2024 Randox Grand National: Lydia Hislop's horse-by-horse guide

= My idea of the winner (5*)

= Will give you a shout until the closing stages at least (4*)

= Chance of hitting the extended frame at best (3*)

= Anything could happen in testing ground, I guess (2*)

= I assume you drew this horse in the office sweepstake? (1*)

Picked his way from last to first for victory here in 2022 and bettered that performance on paper when staying on for fourth from a 19lb higher mark last year, despite never travelling or jumping with any fluency. Reinvented as a staying hurdler by his enterprising trainer this season, winning the Cleeve and improving for the re-application of cheekpieces when seventh in the Stayers’ Hurdle. Prone to losing his pitch mid-race, so the extended placings probably the best he can hope for this year.

Verdict: Highland Wedding

Exceptional 34-length winner of the Welsh Grand National in his favoured mudlark conditions, now 16lb higher for his first tilt at the Aintree original. Heavy ground tempted connections to attempt the Gold Cup, but he was quickly outclassed and out-jumped from an early stage. Demonstrated aptitude for the National fences under a patient ride over an unsuitably short trip in November’s Grand Sefton. His stamina alone provides place claims.

Verdict: Highland Wedding

Fluent Punchestown Banks debut in February suggests he’ll be a leading cross-country performer next term. Yet the National distance has twice looked beyond him, when too free in 2022 and too aggressive in last year’s enervating edition, ultimately pulling up. Much better form in general this season, winning the Troytown and second over the Becher’s shorter course of these fences under a more circumspect ride. Chance of hitting the extended placings if replicating those tactics.

Verdict: Highland Wedding

Scruffy jumper, lacking getaway speed from his fences when a staying-on fourth in the Ryanair last time. Raced more frequently this season, performing well when third in the Savills and making the most of a good opportunity in an unevenly run Cotswold Chase. Appeared to fail for stamina after a single prep-run when losing his pitch two out in last year’s National and pulling up before the last. Fuller campaign might see him do better but he remains unconvincing.

Verdict: Red Marauder

Mercurial talent. Unexposed over marathon trips, winning last term’s Irish Grand National as a novice when Paul Townend last climbed on board. Improved performer now, earning warm words from his peerless trainer after career-best success in the Bobbyjo last time. Needs space, so will be ridden on the outside. Yet also an idiosyncratic jumper, with a dominant if not ingrained tendency to burrow left at his fences and hang in the air. Huge chance if this task focuses his mind.

Verdict: West Tip

One-time top-rated chaser, winning the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup and finishing second 12 months later despite a lesser campaign. Not as good thereafter, albeit still effective at lower graded level. Reinvented as a cross-country veteran from December but missed his intended Cheltenham prep due to abandonment. Retains enough pep for his realistic trainer to attempt this, having saddled the 1-2 in 2021. Hard to think younger rivals won’t be better handicapped, though.

Verdict: Highland Wedding

Charismatic chaser, who won last year with more authority than the two-and-a-quarter-length margin suggests. Brought steadily back to form this season, culminating in a career-best third in the Gold Cup last time – dropped out at his pace limit by Derek Fox but threatening for second at one point in the straight. Clever jumper, wholly understood by his dedicated pilot. Big chance of emulating Tiger Roll’s 2019 feat by winning back-to-back editions, despite 13lb higher mark.

Verdict: Red Rum

Regressive form in three starts this season, the latest when tried in first-time cheekpieces and making no impact on reversion to hurdles at Cheltenham. Tongue-tie already also deployed the start before. Error-prone and lacks big-field experience over fences. Stamina unproven over three miles, let alone for this marathon trip. Makes zero appeal.

Verdict: Foinavon

Listless in three starts this season, latest when failing to take to Punchestown’s Banks in February. Looked a likely type for marathon tests when winning the Festival’s 2022 NH Chase. Shaped similarly at times in good company last season prior to finding the Gold Cup a class too stiff. Unproven in big fields over fences, however, and may be incapable of holding his position when required. Needs to bounce back.

Verdict: Red Marauder

Looked the likeliest winner of last season’s NH Chase until falling at the second last when asked one question too many by his unfamiliar amateur rider. Built on promising debut this season when clear second in Newbury’s Coral Gold Cup in December, suggesting he can travel well and jump soundly in a big-field handicap. Not seen since, however, and unproven when fresh. Capable of further progress but even his best efforts hint at a stamina doubt for marathon trips.

