IT’S all eyes on Aintree this week, so I thought I would look forward rather than backwards and pick out two horses that stand out through the data for the Grand National this year, writes Page Fuller.

I will start with a horse that we know will relish the testing conditions at Aintree this week.

Nassalam demolished a competitive field in the Welsh Grand National last year producing one of the highest Lengths Gained Jumping values for the season as a result.

As well as gaining 29.19 lengths through jumping alone on the field, he was very slick. He was only losing -2.64 mph on average at his obstacles. Where the fences have been reduced in size so much over the years, I believe it pays to be a slick jumper and Nassalam definitely ticks that box.

Another slick jumper is last year’s reigning champion, Corach Rambler. Yes, he had a really tough race in the Gold Cup, but he ran a mighty race in defeat. He arguably won the National last year through his jumping, gaining 17.83 lengths through jumping in comparison to the runner up Vanillier.

He has also proved all season how strong and consistent his jumping is, peaking at Cheltenham where he managed to gain 5.65 lengths through jumping on Galopin Des Champs alone. It is easy to see why this race is so well suited to him, but will the Gold Cup have left it’s mark?