Big-race tips: why this horse can win the 2022 Grand National

The Randox Grand National (5.15 Saturday) is almost here and anticipation is ramping up for the richest and most famous jumps race in the world. Here, we outline the chances of five runners bidding to write their names into the history books . . .

5.15 Aintree Saturday: Randox Grand National racecard and betting

Any Second Now

By Keith Melrose, betting editor

He was favourite and he should still be favourite. The rush of the Grand National, which nowadays means looking down the card and seeing interesting horse after interesting horse, means that others shorten and forgotten horses plunge as race time looms.

It becomes easy to forget the power Any Second Now holds. Would he have won last year but for being virtually stopped to a walk before halfway? It is slightly more likely than not, to my mind. He is definitely a better horse this year, as his win in a major trial six weeks ago attests. Any Second Now was not even fully wound up for the Bobbyjo, so he can be backed in the expectation that there is even better to come. All he needs is a bit more luck.

Fiddlerontheroof

By Robbie Wilders, tipster

The National isn't the stamina test it once was and in recent years several horses have hit the frame despite lacking form over marathon trips previously.

Minella Times, Balko Des Flos and Any Second Now filled the first three places last season despite boasting high-class form over two and a half miles. Fiddlerontheroof is a similar type and I think he can follow suit.

2022 Grand National at Aintree: the runners, the odds, the verdict

Campaigned sparingly in order to preserve a decent handicap mark of 155, Fiddlerontheroof appeals as one of the likeliest in the field to have half a stone in hand.

The Gold Cup was mentioned as a possible prep, but I like the fact he sidestepped that to remain fresh for the National. The Tizzards' patient approach can pay dividends.

De Rasher Counter

By Owen Goulding, reporter

Emma Lavelle has been very bullish about the chances of De Rasher Counter and he is the horse who interests me most in this year's National.

De Rasher Counter: 2019 Ladbrokes Trophy winner could run a huge raceCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

He has been very lightly raced since winning the 2019 Ladbrokes Trophy and was returning from a tendon injury when fourth in a Newbury Grade 2 in February.

His first start for 489 days, he ran well for a long way before the lack of a run told, suggesting the vast majority of his ability remains. He races off the same mark as he did when landing the Ladbrokes Trophy and provided he takes to the National fences, he has an excellent chance.

Escaria Ten

By James Stevens, reporter

As I was in December, I am still firmly in the Escaria Ten camp. The price may not be as juicy as it was when he missed the Becher Chase, and the plan to get here had to be altered, but he is the type of horse I love for the National.

Mostly because he has a record of being a pretty solid jumper and traveller in good quality races – you only need to go back to his National Hunt Chase third behind Galvin and Next Destination in 2021 to see that. They had too much speed for him in the crucial part of the race, as did Any Second Now in the Bobbyjo, but he looks one that will improve masses for the stamina test, and if he gets into his rhythm he could well be cruising after four miles.

Racing Post tipsters predict the first four home in the Grand National

Those two bits of form (and the fact he finished a fair way clear of Snow Leopardess at Cheltenham) are also solid evidence he could be well handicapped off 152 and a weight of 11st 1lb looks just fine. He has form on all ground and the season has been mapped out to have him right for this so everything is primed for a big run.

Kildisart

By Charlie Huggins, reporter

Kildisart ticks plenty of boxes for me in that he is versatile ground-wise, and has experience of running well in large-field handicaps including when winning an 18-runner affair on the Mildmay course in 2019 and finishing a neck second in the 2020 Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival.

Kildisart (green): a winner at the Grand National meeting in 2019Credit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

The Ben Pauling-trained ten-year-old is able to compete off the same mark of 148 as he did when scoring at this meeting three years ago and should relish this step up in trip, having made a pleasing return from a 462-day absence from the track at Newbury last month.

The fact that Simon Munir and Isaac Souede's retained rider Daryl Jacob was torn between Kildisart and his eventual mount Good Boy Bobby is a strong indication of the former's realistic chances and Welsh National-winning jockey James Bowen is a more than capable deputy, especially given that he has already ridden a winner over the National fences this season – Mac Tottie in the Grand Sefton back in November.

2022 Grand National festival offers

• Join Paddy Power and back one horse and get another one free – plus they are paying six places on the Grand National. Sign up here.
• Sky Bet are paying an industry-leading seven places on the Grand National. Anyone with an account can claim these, but sign up here if you don't have an account.
• New Betfair customers can get a free bet when they sign up and also get six places on the Grand National. Sign up for a new account here.
• Ladbrokes are going six places on the Grand National. Sign up for a new account here.
• Coral are paying six places on the Grand National. Not got an account? Sign up here to benefit from the extra places here.
• bet365 have a new customer offer available when you sign up to a new account. You can also claim six places on the Grand National. Get started here.
• New William Hill customers can claim a free bet for Sunday if they bet on Saturday and also get six places on the Grand National here.
• 888 Sport have free bets for all new customers. Sign up here. New and existing customers can get six places on the Grand National.
• If you're a new customer, Tote will give you a free bet. Sign up here to claim and bet on the Grand National.

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