Verdict

ANY SECOND NOW, who won this in 2021, tackles this before attempting to go one better than last year's brilliant Grand National run. He had a run over hurdles to blow the cobwebs away in December before finding the Irish Gold Cup, won by Galopin Des Champs, beyond him at Leopardstown but should be able to cope with this class. Busselton is a smart handicapper as he showed when landing the Kerry National but the very smart hurdler Darver Star hasn't run over fences since November 2021, though had finished second in a Grade 1 novices' chase the previous year. Velvet Elvis bounced back to form at Fairyhouse and is in the National but Max Flamingo's overall form over fences leaves him with a bit to find.

Formwatch

Any Second Now (IRE) 22-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, pushed along 4 out, in touch in rear when slightly hampered 2 out, moderate 6th and ridden before last, kept on without threatening run-in, 4th close home, 4th of 7, 14 3/4l behind Galopin Des Champs (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Feb.

Busselton (FR) 15-2 (11-3) Slight lead until 5th, pressed leader, distracted by loose horse 8th, led again 4 out until 3 out, lost 2nd soon after, weakened between last two, 5th of 15, 16 1/2l behind Le Milos (11-0) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gd in Nov.

Darver Star (IRE) 22-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, not fluent in 2nd at 5th, closed 4 out, led 3 out, headed and weakened quickly before 2 out, tailed off, 7th of 8, dist behind Teahupoo (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec.

Max Flamingo (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Mid-division, not fluent 1st and 2nd, 9th 2 out, soon ridden, 6th when mistake at last and hampered, weakened run-in, 13th of 17, 14 1/4l behind Perceval Legallois (10-12) at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Feb.

Velvet Elvis (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Led and disputed, definite advantage 5 out, extended lead to 2 lengths after 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on well from last, won at Fairyhouse 3m Yielding in Feb beating Minella Crooner (11-7) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.