Our runner-by-runner guide to the 2021 Grand National

The £750,000 Randox Grand National is arguably the most famous race anywhere in the world.
The Grand National takes place at Aintree on SaturdayThe Grand National takes place at Aintree on Saturday
The Grand National takes place at Aintree on Saturday

Around 600 million people are set to watch Saturday’s race, with over £400 million bet on the race alone.

The likes of Red Rum and Tiger Roll are iconic winners of the four and a quarter-mile event which is staged over 30 fences. The 2021 running looks sure to live up to its billing and we’ve previewed the contest with our runner-by-runner guide.

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1 Bristol De Mai (25/1) Looks up against it having to defy top-weight, but he is a multiple Grade One winner. He would also prefer more testing ground.

2 Chris’s Dream (33/1) Top-class talent on his day, but the pick of his form looks to have come with give underfoot.

3 Yala Enki (40/1) Partnered by Bryony Frost, he looks sure to stay the trip, but he fell at the first on his only previous run over the Grand National fences.

4 Ballyoptic (80/1) Plenty of good form in his back catalogue, but he has struggled so far this year and others are preferred.

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5 Definitly Red (50/1) Will get support from the pinstickers given his Liverpool connections, but he is now a 12-year-old and looks up against it.

6 Lake View Lad (40/1) Has the services of champion jockey Brian Hughes, but he was pulled-up in this race in 2019 and has not given the impression that he is crying out for this trip.

7 Burrows Saint (8/1) An interesting contender. Willie Mullins won the race back in 2005 with Hedgehunter and this 2019 Irish Grand National winner jumps and stays. He looks sure to make a bold bid.

8 Magic Of Light (20/1) He finished second to Tiger Roll in 2019 and has run with credit so far this season. She looks fairly treated and it would be no surprise to see her involved in the finish.

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9 Acapella Bourgeois (33/1) Beat Burrows Saint last time out, but remains to be seen whether he will enjoy this sort of test.

10 Talkischeap (66/1) A horse capable of further improvement, but he will need to find plenty of improvement to win this. Others are preferred.

11 Tout Est Permis (125/1) Has plenty of chasing experience, but has not won in two years.

12 Anibale Fly (33/1) Likes this race having finished fourth and fifth in the last two runnings. He stays all day and will be running on strongly at the finish.

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13 Mister Malarky (25/1) Very well-backed in recent days. He ran well behind subsequent Grade One runner-up Clondaw Castle last time out, but does not cry out as being nailed on to stay this trip.

14 Kimberlite Candy (12/1) Has finished second over the Grand National fences in two previous runs and he also has won the Classic Chase at Warwick. His stamina looks guaranteed, but he would prefer deeper ground.

15 Any Second Now (11/1) A fascinating contender. Betway ambassador Katie Walsh has said that “Any Second Now has been trained for the race and we’ve worked backwards from the Grand National.” He was an easy winner at Navan last time and also boasts winning form over three and a quarter-miles at Cheltenham. A huge player if seeing out the trip.

16 Balko Des Flos (66/1) A Grade One winner in his prime, he failed to take to the Cross Country course at Cheltenham last time out and that sets alarms bell ringing for this unique test.

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17 Alpha Des Obeaux (66/1) A good fourth in the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham, but this demands a career-best.

18 OK Corral (50/1) A smart winner at Doncaster last term, but he is tricky to catch right and bids to give Nicky Henderson a first win in the race.

19 Takingrisks (28/1) Stamina is certainly his forte and despite being a 12-year-old, he still retains his class and jumps well. A live each-way player.

20 Shattered Love (40/1) An excellent third in the new mares’ Chase last time out, but this trip looks too far.

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21 Jett (66/1) Partnered by Sam Waley-Cohen who has a good record in the race, but he needs to up his form, which has been regressive of late.

22 Lord Du Mesnil (33/1) Another horse who will enjoy this stamina test. A sound jumper, he looks sure to give a bold bid, but would prefer deeper ground.

