Ross Millar: a National treasure and three Monday tips

What a race. Saturday’s edition of the  Randox Grand National produced the most exciting finish to the race since Neptune Collonges  pipped Sunnyhillboy by a nose 12 years ago.

With so many in with a chance turning for home, unlike in most years, I’m sure several jockeys entertained prospects of a famous victory in the great race.

Gina Andrews, on Latenightpass, fleetingly must have thought she was going to provide a fairy-tale first winner for her husband, Tom, and mother-in-law, Pippa,  owner-breeder of the horse.

Jack Tudor must have believed for much of the home run he was going to deliver the win for Wales, Christian, Charlotte, Tilly and Betsy Williams aboard Kitty's Light. It was a huge run, nevertheless, to finish fifth.

Briefly, I thought my ante-post selection Minella Indo was going to add a Grand National to his illustrious CV, but as soon as I took my maroon and yellow blinkers off it became apparent that a green-and-gold train was going to rattle past.

I Am Maximus sprinted clear in tremendous style, having been given a cool ride by Paul Townend who was winning his first Grand National at his 13th attempt.

Maybe it was not the Grand National “story” that he journalists pray for, given that JP McManus and Willie Mullins are so dominant in the sport. 

However, it does now open up the prospect of Mullins winning the  trainers title on both sides of the Irish Sea, a feat last achieved by the legendary Vincent O’Brien.

At the conclusion of Aintree, he now holds a lead in the title race of in the region of £50,000 and as ever had planned for this eventuality with plenty of entries in the early closing races at Ayr and Sandown.

You can be certain that he’ll send strong raiding parties to both and I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t convert this chance from here. His focus on the UK may mean he is relatively (and I do mean relatively) weaker at Punchestown. British trainers take note!

Finally, we should albe thankful to Aintree Racecourse and the racing authorities for the safety changes made to the National course.

It was clear from overhead footage that jockeys were better able to find space and the finishing result containing no fallers means we can all hold our heads high as racing fans.

The great race is not what it used to be, but as I saw @DrSimonCMP comment on X “But neither is a box of Quality Street, and I still love them.”

The Racing TV cameras head to on Monday. I have three selections.

After an inauspicious start to the season, Largy Train has proved a revelation over fences, winning his past three starts off a climbing handicap mark. 

Last time out he produced a strong performance when making all at Carlisle, fending off any number of potential challengers up the Carlisle hill to win a shade cosily, pulling away late on. 

The runner-up at Carlisle, The White Volcano, re-opposes here on 3lb better terms for a 3/¼ length defeat, but he’s a 12-year old now and at just seven I’m confident Largy Train has scope for further progression. 

He didn’t appear to hang at Carlisle but did seem to favour his left gallop lead, and it was his first win from five attempts on a right-handed track, so there is a chance a return to a left-handed track will suit him better. 

A 7lb rise for his latest win does demand more, but the soft ground, galloping track will suit Henry Hogarth’s progressive young chaser. 

Top weight on soft ground will demand plenty from this Olly Murphy-trained grey but I fancy he will prove equal to the task. 

Having looked a two-mile specialist early in his career, he has in recent starts hinted that he may be developing previously unseen depths of stamina, most notably last time at Sandown where having been ridden patiently he made strong late progress to finish fourth. 

The ground featured the word “good” in the going description that day, which wouldn’t be ideal for him, and there is no doubt that his very best form has been achieved on soft surfaces, which he should get here. 

On form, Your Own Story was a tempting alternative. He ran well on heavy ground at Newcastle on his last outing after a 318-day lay-off, only finding the progressive Twoshotsoftequila too good, with the pair pulling a long way clear of the third. A 1lb drop in the ratings seems seems generous, but I wonder whether 3m on soft ground provides him with enough of a stamina test. The yard form is a further concern. 

Conversely, Murphy has his team in fine order currently operating at a 25% win-rate. can improve on that here off a mark 3lb lower than he last won off. 

Eloi Du Puy and meet again here, having finished first and second over course and distance last month. 

On that occasion, Eloi Du Puy prevailed by a diminishing short-head and I’m convinced a lack of fluency at the final flight was the difference between victory and defeat for the Martin Todhunter-trained gelding. 

A better round of jumping would see him reverse the form on this occasion and that’s before you consider he is now a full 4lb better off for just the short head he was beaten. 

With ground currently described as soft and with a small amount of rain forecast on Sunday night through into Monday morning, conditions are sure to be testing by the time this race comes around. 

With just four starts under Rules to his name, this son of Jet Away is open to plenty of natural improvement and can land his first career win.