Verdict: Highland Wedding

Mildly unfortunate in the past two editions. Met traffic but rallied from a poor position for third in 2022. Slithered into a second-circuit unseat 12 months ago, having earlier been hampered at the second. Scruffy jumping has bedeviled his career. Lacks the requisite agility for this task. Given his trainer’s typical Tiger Roll preparation of cross-country and hurdling tasks, minus the Festival’s abandoned target, but appeared to lack his old spark. Trainer must agree, upping the headgear with blinkers.

Verdict: Red Marauder

Cross-country veteran with plenty of stamina. Better and largely consistent form with cheekpieces applied this season, winning for the first time in more than two years in Kilbeggan’s sparsely fenced Midlands National and at Cheltenham in November. Creditable effort over hurdles when last sighted in December, without the cheekpieces here reapplied. Fell on his only previous attempt at these fences in the 2022 Topham. Still more likely than not to be let down by his jumping.

Verdict: Red Marauder

Endured unfortunate experience in last year’s National – landing awkwardly and unseating his rider at the first, then sustaining a cut after running loose. Steadily back to form. Below his best in two cross-country starts last autumn before shaping well on unsuitably heavy going in the Boyne Hurdle. Forced to miss his intended Festival prep due to abandonment, but goes well fresh. Strong stayer yet unexposed over extreme trips. Given a chance by the handicapper. Ground the sole doubt here.

Verdict: West Tip

Might have finished second in the 2023 Brown Advisory at Cheltenham but for falling two out. Yet to recapture that calibre of form over fences but conjured a career-best over hurdles at Leopardstown at Christmas. Failed to reproduce anything like that, following a break, in the Festival’s Pertemps Final last time. Promises to stay marathon trips. Unproven in big fields. Jumping remains a concern.

Verdict: Red Marauder

Formerly smart chaser at best. Creditable fourth in the Coral Gold Cup last December, staying on steadily under a patient ride. Capable on soft but wouldn’t want the ground more testing. Breathing issues unresolved when pulled up at the Cheltenham Festival last time, prompting further surgery. Cheekpieces tried again then but removed here. Likely to find others better handicapped.

Verdict: Red Marauder

Optimally ridden, making no mistakes and settling better than feared in this race last year, yet still on the retreat before the home turn after creeping into contention. Shaped well on seasonal debut when in less patient mood and therefore poorly positioned in a speed-favouring Kerry National. Dull Troytown effort then erased by battling career-best Thyestes success last time. Doubt for marathon trips lingers from 6lb higher mark than 12 months ago.

Verdict: Red Marauder

As typically careful over these fences as on conventional tracks prior to finishing a late-surging second last year. Flattered by his proximity to Corach Rambler, but reopposes on 9lb better terms. Best not seen of him this season until after the National weights were released, when cheekpieces were reapplied. Still worse off at the weights with I Am Maximus despite a thumping. Jumping remains hesitant, but trainer refrains from enhanced headgear.

Verdict: Highland Wedding

More trustworthy these days, albeit the National’s new standing-start procedures will test his tolerance. Once refused to race and often dragged his feet early, but took stop-start preliminaries for last year’s National sweetly. Jumping scruffier on second circuit, but a slipped saddle caused his jockey’s exit after a mistake at the Canal Turn. Career-best second in Uttoxeter’s Midlands National on sole start this term, but again betrayed a lack of tactical pace. Strong stayer, though.

Verdict: Highland Wedding

Is now a non-runner.

Specialist over shorter course of these fences, winning and twice hitting the frame in the Foxhunters. Targeted primarily at the National this season, switching stables to Dan Skelton until original trainer and extended-family member Tom Ellis obtained a full licence. Building form in cross-country events at Cheltenham, winning in December, followed by creditable debut hurdling prep-run. Lingering stamina doubts, however. Tendency to adjust right might also be exposed at this level.

Verdict: Highland Wedding

Failed to build on decent novice-hurdling form as a staying chaser, as widely expected. Careful jumper, adjusting right – neither trait helpful in this scenario. Won at Wexford on seasonal debut in November. Better form on paper only when grossly flattered by cheap late gains after Jungle Boogie and Classic Getaway cut each other’s throats at Tramore on New Year’s Day. Ought to thrive over marathon trips, but impossible to fancy.

Verdict: Foinavon

Finally managed to win beyond three miles at Down Royal last time, unconvincing as a stamina test against four rivals in questionable form or fitness. Twice previously came up short over three miles. Error-prone and adjusts right at his fences. Not obviously well-handicapped. Unlikely candidate for this marathon test.

