Grand National Lucky Dip

Venetia Williams is no stranger to national success having trained the longshot Mon Mome to success back in 2009, the 100/1 shot was a comfortable winner having finished tenth the season prior. Surprisingly, Venetia has not had a runner in the race since 2018 when both Houblon Des Obeaux and Tenor Nivernais both failed to finish having both finished the race a year earlier in 2017 and the yard does generally have an ok record over the National fences with a 49% completion rate. Commodore had a wind operation after last season which didn't go completely to plan, second and was only beaten half a length by Snow Leopardess at Haydock which was the highlight of the grey's season. It's been a quiet season for Commodore, in fact, we had to wait till December for his seasonal debut and he was back with a bang winning a Grade 3 handicap chase at Cheltenham with his closest rival some fifteen lengths away and that brought to an end a wait of twenty-one months for a win. The question is did he progress dramatically from a 9yo to 10yo, did he really appreciate the 300+ day break or did the wind operation work wonders, whatever it was it put him spot-on for that race which was over three miles and two furlongs on ground with some cut in it. The biggest negative for this runner would be having just that one run this season, that really does go against the trend, however, the way he won that day along with the fact he will only run off a mark 9lbs higher for this, you would be foolish to rule him out for a yard who has been in cracking form all season.