2021 Grand National: the runners, the odds, the verdict

Your guide to Saturday's Randox Grand National, the feature race on the final day of the Aintree meeting.

5.15 Aintree Saturday: Randox Grand National racecard and betting

1 Bristol De Mai

Three-time Betfair Chase winner, has lots of top-class form but carries top weight as a consequence.

Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies
Jockey: Daryl Jacob
Odds: 25-1

2 Chris's Dream

Second in a Down Royal Grade 1 in October but failed to fire since; will need to step up considerably.

Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
Jockey: Darragh O'Keeffe
Odds: 40-1

3 Yala Enki

Popular stayer and capable of running well; fell at the first on sole previous outing on National course.

Trainer: Paul Nicholls
Jockey: Bryony Frost
Odds: 40-1

4 Ballyoptic

Charlie Hall Chase winner and Scottish National second; form figures of FF0 on National course.

Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies
Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
Odds: 66-1

5 Definitly Red

Has to turn recent form around with Cloth Cap; pulled up in this in 2017 and fourth in Becher Chase in 2019.

Trainer: Brian Ellison
Jockey: Ryan Mania
Odds: 28-1

6 Lake View Lad

Another who has it to find with Cloth Cap on form, but won Many Clouds Chase here in December and champion jockey on board.

Trainer: Nick Alexander
Jockey: Brian Hughes
Odds: 50-1

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7 Burrows Saint

Irish Grand National winner in 2019 and conditions will be ideal. Lots to like about his chances.

Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Patrick Mullins
Odds: 9-1

8 Magic Of Light

Off 5lb higher than when second to Tiger Roll in this in 2019; has solid each-way claims.

Trainer: Jessica Harrington
Jockey: Robbie Power
Odds: 14-1

9 Acapella Bourgeois

Beat stablemate Burrows Saint in Bobbyjo Chase last time; could be suited by this unique test.

Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Danny Mullins
Odds: 20-1

10 Talkischeap

Won the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in 2019; light campaign this year with connections targeting this race.

Trainer: Alan King
Jockey: Tom Cannon
Odds: 33-1

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11 Tout Est Permis

Plenty of solid form but not won in 15 starts; career-best required on his first run at Aintree.

Trainer: Noel Meade
Jockey: Sean Flanagan
Odds: 100-1

12 Anibale Fly

Finished fourth and fifth in the last two runnings and is an intriguing contender off 9lb lower; makes appeal.

Trainer: Tony Martin
Jockey: Denis O'Regan
Odds: 28-1

13 Mister Malarky

Listed Silver Cup win at Ascot in December; encouraging return after wind operation last time; each-way contender.

Trainer: Colin Tizzard
Jockey: Jonjo O'Neill Jr
Odds: 12-1

14 Kimberlite Candy

Second in last two runnings of Becher Chase and won the Classic Chase at Warwick in between; obvious claims.

Trainer: Tom Lacey
Jockey: Richie McLernon
Odds: 20-1

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15 Any Second Now

2019 Kim Muir winner and career-best success on Racing Post Ratings in Grade 2 chase last time; leading contender.

Trainer: Ted Walsh
Jockey: Mark Walsh
Odds: 15-2

16 Balko Des Flos

Ryanair Chase winner in 2018 but way below that form this year; fences need to spark a revival.

Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
Jockey: Aidan Coleman
Odds: 100-1

17 Alpha Des Obeaux

Fell at The Chair in this in 2018 but third in Becher Chase in 2019; caught the eye when fourth in Cross Country Chase last time.

Trainer: Denise Foster
Jockey: Jody McGarvey
Odds: 80-1

18 Ok Corral

Won the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster last year but pulled up on sole start this season; massive step up required.

Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Jockey: Derek O'Connor
Odds: 80-1

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19 Takingrisks

Scottish National, Rehearsal and Sky Bet Chase winner; a big price but not to be underestimated.

Trainer: Nicky Richards
Jockey: Sean Quinlan
Odds: 14-1

20 Shattered Love

Talented mare who has held her form well this season; more required here on first start over National fences.

Trainer: Denise Foster
Jockey: Kevin Sexton
Odds: 33-1

21 Jett

A well-beaten eighth in this season's Becher Chase; failed to fire since and faces a stiff task.

Trainer: Jessica Harrington
Jockey: Sam Waley-Cohen
Odds: 80-1

22 Lord Du Mesnil

Trial winner at Haydock in February and has course experience over shorter trip; sounder surface is a question mark.