23 Potters Corner (20/1) Former Welsh Grand National winner, who has been quietly brought forward this year. This test looks right up his street and he is of interest.

24 Class Conti (40/1) Boasts an unexposed profile following his fourth in the Thyestes last time out. This demands a career best, but he is capable of further improvement.

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25 Milan Native (28/1) He is ridden by Jamie Codd, one of the best amateurs in the game and he looked all about stamina when winning at the Cheltenham Festival last term. One to note.

26 Discorama (18/1) Has been well-backed in recent days and hails from a shrewd yard. Placed in a Grade One and at the Cheltenham Festival. The key question is whether he stays,

27 Vieux Lion Rouge (40/1) Has run in this race multiple times before and whilst he won the Becher Chaase in December, he fails to stay the trip in this event.

28 Cloth Cap (4/1) The clear favourite who has impressed at Newbury and Kelso this term. He looks to hold thew right attributes given he jumps and stays well. However, he looks opposable at his current price.

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29 Cabaret Queen (80/1) Has won the Munster National, so should stay, but is seen as a big outsider by the bookies.

30 Minellacelebration (66/1) One of the more interesting contenders at a big price. He likes Aintree and whilst this is a completely different test, he is of interest with drying ground set to suit.

31 Canelo (33/1) He is a smart horse on his day, who is capable of further improvement, but he is another not necessarily crying out for this trip.

32 The Long Mile (80/1) Unexposed, but this is a significant step up in distance. Only a seven-year-old he could progress again here.

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33 Give Me A Copper (50/1) Part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, he is clearly fragile and needs to brush up on his jumping.

34 Farclas (18/1) Definite player. He shaped with promise when second at Cheltenham last time out and looks extremely well-handicapped on that effort if staying the trip.

35 Minella Times (12/1) Partnered by Rachael Blackmore, he has run well in two big-field handicaps at Leopardstown last time out and interestingly this trip might eke out further improvmenet.

36 Sub Lieutenant (66/1) Trained and ridden by a mother-daughter combination of Tabitha Worsley and Georgie Howell. He has finished second in the Topham over the Grand National fences and may have a chance of running into a place.

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37 Hogan’s Height (50/1) Former Becher Chase winner, but he has been out of form this term and would like deeper ground.

38 Double Shuffle (125/1) He has struggled in this race before and doesn’t seem to stay this trip.

39 Ami Desbois (125/1) First runner in this race for Graeme McPherson, but he looks up against it having not won since December 2017.

40 Blaklion (66/1) He finished fourth in the 2017 renewal and is off bottom-weight here.

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Reserve 41 Some Neck (40/1) Ran well in the Cross Country Chase last time out, but is the first reserve.

Reserve 42 Secret Reprieve (14/1) Would be of serious interest if getting into the race. He looks well-handicapped and won the Welsh National in fine style last time out.

Our 1-2-3-4-5

Any Second Now gets the vote. If staying the four and a quarter-mile trip he looks sure to go close given he has the right attributes of speed and stamina. His trainer Ted Walsh won the 2000 renewal with Papillon and he is a leading player. Betway Ambassador Katie Walsh, Ted’s daughter has also fuelled confidence, revealing: “He is a horse who has been trained for the race and we’ve worked backwards from the Grand National.”

Cloth Cap is a live contender based on the pick of his form and he also looks extremely well-handicapped. He looks sure to play a big part in the finish here. Burrows Saint is a former Irish Grand National winner and is another primed to go well. Farclas is capable of further improvement, whilst Minellacelebration could out run his odds and fill the placings along with Kimberlite Candy in a fantastic renewal of the 2021 Grand National.

1 Any Second Now (10/1)

2 Cloth Cap (4/1)

3 Burrows Saint (8/1)

3 Farclas (18/1)

4 Minellacelebration (100/1)

5 Kimberlite Candy (11/1 with Betway)