Racing fans have very little time to wait, the 2022 Grand National is just around the corner.
And we have the big race covered with an ultimate pinstickers guide to all 40 runners and riders for the world's most famous horse race. Mirror Racing gives you the big race lowdown to try and solve the punting puzzle, run on Saturday afternoon at 5.15pm.
Snow Leopardess, trained in Britain by Charlie Longsdon, is one of the favourites bidding to halt the Irish dominance in recent years. Tiger Roll and Minella Times won the past three runnings their team – and Rachael Blackmore reunites with her big race hero at Aintree.
Last year's third Any Second Now and Escaria Ten, one of eight runners for Gordon Elliott are other leading contenders. Here's the definitive verdict from Mirror Sport's resident tipster Newsboy, including Betfred odds and star ratings for each runner, ahead of the main event...
Grand National 2022 pinstickers guide
Odds correct as of April 7, 2022
1. Minella Times 11-1
TRAINER: Henry De Bromhead
JOCKEY: Rachael Blackmore
NEWSBOY SAYS: Took to the Grand National challenge like a duck to water to make history with Rachael Blackmore 12 months ago but not in the same form this time around and 15lb higher in the weights.
STAR RATING: ***
2. Delta Work 8-1
TRAINER: Gordon Elliott
JOCKEY: Jack Kennedy
NEWSBOY SAYS: The villain of the piece when beating stablemate - and dual Grand National victor - Tiger Roll at Cheltenham last month, but has more than a touch of class as he bids to be the hero today.
STAR RATING: ****
3. School Boy Hours 25-1
TRAINER: Noel Meade
JOCKEY: Sean Flanagan
NEWSBOY SAYS: Excellent effort for first win over fences at Leopardstown over Christmas but made a bad mistake when pulled up at Cheltenham next time and will need to keep his jumping clean if he’s to have a say.
STAR RATING: ***
4. Any Second Now 9-1
TRAINER: Ted Walsh
JOCKEY: Mark Walsh
NEWSBOY SAYS: Brought to a standstill by a faller before halfway 12 months ago, but regathered momentum to power home into third, so another good account is on the cards if he gets a clear run round.
STAR RATING: ****
5. Run Wild Fred 20-1
TRAINER: Gordon Elliott
JOCKEY: Davy Russell
NEWSBOY SAYS: Second in the Irish Grand National last April but win record of 1-11 over fences doesn’t inspire confidence, while a habit of making jumping errors also tempers enthusiasm for his chances.
STAR RATING: ***
6. Lostintranslation 66-1
TRAINER: Colin Tizzard
JOCKEY: Harry Cobden
NEWSBOY SAYS: Top-class chaser at his best a couple of winters ago but hasn’t built on a return from the wilderness Ascot last November and looks to have more than his fair share of weight.
STAR RATING: **
7. Brahma Bull 80-1
TRAINER: Willie Mullins
JOCKEY: Brian Hughes
NEWSBOY SAYS: More ‘miss’ than ‘hit’ over fences of late - including failure to compllete on his last two starts - and recent record, along with failure when tried over marathon trips, makes it easy to look elsewhere.
STAR RATING: *
8. Burrows Saint 20-1
TRAINER: Willie Mullins
JOCKEY: Paul Townend
NEWSBOY SAYS: Irish National hero of 2019 but didn’t quite last home when a distant fourth here 12 months ago and, having been left alone in the handicap, likely he will perform to a similar level this afternoon.
STAR RATING: ***
9. Mount Ida 28-1
TRAINER: Gordon Elliott
JOCKEY: Denis O'Regan
NEWSBOY SAYS: Bags of ability and interesting at the trip, but tendency to jump out to the right a major drawback as she seeks to become the first mare since Nickel Coin in 1951 to win the National.
STAR RATING: **
10. Longhouse Poet 18-1
TRAINER: Martin Brassil
JOCKEY: D J O'Keeffe
NEWSBOY SAYS: Strong at the finish to land big-money Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park two starts ago and, with below-par effort over hurdles last time safely ignored, lightly raced improver rates a major contender.
STAR RATING: ****
11. Fiddlerontheroof 16-1
TRAINER: Colin Tizzard
JOCKEY: Brendan Powell
NEWSBOY SAYS: Smart form over fences, coming home powerfully for half-length second in valuable Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury in November and by no means impossible this test - his seasonal aim - will play to his strengths.
STAR RATING: ****
12. Two For Gold 50-1
TRAINER: Kim Bailey
JOCKEY: David Bass
NEWSBOY SAYS: Excellent second at Ascot days after the National weights were published, and well handicapped on that score, but mudlover came down over these fences in last year’s Topham and the trip is also a worry.