Trainer: Richard Hobson
Jockey: Nick Scholfield
Odds: 50-1

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23 Potters Corner

Welsh National hero in 2019 and this season has been tailored around a crack at this; interesting runner.

Trainer: Christian Williams
Jockey: Jack Tudor
Odds: 22-1

24 Class Conti

Solid campaigner who has plenty of good handicap chase form; could go well at a price on first visit to Aintree.

Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Brian Hayes
Odds: 66-1

25 Milan Native

2020 Kim Muir winner and second run after wind op; will need to jump better but could be in the mix if taking to the fences.

Trainer: Denise Foster
Jockey: Jamie Codd
Odds: 50-1

26 Discorama

Not won since November 2018; plenty of good efforts since but needs to bounce back after wind surgery.

Trainer: Paul Nolan
Jockey: Bryan Cooper
Odds: 20-1

27 Vieux Lion Rouge

Doesn't lack course experience with nine course starts and two Becher Chase wins; others likely to be better handicapped.

Trainer: David Pipe
Jockey: Conor O'Farrell
Odds: 66-1

28 Cloth Cap

Hot favourite and 14lb well in after latest Kelso win; first run at Aintree but the one to beat as he arrives at the top of his game.

Trainer: Jonjo O'Neill
Jockey: Tom Scudamore
Odds: 11-2 favourite

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29 Cabaret Queen

Munster and Kerry National winner in last two seasons; much more required here though.

Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Sean O'Keeffe
Odds: 80-1

30 Minellacelebration

Fine record on Mildmay course; unseated rider in Becher Chase in December and not troubled principals since; had a wind op.

Trainer: Katy Price
Jockey: Ben Poste
Odds: 80-1

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31 Canelo

Rowland Meyrick winner at Wetherby in December; progressive but needs a big career-best.

Trainer: Alan King
Jockey: Tom Bellamy
Odds: 66-1

32 The Long Mile

Two Grade B Handicap Chase wins to his name; has to turn around Bobbyjo Chase form with Burrows Saint and Acapella Bourgeois.

Trainer: Philip Dempsey
Jockey: Luke Dempsey
Odds: 66-1

33 Give Me A Copper

Inconsistent but talented chaser; good on his day but might lack the class for this.

Trainer: Paul Nicholls
Jockey: Sean Bowen
Odds: 33-1

34 Farclas

Second to The Shunter in the Plate and gets in off nice weight; open to improvement on eighth chase start and has a live shout.

Trainer: Denise Foster
Jockey: Jack Kennedy
Odds: 16-1

35 Minella Times

Ultra-progressive this season with a win and two seconds; fancied to go close for top trainer-jockey combination.

Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
Jockey: Rachael Blackmore
Odds: 11-1

36 Sub Lieutenant

Likeable veteran running for mother-and-daughter team; a big ask but did finish second in Topham in 2019.

Trainer: Georgie Howell
Jockey: Tabitha Worsley
Odds: 50-1

37 Hogan's Height

Clear winner of the Grand Sefton in 2019; lightly raced since but well beaten in Cross Country Chase last time.

Trainer: Jamie Snowden
Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
Odds: 100-1

38 Double Shuffle

Class horse on his day; conditions to suit but has to prove stamina for this marathon trip.

Trainer: Tom George
Jockey: Jonathan Burke
Odds: 66-1

39 Ami Desbois

Second on three of last four starts; this is another level though and he may be out of his depth.

Trainer: Graeme McPherson
Jockey: Kielan Woods
Odds: 100-1

40 Blaklion

Grand National fourth and Becher Chase winner in 2017; not won since and big improvement on recent efforts required.

Trainer: Dan Skelton
Jockey: Harry Skelton
Odds: 50-1

The verdict

Any Second Now was my idea of the 2020 Grand National winner and, if anything, I am even sweeter on his chances in 2021. He stayed on strongly to win the Kim Muir over 3m2f at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival, yet he had the natural pace to win a Grade 2 last time at Navan over 2m. He's a sound jumper, for whom this race has been the ultimate aim for years, and Ted Walsh knows what it takes to win it having done so with Papillon in 2000. He looks the best handicapped horse in the race to me.
David Jennings

5.15 Aintree Saturday: Randox Grand National racecard and betting

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