HORSES trained in Ireland fill the first four places in the betting for the 2022 Randox Grand National following the publication of the entries this week. The weights will be released on Tuesday week, February 15th.
The April 9th race at Aintree has attracted 107 entries and 53 are Irish-trained. They are headed by Tiger Roll, winner of the race in 2018 and 2019. Gordon Elliott’s charge was denied a possible hat-trick bid in 2020 due to the pandemic and owners Gigginstown House Stud decided against running in 2021.
Instead, he ran in the Grade 1 Betway Bowl and was fourth to Clan Des Obeaux after lifting the cross-country chase at the Cheltenham Festival for a third time. Now a 12-year-old, Tiger Roll has been well beaten on both his starts this season.
Among Elliott’s other possibles are Galvin, winner of the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last year and successful in the Grade 1 Savills Chase in December, and Samcro.
Last year’s winner, the Henry de Bromhead-trained Minella Times, could try to repeat the feat that saw Rachael Blackmore become the first female jockey to ride the winner of the famous race.
Any Second Now, trained by Ted Walsh, is another leading fancy having finished third in 2021 after meeting trouble in running.
The horses who finished fourth to eighth respectively – Burrows Saint, Farclas, Blaklion, Discorama and Jett – could also try again.
The Jonjo O’Neill-trained Cloth Cap, who was pulled up last April when sent off favourite, is on the list once more. Among others of note are the O’Neill-trained Easysland, Warwick Classic Chase victor Eclair Surf, Irish Grand National scorer Freewheelin Dylan, Scottish National winner Mighty Thunder and Becher Chase heroine Snow Leopardess.
The first two home in the Ladbrokes Trophy, Cloudy Glen and Fiddlerontheroof, are in the mix as is Windsor Avenue, who landed the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster on Saturday.
Welsh Grand National victor Iwilldoit and Castlebawn West, winner of the 2020 Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown, were prominent in the market but have not been entered.
RANDOX GRAND NATIONAL, SATURDAY, APRIL 9th
Latest betting: 14 Galvin, 16 Any Second Now, Run Wild Fred, 20 Minella Times, Secret Reprieve, 22 Mount Ida, 25 Escaria Ten, Farclas, Snow Leopardsess, 28 Burrows Saint, 33 bar.
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