'She's entitled to be the price she is' - Coleman excited by Snow Leopardess

Saturday: 5.15 Aintree
Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Grade 3) | 4m2½f | 7yo+ | ITV/RTV

Aidan Coleman has experienced his fair share of Grand National heartache through the years, but he may have landed on his best chance yet to win the world's most famous race with mare-of-the-moment Snow Leopardess.

Saturday's big-race ride will be the 33-year-old's 14th attempt at plundering the £1 million prize. He moved closer to the target than ever before when runner-up on 100-1 shot Balko Des Flos last year, having previously failed to complete on nine occasions.

One of those non-completions came in 2015 when The Druids Nephew cruelly slithered on landing five out, having traded at 2-1 in running moments before. Early in his career, Coleman opted against riding Mon Mome when the much-missed Liam Treadwell steered him to Aintree glory at 100-1 in 2009.

This time Coleman has the plum ride on Snow Leopardess, who would be an extremely popular winner given the amazing story of her return to the track after giving birth to a foal.

Snow Leopardess (nearest camera) just denies Hill Sixteen in the Becher Chase at AintreeCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The County Cork native is adamant the Becher Chase heroine deserves her place at the head of the market, regardless of any sentimental support owing to her backstory.

Coleman said: "I've had a good week and she's a super ride to have, isn't she? I'd prefer a bit more rain but she's fine on the ground. Rain would just help to slow the pace down.

"Her form alone is enough for her to be the price she is. I suppose her backstory for a race like the Grand National – the people's race – means some will go for her on the basis of her background rather than strictly on form; the fact that she's grey, a mare, a mum.

"But on form alone she's in there with as good a chance as any of those towards the top of the betting. The value might go if you're having a bet because of the £2 each-ways, fivers and tenners due to who she is, but there's not many more you'd want to be on – even if she was a bay gelding with a boring background."

If Snow Leopardess gallops into Aintree history, it would be a most fitting way for Coleman to exorcise the ghosts of Nationals past.

However, he is in no way bitter over missing out on Mon Mome's remarkable triumph 13 years ago.

That occasion proved the crowning moment of Treadwell's racing career before his tragic death in June 2020.

"I'm becoming a veteran now as it's my 14th ride in the race," quipped Coleman.

"Mon Mome was my first ride in the race in 2008 [when finishing tenth] and I got off him the year after when Liam was on him. At the time it was a disaster but the right man won on the day.

"When you miss a National winner it can feel a bit like a skeleton in the closet, but Liam was a very good friend of mine and when we lost him everything about that National was forgotten. The right man won the National."

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

'He's got a lot of class' – Delta Work the top pick of Elliott and O'Leary

Tiger Roll is an irreplaceable figure for Gigginstown House Stud and Gordon Elliott, but Delta Work announced himself as the heir apparent for the same connections at last month's Cheltenham Festival.

In dethroning Tiger Roll on what would be the dual Grand National winner's final start in the Cross-Country Chase, Delta Work emerged as an ideal candidate for the Aintree test.

He possesses more top-level form than the vast majority of the field, having won five Grade 1s, and has been described by Elliott as the pick of his squad.

Jack Kennedy, who delivered Delta Work beautifully to spoil a winning swansong for Tiger Roll just over three weeks ago, seems to get a tune from the nine-year-old that few others can, and he is relishing the chance to bag a first Grand National win.

"He's got a lot of class," said the Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning rider, who doesn't turn 23 until later this month.

"You need a lot of luck in the National but hopefully he's got a good chance. He took to the fences so well in the Cross-Country last time, you'd swear he'd been doing it all his life.

"If he can produce another round of jumping like that, hopefully he'll run a nice race."

Gigginstown are set to be represented by five candidates and racing manager Eddie O'Leary ranks the 2020 Irish Gold Cup hero as the best of the team.

O'Leary said: "Delta Work is the top one of ours but he might prefer the ground a little softer. Run Wild Fred will love the ground but will need to settle a little better than he did at Cheltenham.

"Samcro has always been a very good horse but he's had a lot of health issues. Coko Beach and Death Duty would probably like it a little softer as well."

Pinstickers' guide: quotes and ratings for every horse in the National

Blackmore and Minella Times out to join the greats in difficult repeat bid

It says plenty about the task last year's winner Minella Times is facing that Red Rum and Tiger Roll are the only horses in the modern era to win back-to-back Grand Nationals.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained nine-year-old hasn't been at his best in two starts this season, taking a heavy fall when struggling in the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase before being pulled up in a Dublin Racing Festival handicap chase last month.

