Gemini Grand National Horses

Reigning National Hunt Chase victor, Galvin, is reportedly being aimed at the Aintree Grand National where his predecessors from the Cheltenham Festival’s longest race have an admirable record. 2012 NH Chase winner Teaforthree finished third at Aintree the following year, as did 2018 Cheltenham winner Rathvinden. Cause of Causes went one better in 2016 after winning the NH Chase and, of course, Tiger Roll won at Cheltenham before being victorious at Aintree in 2018 and 2019. The NH Chase has been reduced in distance to 3m 6f in the last couple of years but still offers one of the best adverts for the kind of stamina that will be required for Aintree’s unique test. Galvin is in the same ownership as the aforementioned Rathvinden so it is distinctly possible we will see Galvin lining up for the 2022 Aintree Grand National. Galvin racked up an unbeaten spree of six races recently with defeat only finally coming at the hands of Frodon and Bryony Frost in the Grade One Champion Chase at Down Royal. The Gordon Elliott trained seven-year-old had reigning Gold Cup winner, Minella Indo, over four lengths back in third that day so despite getting beat that effort is probably Galvin’s best performance to date. The handicapper seems to agree as the gelding has been raised six pounds to an official rating of 165. Such a high rating may now force trainer Elliott to focus on Grade One races for the rest of the season rather than handicaps such as the Grand National. Nevertheless, the bookmakers continue to currently offer Galvin as the ante-post favourite for the Grand National. Galvin’s jumping at times still leaves a fair bit to be desired so it remains to be seen if Aintree’s unique test would suit the horse at this stage of his career.