Galvin is fancied to make Randox Grand National (4.00, Nap) history for Tiger Roll’s trainer Gordon Elliott at Aintree today. It is five years since the small and mighty chaser ended a 45-year wait for a dual winner of the race watched by around 800million people worldwide.
Red Rum’s seventies hat-trick was one of four titles for late Ginger McCain – and Elliott will match that number with the ultimate reward from his eight-horse challenge. At 33-1, Galvin is excellent value for a classy thoroughbred with bundles of stamina, two essentials for this 30-fence test over 4m2½f in the modern era.
Elliott’s trainee has bagged a Grade One over fences, which suggests a mark of 155 is workable with young rider Sam Ewing in the saddle. The 20-year-old, in only his second season riding over jumps, was aboard when Galvin finished an eye-catching fourth in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan in February.
A regular warm-up for Tiger Roll, relentless rain then washed away my selection’s cross country chase bid at the Cheltenham Festival, a new experience for the ten-year-old in 2023. But he relished its variety of jumps, working his way to the front under Davy Russell before finding Delta Work a touch stronger on testing ground.
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He appeared to jump into the back of his stablemate in this race a year ago, when he unseated Russell at the first fence. A total of 11lb lower now, drying weather is ideal forGalvin along with a 62-day break, with his good record fresh.
Conditions are also coming right for Lucinda Russell’s title holder and Cheltenham Gold Cup third Corach Rambler. With 13lb extra to carry, after a hard race at Prestbury Park, the reigning champion could struggle to confirm the form with runner-up Vanillier.
The grey finished stronglyfrom well off the pace and has been aimed at this all season by Gavin Cromwell, operating at a 24 per cent strike rate in Britain. No horse this century has won without a run in the same year, a stat Mahler Mission tries to overcome for fellow Irishman John McConnell.
Unexposed over fences, the second-season chaser lost both shoes when doing best of Newbury’s Coral Gold Cup pacesetters. He is a strong place player, with Panda Boy, laid out for this by Martin Brassil who saddled 2006 hero Numbersixvalverde, while Farouk D’Alene’s class makes him an interesting outsider.
THE SCOUT’S GRAND NATIONAL TOP SIX
1 GALVIN
2 MAHLER MISSION
3 VANILLIER
4 PANDA BOY
5 CORACH RAMBLER
6 FAROUK D’ALENE
REST OF AINTREE’S BEST BETS
Rachael Blackmore’s mount Hiddenvalley Lake is the one to be on in the JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle (3.05, treble). The lightly-raced chestnut has only made six racecourse appearances for Henry de Bromhead, a CV which includes a sole start in a Grade One event.
More will be required under his rider, the only woman to guide a Grand National winner to victory in 2021 on Minella Times.
There was lots to like about Hiddenvalley Lake’s Boyne Hurdle win in February, when he suggested he will be up to this level.
A good day for the Irish can be enhanced by Brighterdaysahead, a mare tackling geldings in the Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (1.55, nb). The step up to 2m 4f is ideal, as she aims to improve on her creditable second against her own sex from Cheltenham in March.
William Hill Handicap Chase (2.30) tactics could play to the strengths of Tom Lacey’s progressive Cruz Control. Most of his 12 rivals like to be held up and this seven-year-old, who prefers a left-handed flat track, will be dangerous if allowed to dictate,
Cuthbert Dibble is tipped to capitalise on a 5lb Cheltenham weights turnaround with Monmiral in the opening William Hill Handicap Hurdle (1.20).
THE SCOUT’S AINTREE TIPS
1.20 Cuthbert Dibble
1.55 Brighterdaysahead (nb)
2.30 Cruz Control
3.05 Hiddenvalley Lake (treble)
4.00 Galvin (Nap)
5.00 Found A Fifty
5.35 Mister Meggit
