2017 Grand National Leading Contenders We are counting down the days until the 2017 Randox Health Grand National gets underway, and as is always the case the Aintree marathon will see a star-studded field go to post for the world’s greatest steeplechase, and we turn our attentions to ten of the leading contenders for the April 8 showpiece Vieux Lion Rouge A winner of the Becher Chase at Aintree and Grand National Trial at Haydock Park this season, Vieux Lion Rouge is currently the 10/1 favourite with Paddy Power, and having finished seventh in the race last year then the David Pipe-trained raider has to be one of the primary players for this year’s renewal, and has to be the first on the shortlist. Blaklion A former winner of the RSA Chase at the 2016 Cheltenham Festival, Blaklion will be attempting to hand Nigel Twiston-Davies more success in the Grand National, after he trained Earth Summit to glory in 1998, and having finished fifth in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury, third in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby, and a gallant runner-up behind the abovementioned Vieux Lion Rouge at Haydock Park last time out then he has to be another lively player. Definitly Red A winner of that aforesaid Rowland Meyrick on Boxing Day, Definitly Red has been on a huge incline this season, and Brian Ellison’s charge was last seen downing Bristol De Mai in the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase at Doncaster in early March, and has shaped like he could be a real Grand National contender this season, and at 14/1 with bet365 looks one of the most exciting each-way bets. The Last Samuri Second in the race last season, Kim Bailey’s The Last Samuri will relish the opportunity of returning to Merseyside, but while he was outclassed in the Grade 1 JNWine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal, he has shown some classy handicap chase form with a creditable third in the Becher Chase, before recording a runner-up spot in the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase last time out. Cause Of Causes A three-time Cheltenham Festival winner, Cause Of Causes will now attempt to land a Grand National success, and fresh from a fine win in the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham in March the Gordon Elliott-trained raider will head to Liverpool to have his second crack at this race, having finished eighth in 2015, and he is one of the premier Irish challengers. One For Arthur Lucinda Russell’s One For Arthur has propelled into the Grand National picture this season with wins in a competitive Kelso contest, and in Warwick’s Classic Chase, and having taken to the unique National fences when fifth in the Becher Chase in December, this eight-year-old could be another that plays a prominent role here. More Of That A former top-class winner of the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, More Of That is one of the most exciting performers heading to Aintree on April 8, and having run a positive race when finishing sixth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last time out then he could be a huge runner for Jonjo O’Neill. Pleasant Company Willie Mullins last trained the winner of the Grand National in 2005, when Hedgehunter stormed to victory, but the master of Closutton will fancy his chances of regaining the crown 12 years on, as he is set to saddle Pleasant Company, who was an impressive winner of the Bobbyjo Chase last time out, and at 20/1 with Ladbrokes is interesting. Ucello Conti The second shot fired from the Gordon Elliott gun, Ucello Conti was sixth behind Rule The World in last year’s Grand National, and while he often finds one too good, he has put some decent efforts this campaign with a fine fourth in the Becher Chase, followed by a cracking second in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park. Saphir Du Rheu A Grade One-winning novice, Saphir Du Rheu may not have lived up to expectations at the highest level, but the Paul Nicholls-trained charge ran a huge race for a long way in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and providing his jumping stays intact then he could be an interesting runner at 20/1 with Coral bookmakers. Paddy Power are now offering non runner no bet on the Grand National (promotion courtesy of bettingoffer.com)
