Chicago Grey | ODDS 18/1

WEIGHT (10-13) | AGE (9) | NAT. (IRE) | NUMBER (11) | JOCKEY (Paul Carberry)

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Chicago Grey, trained by Gordon Elliott, is one of my picks for the 2012 Grand National. A number of factors contributed to this including the fact that he is in his prime at nine years of age, he has been given a very winnable 10-13 by the handicapper, he has raced and won at over 4 miles, he likes the going good, has a Grand National winning trainer and successfully got around in the Scottish Grand National as well as a win at Cheltenham in the 4m National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup over 25 fences.

LATEST FORM (-U3732)

A solid win at Cheltenham last year, as well as a good finish in the 2011 Scottish Grand National may give Chicago Grey the edge at Aintree. Having been allocated 10-13 and a absolute stayer on the course, he should get around easily provided he stays out of trouble and has that very important element of luck on his side on the day.

Paul Carberry

Hailing from one of the fore-most racing families in Ireland, Paul Carberry, is the son of jockey Tommy Carberry and brother to fellow jockey Nina Carberry. A former Grand National winner on Bobbyjo in 1999, Paul has ridden in 15 Grand Nationals and is a formidable jockey who would love to bag his second win!

Gordon Elliott

The 2007 Grand National proved that age, experience and reputation are not precursors for success, when Gordon Elliott, a novice trainer who had not yet had a single winner in his homeland of Ireland, won the steeplechase with 33-1 shot Silver Birch.

The then 29 year old Elliott became the youngest ever trainer to win the race. He had just entered his second season as a licensed trainer, and he had bought Silver Birch from legendary Champion trainer Paul Nicholls. The irony will of course not have been lost on Nicholls, who despite his impressive track record as a jumps trainer, has yet to win the Grand National.

SEABASS | ODDS 20/1

WEIGHT () | AGE () | NAT. (IRE) | NO. () | JOCKEY ()

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Seabass is Grand National Winning trainer Ted Walsh's only entry into the 2012 Grand National and comes with an immaculate record with six back-to-back wins with five of them being won with either Ruby Walsh or Katie Walsh on board - two of Ted Walsh's children. He is nine years old and from 11 chase starts has turned out five wins, a second and a third.

LATEST FORM (1/1111)

With perfect form, a solid 10-12 weight for the 2012 Grand National, a winning trainer and still only 9 years old, you would be forgiven for thinking that Seabass was going to absolutely walk the Grand National but a closer look shows you that Seabass has never raced outside of Ireland, appears to be far more comfortable at 2m4f, has never entered a race more than 3m and does his best work on Heavy ground. A long shot for the win but could surprise by being placed...

Katie Walsh

Ted Walsh

Ted Walsh is most famous these days for his 2000 Grand National win with Papillon, trained by himself and ridden by his son Ruby. His victory by one and a half lengths from Mely Moss, was the winning debut in the National for Ruby Walsh and this year Seabass is his only hopeful, albeit a good one.

As well as being a trainer, Walsh is a journalist and TV racing analyst following a career as a jockey, with an impressive record of being eleven times Irish Champion amateur rider, winning more than 600 races on the Flat and partnering four Cheltenham festival winners.

WEST END ROCKER | ODDS 40/1

WEIGHT () | AGE () | NAT. (IRE) | NUMBER () | JOCKEY ()

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A recent winner at Aintree in December 2011, West End Rocker is trained by Alan King and was unfortunate in the 2011 Grand National, when he was brought down at the 6th fence. In 2011 he carried 10-05 and has been given an increased weight of 10-12 for the 2012 renewal. He has no further prep races scheduled so it's straight to Aintree for West End Rocker.

LATEST FORM (1PB-P1)

A good solid win at Aintree on December 3rd 2011 in a field of 14 where he romped home by a massive 22 lengths over nearest rival Niche Market. But, pulled up at Cheltenham the previous month and brought down in the 2011 Grand National. He prefers to going Good/GdSft and with eight wins/places from his 14 career chase starts would have netted you about 57% return on your cash if you had bet each-way on him in every race.

Wayne Hutchinson

With over 1300 races to his name and over 165 wins, Wayne Hutchinson is a solid jockey who has competed in three previous Grand Nationals, including 2010 on Erics Charm when he fell at the first. He works for trainer Alan King and is the yards second jockey behind Robert Thornton. He learnt his trade from two former greats in the shape of Stan Mellor and Jeff King, before coming to Barbury in the summer of 2002.

Alan King

Born in 1966, he went to work at David Nicholson’s Condicote yard as a teenager, where he soon became Assistant. In December 1999 he took out his own licence at Jackdaws Castle, where he trained 31 winners in six months. On 1 June 2000 King moved to Barbury Castle, which has since been improved and expanded in the quest for more winners. In 2009 he secured top trainer honours at the 2009 John Smith’s Grand National meeting with three successes.

Sunnyhillboy | ODDS 20/1

WEIGHT () | AGE () | NAT. (IRE) | NUMBER () | JOCKEY ()

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A good, solid horse, Sunnyhillboy has been suffering from poor form recently - at least in comparison to the 2009/2010 season and also, dare I say it, since AP McCoy stopped regularly pairing with him. Owned by JP McManus and trained by Jonjo O'Neill, he has run at Aintree but never over 4miles with the large bulk of his races between 2 and 2.5 miles. Proven over hurdles, the 2012 Grand National may just be a tad too much for this fella and finishing 9th at Haydock on Feb 18th doesn't help his cause.

LATEST FORM (37P91)

Poorer form than usual of late, Sunnyhillboy has more wins over hurdles than chases and may need another couple of races under his belt if he is to be seriously considered for the 2012 Grand National. Most recently he pulled up at Cheltenham in December despite going into the race as 7/2f and only managed 9th place at Haydock on Feb 18th in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle.

Richie McLernon

Despite racing the most with AP McCoy, it's unlikely that he will ride him in the 2012 Grand National so it's more probable that Richie McClernon will be on board. McClernon has ridden in nearly a 1000 races but with just over 85 wins to his name, the stats don't necessarily bode well for him and he has never won on Sunnyboyhill.

Jonjo O'Neill

Since 2001 Jonjo O'Neill has been based out of Jackdaws Castle and in his first season there sent out 114 winners. In the 2006/07 season he recorded 126 winners which earned close to £2m in prize money. His stable boasts superstar names such as Butler’s Cabin, Albertas Run, Witchita Lineman, Don’t Push It, Synchronised and Theatrical Moment and with one Grand National win already under his belt, you can bet that he's more than keen for a second!