'He has a lovely racing weight' - Aintree hopefuls battle in Edinburgh National

bet365 Edinburgh National Handicap Chase | 3m7½f | 5yo+ | ITV4/RTV

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The Edinburgh National has only existed since 2017 and is still finding its groove in the calendar. It is encouraging that a couple of this year's runners have been sent here five to six weeks on from the Welsh National, while those same horses also seem likely to strengthen bonds with the Midlands National at Uttoxeter in six weeks' time.

Highland Hunter was second at Chepstow and finished fifth in last season's Midlands National. Mighty Thunder won this race last year and used it as a springboard to a Midlands National second and Scottish National success. Scratchy jumping did for him at Chepstow in December.

Jumping is also the concern with The Wolf, who at the time of writing splits those two horses in the betting. He emerged as the moral winner of Full Back's race over 3m2½f at Cheltenham on New Year's Day, travelling best despite walking through four out and three out, with those mistakes taking their toll up the hill. Musselburgh's fences are not as stiff but just as tactically important, especially up the final straight.

Similarly, it was a series of mistakes in bad ground that scuppered Captain Cattistock at Haydock over Christmas. He was eventually pulled up but actually shaped second best behind Blaklion and does not look a forlorn hope in handicaps off 124.

One for whom jumping will not be an issue is front-running veteran Step Back, especially on a right-handed track that has been important to him throughout his career. He is on a winning mark and should be fitter for his December return to action. While he is generally a straightforward ride, it is still worth noting that this will be Lily Bradstock's first ride in a chase outside of points or hunters.
Race analysis by Keith Melrose

Can lightning strike twice for Thunder?

Mighty Thunder fought off ten rivals in soft, attritional ground under dark skies to win the Edinburgh National last year for trainer Lucinda Russell.

A year on, the weather forecast indicates conditions will be similarly gloomy but the lack of rain arriving at Musselburgh by the time horses were declared on Thursday means only six runners go to post for the race this time.

That number might be diminished further if rain fails to arrive before the off, but with Scotland hosting England at nearby Murrayfield in the Six Nations rugby the entire nation will no doubt be praying for conditions to be as testing as possible in and around Edinburgh on Saturday afternoon.

Lucinda Russell: determined to try to retain the Edinburgh NationalCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Come rain or shine, Russell is determined to try to retain the Edinburgh National with Mighty Thunder for owners Colin and Nicola Drysdale, with even greater National ambitions in mind in the spring for the nine-year-old.

“He has an entry in the Grand National and that’s where we’d like to end up with him,” Russell said. “He’s in good form and it’s going to be quite different from when he won in soft ground last year.

“We know he likes the track and I’m hoping it will help give him a boost to his confidence as we have bigger targets for him later in the spring.”

What they say

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Highland Hunter
If it's too quick, he might be a non-runner. But if the forecast is right, it'll be okay. He ran well in the Welsh National and seems to be improving. He'll run here and then go to Aintree, that's the plan.

Olly Murphy, trainer of The Wolf
It's good prize-money and it's definitely worth a go. He seems to make a mistake at the wrong time in plenty of his runs but he's very well in himself. He'll be dropped in and ridden to come home strong, and he deserves the chance to win a race like this.

Fergal O’Brien, trainer of Captain Cattistock
His pulled up last time isn’t as bad as it looks as the ground was bad at Haydock and we tried to chase Blaklion in those conditions. He’s won over four miles, although that was at Cheltenham and this track might not quite suit him as much. He'll like the ground and has a lovely racing weight, so we’re going to give it our best shot.

Read all of Saturday's previews:

3.15 Leopardstown: Irish Gold Cup: key quotes and analysis as Frodon, Kemboy and Minella Indo clash

Asterion Forlonge: is he a maverick or simply misunderstood

1.05 Leopardstown: Hollow Games has most to fear from fast-improving stablemate Minella Crooner

1.35 Leopardstown: Fil Dor bids to cement Triumph hopes but Vauban 'the one to beat', says Elliott

2.10 Leopardstown: Blue Lord bids to fill void left by Ferny Hollow for Mullins in Irish Arkle

2.20 Sandown: L'Homme Presse and Pic D'Orhy set for Sandown showdown in Scilly Isles

2.30 Wetherby: Lucinda Russell looks for 'confidence booster' to put Ahoy Senor back on track

3.30 Sandown: Could course specialists prove the key to a race with a rich history

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