Grand National 2026

Apart from Tiger Roll this has been a bit of a wilderness for me since Rule the World won @ 50/1 that year I nearly got the forecast with Vics Canvas 3rd @ 100/1, but the race has definitely changed and I haven't kept pace. Forget the idea of bags of experience and solid jumpers it tends to go now to younger unexposed horses who have speed but can brush through the fences.

A few years ago backing 7 year olds was a definite no no but in recent years we usually get a few each year and the best results have been 2025 Iroko 4th 13/2f 2024 Meetingofthewaters 7th 11/1 2023 Gaillard du Mesnil 3rd 10/1 2022 Noble Yeats 1st 50/1 2021 Farclas 5th 16/1 The one that really caught my eye this year is Quai de Bourbon for the very "shrewd" Willie Mullins who like Gaillard du Mesnil finished 3rd in the Irish National the year before went sent off 11/2f. That came after being very unlucky when travelling well in the Aintree Bowl and brought down. Pulled up in both the Troytown and the Thyestes he showed more lto over an inadequate trip. I can't help but think this has been the plan since last year as why not run him in the Irish National where he was 3rd last year? I'll be honest and say he is quick but quite a poor jumper so this test may suit him better. For me he's my 33/1 ew Nap Second one in for me is unexposed Oscars Brother who before Cheltenham had finished 1st or 2nd in all chase starts and then was a staying on 4th in the Brown Advisory. It's difficult to know what his true handicap mark is as this is first run in a handicap chase but in his only handicap hurdle run he was beaten a head into 3rd in a big listed race @ Navan. Definitely one to go down in the could be anything category and wouldn't be at all surprised to see a big run. I've backed him on the Exchange around the 22/1 ew mark (win/top 5) I must confess I am so drawn to Favori de Champdou and Final Orders from the Cross Country field but you can't really say there could be huge improvement to come with either of them so for my final pick I'll go for another "could be anything" horse - Marble Sands a bit older at 10 and who has had a weird prep for this. He jumped round in the Topham last year before returning @ Goodwood on the flat and then won a big handicap @ Cheltenham in November over nearly 3 1/2 miles improving the further he went. Then last seen on Boxing Day finishing 2nd in the Rowland Meyrick. Connections clearly wanted to protect his mark but took a risk as he only just got in the race but he simply intrigues me and @ 100/1 with 6 places each way there's certainly a bit of value in the place.