Aries Grand National Horses

Delta Work is a dual Cheltenham Festival Cross Country chase winner and also finished runner-up in the Grand National two years ago. Gordon Elliott tried this gelding again at Aintree last year but when he unseated his rider at the twenty-first fence. Likely to be campaigned very similarly again in 23/24 with the Cross Country at Cheltenham and the Grand National the big targets. Delta Work should again be hard to beat at Cheltenham, but it could be that his best chance of an Aintree victory has passed given he will be eleven years old come next April. Eight Grand Nationals have now passed since the last winner aged in double figures (Pineau De Re in 2014) and the National appears to be moving towards suiting younger, well-handicapped types.

A cheap (£17,000) purchase after winning an ordinary Maiden point to point in Ireland, Corach Rambler wasted no time in underlining what a value purchase he was by winning his first race for his new connections at 14/1. That victory was in a three mile, Class four novice hurdle at Ayr and the style of that victory prompted his new trainer, Lucinda Russell, to push the gelding up to Class two level for his second race for the stable at Musselburgh. Sent off at 40/1 that day , this test was too much for the youngster and he finished a well beaten sixth behind the likes of Threeunderthrufive and Fantasikas. Russell went back to calmer waters for Corach Rambler’s next race, another Class four novice hurdle, this time at Carlisle. Dropping back down in grade did the trick and Derek Fox steered the gelding to another victory, again at tasty odds (12/1).  The following season was to be Corach Rambler’s first over fences and he was given a nice introduction over the larger obstacles at Perth in September. The two mile four furlong trip was always likely to be on the sharp side and so it proved but he caught the eye staying on well into third place. He obviously went into many a notebook after that Perth run as he started 5/2 favourite on his next run in a Novices Handicap Chase at Aintree, but the market confidence was justified as the gelding recorded an easy six lengths victory. From Aintree it was on to a similar race at Cheltenham where another win was registered, beating the progressive Eva’s Oscar by two lengths. Lucinda Russell then stepped the gelding up in grade to the Class 1 Classic Chase at Warwick where he ran well to finish fourth to the ill-fated Eclair Surf. An uncharacteristic jumping blemish occurred next up in the Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot where Corach Rambler unseated Derek Fox at the fifth last fence. Connections were obviously not too concerned by the unseat at Ascot as they pitched him next into the white hot atmosphere of the Ultima Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. The gelding’s supporters at Cheltenham had an unsettling start to the race as he was slowly away and then was short of room just after the start. This tardy start made up Derek Fox’s mind regarding riding tactics and the jockey settled on a hold up ride. Creeping away in such a big field worked well and Corach Rambler made up ground on the whole field from three out but was still third jumping the last. Fox conjured up a late burst of pace from his mount, passed the two horses in front of him with time to spare and won going away at the line. This was Lucinda Russell’s second Cheltenham Festival winner and with the stable also having previously won a Grand National with One For Arthur, the big race at Aintree was the obvious long term target for Corach Rambler. This season has started slowly again for the eight-year-old gelding with a well-beaten fifth over an inadequate trip at Carlisle. Russell then targeted the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury where he perhaps found the ground on the quick side but finished a staying-on fourth behind impressive winner, Le Milos. Russell was very pleased with his effort at Newbury saying he looked as if he needed further but that he had jumped superbly. The trainer also stated that the Grand National was definitely the target this season, but that did not stop Corach Rambler successfully defending the Ultima Chase again this year. That success saw Corach Rambler raised ten pounds but as the weights for Aintree were already set he raced that amount 'well-in' and ran out a comfortable winner of the Grand National. Lucinda Russell looks likely to aim Corach Rambler at the Grand National once again in 2024 but will race from much higher in the handicap.

Le Milos moved to Dan Skelton's yard at the start of last season and the move appeared to revitalise the gelding as he won at Bangor on stable debut and then took one of the most competitive handicaps of the year, the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury. Skelton decided to save the gelding with a view to the Grand National after that big win and Le Milos didn't reappear till the Premier Chase at Kelso where a lack of full fitness cost him a win when he got collared on the run-in by Empire Steel. The trainer was not overly concerned by that defeat as he said he had left plenty to work on and Le Milos went to the Grand National as one of the well fancied candidates, finally going off at an SP of 12/1. The eight-year-old could be seen travelling well throughout the race but his stamina seemed to give out just before the second last and he eventually tired to finish tenth, thirty-six lengths behind Corach Rambler. That effort suggested that Le Milos didn't stay the extended four mile distance and it remains to be seen if the stable will feel he should be aimed at Aintree again in 2024.  Le Milos still looks decently handicapped and it would probably be more likely he will be again aimed at Newbury and the other top three mile handicaps throughout the season.

Considering what he has ultimately achieved, it seems amazing that it took Hewick twelve races under Rules before he recorded his first victory. That first success came in a handicap hurdle at Kilbeggan from a handicap mark of just 94. Hewick is currently rated 168 over fences so Shark Hanlon has improved the gelding by a massive 74lb from that first win.  After that first victory, Hewick’s career was still fairly low-key with four victories in his next eleven starts. Hanlon’s decision to run in the Bet365 Gold Cup two seasons ago looked ambitious but Hewick responded brilliantly to the occasion and ran out a comfortable eight length winner of the 90k race. That Sandown win set the Hewick snowball rolling and since then he has won the Galway Plate and the American Grand National as well as being an unlucky loser (fell at the last) in the Kerry National. However, perhaps the highlight so far of his career was his excellent effort in last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup where he was sent off an relatively unconsidered 40/1 shot but was still in there pitching when taking a heavy fall at the second last.  A trip to Sandown beckoned after the Gold Cup and Hewick was an easy winner there of a 46k Grade 2 chase. Hanlon also sent his charge over to the French Champion Hurdle where he finished an honourable fourth. The Grand National had been under consideration last season and looks highly likely to be high on the agenda in 2024.  This globetrotting sensation is a tribute to all concerned and is undoubtedly one of the stand out characters on the current National Hunt scene.

Vanillier ran a remarkable race in last year's Grand National having been in fifteenth position jumping four out and still twelve lengths behind the leader when jumping the last. The grey gelding powered up the run in and passed all of his rivals bar one, the well-handicapped, Corach Rambler. The handicapper has reacted by increasing Vanillier's rating by five pounds, which could look very lenient in a year's time. Given how well the gelding took to the Aintree experience it must be very likely trainer Gavin Cromwell will aim the eight-year-old gelding at the Grand National again in 2024.