Verdict: Foinavon

Strong record in shorter-course contests over the National fences, winning the 2021 Grand Sefton and the following season’s Topham at this meeting. Lightly raced since. Returned from more than a year on the sidelines to win an uncompetitive veterans’ chase at Aintree’s more conventional sister track in December. Ran respectably enough at Ascot last time but looks high in the weights for this. Stamina beyond three miles entirely unproven.

Verdict: Red Marauder

Rarely blemish-free with his jumping, but overpriced on last season’s level-weights second to subsequent National third Gaillard Du Mesnil in the 2023 NH Chase. Below form in the Irish National next time. Creditable fifth, positively ridden in a speed-favouring Kerry National on sole start this season. Capable fresh but still unproven in big fields. Must revert to more circumspect tactics here. Said to favour a sounder surface but has run creditably on soft.

Verdict: West Tip

Advantageously ridden when scalping her owner’s leading fancy in the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham. Better form when chasing home Coko Beach in the Troytown in November, proving an aptitude for big fields and a strong test of stamina. Unexposed as a marathon chaser and promises to stay. Lingering tendency to clout the odd fence unexpectedly, but jumping largely improved. Testing ground right up her street. Mark Walsh marginally prefers to ride her over .

Verdict: West Tip

Seeks to match Noble Yeats by winning this as a seven-year-old novice. Warmly progressive since joining Willie Mullins this season, proving his aptitude for big fields at Leopardstown over Christmas and improving again to take third in the Ultima – the Cheltenham event that’s supplied the past two National winners. Tense preliminaries will test him, the hood worn the last twice required to combat keenness and Danny Mullins will need to smuggle him into the race. Capable of even better.

Verdict: West Tip

Despite finishing fourth when ridden to conserve his stamina in last term’s Bet365 Gold Cup, he’s twice shaped like a non-stayer when otherwise running creditably in successive Ultima Handicaps at the Cheltenham Festival. Performing to a shade lesser level in general this season, however. Best form on a sounder surface that seems likely on Saturday. Clearly has a good win in him, but probably not over a marathon trip.

Verdict: Red Marauder

Likeable veteran, finally getting his chance last year after missing the cut for the 2022 National by one. Performed with immense credit – travelling easily, jumping with fluency and vying for third at the final fence, weakening only at the Elbow to finish seventh. Prepared in the usual way, winning a French cross-country event in November and typically shaping well in his stock Down Royal prep last time, this year returning from a short break. Will surely run well again but an unlikely winner.

Verdict: Highland Wedding

Testing ground at Warwick the setting for both standout performances to date. Thumped a reasonably novice field with bold-jumping aggression last season. More patiently ridden when second in the Classic Chase, a career-best in first-time cheekpieces and initial attempt at marathon trips. Below form for no obvious reason at Exeter last time, save perhaps the race coming too soon. Requires a circumspect ride here or else might run herself out, but unexposed as a stayer.

Verdict: West Tip

Positively ridden and advantaged by steering hard-wide course on the best ground in the Thyestes, yet still beaten by rallying Ain’t That A Shame. Did too much up front when weakening late in the Festival Plate last time, even causing a false start. Unexposed beyond three miles but his exuberance will surely count against him here. Risk of proving an unwonted headache during the new standing-start procedures, too.

Verdict: Red Marauder

Carefully brought to the boil this season by shrewd trainer, who won the 2006 National with Numbersixvalverde. Sporting first-time cheekpieces, excelled with second in a fiercely competitive Leopardstown handicap over Christmas. Highly creditable prep over hurdles at the Dublin Racing Festival last time. Still immature when fifth in last term’s Irish Grand National. Steadily progressive overall profile suggests this extreme test can bring out the best in him. Big chance.

Verdict: West Tip

Is now a non-runner.

Trained on the beach near Ogmore Castle in Wales. Regularly enjoys the restorative powers of the sea, like the mighty Red Rum. Achieved unprecedented treble success in the Eider, Scottish Grand National and Bet365 Gold Cup marathons last season. Typically brought along steadily to blossom each spring. Respectable seventh in the Ultima last time, plugging on past beaten rivals. Favoured cheekpieces reapplied. Best form on a sounder surface than seems likely. Won’t fail for effort.

Verdict: West Tip

Fragile character who’s clearly difficult to train. Unable to realise novice-chasing promise in graded company. Little solid form since winning at Wexford in October 2021. Shaped encouragingly after successive long absences on seasonal debut at Navan but uncompetitive next time. Handled with care in the Ultima on latest start, shaping better than pulling up suggests. Untried over marathon trips. Doubtful whether he can handle the hustle of big-field handicaps.

Verdict: Red Marauder