TEMPLEGATE takes on the biggest day of the year confident of bashing the bookies at Aintree.
Our man has compiled a brilliant runner-by-runner guide to the Grand National (4pm) and revealed his big tip below.
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PLEASE NOTE – Chambard is now a non-runner in the Grand National.
PANDA BOY (4.00 Aintree, nap)
Trainer Martin Brassil knows how to win the world’s biggest jumps race and has long aimed his eight-year-old at today. He showed his staying power with a good fifth in last year’s Grand National and is a stronger horse this time. He caught the eye when finishing like a train over hurdles at Leopardstown last time and comes here nice and fresh.
FOUND A FIFTY (5.00 Aintree, nb)
He ran a belter behind superstar Gaelic Warrior in the Arkle at Cheltenham ahead of Il Etait Temps who won here on Thursday. He is a good jumps who likes it soft and should take another step forward.
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FORWARD PLAN (2.30 Aintree, treble)
He comes here off the back of a good win at Kempton last time. He relished the soft ground and came home strongly. He is another on the upgrade.
Templegate’s verdicts
1.20
CUTHBERT DIBBLE clocked a big personal best when battling to line for third in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham last time.
He likes to go from the front and those tactics are much easier to pull off at Aintree.
He showed his liking for a flatter track and soft ground when winning at Haydock in February and still looks on a fair weight.
West Balboa won this last year and has been teed up for a repeat by the Skeltons.
She wasn’t asked too many questions at Kempton last time and should be spot on now from 5lb higher than 12 months ago.
Monmiral was a surprise Pertemps winner but can prove that was no fluke. He’ll enjoy these conditions and will get the strong pace he likes.
Gwennie May Boy jumped like a stag when winning a competitive contest at Uttoxeter last time.
He’s up 9lb so will need to find more but it’s early days and he’s capable of improvement.
Honor Grey won well here in October and stepped up on that form when scoring at Ascot last time.
He kept pulling out more over the three-mile trip and looks right in the mix again.
Bold Endeavour was one of the few Nicky Henderson horses to run well at Cheltenham. He has no issue staying and looks a solid each-way contender.
Black Bamboo was no match for Langer Dan in the Coral Cup but that’s no disgrace and he has solid form in big fields. He is another to consider from an unchanged handicap mark.
1.55
CALDWELL POTTER was my pick but he is now out of the race with an infected foot.
In his absence I’ll go for Brighterdaysahead, who went close in the Dawn Run at Cheltenham and is another who will prefer this trip.
That race turned into a bit of a sprint and she will get more time to hit top gear today.
Jimmy Du Seuil was best of the rest behind the classy Ballyburn in the Baring Bingham at Cheltenham.
He was never going to catch that winner but wasn’t helped by being hampered turning for home. That was just his third hurdles run so there’s more to come.
Stablemate Ile Atlantique was a place behind him in that race and seemed to run out of stamina up the hill. He may prefer flat Aintree but has improving to do.
2.30
FORWARD PLAN looked a real battler when winning in good company at Kempton last time out in February.
He finished strongly in the soft ground and a 4lb rise in the weights won’t stop Anthony Honeyball’s improver.
The King Of Ryhope might have won an Ascot Grade 2 when last seen but for clattering into the final fence.
He relished the step up to three miles there and swerved Cheltenham with this race in mind.
Crebilly rallied up the hill when second in the Ultima at the Festival last time. That suggests he’ll enjoy this longer distance at flatter Aintree.
The handicapper has been fair with a 3lb rise and he’s capable of better after just three chase outings.
Twig is another who ran well in the Ultima and he likes more of a stamina test.
Kilbeg King was far from disgraced in the National Hunt Chase last time and this drop in distance makes him a place player.
3.05
CRAMBO has shown his best form is on flat tracks so it’s no shock that he didn’t enjoy Cheltenham in the Stayers’ Hurdle last time.
He was impressive the last time he ran here in October and landed Grade 1 honours in the Long Walk at Ascot.
He doesn’t mind some cut in the ground and can show his true colours here.
Sire Du Berlais has won the past two runnings of this and came from too far back when fifth in the Stayers’. His track form warrants respect despite his advancing years.
Similar comments apply to Flooring Porter who switched back from chasing for an excellent second at Cheltenham.
He has two places in this race on his CV and could easily make the podium again.
Hewick is an interesting contender given he won the King George last time. He needs the ground to dry up a bit but has class and could cause another upset.
Dashel Drasher will give his all as usual and wasn’t disgraced at Cheltenham. He’s another who has won here before.
Botox Has loves it testing was excellent at Haydock last time but often makes errors.
4.00
Read my full guide to every runner in the Grand National.
5.00
FOUND A FIFTY was clear best of the race behind the brilliant Gaelic Warrior in the Arkle and the form was franked by Il Etait Temps scoring here on Thursday.
He likes some cut in the ground, jumps well and can go from the front which all suits Aintree.
Nickle Back missed Cheltenham after this stunning Scilly Isles win at Sandown.
He has lots of pace so should cope with dropping trip and will make this a stiff test of stamina. He looks a big each-way price.
Etalon was an impressive handicap winner at Sandown in February over this trip and deserves a crack at this higher level.
He will like the ground and is capable of improvement.
Hercule Du Seuil’s form figures speak for themselves and he has landed Grade 3 wins on his past two outings. He is yet another front-runner with more to offer.
Djelo likes Aintree and was a solid third in the Golden Miller at the Festival.
His very best has come been over further but he is another who looks overpriced as they could go too quick up front and bring his stamina into play.
5.35
TRIPOLI FLYER picked up like a Flat horse when winning a Lingfield bumper last time and that pace should be an asset at this track.
Fergal O’Brien has his horses in solid form and there’s more to come.
Castle Ivers was behind the tip at Leafy and franked the form in style with a seven-length win at Wetherby.
She looks a good hurdler in the making and will be competitive again.
Mister Meggit didn’t have to leave first gear when winning in the mud at Doncaster last month.
He faces stiffer opposition here but that was eyecatching and he will be right there.
Electric Mason scored at Kempton and ran another good race at Fontwell 16 days ago. He’ll need more at this level but should be capable of improvement.
Ma Shantou won on the bridle making his debut for Emma Lavelle at Huntingdon last time.
That is another speed track like Aintree and he wouldn’t have to improve much more to figure.
No Questions Asked made a good impression when scoring on debut at Market Rasen and has an each-way shout.
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Templegate’s tips
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