a less than comprehensive run-down on the 40-runners. (The Grand National)

​MINELLA TIMES – Would have to be another Red Rum to defy such a huge hike in the weights. Bottom of the handicap last year, top this year. It’s not as if he shown any worthwhile form this season.
DELTA WORK – Not carried away with his cross-country win. For all that he beat Tiger Roll on his home-ground, the cross-country was uncompetitive and I believe Delta Work doesn’t have the desire required to win a Grand National.
EASYSLAND – He remains one of the worst handicapped horses in training. To my mind, a forlorn hope.
ANY SECOND NOW – Obvious chance and worthy favourite. He was not as unlucky last year as is made-out by his supporters. He was nearly brought down but he didn’t need to be bustled along to get back into a winning position. Would not be at all surprised to see him in the first three again.
RUN WILD FRED – An experienced novice with as good a chance as any of Gordon Elliott’s battalion of runners. He has the great advantage of having Davy Russell on board.
LOSTINTRANSLATION – The sort of horse to be inspired and enthused by Aintree to out-run his odds. Not a completely forlorn hope.
BRAHMA BULL – Can’t see him worrying the judge, can you?
BURROWS SAINT – Although he appeared not to stay last year, he met a horse obviously thrown-in at the weights who won a shade cosily. With Minella Times handicapped up to the hilt and if the wind dries the soft out of the ground, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him prevail this time around.
MOUNT IDA – Why has Davy Russell chosen Run Wild Fred over her? Spoken of as a National horse for two-years by Gordon Elliott. Can’t see her jumping holding-up, personally.
LONGHOUSE POET – I am drawn to this horse. Progressive. Jumps well. Should have the required stamina. Wouldn’t put anyone off him. On my list of backable horses.
FIDDLERONTHEROOF – Another on my list of probables. Wasn’t taken by his last run and his second in the Ladbrokes Trophy is flattering as the winner has done nothing since. But he has class, is consistent and is on a winning mark. On my list.
TWO FOR GOLD – Will he stay? At least will he stay well enough to win. Possibly. No forlorn hope.
SANTINI – My idea of the winner, though the ground drying is a worry. I have waited for two-years for this horse to run in a 4-mile chase as all he does is jump and gallop. I believe he was born for this race but at 10 it might prove a year too late. I am trying to talk myself out of calling him the winner but my gut instinct keeps drawing me back to him
SAMCRO – Can’t see it, can you? Well, actually, I can and I might have a couple quid each-way on him as you cannot get away from the fact that inside this horse there is a bucket-load of class and 4-miles and Aintree might dredge it out of him. On my list.
ESCARIA TEN – A might be. I thought last year he looked a National type, yet something nags me that though he might win a National, it is more likely to be at Fairyhouse, Ayr or Chepstow.
GOOD BOY BOBBY – Consistent, nicely weighted, trained by a master of his craft, especially around Aintree. Not for me but if you are a good boy named Bobby or you know someone that fits the description, why would you not back him each-way.
LORD DU MESNIL – The jockey is his main attribute. Not for me.
COKO BEACH – Sure to get round, though he would need softer ground to be competitive, I believe.
de RASHER COUNTER – A former Ladbrokes Trophy winner and injury prone, with only two runs in two seasons. I like him. Thought he ran with great promise in the Denman at Newbury and wasn’t given a hard time when his chance had gone. He is on my list.
KILDISART – I suspect this horse is not the horse he once was. James Bowen is an asset but the horse doesn’t appeal to me.
DISCORAMA – Another definite possible. Ran well last year, though  didn’t get home and was behind a horse we believe doesn’t stay in Burrows Saint, so how can we sure Discorama is a true stayer? Sure to get round.
TOP VILLE BEN – Fell in the Becher but ran with definite promise up till then. Consistent since and could give a braver bettor than me a good run for their money.
ENJOY d’ALLEN – I do not understand why this horse is fancied by so many. At 5.30 on Saturday, I might be enlightened.
ANIBALE FLY – A credit to connections but surely his best days are behind him.
DINGO DOLLAR – A solid performer that I would be considering if the ground were softer. He’ll stay and jump but on the prevailing conditions there has to be speedier, classier, horses to make the job too hard for him to overcome.
FREEWHEELIN’ DYLAN – No obvious chance – though it was said of him at Fairyhouse last season and confounded us all. On the prevailing ground he might just do it again. 
CLASS CONTI – A forlorn Willie Mullins runner. Don’t get many of those in a season.
NOBLE YEATS – The final ride in the career of one of the best British amateurs of many a long year. More knowledgeable people than I think this horse is no forlorn hope. Not for me, though.
MIGHTY THUNDER – A Scottish National winner and might be enthused by Aintree. A leap of faith to think he might win but this is the Grand National and stranger results have occurred. 
CLOTH CAP – I don’t like the fact he refused two races ago. Other than that, given he gave a bold show last year before suffering breathing difficulties, he could spring a surprise. Don’t entirely rule him out if you are looking for an each-way punt.
SNOW LEOPARDESS – Not as enamoured with her as her position in the betting suggests I should be. I don’t think she’ll stay, though her intrepid owner has no doubts on that score, and the ground is slowly going against her.
AGUSTA GOLD – Formerly useful, though as Patrick Mullins wrote ‘has regressed nicely since coming to Closutton’. She might be the one to surprise.
PHOENIX WAY – Good form, up and coming jockey, a trainer destined to win a major prize. A definite might-be.
DEISE ABA – Useful on his day but not useful enough to take a hand in the finish of a Grand National.
BLAKLION – Would love him to run a big race. Not as forlorn a hope as a 13-year-old should be.
POKER PARTY – NO. Just no.
DEATH DUTY - Ran one good race and suddenly he was all the rage for a race of far greater depth. Not for me.
DOMAINE de L’ISLE  - Back him to finish in his own time.
ÉCLAIR SURF – Thought he looked a possible for the Grand National when he won at Warwick and can understand why he is so high in the betting. I just prefer Emma Lavell’s other runner. Mad as that might seem.
FORTESCUE – And finally. Sneaked into the race at the last chance saloon. Pleased he’s in as he has a better each-way chance than many above him and in good form. On my list.
As of this moment, I intend to back Santini to win, with each-way bets on de Rasher Counter, Longhouse Poet and Fortescue. Which has to be mad as three of those are English-trained and on last year’s form when 9 out of the first 10 were Irish the evidence suggests only back Irish-trained runners.
By the way, if Santini was still trained by Nicky Henderson, do you think he’s odds would be as long as they are? His form this year is similar to his form of the previous two-seasons. I rest my case.