2022 Randox Grand National: Lydia Hislop's runner-by-runner guide
By Lydia Hislop
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
The Grand National takes place at 5.15pm on Saturday on Racing TV. Racing Broadcaster of the Year Lydia Hislop gives her verdict on every runner and her idea of the 1-2-3-4-5-6.
If you’re planning a business meeting to celebrate this Saturday’s Randox Grand National, the following guide will hopefully tell you which runners are worth your (fixed-penalty) notice:
5 bottles: Have suitcase, will smuggle 4 bottles: RSVP-ed, bringing own booze 3 bottles: Prosecco-fuelled and dancing to ABBA 2 bottles: Surprised by cake 1 bottle: Staying for around five minutes
1 MINELLA TIMES
Comfortable winner last year, crowning Rachael Blackmore the first female jockey to triumph. Never remotely competitive in two starts this season, falling heavily on return and pulling up in the Leopardstown handicap in which he’d finished second 12 months earlier. Needs to bounce back in this admittedly more suitable test. 3 bottles
2 DELTA WORK
There were great scenes at Cheltenham as Delta Work and Tiger Roll returned to the winner's enclosure together
Five-times Grade One-winning chaser who never quite matched his billing as a Gold Cup hope. Chief villain at last month’s Cheltenham Festival, thwarting stablemate Tiger Roll’s victorious swansong over the cross-country fences. Scruffy jumper of conventional fences. Very feasibly weighted. 4 bottles
3 SCHOOL BOY HOURS
Unexposed as a staying chaser. Utilised his stamina to wear down rivals in a valuable handicap at Leopardstown over Christmas. Pulled up in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham but was pitching for the lead when making a mistake four out and stumbling – a chance-ending error. Handles large fields. Interesting last-minute player. 4 bottles
4 ANY SECOND NOW
(Focusonracing)
Unlucky not to finish second last year, making a mistake at the tenth and – more damagingly – badly hampered two fences later, causing him to lose his advantageous pitch. Still unexposed as a staying chaser, capable of dealing with a 7lb higher mark. Prepared in similar style by his shrewd trainer, who’s been notably bullish. 4 bottles
5 RUN WILD FRED
Raced with a target on his back and made the odd mistake in an unconventional edition of the NH Chase at Cheltenham last time out, finishing a creditable second. Suited to big-field handicaps and marathon trips, having finished second in last season’s Irish Grand National. Prominent run style well suited to this task but others perhaps weighted more advantageously. 4 bottles
6 LOSTINTRANSLATION
In prime form two seasons ago, when winning the Betfair Chase and finishing third in the Gold Cup. Began well this term with victory at Ascot, but lesser form since and first-time cheekpieces no help at Cheltenham. Others better handicapped. Suited to flat tracks, however. 2 bottles
7 BRAHMA BULL
Error-prone chaser who’s failed to complete – with cheekpieces added – in his last two starts. Previously in consistent form, albeit not evidently well-handicapped. Often gets behind, which compounds his problems here. 1 bottle
8 BURROWS SAINT
Won the 2019 Irish National but palpably failed to stay this longer trip when a well-held fourth last year – going smoothly until the petrol gauge suddenly started to flicker two fences from home. On the same mark here in a deeper edition. Both hangs and jumps right when tired. 2 bottles
9 MOUNT IDA
Jumps persistently right, so her rider should pack his wetsuit for the left-handedly perpendicular Canal Turn. Straight on is the Leeds & Liverpool waterway! Yet this was her intended target until connections were distracted by Cheltenham’s Mares’ Chase. Totally unexposed at marathon trips and likely to be well-suited by such tasks... at a more appropriate venue. 2 bottles
10 LONGHOUSE POET
Watch how Longhouse Poet won the Thyestes Chase
Second-season chaser, lightly raced and progressive over staying trips. Won the big-field Thyestes Chase at Gowran on his penultimate start – always travelling and jumped well towards the fore. Unsuitable task last time. Boasts ideal profile and run style. Trainer won the 2006 National with Numbersixvalverde. Only drawback is he might prefer deeper ground. 5 bottles
11 FIDDLERONTHEROOF
Improved with experience and as stepped up in distance as a chaser. Hinted marathon trips might inspire further progress when a narrow, rallying runner-up in the Ladbrokes Trophy. Creditable second at Ascot last time, albeit wilting late in a strongly run race in testing ground on his return from a break. Feasibly handicapped. 4 bottles
12 TWO FOR GOLD
Quirky character, who might get overly revved by the pre-race atmosphere. Tends to idle in front, seemingly with the intent of getting in a scrap – boasts an impressive strike-rate to prove he’s no shirker. Steadily improving this season. Unproven in big fields. Didn’t convince over these fences in last year’s Topham. Upgraded headgear at the final declaration stage would be a plus. 2 bottles
13 SANTINI
