GRAND NATIONAL PREVIEW: Get on Any Second Now to finish first

Forty horses are attempting to add their name to sporting folklore in Saturday’s event over 30 fences and a distance of four and a quarter-miles. We’ve previewed the race below.

Cloth Cap heads the market for this year’s contest as the 4/1 favourite. He jumps for fun and should stay the trip following two impressive victories at Kelso and Newbury respectively this term. He is also seeking to provide owner Trevor Hemmings with a fourth success in the race which would make him the winning-most trainer in the history of the race.

Other notable candidates include Burrows Saint (8/1) whose season has been geared towards this race. He landed the Irish Grand National in 2019 and should relish this stamina test as he bids to provide Willie Mullins with a second win in the race.

Ted Walsh landed the 2001 Grand National with Papillon and Any Second Now (10/1) looks interesting judged on the pick of his form, which includes a Cheltenham Festival victory. He also looks to back up an easy win at Navan last time out.

Kimberlite Candy (11/1) has finished second over the Grand National fences on two occasions in the Becher Chase, but may prefer more testing ground. However, given his attributes in the jumping department, he is another to note.

Rachael Blackmore is one of three female jockeys with rides in this year’s race. She is bidding to become the first woman to ride a winner of the Grand National and is aboard the progressive Minella Times (11/1) who has filled the runner-up spot in two high-class handicaps this term at Leopardstown.

Others of note include Discorama (14/1) who has attracted support in the betting markets in the last few days. Trained by Paul Nolan, he has finished in the placings in Grade One company and at the Cheltenham Festival in a handicap event.

Bristol De Mai (20/1) carries top-weight for Nigel Twiston-Davies, but has a string of top-class form in Grade One company.

Denise Foster chases a first win in the Grand National and her litany of talent is headed by recent Cheltenham runner-up Farclas (18/1) and former Cheltenham Festival scorer Milan Native (25/1)

2019 Grand National second Magic Of Light (18/1) is another to note, along with former Welsh National and Virtual Grand National hero Potters Corner (25/1).

The other female riders in this year’s renewal are Bryony Frost on the Paul Nicholls-trained Yala Enki (33/1) and Tabitha Worsley who partners 66/1 chance Sub Lieutenant, trained by her mother Georgie Howell.

Our Grand National selection – Any Second Now (10/1)

Any Second Now (10/1) looks to tick plenty of boxes for an assignment like this. Stamina should not be an issue given his win in the Kim Muir over three and a quarter-miles at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival, whilst he also jumps well, which is of course a vital asset for this test. His trainer Ted Walsh knows how to win this event and he makes appeal in another excellent renewal of the Randox Grand National at Aintree. Betway ambassador Katie Walsh, who is heavily involved in the yard, is also hopeful of a big run stating: “Any Second Now is a horse who has been trained for the race and we’ve worked backwards from the Grand National. He was in great form going into the 2020 running, before it was called off. He is a previous Kim Muir winner too, so we know he can compete at the top-level.”

Latest Grand National odds from Betway:

4/1 Cloth Cap; 8/1 Burrows Saint; 10/1 Any Second Now, Minella Times; 11/1 Kimberlite Candy; 14/1 Discorama; 18/1 Farclas, Magic Of Light; 20/1 Bristol De Mai, Potters Corner; 25/1 Milan Native; 28/1 Bar.

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