It was a stinker of a Lucky 15 for Day 2, with only one horse turning up for the fight.
Regent's Stroll finished second after trying to make all over a new trip. The winner, who passed away after the race, pressured my selection for the lead and made sure he didn't get an easy time in front.
Hot Fuss was weak in the market and didn't perform as he had for his previous runs all season. Maybe it has been a long season full of tough races, and it's caught up with him.
Talk To The Man went out like a light before turning for home. As soon as he came under pressure, he went backwards very quickly. It looked like there was a problem with him.
The Mighty Celt was held up towards the back of the field, and with how races have unfolded this week, that is not the place to be.
Grand National 2026 betting offers
Kaka's Cousin 6/1 (5pl) – Aintree 1.20
The way that Jonjo O'Neill's horses have been running this week, winning or not, his runner for this race has to be on everyone's radar.
The son of Mahler is a very lightly raced horse, with just four runs over hurdles to his name. He was sent off as the 9/2 joint favourite for a Grade 3 EBF final at Sandown, which saw him finish fourth. That run was over 2m 4f, and given that he was second on his second PTP start, the step up to the extended three miles could be the answer to further improvement.
Brave Fortune 5/1 (5pl) – Aintree 2.30
Joseph O'Brien's horses have been running well this week, and I consider his runner in this race to be a horse who could be ahead of the handicapper.
Brave Fortune hasn't won since moving to Joseph's yard two runs ago, but put in a solid performance at Thurles last time out. The British handicapper hasn't given him any room, putting him up to 138 from 129 last time out on his Irish run, but there is more to come now going back to 3m 1f.
This trip should be ideal on quick(ish) ground, as he won on his final start over this trip on good ground for P M J Doyle.
Hiddenvalley Lake 6/1 (4pl) – Aintree 3.05
We've seen Henry De Bromhead work his magic and bring horses back to form at the big festivals, so there's no reason to believe that he can't do the same for Hiddenvalley Lake.
I fancy Jingko Blue for the race, but if that horse doesn't win, I think Hiddenvalley Lake is the one to be concerned about, if he can bounce back to form.
This horse has won and been placed in this race on the last two renewals, so it's evidently a track that suits his running style. His form isn't a concern on the basis that he performs best at Aintree, and if anything, it has made him a more backable price.
Grangeclare West 17/2 (6pl) – Aintree 4.00
I think it would be very hard to keep Grangeclare West out of the frame for the Grand National; he has the right profile and went close in this race last year.
He is 3lbs higher than his third-placed effort last year, but that's minimal. His prep at Fairyhouse in the race that Nick Rockett won before winning the Grand National is a good indicator of what to expect. Paul Townend has opted for I Am Maximus, but in a race this competitive, it doesn't mean everything that the main lad isn't on, when the trainer has many top-class options.
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