BALLABRIGGS | ODDS 14/1

WEIGHT (11-00) | AGE (10) | NAT. (IRE) | NUMBER (10)

One of the favourites across most of the bookmakers, Ballabriggs came out of the weights very well having been given only 11-00. This is well within the optimum limit to give him a fighting chance as well as the fact that he’s 10 years old, Irish (it helps!), terrific trainer with plenty of experience and is on SUPERB form. Barring any falls or accidents on the day, Ballabriggs is our top tip!

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LATEST FORM (3111-112)

Jason Maguire

Jason started out his career in pony races, he got his first success with ‘Search For Peace’ at Cheltenham Racecourse in 1999. He then went on to ride for Tom George’s stable for the next seven years and had a Cheltenham Festival victory on Galileo in 2002.

In 2007, he switched to ride for Ginger McCain’s son, Donald McCain, Jr. To date his best finish in a Grand National was 6th place on Cloudy Lane in 2008.

Donald McCain Jnr

It’s always going to be difficult when you decide to follow in your father’s footsteps, but it’s got to be ten million times harder when your father is none other than the legendary Ginger McCain, trainer of the most famous horse in the racing world, Red Rum.

Hopefully Jnr will join his father in the record books with Ballabriggs, who will attempt to provide the McCain family with a fifth National success. With an impeccable form, with five wins from his last seven outings and a good solid handicap, Ballabriggs could be about to bring Donald McCain Jnr his first Grand National win.

BIG FELLA THANKS | ODDS 16/1

WEIGHT (11-01) | AGE (9) | NAT. (IRE) | NUMBER (8)

Without taking anything away from AP McCoy’s terrific 2010 Grand National, I can’t help but think that maybe Big Fella Thanks could have done it if Ruby Walsh had not gotten injured just hours before the start of the race.

That in mind, I think Big Fella Thanks has definitely got what it takes. He has been given 3 more pounds this year and starts on 11-01 but I don’t believe that will cause him a great deal of trouble!

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LATEST FORM (2U14-2F44)

Graham Lee

Born in Galway, Ireland in 1975 Graham Lee astounded everyone, when after years of relative obscurity, he won the 2004 Grand National on Amberleigh House, and then just two weeks later won the 28-runner Scottish Grand National on Grey Abbey.

In 2008 became only the fourth National Hunt jockey to be placed in the first two positions in the National Hunt Jockey’s Championship in ten years.

Jimmy Mangan

The County Cork handler has already tasted Aintree glory, having saddled Monty’s Pass to success in 2003.

OSCAR TIME | ODDS 14/1

WEIGHT (10-09) | AGE (10) | NAT. (IRE) | NUMBER (18)

Oscar Time could be the one to watch this year but for all of the positives such as his age, weight, stamina etc…, he nearly always travels on Heavy ground and he has never even run on gd/soft and only once on Good and didn’t place.

It could be that he’s being trained to overcome this issue but check the going on the day before committing to him!

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LATEST FORM (3152-263)

Sam Waley-Cohen

Sam Waley-Cohen is probably one of the most interesting jockeys to take to the Grand National fences. In the 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup he beat out favourites Denman, Kauto Star and Imperial Commander to be the first amateur in 30 years to win the Gold Cup on his fathers horse, Long Run.

Will he add the National to his growing list of big race wins?

M M Lynch

The Grand National has been the sole aim of trainer M M Lynch this season. Can he pull of a big win with Oscar Time?

CHARACTER BUILDING | ODDS 25/1

WEIGHT (10-04) | AGE (11) | NAT. (IRE) | NUMBER (35)

A good solid horse who was 7th in the 2010 Grand National, Character Building could be the one to have a sneaky each-way bet on this year. Ridden by Nina Carberry, she had a fantastic race last year and knows how to get around the course which will be a massive advantage over some of the new comers to the race.

Although a year older at 11, he will be carrying 7lbs less than last year and though the form may not be as good as you would hope, it also means a lower handicap which could give him the edge.

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LATEST FORM (000-30563)

Nina Carberry

Being daughter to legendary National Hunt jockey and trainer Tommy Carberry, who had Gold Cup and Grand National wins in the 1960s and 70s, was always going to be a good indication that Nina Carberry would have horseriding in her blood. It didn’t affect just her, brothers Paul; who won the 1999 Grand National on Bobbyjo, trained by his father; and Philip are also champion National Hunt jockeys.

Nina would certainly make history if she became the first woman to win the Grand National!

John Quinn

Born in Ireland, John has always been associated with horses from a young age starting with riding hunters at his grandfather’s farm. His interest in horses continued throughout and led to him having a stint as a jockey which reaped around 100 winners in Britain and Ireland.

PIRAYA | ODDS 100/1

WEIGHT (10-04) | AGE (8) | NAT. (FR) | NUMBER (33)

He’s had a few recent run outs and though he’s pulled up in the last two he definitely has the stamina to go the distance. He’s also 3lbs lighter, a year older and with David Pipe training him he could be a serious dark horse amoungst the current batch of favourites…

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LATEST FORM (00P-234PP)

Johnny Farrelly

Farrelly is a confident Jockey who can get the most out of a horse, he has the skills to recover even when his mount makes mistakes.

David Pipe

David’s record is already impressive, a Cheltenham Festival double (An Accordion – William Hill Trophy and Our Vic – Ryanair Chase) was followed up by another double at the Grand National meeting for good measure. Comply Or Die provided the highlight of the whole season with his sensational victory in the John Smiths Grand National itself – a feat that took his father twenty years to achieve!