IN a sensible move, today is a racing-free day in Ireland as the eyes of the racing and sporting worlds will be fixed upon Aintree for what remains the greatest race of them all.

The Grand National has changed greatly in character and make up over the last 50 years and it is a totally different test to the one that would have confronted runners back in the last century.

However, to hold this against the great race utterly misses the point as the appeal, impact and prestige of the Grand National trumps anything else racing has to offer.

Its position as a gripping spectacle remains unmatched in the world of racing and its ability to serve up compelling and indelible memories is also without equal.

It is hard to believe that it is 49 years since the brave Crisp only gave best late on as he attempted to concede the best part of two stone to Red Rum 1973.

Bobbyjo’s victory for Tommy and Paul Carberry, which ended an interminable wait for another Irish-trained winner of the great race, is another vivid memory, as is that of Papillon scoring for Ted and Ruby Walsh the following year.

Unknown

The four-finisher race of 2001, the hitherto unknown Gordon Elliott striking with Silver Birch in 2007, Tony McCoy’s seemingly endless quest to win the race finally coming to a close in 2010, Tiger Roll’s back-to-back triumphs before Henry and Rachael triumphed with Minella Times 12 months ago – all amazing moments in the race’s history.

Truly it is a race with an incredible history and legacy, and long may it continue. The changes and modifications that the course has undergone do nothing to diminish the Grand National’s position as a race without equal.

So enough of the nostalgia and a look to this year’s race where just over half of the field hail from this side of the Irish Sea.

Final field

Earlier in the week before the final field was confirmed there were just two English-trained horses – Snow Leopardess and Fiddlerontheroof – trading at shorter than 25/1 which is probably a fair indication of the task facing the home team.

The Irish challenge is headed by last year’s hero Minella Times who has failed to complete on either of his starts this term. He is also 15lb higher in the weights which further tempers enthusiasm, although a return to Aintree will surely spark a revival in his fortunes.

His owner J.P. McManus has a number of other contenders with Any Second Now appealing as one that will be right there at the finish as he looks to build on last year’s third.

He didn’t have things go his way in 2021 and did extremely well to finish within nine lengths off the winner. He was badly hampered by a faller before halfway which knocked him back through the field, and he looked decidedly unlucky on the day.

This term he started off with two entirely respectable runs over hurdles before warming up for his trip to Liverpool with a narrow victory over Escaria Ten in the Bobbyjo Chase.

His trainer’s fine record in this race is another positive and one gets the sense that with a clear run around Any Second Now will be closely involved.

Typically strong

Gordon Elliott holds a typically strong in the race that launched his career. There’s no Tiger Roll this time but the trainer can rely on a number of other likely candidates headed by Delta Work who bested the first-named in last month’s Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham.

For a horse who reached a rating of 171 a couple of seasons ago, Delta Work makes plenty of appeal despite the fact that he will have to give weight to all bar Minella Times. Earlier in the season he might have looked like one that was losing his way somewhat, but a switch to cross-country chasing looks to have completely rekindled his enthusiasm.

Like Any Second Now, he is isn’t an inspired choice to put forward as a likely winner – both horses were trading at single figure odds throughout the week – but one can’t escape the feeling that if he gets around he will be a major player.

Appealing

At almost four times the price, Delta Work’s stablemate Run Wild Fred is very appealing. He was readily brushed aside by Stattler in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last month but still has plenty going for him as he is a dependable sort whose stamina looks almost assured.

He will be very dangerous if getting into a good rhythm towards the head of the field. The Irish Grand National is often an excellent stepping stone to this race, so his runner-up effort in last year’s renewal also strikes a chord.

This is not to say that the home team will struggle to play any sort of a meaningful role as Fiddlerontheroof has a strong set of credentials, while his connections sensibly opted to skip Cheltenham to keep him fresh for this.

On his day he is a quality chaser, as he showed when chasing home Monkfish at Cheltenham last year before finishing second in November’s Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury.

He has done nothing wrong this season, is well equipped for the task at hand and deserves to win a major staying handicap.

In summary, it’s Run Wild Fred to account for Any Second Now with Delta Work and Fiddlerontheroof filling the minor placings.

The Grand National being the race that it is means that maybe none of the four horses mentioned above will make an impact this afternoon, but whatever happens enjoy the spectacle in a race without equal.