However, his all-conquering trainer believes Rachael Blackmore's mount is on the comeback trail.

Minella Times: history-making success for Rachael Blackmore in last year's NationalCredit: Edward Whitaker

A much-improved display will be required considering he won the race while carrying 10st 3lb (rated 146) last year, while this time he must concede weight to all rivals off 11st 10lb (rated 161).

"Minella Times has been a little bit disappointing this season but it seems as though he's in good form," said De Bromhead.

"We think he's coming back and hopefully we can get a bit of luck."

De Bromhead also supplied the runner-up 12 months ago with Balko Des Flos, who had failed to complete in the Cross-Country at Cheltenham before heading to Aintree.

This year his second representative is 2019 Kerry National winner Poker Party, who was pulled up behind Delta Work in the same race last month.

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O'Keeffe: Longhouse Poet can run a very big race with a bit of luck

Ted Walsh and Martin Brassil know exactly what it takes to win the Randox Grand National, having scored with Papillon (2000) and Numbersixvalverde (2006) respectively, and the Kildare trainers could hold the key to this year's running.

Brassil and jockey Darragh O'Keeffe believe Thyestes Handicap Chase winner Longhouse Poet has the tools required to play a significant role on his first attempt over the famous Grand National fences.

O'Keeffe will be hoping for better luck than last year when his mount Chris's Dream unseated at the fourth-last, having looked a live contender at the time.

"Martin and everyone at home are delighted with him. He looks terrific," said O'Keeffe.

"Martin knows how to get one ready for the Grand National and I'm delighted to be riding one with a live chance."

O'Keeffe, who turned 22 last month, added: "The form of his Thyestes win has been working out well. I think the fences will suit him, he's already got the experience of a big-field handicap and if he gets a bit of luck I think he can run a very big race."

Any Second Now did well to survive being badly hampered at the 12th last year before rallying gallantly to finish third.

Despite being rated 7lb higher this time, he looks to have an ideal profile to go two places better after a winning prep run in the Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase in February.

Walsh said: "He's travelled over well. I think he's as well as I can have him. The ground wouldn't bother me with him. He's got a few pounds more than he did last year but he's in good form."

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Doyle hoping 150-1 Irish National hero can cause similar upset

Freewheelin Dylan entered the history books as the biggest-priced winner of the Irish Grand National last year at 150-1 and a tilt at the Aintree feature has been his target ever since.

Trained by Dermot McLoughlin, who came close to pulling off a similar upset in the 2016 Grand National when Vics Canvas finished third at 100-1, the front-running stayer has the potential to outrun his price if getting into a good rhythm early.

Freewheelin Dylan: chasing another big win after last year's 150-1 upset in the Irish Grand NationalCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Jockey Ricky Doyle said: "It'd be great if history could repeat itself from last year at Fairyhouse. It's my first ride in the National and he was my first ride in an Irish Grand National. I'm really looking forward to him.

"He stays and jumps well, touch wood, and he could run a nice race if he gets into a rhythm early on. If the ground turned soft it would be a negative, so hopefully it stays dry."

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Meade makes late dash to airport after call-up for School Boy Hours

Noel Meade believes he has never had a better chance of landing the Grand National than he does with School Boy Hours, who managed to sneak in at the 11th hour after two late non-runners on Friday morning.

The departure of fellow JP McManus-owned contenders Phoenix Way and Easysland cleared the way for this season's Paddy Power Chase scorer to make the line-up and the leading trainer is excited about his claims.

Meade said: "It's great to get in. He's exactly the type of horse you want to run in the Grand National because he has loads of size and scope and you'd imagine he'll take to the Aintree fences really well.

"Having said that, Tiger Roll wasn't a very big horse and he excelled around Aintree, but we've always felt that School Boy Hours could be a live player in the Grand National.

"He has big handicap experience in winning the Paddy Power at Leopardstown and he was just starting to get competitive when he made a bad mistake and was pulled up in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham. Provided he gets a clear round he has a big chance."

Meade added: "I've had Arctic Copper, The Bunny Boiler and a few horses run in the race for Gigginstown through the years but there's no doubt he's my best chance of winning. I'm looking forward to running him and had to make a late dash to the airport when I realised we were getting in."

Read more on the 2022 Grand National:

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