STAR RATING: **
13. Santini 40-1
TRAINER: Polly Gundry
JOCKEY: Nick Scholfield
NEWSBOY SAYS: Back class includes a second in the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup and, while he’s operating at a lower level these days, the handicapper has been generous and the move up to marathon trips is a plus.
STAR RATING: ***
14. Samcro 66-1
TRAINER: Gordon Elliott
JOCKEY: Sean Bowen
NEWSBOY SAYS: Two-time Cheltenham Festival winner was once hailed as jump racing’s second coming, but those days seem a long way off now and hard to believe the National trip will bring back the good times.
STAR RATING: **
15. Escaria Ten 11-1
TRAINER: Gordon Elliott
JOCKEY: Adrian Heskin
NEWSBOY SAYS: Blinkered runner flopped in last year’s Irish Grand National but had previously run well over three and three-quarter miles at Cheltenham and not discredited in two starts this season, so worth bearing in mind.
STAR RATING: ****
16. Good Boy Bobby 40-1
TRAINER: Nigel Twiston-Davies
JOCKEY: Daryl Jacob
NEWSBOY SAYS: Front-runner back on track after losing his way over fences last season but handicapper has taken recent success into account and leading from the tapes in the National is a hard tactic to pull off.
STAR RATING: ***
17. Romain De Senam 100-1
TRAINER: David Pipe
JOCKEY: Philip Armson
NEWSBOY SAYS: Sent off at 66-1 when making his stable debut in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter three weeks ago but showed little being pulled up and needs a miracle to be involved at the business end here.
STAR RATING: *
18. Coko Beach 50-1
TRAINER: Gordon Elliott
JOCKEY: Sean Flanagan
NEWSBOY SAYS: Smart novice chase form last season includes respectable seventh in Irish National but needs the heavens to open if he's to become the first seven-year-old to win the National since Bogskar in 1940.
STAR RATING: **
19. De Rasher Counter 50-1
TRAINER: Emma Lavelle
JOCKEY: Adam Wedge
NEWSBOY SAYS: On the up with win in big-money Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury in November 2019 but plagued by injury since and, while handicapper has shown mercy, was pulled up on his only start beyond four miles.
STAR RATING: **
20. Kildisart 33-1
TRAINER: Ben Pauling
JOCKEY: James Bowen
NEWSBOY SAYS: Has had injury problems but scored over the Mildmay fences on National day in 2019 before going close at Cheltenham the following March, and enough promise in comeback to suggest he can run above his odds.
STAR RATING: ****
21. Discorama 33-1
TRAINER: Paul Nolan
JOCKEY: Bryan Cooper
NEWSBOY SAYS: Fair form over fences include two podium finishes at Cheltenham but didn’t get home when seventh in last year’s National and, despite slight drop in the weights, stretching it to think he can get involved
STAR RATING: ***
22. Top Ville Ben 66-1
TRAINER: Phil Kirby
JOCKEY: Thomas Dowson
NEWSBOY SAYS: Popular chaser tends to go from the front but may find his exuberance costly when stamina is at a premium and took a heavy fall when trying that National fences in the Becher Chase in December.
STAR RATING: **
23. Enjoy D'Allen 11-1
TRAINER: Ciaran Murphy
JOCKEY: Conor Orr
NEWSBOY SAYS: Staying on at the finish to take third in Irish National last April and, having followed similar path to Aintree as last year’s winner Minella Times, very much the type to give a good account.
STAR RATING: *****
24. Anibale Fly 50-1
TRAINER: AJ Martin
JOCKEY: L Dempsey
NEWSBOY SAYS: Twice a minor medallist in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and ran well - fourth and fifth - behind Tiger Roll in 2018 and 2019, but soon dropped out of it 12 months ago and hard to fancy.
STAR RATING: **
25. Dingo Dollar 40-1
TRAINER: Sandy Thomson
JOCKEY: Ryan Mania
NEWSBOY SAYS: Excellent second in the 2021 Scottish National at Ayr and, while didn’t shine over these fences on soft ground in the Grand Sefton Chase in December 2020, not entirely dismissed – especially if the sun comes out.
STAR RATING: ***
26. Freewheelin Dylan 40-1
TRAINER: D A McLoughlin
JOCKEY: R A Doyle
NEWSBOY SAYS: No element of fluke about his 150-1 shocker in the Irish National last year and stamina test clearly right up his street, but not obviously well handicapped for his first crack at the famous fences.
STAR RATING: ***
27. Class Conti 100-1
TRAINER: Willie Mullins
JOCKEY: Sam Twiston-Davies
NEWSBOY SAYS: Nearly 130 lengths behind the winner when last of the 15 to complete the National 12 months ago and three so-so efforts over fences this term leave rank outsider with a mountain to climb.
