My Aintree Grand National 1-2-3 - 'He has a young fearless rider on his back' The Aintree Grand National looks an extremely competitive race, and I'm sure everyone interested in horse racing, and even those not particularly interested, will be glued to the television from about five minutes to four until about twenty minutes past four, as the most historic National Hunt race in the world takes place at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday. It’s one of those rare sporting occasions that captures attention far beyond its usual audience, drawing in casual viewers, once-a-year punters, and lifelong racing fans alike. It looks like I Am Maximus is going to go off as the favourite for Willie Mullins and owner J.P. McManus, with Paul Townend riding. That alone tells you plenty, given the incredible success that combination has enjoyed at the highest level of the sport. It is unfortunate that last year's winner, Nick Rockett, will not be participating in the race, as it always adds an extra layer of intrigue when the defending champion returns. Hopefully, we will be able to see him come back and defend his crown next year with a different campaign and perhaps another crack at history. My job is to try and pick the one, two, three in this race, and it looks like I’ll have an easier chance picking the lotto numbers because this is very difficult. Still, I’m going to give it my best shot. Mullins to take the trophy home for the third consecutive year I’m going to pick I Am Maximus to win the race. I just feel he is the best horse in the field, and the National has evolved into a race where genuine quality now comes to the fore. It is no longer just about stamina and survival - horses with Gold Cup-level ability are now lining up, and that raises the overall standard significantly. So I’m going to say I Am Maximus to finish first. A class act to chase his stablemate home To finish second, I’m going to go for another Willie Mullins-trained runner, Champ Kiely. Champ Kiely has been a superb horse throughout his career and has picked up plenty of valuable wins along the way, including last year’s Dooley Insurance Champion Novice Chase, a Grade 1 at Punchestown. He has shown strong form over shorter distances, so the extended trip is a slight concern, but his class and jumping ability could see him through. I also think Danny Mullins is a jockey who rides the National particularly well, showing great balance and awareness in these unique conditions. With the fences now slightly more forgiving than in years gone by, a slick jumper like Champ Kiely should be well suited. Connor Stone-Walsh to continue his excellent season And to fill the frame, I’m going to go for an Irish 1-2-3, with Conor Stone-Walsh partnering Final Orders to finish third. He was ultra-impressive when winning the Glenfarclas Cross Country at the Cheltenham Festival, which also gave Conor his first-ever Cheltenham Festival winner - a moment he won’t forget in a hurry. Carrying just 10 stone 5 and available at around 28-1, Final Orders looks to have all the right ingredients for a big run. This race has clearly been the long-term target, and everything seems to have been geared towards peaking on the day. Not only is the horse very talented, but he also has a young, fearless rider on his back, which is exactly what you need over these famous fences. That is my Aintree Grand National 1-2-3. Above all else, the best result of the day would be seeing every horse return safely to their stable, and hopefully we can enjoy a competitive, thrilling race with plenty to celebrate afterwards.
