How many greys in 2018 grand national

Only nine years ago a unfancied gee-gee called Mon Mome won the race by an impressive twelve lengths. The biggest priced horse taking part this year? An each-way bet could land you a decent profit should they finish in the top four or five. We suspect, however, that this rumour is normally started by bookies.

Only there have only ever been three grey horses to ever win the race. Making cheering on your pick nice and simple, eh? Maybe you make your selection based on which horse has a stupid name. Had Aintree squarely in his sights in after a good third in the Becher Chase over these fences but has been a long way below that form this time around.

Showed a bit more interest in the Cross Country at Cheltenham last time but even that still gave him plenty to find. Warmed up with a win over the minimum trip of two miles, which is hardly the standard prep for a National horse. He stayed on all the way to the line to win the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival, arrives on a great racing weight and could well improve significantly for the marathon trip. Huge run anticipated.

Big runner on the basis of a win in the Grade One Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham in , but a no-hoper according to pretty much all of his form since. The unique challenge of the National fences occasionally nudges a horse to rediscover their best, but the unique challenge of the cross-country course at Cheltenham did nothing for him last time so that feels like grasping at straws.

Much harder to like this time round after he was pulled up when tailed off at Cheltenham last month. That was a tough race for a comeback after more than a year off and he should improve for the outing, but the strong suspicion remains that his train is arriving at Lime Street 12 months too late. Mixed in some very decent company back in the day but never a prolific winner and has scored just four times in 32 starts over fences.

Has nothing on his recent record to suggest there is the remotest chance of him making it 5 out of A Grade One winner as a novice at Cheltenham in but that was over two-and-a-half miles and she has yet to show any form when tried at three-and-a-quarter and above. Kevin Sexton is most unlikely to join them.

The Scottish Grand National winner rarely runs a bad race and put up arguably the best performance of his entire career to win a valuable and competitive event at Doncaster in January.

That was a fourth win in his last six starts in chases and he is a credit to his trainer, Nicky Richards, whose father saddled two National winners, but it also means that he makes his Grand National debut off a career-high mark at the age of A big ask. The third string to the Willie Mullins bow has been running well without winning this year, but not well enough to suggest that he will beat either of his stable companions, never mind a significant number of the other 37 horses in the race.

Decent form on good ground during his early days in France is the only real straw to clutch if you have pulled him out in the sweep. Successful on his chasing debut in November but still looking for his second win over fences after nine attempts. Most of his form in on softer ground, which is a concern, but he is one of those horses that would need plenty to go his way to win without it being in any way a surprise if he did. Won the Grand National Trial over three-and-a-half at Haydock Park in February and has a chance on that form, but seems to need bottomless ground to produce his best and put a spoke in the wheels of his quicker rivals.

Pulled up over three miles and five furlongs in November and below form again when fancied to run well at the Cheltenham Festival. Very hard to recommend in his current frame of mind. Appears to need a freak event of Foinavon-like proportions to stand any chance.

He is the likeliest winner and a worthy favourite, but easy enough to swerve when the sheer unpredictability of the National has not been factored in to his price. Has winning form at Aintree but not over these fences, and knocked himself out of contention with a bad mistake at Kempton last time. That hardly inspires confidence here, for all that the big fences are not what they were, and he looks handicapped to the hilt as well.

As grizzled a veteran of these unique obstacles as any horse in training, having raced over the National course no fewer than seven times including two wins and a second in the Becher Chase at the December meeting. Still a novice over fences so has some scope to step up on his previous form but needs to bridge a big gap in terms of class, the challenge of the big fences and the extended trip to stand much chance of getting involved. Can get excited so absence of spectators may help, as should the drying ground.

Trainer has twice saddled the runner-up as well as landing the race with Hedgehunter 16 years ago. Trainer is not a big fan of the Grand National, which probably has not been helped by a largely disappointing record in the race. This one hasn't done much talking on the track lately, but was an impressive winner of the Bet Gold Cup formerly the Whitbread at Sandown two years ago and would be in the mix on that form.