Thorough stayer, whose evident likely aptitude for marathon trips is unexplored. Narrow runner-up in the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup but the dawdling pace in this year’s edition would not have suited. Shaped well for his new yard in January and potentially well-handicapped. The reapplication of cheekpieces at declaration time would help him hold his pitch in-running. 4 bottles
14 SAMCRO
Wunderkind and dual Cheltenham Festival winner, since thwarted by persistent physical frailties. An idling habit has thus deteriorated into finding little under pressure. Unproven at three miles, let alone marathon trips. Jumped poorly last time. Run style unsuitable. Expect blinkers to be refitted, or a first-time visor applied. This looks a desperate throw of the dice. 1 bottle
15 ESCARIA TEN
Escaria Ten is pipped by Any Second Now
Promises to blossom at marathon trips. Shaped well for an inexperienced chaser in last year’s NH Chase but probably found the Irish National coming too soon afterwards. Compromised by a serious first-fence blunder in the Thyestes on seasonal debut. First-time blinkers conjured a career-best rallying second to Any Second Now on latest start. Suitable run style. This has been his sole aim. 5 bottles
16 GOOD BOY BOBBY
Back to his very best in the autumn, reinvented as a staying chaser with second in the Rehearsal and a brave but perhaps fortunate victory in the Rowland Meyrick. Returning from a break, below form when initially ridden more patiently at Kempton last time. Suspicion he prefers to boss smaller fields. 2 bottles
17 ROMAIN DE SENAM
Very best form shy of three miles. Pulled up at 66/1 in his sole start this season, the Midlands Grand National. Unproven in large fields. 1 bottle
18 COKO BEACH
Marathon trips appear to stretch his stamina, as last season’s seventh in the Irish National and his penultimate third in Punchestown’s National Trial both illustrate. Best forgiven his latest below-par defeat, when making a quick reappearance. First-time headgear tends to lend some pep, but even that switch wouldn’t resolve the essential problem. 2 bottles
19 DE RASHER COUNTER
Well treated on his career-high Ladbrokes Trophy success in November 2019 but raced only four times since. Shaped encouragingly on his first start for 16 months when fourth in a quality edition of Newbury’s Denman Chase in February, weakening only from three out. Stamina probably not best judged on a poor display in the 2020 Midlands National. Not without hope. 3 bottles
20 KILDISART
Unexposed as a thorough stayer, despite winning competitive staying handicaps at this meeting three years ago and being narrowly denied at the Cheltenham Festival in 2020. Shaped promisingly over an inadequate trip on his first outing for 15 months at Newbury last month. Feasibly handicapped. Expect cheekpieces to be reapplied. Player at a good price. 4 bottles
21 DISCORAMA
Three times a Cheltenham Festival bridesmaid – typical of a character who’s won fewer races than his large ability merits. Ran creditably returned to fences following a break on latest start. Seventh in last year’s National, his trademark patient tactics not suited to this task – although he didn’t stay either. 2 bottles
22 TOP VILLE BEN
Not at his best over fences this season following more than a year on the sidelines. Frequently adjusted right over a shorter course of National fences in December’s Becher Chase, ultimately taking a plunging fall. Confidence perhaps boosted since by a pair of commendable efforts in small-field hurdle events. Current chase mark not certain to be feasible. 1 bottle
23 ENJOY D’ALLEN
Dependable chaser, third in last year’s Irish National and at least as good when filling the same spot in a competitive Leopardstown handicap over Christmas. Better over fences than hurdles, but still produced a career best in that discipline last time. Shapes as though stepping back up in trip may eke out a shade more improvement. Sure to run well. 4 bottles
24 ANIBALE FLY
Thick layer of dust on his best form, but twice placed in the Gold Cup. Creditable fourth and fifth in Tiger Roll’s Grand Nationals, typically caught in traffic on both occasions, but soon detached and struggling last year. Fair effort at Punchestown last May, but little encouragement since. Unsuitably patient run style. 1 bottle
25 DINGO DOLLAR
Reliable staying chaser. Ideally suited to a flat, left-handed, galloping track like this. Unexposed as a marathon chaser following his game second in the 2021 Scottish National. Yet failed to attack these fences with the same verve when ultimately pulling up in the 2020 Grand Sefton. Then trained by Alan King. Now with Sandy Thomson. Likely to come on for his latest run. 3 bottles
26 FREEWHEELIN DYLAN
Flashback: Ricky Doyle reflects on a shock win in the Irish National
Sprang a 150/1 shock in last year’s Irish National. Fourth at Punchestown next time proved it was no fluke. Similar effort to his victory 12 months earlier when sixth in Kilbeggan’s Midlands National in July. Defensively campaigned since. Shaped well over Cheltenham’s cross-country course, ironically unseating at the ‘Aintree’ fence, but ran poorly over hurdles last time – perhaps due to testing ground. 4 bottles
27 CLASS CONTI
Twice placed in the Thyestes, but his unhelpful habit of getting behind in-running was soon apparent when only 15th in this race last year. Poor form and scarcely better jumping so far this season. Upgraded headgear would probably conjure a better effort, but not here. 1 bottle
