THE week of the Irish Grand National and Randox Grand National at Aintree started with a seismic 150/1 shock at Fairyhouse, so it may not be the best advice to rule out any of the 40 runners that go to post on Merseyside today.

In forming a shortlist, personal experience has suggested it wise to consider contenders which have previously been competitive in one of the higher-profile well-contested Nationals while also considering the speed ratings which form the basis of all my race analysis.

Therefore, the principal fancies for this weekend’s Aintree feature comprise Burrows Saint, Acapella Bourgeois and Magic Of Light.

The shortest in the market is Burrows Saint (83) who was a most convincing winner at Fairyhouse back in 2019 and has no doubt been prepared for this race all season.

Defeat

However, his defeat at the hands of Acapella Bourgeois (80), who was third in the 2019 running of the Irish National, may not have been part of the plan and gives him ground to make up on his stablemate who ultimately ran out a comfortable winner that day, recording back-to-back victories in the Bobbyjo Chase.

The case for Magic Of Light (80) is far simpler as only Tiger Roll was in front of Jessica Harrington’s mare back in 2019. The mixture of hurdles and fences is also a well-trodden path to National glory and the stable could not be in better form.

Of the three my preference is for Acapella Bourgeois whose best asset is his accurate fencing, which will be invaluable as keeping tabs on favourite Cloth Cap will require a foot-perfect round of jumping.