STAR RATING: *
28. Noble Yeats 33-1
TRAINER: E Mullins
JOCKEY: Sam Waley-Cohen
NEWSBOY SAYS: Amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen has a good record over the National fences and last month’s effort at Cheltenham was better than his ninth placing might suggest, but statistics weigh heavily against the seven-year-olds.
STAR RATING: **
29. Mighty Thunder 33-1
TRAINER: Lucinda Russell
JOCKEY: Derek Fox
NEWSBOY SAYS: Built on strong form in marathons to land Scottish National in April but the wheels have come off in dramatic style in Welsh and Edinburgh versions this winter (reportedly suffered breathing problem), so the jury’s out.
STAR RATING: ***
30. Cloth Cap 25-1
TRAINER: Jonjo O'Neill
JOCKEY: Tom Scudamore
NEWSBOY SAYS: Sent off the 11-2 favourite when officially a stone well in 12 months ago but stopped quickly before being pulled up and not surprising the market isn’t so keen after four tame efforts so far this season.
STAR RATING: **
31. Snow Leopardess 17-2
TRAINER: Charlie Longsdon
JOCKEY: Aidan Coleman
NEWSBOY SAYS: Grey mare gave birth to a foal when injured three years ago, but has returned in awesome form, including Becher Chase win over these fences in December, and the National is the race in which miracles can happen.
STAR RATING: ****
32. Agusta Gold 66-1
TRAINER: Willie Mullins
JOCKEY: Danny Mullins
NEWSBOY SAYS: Has run well when staying power is at a premium but jumping fell apart in big-field chases either side of New Year and second in five-runner chase at Down Royal last month a mile off what is needed here.
STAR RATING: **
33. Commodore 25-1
TRAINER: Venetia Williams
JOCKEY: Charlie Deutsch
NEWSBOY SAYS: Showed the benefit of breathing surgery, and 309 days off, with winning return from eight rivals at Cheltenham in December and kept fresh for today, but might find this something of a culture shock.
STAR RATING: **
34. Deise Aba 66-1
TRAINER: Philip Hobbs
JOCKEY: Tom O'Brien
NEWSBOY SAYS: Goes well at Sandown Park and lost out by a nose in the London National there in December, but record anti-clockwise isn’t as good – has been pulled up on his last four chases going left-handed.
STAR RATING: *
35. Blaklion 40-1
TRAINER: Dan Skelton
JOCKEY: Harry Skelton
NEWSBOY SAYS: Boosted excellent record at Aintree when faring best of a sorry home challenge to take sixth place in 2021, but his age is the problem - the last 13-year-old National winner was Sergeant Murphy in 1923.
STAR RATING: **
36. Poker Party 66-1
TRAINER: Henry de Bromhead
JOCKEY: Robbie Power
NEWSBOY SAYS: Stablemate of Minella Times captured the Kerry National at Listowel as a progressive chaser in September 2019 has shown precious little in three attempts after 666-day injury lay-off and hard to recommend on that score.
STAR RATING: **
37. Death Duty 40-1
TRAINER: Gordon Elliott
JOCKEY: Jordan Gainford
NEWSBOY SAYS: Promising start over fences a few winters back was derailed by injury, but has returned in decent fettle this term, including success in Punchestown’s Grand National Trial in February, and not out of this.
STAR RATING: ***
38. Domaine De L'Isle 100-1
TRAINER: Sean Curran
JOCKEY: Harry Bannister
NEWSBOY SAYS: Stayed on into fourth behind Snow Leopardess in Becher Chase but never able to get competitive in marathon Eider Chase at Newcastle last time and poorly handicapped into the bargain, so readily opposable.
STAR RATING: **
39. Eclair Surf 12-1
TRAINER: Emma Lavelle
JOCKEY: Tom Bellamy
NEWSBOY SAYS: Well-weighted and has thrived for a stamina test, adding to a 13-length win at Warwick with a second to subsequent Scottish National heroine Win My Wings in the Eider Chase at Newcastle, so high on the list.
STAR RATING: ****
40. Fortescue 33-1
TRAINER: Henry Daly
JOCKEY: Hugh Nugent
NEWSBOY SAYS: Progressive profile over fences with sterling efforts before win at Ascot in February – an effort that takes him ahead of the handicapper – and looks the type to profit for going over a distance of ground.
STAR RATING: ***
1-2-3-4 prediction
1 ENJOY D’ALLEN
2 ECLAIR SURF
3 KILDISART
4 LONGHOUSE POET
