Grand National Runners

Madison Du Berlais
Betfair Bowl winner a year ago and form figures of 3244 for this season read well considering the company he's been keeping. Leniantly treated despite top weight and possibly one of the higher weights who could take a hand in the finish.

Mon Mome
Bidding to become the first horse horse since Red Rum to successfully defend the Grand National crown but has always had two ways of running and no gaurantee he'll run to last year's GN form or this year's Gold Cup form, more need off this weight in any case.

Vic Venturi
Most recently won the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse and prior to that was an impressive winner of the Becher Chase, only got a hike of 10lbs for that win where past winners have got a lot more, but still surprising if he can give weight to over thiry-five rivals and win.

Black Apalachi
Was in the process of running a huge race when unseating last year and fear is his best chance was twelve months ago. But comes here in good order following his second behind stablemate Vic Venturi the last time, and like that horse, potentially a half a stone or so well in so its possible weight isn't that much of a negative.

Joe Lively
Cheltenham specalist in the years gone by and fine servant for the Tizzards but on this much more flatter track will need something to re-ignite his enthusaism especially in this demanding race.

Don't Push It
The mount of AP McCoy, bidding to win this race at the fifteenth attempt, but suggestion is that McCoy has a lot better rides in the past and this suspect jumper looks to have a lot to do on paper.

Comply Or Die
2008 winner and arguably even bettered that performance to finish runner-up last year off a big weight, since dropped three pounds, but like last year comes here in bad form. But the leniancy of the handicapper gives him an outside chance and with form figures of first and second in this race could not be ruled out with any degree of certainity.

Tricky Trickster
Won the four-miler at Cheltenham a year ago and now trained by the champion trainer, looked in excellent form this season before disappointing in the Gold Cup and still a fair bit on his plate here off such a big weight at the tender age of seven.

Niche Market
2009 Irish National winner, a race that has provided many a winner of this event the following season but handicapper has taken a harsh view of that race and raised this lad 16lbs, stays and jumps but possibly weighted to his maximum.

Made In Taipan
Fine novice last season over two miles but never raced beyond two and half miles in his life, so the four and a half here is a major step into the unknown and presumption has to be that he will fail to see it out.

Dream Alliance
Profile wouldn't be that different to Mon Mome's a year ago plus he can be very temperamental but at the same time very good on his day. Welsh National win was impressive but has been raised 9lbs for that run and will need step up yet again which is unlikely.

Cloudy Lane
Went off a well-backed favourite for this race two years ago when he was supposedly over a stone well in. But finished sixth, and huge hike in the ratings meant he couldn't complete last year and hard to see the story being any different at the third attempt.

Nozic
Classy individual on his day but woefully out of form since winning the Rowland Merywick in 2008 and needs inspiration from somewhere to ensure he figures here. Return to his old form entitles him to be bang there but hard to see that happening.

My Will
Third last year when arriving in much better form and a lot on his plate again, a year ago was probably his year but worth bearing in mind that he's been dropped 2lbs in the ratings from twelve months ago.

Pablo Du Charmil
Another typical two miler, though not in the class of even Made In Taipan at that distance, taking a major step up in trip. Finished fourth on his penultimate start at first three mile attempt but so much more required to even figure here.

Ballyholland
Impressive winner of the Galway Plate but crucified by the handicapper for that win with a rise of 14lbs and put in his place in the Newlands Chase the last time, stamina has to be taken on trust as well and others look better treated.

Backstage
Won't mind the sunshine at all and the drying ground really brings him into the reckoning for trainer who took this three years ago with Silver Birch. But still got a big task at the weights and others would have to be preferred.

Beat The Boys
Has either won or failed to complete in all of his eight starts so clearly not one you can trust but to be fair, Rehearsal Chase win last November gives him a chance. Not out of it but a surprise if he was to prove good enough.

Priests Leap
Dual Thyestes winner but well and truly put in his place in last year's National when a well-beaten fourteeneth and no reason why he can even better that this time particularly as the drying ground is not in his favour.

Snowy Morning
Third behind Comply Or Die two years ago before running another sound race off a massive weight last year when a good ninth (got tired in the closing stages and was hampered on the turn for home) so hard to fathom why the handicapper has dropped 9lbs and surely must go very close at the third time of asking.

Can't Buy Time
Rejected by McCoy but able deputee in the Cork born claimer, Richie McLernon. However, major stamina doubts about this one so expect McLernon to ride him well out of his ground and hope that he sees out this long long test in some form of enthusastic fashion.

