Grand National 2020 - 5 Horses to Watch

With the weights announced today for the 2020 Grand National, I have drawn up a list of the 5 horses I am tipping to look out for in the coming weeks. With the amount of leading contenders going to post this year, it has the makings of a classic at Aintree, so many horses with so many different stories, one story however will take over the news in the build up. Are the history books going to be rewritten? Wouldn't it be excellent if they were.


POTTERS CORNER - 20/1


My first contender for the race is Welsh Grand National winner, Potters Corner. The Christian Williams trained contender is having its first run in the big race and would love for the rain to come in time for the race as those were the conditions back in December at Chepstow. A worry going into the race is the inexperience of jockey, Jack Tudor. The 17 year old will be having his first ride in the race and although Derek Fox and David Mullins have both won on their first rides in the race in the last 4 years, you worry that the inexperience could work against Tudor on this occasion. However saying that, Potters Corner is my leading contender for the race, going off a mark of 10 st 6 lbs I feel if Tudor can get round the treacherous Aintree course, it'll take a good horse to stop it. It's current odds in the market with Sky Bet are 20/1 but I expect that to be a lot narrower once the race goes off. I feel you may see Potters Corner go off at around 14/1 for the Grand National and I wouldn't be surprised if this is the horse that goes on to win the race.


Here is Potters Corner winning the Welsh Grand National in December


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvMYVWdtSB4


Cadmium - 25/1


A horse that knows how to win over the famous Aintree obstacles is Cadmium. A winner at the Grand National meeting last year on the Friday in the Topham Chase at 8/1, trainer Willie Mullins is opting to go for the big one this year with the 8 year old. With jockey Paul Townend in the saddle you would fancy that he will have the know how on how to get the horse round and sustain the energy for the key parts of the 4+ mile round trip. My main concern for Cadmium is its recent form since the win at Aintree, going off as an outsider at Leopardstown in December and failing to make an impression, eventually finishing 7th, a whopping 94 lengths behind winner, Delta Work. I feel Cadmium will run a big race, whether it will be able to handle the extra distance is a huge question mark hanging over its chances, but Mullins has been around long enough to prepare the horse for such a test. I can see Cadmium going off around its current mark of 25/1 for the big race.





Kimberlite Candy - 16/1


One of the most fancied horses for the Grand National is the Tom Lacey trained, Kimberlite Candy. 2nd in the Becher Chase back in December behind Walk in the Mill and looked as if it was still travelling with a decent stride which bodes well for its staying power. Another impressive performance at Warwick in January has got the attention of the punters with a 10l win, stretching the field out in a 3 mile 5 furlong race must bode well for the chances. Jockey Richie McLernon has been around for many a year now and has great experience in the big race, there aren't many other jockeys who know Aintree as well as him. I expect Kimberlite Candy to be second favourite for the Grand National as I believe Native River will be more focused for a second triumph in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. I think we will see odds of around 10/1 for the Grand National for Kimberlite Candy and it has every chance.





Ramses de Teillee - 28/1


Pulled up in last years Grand National, the David Pipe trained Ramses de Teillee is going for its second crack at the race in 2020. You would be forgiven for excusing last season's run with it being just a 7 year old and the last 7 year old to win the Grand National was Bogskar back in 1940 so you could say it is a rarity that a horse that young would win the National. Tom Scudamore will probably be the jockey on board, a jockey without a National victory in such an illustrious career, you'd imagine he will surely get one win at the Aintree centrepiece, is this the year this wait comes to an end? I feel Ramses will have a far better tilt at the race this year, whether it will be able to keep up the gallop and not pull up this year we will have to see, however I expect it to go off at around 18/1.





Tiger Roll - 5/1


Well you can't overlook the Tiger can you? The overwhelming favourite for the race and the possible history maker going for its 3rd straight Grand National, the first horse to win 3 Grand National's since Red Rum. I would love to see Tiger Roll win the National for a 3rd time and you have to say it's in the best position to win the race over its rivals. Davy Russell has given the Tiger 2 wonderful rides in the last 2 renewals of the National, timing his pursuit of the leader wonderfully, after coming round the bend into the final 2 fences, delivering its charge and on both occasions jumping the last either in front or joining the leader. You just worry how much weight will hamper the chances of a 3rd straight win, whether it will be too heavy for such a little horse. Owner Michael O'Leary was quoted as saying he did not fancy the chances last year before the triumph over Magic of Light. I don't feel Tiger Roll will win the 2020 Grand National, however I feel it will be the shortest priced favourite in such a long time, I feel it will touch 11/4 with the Aintree crowd backing it all the way.


Here are Tiger Roll's victories in the Grand National.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2K29d_mxoc


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V83Jm_gdC8