Form: P4F Age: 8 Weight: Fifteen races since his last win. Those defeats include finishing eighth in the Irish National and falling when evens favourite last time out. Has been well beaten by some of his rivals in this race, including Burrows Saint, Jett and Chris's Dream.

Trainer's best finish is sixth although did score with outsider Jeff Kidder at last month's Cheltenham Festival. Beaten by a total of lengths in his past five races but could fly high again after dropping down the weights - saddled with 12lb less this time than when fifth in the National, having finished fourth the year before. Also boasts a second and third place in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, so a player if shrewd trainer has him back to form.

Form: -6U Age: 8 Weight: Generally sound jumper and one of the more interesting outsiders if he takes to this Aintree lark. Would be a poignant winner for the trainer, whose daughter Kim died 43 from cancer last May. He intends to hand over the training licence to son Joe at the end of this month. Looked a real National prospect when a comfortable winner of the Classic Chase at Warwick. Like many of us, Kimberlite Candy gets a bit grumpy when he's taken out of his routine. He's sweet enough on this course, however - twice finishing runner-up in the Becher Chase over the National fences.

Jockey was beaten by a nose on Sunnyhillboy in Form: P1 Age: 9 Weight: Planned runner last year before the cancellation and one of several contenders in the green and gold colours of owner JP McManus. Showed wellbeing with win at Navan in February. Trainer won in with Papillon, ridden by his son Ruby, and was third nine years ago with Seabass, ridden by daughter Katie, who is now his assistant trainer.

Form: U Age: 10 Weight: Won the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham in but form has tailed off since then, and unseated rider at Cheltenham last month. Stable jockey Rachael Blackmore prefers Minella Times. Form: PP4 Age: 11 Weight: Looked in decent shape when ridden in the National three years ago by Rachael Blackmore for previous trainer Mouse Morris before falling at the Chair.

Did win a race later that year but has not scored since. First ride in the race for jockey who looks to be going places. There's something inexplicable about the record of trainer Nicky Henderson, who has won multiple Champion Hurdles, Champion Chases and Gold Cups but has an unenviable record in the Grand National. Nine of his runners have fallen at the first fences and it is more in hope than expectation that he seeks a first win.

Despite being aged 11, OK Corral is still well placed for a shootout - lightly raced and booking of leading Irish amateur jockey is a plus. Form: P41 Age: 12 Weight: The last year-old to win the Grand National was Amberleigh House 17 years ago. But the peak form of a Scottish Grand National win in , when beating Cloth Cap, makes this a less risky proposition. Trainer's father Gordon won with Lucius and Hallo Dandy Decent third in the mares' chase at the Cheltenham Festival, although backers must be prepared to have their hearts broken in this tougher test.

Never fallen in 23 races over fences and won seven of them, including the JLT Novices' Chase at the Festival in , but was pulled up when tried in the Irish Grand National a year later.

Form: P78P06 Age: 10 Weight: Trailed in eighth in the Becher Chase over the National fences earlier in the season, although jumped fine - and the ground was softer than ideal for him then. Trainer also has Magic Of Light, who was second in Amateur jockey, riding for father Robert, won the Cheltenham Gold Cup 10 years ago on Long Run and has triumphed six times over the National fences in other races at the meeting. Seems to need soft ground to really lord it over his rivals.

Jockey was third on Teaforthree eight years ago. Trainer also involved in the bloodstock industry and sourced the Grand National contender Acapella Bourgeois and former champion hurdler Hurricane Fly.

Form: P Age: 11 Weight: Nationals are this lad's game. Winner of the Midlands National, the Welsh National and even the Virtual Grand National - a computer-animated race in when the real thing was called off because of the Covid pandemic. Laid-back trainer exercises his horses on the beach at Ogmore-by-Sea. Potters Corner is part-owned by rugby union star Jonathan Davies and would be the first winner based in Wales for more than a century.

Form: 2-P Age: 9 Weight: Good ground could put this unsung contender into the top class. While trainer's main hope appears to be Burrows Saint, there is encouragement from Class Conti's third-placed finish in the Thyestes Chase and Leinster National fourth, although both were with softer conditions.