Big Fella Thanks
The mount of one, Ruby Walsh, and as per usual punted into favouritism but no false favourite either and should be there or thereabouts after sound run in the race a year ago. Will probably continue to shorten as the race draws nearer but ticks all the boxes and looks a major player.

State Of Play
Fantastic fourth a year ago and has since been dropped five pounds in the ratings for one poor run (pulled up in the Hennessy behind Denman) and surely must enter calculations once again if he can fully see the trip out.

Character Building
The mount of Nina Carberry, bidding to become the first lady rider to win the National, and landing this ride gives her a major chance. Twice a Cheltenham Festival winner, Character Building has always looked a National horse and if jumping around, will make them all go. Shouldn't be far away and Nina could be on the verge of history.

Ellerslie George
Winner of the Badger Ales last November but subsequently been beaten twice and on only two runs over National fences has seen him get well beaten and a major shock if this outsider can spring a surprise.

Eric's Charm
Twelve year old who's in fine fettle following two wins on his most recent outings but the handicapper has taken plenty of note and duly raised him a total of 14lbs, more improvement needed to even figure in this and at his ripe old age, hardly surprising if it isn't forthcoming.

King Johns Castle
Brilliant second two years ago when the ice cool Carberry crept him into the race very steadiy before making a challenge after the last and suspect similiar tactics will be the aim tomorrow but eleven years old and for one who's had injury problems, that run twenty four months ago could be as good as it gets.

Conna Castle
Not won in his last twenty starts and unseated the jockey on his latest outing so forgiven if thinking, this is an obvious one to avoid for trainer who famously landed a major gamble with Monty's Pass now seven years ago.

Ballyfitz
Erratic jumper at the best of times, fifth in the Welsh National but comes here on the back of a bad run, however, a sneaking suspicion that he could return to his best form and if jumping all the fences, he should be in the shake up.

Ollie Magern
Tremendous servant, a credit to his owner and trainer for he always tries his heart out. Expect he'll bowl along in front as he usually does but old age will have caught up by the end of the marathon test that he feces.

Arbor Supreme
Always ran as though he would shape up into a National horse and will relish the drying conditions. Has to be on any shortlist and if he jumps, is certain to be on the premises.

Maljimar
Pulled up at this meeting last year and subsequent three runs all came at Cheltenham culminating in a fine third in the Cross Country. Silver Birch did take that route in 2007 but surprising if this one can repeat the feat, a mountain to climb.

The Package
Steadily rising in the weights all season long but showed that was no burden with a brilliant run at the Cheltenham Festival leaving him potentially well in. The age stat is being used against them and perhaps inexperience could find him out but he's win claims all the same.

Piraya
Another who is bidding to overcome the age stat being just a 7yo but this one has bigger doubts concerning the trip, never won over three miles and it's hard to make a decent case that he can see the four and a half miles out in winning fashion here.

Irish Raptor
Did win the Topham at last year's meeting but fell in next attempt at the National fences before finishing fifth in the London National, the ground has come right for him but this is surely a step too far.

Cerium
Fast finishing fifth in the National of 2009 and presumably trained all season long with this mind once again, just crept into the handicap and should give a good account of himself again. But impossible to imagine that this trainer/owner combo could get a National winner, surely?

Palpyso De Creek
Won the French version of this in 2008 as a 5yo and as a result bought to be trained for this race, still only a 7yo but one with plenty of experience and after a good third in the Becher and another impressive run to be second to Our Vic, he surely has place claims at the very least. 100/1 could look very big very big by 4.30pm on Saturday.

Hello Bud
Trainer accounts for an eighth of the field and hard to know where this one fits in the overall scheme of things having won the Scottish National off only a pound lower mark. Lots of poor runs since, however, and probably best left alone/

Flintoff
Master of the staying handicaps, second in the Haydock Gold Cup, sixth in the Irish National. third in the Scottish National and second in the Midlands National so he clearly loves a stamina test. Pulled out of another tilt at the Irish National last Monday in favour of this and trainer knows what she's doing having trained last year's winner.

Royal Rosa
The last runner to make this year's field at the expense of stablemate Abbreybraney who has withdrawn on Friday, interesting that this one is preferred as Abbeybraney looked to have better claims. Maybe the third in the Becher gives cause for optimism, however, hasn't been in the best form since and hard to know what to expect.

First rate summary. I know your still struggling to figure out what you wanna be when you grow up but their are fewer if any nobler callings in life than race by race analysis assessors.
Ive given the winner on the other thread btw