Grand National: Runners who could write their own piece of Aintree history

Cloth Cap – a record fourth Grand National for his owner?

Trevor Hemmings had his first runner in the Grand National in 1992 with Rubika and has since seen his colours carried to victory on three occasions. Only four other owners have won three Grand Nationals, including Red Rum’s owner Noel Le Mare and Gigginstown House Stud who could also make history this year after Rule The World’s success in 2016 and Tiger Roll’s double in the last two renewals. Hemmings, on the other hand, has won his three Nationals with three different horses from different stables. The Willie Mullins-trained Hedgehunter fulfilled his owner’s lifetime ambition by winning in 2005 and was followed by Ballabriggs for Donald McCain in 2011 and Many Clouds for Oliver Sherwood in 2015. The Jonjo O’Neill-trained Cloth Cap has been prominent in the betting since winning the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury earlier in the season and a recent win at Kelso has made him the clear favourite as the pick of the weights. Hemmings is also set to be represented by Lake View Lad who will be making his second appearance in the race.  

Hedgehunter and Ruby Walsh combined to win the Grand National on this day in 2005.

The rider's one regret? Winning by too far!#RacingTvFlashback @AintreeRaces pic.twitter.com/QdbI9E6vBz

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 9, 2020

Minella Times – a first Grand National winner to be ridden by a woman?

Rachael Blackmore has already made a name for herself beyond the racing world in recent weeks after becoming the first female rider to win the Leading Jockey award at the Cheltenham Festival. Her six winners included five Grade 1s, with the highlight being Honeysuckle’s win in the Champion Hurdle. Blackmore would make even more headlines if breaking further new ground by becoming the first female jockey to win the Grand National. Katie Walsh has come closest so far, finishing third on Seabass in 2012. Blackmore’s likely mount Minella Times has shown much-improved form this season, winning at Listowel before finishing second in two valuable handicaps at Leopardstown, the Paddy Power Chase in December and the Leopardstown Handicap Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival. Victory for Minella Times would also add to his trainer Henry de Bromhead’s haul of major prizes in recent weeks after winning the Gold Cup and Champion Chase at the Festival, as well as the Champion Hurdle.

Potters Corner – can he add the real Grand National to his virtual success last year?

A Virtual Grand National has been run on ITV on the eve of the big race since 2017, primarily as an entertaining way of whetting the appetite for the real thing. But with the Grand National cancelled in 2020, last year’s virtual race took on more importance as it was run on the Saturday, serving as a substitute for the actual race. Betting on the race generated £2.6m worth of profits which bookmakers pledged to NHS charities, while 4.8m viewers watched 18/1-shot Potters Corner ‘beat’ Walk In The Mill, Any Second Now and Tiger Roll. ‘Winning’ trainer Christian Williams said afterwards: "I hope it’s a good omen for next year and that he can actually go to Aintree." Thorough stayer Potters Corner will indeed be in the line-up after three runs this year – one over Cheltenham’s cross-country course and two over hurdles – which haven’t played to his strengths, and his Grand National credentials are better judged on his 2019 successes in the Midlands and Welsh Grand Nationals which both came in testing conditions.

Potters Corner is the winner of the 2⃣0⃣2⃣0⃣ Virtual Grand National!

A Welsh winner of the Virtual National! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 pic.twitter.com/OUwK8pBdjK

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 4, 2020

Magic of Light – the first mare to win the Grand National for seventy years?

Magic of Light has already gone close to Grand National success as she took extremely well to the course in 2019 and was disputing the lead at the final fence with Tiger Roll before gamely holding on for second less than three lengths behind the winner. Relatively few mares contest the race, and she was just the eighth of her sex to reach the frame since the last mare to be successful, Nickel Coin, who was one of only two runners to complete the course without incident in 1951. The only other mare to be successful in the twentieth century was Sheila’s Cottage who won just three years earlier. The only others, besides Magic of Light, to have finished second since then were Gentle Moya and Tiberetta, both in the 1950s, with Tiberetta also finishing third and fourth in other attempts. Magic of Light was last seen contesting the new Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival but that was an inadequate test for her and she’s entitled to start at a much shorter price for this year’s Grand National than two years ago when sent off at 66/1.

Secret Reprieve – a rare novice to win the Grand National?

Secret Reprieve will almost certainly be the least experienced horse in the field, both over fences and all told. The seven-year-old has had just nine races in his life and only six over fences. Having failed to win in three starts in chases last season (including a two-runner contest), his novice status remained intact in the current campaign but he has had a successful time against more seasoned handicappers, winning his last two starts at Chepstow, notably the Welsh Grand National. Secret Reprieve was suited by the greater test of stamina last time, proving strong at the finish after travelling powerfully through the race and jumping well, while his beating of The Two Amigos and Yala Enki looks solid form. The last novice to win the Grand National was Rule The World in 2016, who hadn’t won at all over fences before Aintree, though had plenty of experience which included finishing runner-up in the previous season’s Irish Grand National. Before him, Mr What had been the last novice to be successful in 1958, while you have to go right back to Bogskar in 1940 for the last winner aged seven.