2022 Grand National at Aintree: potential runners plus a 100-1 long-range shout

A total of 107 entries were revealed on Tuesday for the Randox Grand National, with leading ante-post fancies Galvin, Any Second Now and last year's winner Minella Times among them.

Irish-trained runners were responsible for ten of the first 11 finishers in last season’s race and they could have a dominant hand again, with Mount Ida, Farclas and Run Wild Fred also possible contenders.

Two-time National hero Tiger Roll missed the race last season, with connections feeling he had an unfair weight burden, but he has been entered and is a 33-1 chance to emulate the great Red Rum in winning three Nationals.

Most firms struggle to separate Galvin and Any Second Now at the top of the betting. Galvin, as short as 12-1, is also a key contender in next month's Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Snow Leopardess established her Aintree credentials when landing the Becher Chase over the National fences in December and she spearheads the British challenge alongside Secret Reprieve, Time To Get Up and Fiddlerontheroof. The Sam Thomas-trained Iwilldoit, winner of the Welsh Grand National, was a 20-1 chance but has not featured among the entries.

Time To Get Up is one of three entries for Jonjo O'Neill, alongside Cloth Cap and Easysland, as the Jackdaws Castle trainer bids to win the race for a second time.

Chantry House: given Grand National entryCredit: Edward Whitaker

O'Neill, who won the race with Don't Push It in 2010, said: "Winning the Grand National with Don’t Push It was magical. It was a brilliant day. It would be great to win it again and keep the show on the road.

“We’ve just three entries in the race this year in Cloth Cap, Easysland and Time To Get Up. There is a long way to go before they all get there though.”

Easysland, a dominant winner of the Cross Country Chase when trained by David Cottin, is set to make his debut for O'Neill at Sandown on Saturday, although the trainer is undecided whether he will run over hurdles or fences.

Easysland runs in the colours of JP McManus and among the leading owner's National entries is Chantry House. Last weekend's Cotswold Chase winner is set for the Gold Cup next but could look to give trainer Nicky Henderson, who has also entered Caribean Boy, a first Grand National success.

Five Grand National entries the bookies missed - and four surprising absentees (Members' Club)

Grade 1 winners Lostintranslation, Delta Work, Melon and Samcro could all run in the iconic handicap, as could Thyestes winner Longhouse Poet.

Trainer Gordon Elliott has the highest number of hopefuls in the race, with 19 in at the entry stage, ahead of Willie Mullins (eight), Henry de Bromhead (six). Venetia Williams is responsible for the most entries from a British trainer, with Achille, Cloudy Glen, Commodore and Didero Vallis making up her quartet.

Owners Gigginstown House Stud and McManus each have 14 horses entered in the contest.

Randox Grand National (April 9)

Total entries: 107
The key horses: Gordon Elliott earmarked the Randox Grand National as a long-term target for Galvin at the start of the season, but a fine campaign has led him to emerge as a Cheltenham Gold Cup contender. There is a chance he may take in both, and he certainly adds a huge amount of class to the National field.

Any Second Now was an unlucky loser in the race last season and punters are maintaining belief in the Ted Walsh-trained ten-year-old. Last season's third could oppose the reigning hero Minella Times.

Minella Times: last season's Grand National winnerCredit: Edward Whitaker

2016 hero Rule The World was the last novice to land the National and Run Wild Fred, in the same Gigginstown House Stud silks, may have a serious chance of doing the same.

Ante-post favourites: Galvin (14-1)

Randox Grand National betting

Ladbrokes: 14 Galvin, 16 Any Second Now, Run Wild Fred, 20 Minella Times, Snow Leopardess, Time To Get Up, 25 Burrows Saint, Eklat De Rire, Escaria Ten, Farclas, Fiddlerontheroof, Mount Ida, Secret Reprieve, Tiger Roll, 33 bar

Long-range shouts: 'His price is way too big'

Escaria Ten
33-1 bet365, Coral, Sky Bet and William Hill

Last season's National Hunt Chase form is continuing to work out particularly strongly, most notably by the red-hot Gold Cup contender Galvin but also thanks to Snow Leopardess.

Escaria Ten was sent off favourite at the festival and shaped extremely well. Adrian Heskin had to work hard at times but he moved into the race strongly enough and jumped the last in front but was beaten up the hill by two horses who are both now Grade 1 winners.

Escaria Ten: could have more to offer at a longer tripCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

His comeback run in the Thyestes was also more promising than the form suggests. He looked a live contender turning in but finished tired, looking badly in need of the run, while a 24-length defeat could make his handicap mark even more appealing.

He is a smooth jumper, has some quality form over fences and seems fairly versatile in terms of ground, but his biggest asset could be that he looks made for an extreme trip. His price is way too big.
James Stevens, reporter

'His Irish National win was no fluke'

100-1 bet365

I can't remember the last time a reigning Irish Grand National winner was 100-1 for Aintree, but you can still get a three-figure price for Freewheelin Dylan, which is surprising when you consider the second from that race, Run Wild Fred, is now rated as high as 158 and is currently one of the favourites.

Freewheelin Dylan has shown little in two starts this winter, although the jockey should never have come off in the cross-country chase at Cheltenham in November. Generally his jumping is excellent, and that Irish National win wasn't a fluke.
James Hill, tipster

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