Meade): Well beaten in Ultima Handicap Chase latest. Had two runs for Meade having been taken away from Willie Mullins and some good judges fancy him to run well at a big price.
RAZ DE MAREE (trainer Gavin Cromwell): Stayed on really well to be runner-up to Native River in the Welsh National. Good effort when you consider he lost a shoe. No youngster though as a 12-year-old.
STELLAR NOTION (trainer Henry de Bromhead): Ran a brave race to finish second in decent handicap at Leopardstown on last start. Had one try at three miles but never beyond.
ROGUE ANGEL (trainer Mouse Morris): Beaten a long way on only try over these fences in Becher in December. The pick of Bryan Cooper for last year's winning trainer.
COCKTAILS AT DAWN (trainer Nicky Henderson): Fallen over these fences before.
THUNDER AND ROSES (trainer Mouse Morris): Irish National winner when trained by Sandra Hughes. Not won since. Decent second to Pleasant Company in Bobbyjo Chase which gives him a chance here.
GAS LINE BOY (trainer Ian Williams): Fell at the first in 2015 when trained by Philip Hobbs.
GOODTOKNOW (trainer Kerry Lee): Versatile ground wise, but disappointed at Haydock last time out.
LA VATICANE (trainer David Pipe): I've lost far too much money on her and won't be chasing my losses here.
DOCTOR HARPER (trainer David Pipe): Creeps in at the bottom of the handicap and wears blinkers for the first time.
Alex Hammond's verdict:
1 Pleasant Company
2 Blaklion
3 Ucello Conti
4 Definitly Red
5 The Last Samuri
Remember Sky Bet are paying 5 places on each-way bets. Good luck!