28 NOBLE YEATS
Beat subsequent Arkle runner-up Gabynako on chase debut but failed to build until second to Ahoy Senor at Wetherby on his penultimate start. Ran creditably enough when ninth in the Ultima – ridden for the first time by distinguished amateur Sam Waley-Cohen, whose record over the National fences is long and creditable. Tough ask for a seven-year-old, however. Patient run style unsuitable. 2 bottles
29 MIGHTY THUNDER
Ran productively in marathon chases at the end of his tenure as a novice last season, culminating in Scottish National success. Failed to finish his latest two assignments, but at least got involved at Musselburgh prior to checking out quickly with a respiratory issue later reported. Patient run style not suitable for this task. A headgear switch could be employed. 3 bottles
30 CLOTH CAP
Much improved last season from the application of first-time cheekpieces in the Ladbrokes Trophy. Sound jumper. Ran well last year until weakening quickly after a blunder four out, breathing issue reported. Creditable seasonal-debut fourth at Cheltenham following wind surgery, but lesser form since. Jumps left, so forgive aberration at Ascot. Upgraded headgear would presage better. 3 bottles
31 SNOW LEOPARDESS
Owner-breeder Marietta Fox-Pitt tells us more about her pride and joy
Jumped boldly under an attacking ride in filthy conditions when winning the Becher over a shorter course of these fences in December, tiring palpably from the second last and bravely hanging on by a nose at the line. Shaped like a thorough stayer as a novice but she has a great deal to find with Escaria Ten on their Cheltenham encounter. Won’t fail for want of character. 4 bottles
32 AGUSTA GOLD
Distinct promise for marathon assignments when kicking on too early and being caught at the line in a Punchestown National Trial for her previous yard two seasons ago. Fluffed her lines at Fairyhouse last April. Her jumping has unravelled lately, though she kept it together reverting to more positive tactics for an easier task last time. May struggle to hold her pitch here. 3 bottles
33 COMMODORE
Fluent jumper, best judged on his form on left-handed tracks. Career best performance making all at Cheltenham in December and not seen since. Suspicion he may prefer to dominate a smaller field. 3 bottles
34 DEISE ABA
In good heart this season. Reserves his best form for right-handed Sandown. Unexposed as a marathon stayer. Unproven in large fields. Others appear more progressive. A switch to first-time headgear is possible and a likely positive. 3 bottles
35 BLAKLION
Best of British last year, when finishing a distant sixth. Well into the veteran stage now, aged 13, but in better form this season – until last time, when pulling up in attritional conditions at Haydock. Handles these fences well. Won the shorter 2017 Becher Chase but doesn’t quite see out the National trip. On the same mark as 2021 but faces a deeper edition. 3 bottles
36 POKER PARTY
Won 2019 Kerry National and even better in a competitive Leopardstown handicap that Christmas. Sidelined for almost two years prior to this season. Now wearing a tongue-tie, has shown zero in three varied tasks – pulling up in Cheltenham’s cross-country event last time, failing to jump with any fluency. Needs to bounce back. Patient run style unsuited to this contest anyway. 2 bottles
37 DEATH DUTY
Unable to build on his Grade One success as a novice, over fences and hurdles, when eventually graduating to open company after more than two years sidelined by injury. Best effort since when winning Punchestown’s National Trial on penultimate start. Entirely creditable sixth in Cheltenham’s Ultima last time. Totally unexposed as a marathon stayer. Feasibly handicapped. Interesting. 4 bottles
38 DOMAINE DE L’ISLE
Didn’t jump with any fluency in the early stages of the Becher last December, losing a competitive pitch but staying on for fourth when it was all over. Never relevant in the Eider Chase last time, jumping deliberately. Extremely patient run style unsuitable here. Trainer won 2008 Scottish National with a rank outsider but unlikely to get the double up here. 1 bottle
39 ECLAIR SURF
Improved markedly for marathon trips the last twice – winning at Warwick via a well-executed ride from the front and better again when second in the Eider, beaten only by the subsequent wide-margin Scottish National victor. Races prominently in a fluent but controlled rhythm – ideal attributes for this task. Finds plenty for pressure. Continues to be on a competitive handicap mark. 4 bottles
40 FORTESCUE
Seemingly escaped the family’s loony gene. Improved again this season, building on his Peter Marsh third with a rallying success at Ascot last time. Untested at marathon trips but promises to stay and probably to progress again as a result. May prefer testing ground. Feasibly handicapped. Lingering doubt as to whether he’s suited to large fields. 4 bottles
Lydia Hislop's Grand National Verdict:
1 Longhouse Poet
2 Escaria Ten
3 Any Second Now
4 Kildisart
5 Death Duty
6 Enjoy D’Allen
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