Grand National Tips 2021: Sporting Ferret’s ‘5 To Watch’

Grand National Tips 2021: Sporting Ferret’s ‘5 To Watch’

It’s the big one at Aintree this week and The Sporting Ferret provides their Top 5 Horses To Watch in the 2021 renewal of the Randox Health Grand National.

Don’t know when or how to watch it? Don’t worry, we’ve covered that too!

Information Guide

Race: Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Where: Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool

When: 5:15 pm, Saturday April 10th (10/04/2021)

Watch: ITV1 & Racing TV (Channel 426)

Magic Of Light (20/1) 

J: Robbie Power T: Mrs Jessica Harrington [10st 13lb]

Magic Of Light was runner up of this contest in 2019 behind eventual two-time winner Tiger Roll. That run proved she has the quality and stamina to be a leading competitor in the National. She has been kept to much shorter trips this season over a variety of different obstacles which could be seen as a question mark to her chances this year.

She’s 5lb higher in the weights than when she was runner up two years ago, but with no Tiger Roll in the field she brings arguably the strongest level of Grand National form into the race. She will need to improve from some of her runs this season, but running back over this extended trip could show the best of her and she would have a massive chance.

Discorama (16/1)

J: Brian Cooper T: Paul Nolan [10st 6lb]

Discorama is a serial second-place finisher but looks to go one place closer here and achieve a first national success for trainer Paul Nolan. The eight-year-old was a narrow second in the 2019 running of the Nation Hunt Challenge Cup over 3m 7f, this run proves he can stay the extended trip. He followed on from that run beating eventual Gold-Cup runner up A Plus Tard a month later at Punchestown.

You can’t go wrong with the Irish recently, dominating a majority of the big races here in England. He’s been freshened up since his last run and had a wind operation in December. He’s a strong stayer and would be there or thereabouts with a clean round of jumping.

Cloth Cap (5/1)

J: Tom Scudamore T: Jonjo O’Neill [10st 5lb]

Cloth Cap is this years market leader and a chance for owner Trevor Hemmings to win his fourth Grand National. Hemmings has had incredible success in this race and looks to have another great opportunity here. He was a dominant winner in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury last November and soon followed up in a listed race at Kelso last month.

He’s well in on the weights carrying just 10st 5lb. His races this season have been over 3m2f and just short of three miles, however a third place in the 2019 Scottish Grand National proves he can stay the extended trip. The ground also looks to be in his favour. He has so many positives but looks to be very short in the market, he’s never been to Aintree and we know winning the National requires a lot of luck in running. He looks to have a major chance and justifies favouritism.

Yala Enki (40/1)

J: Bryony Frost T: Paul Nicholls [11st 3lb]

Yala Enki is a proven stayer and looks as if stamina wouldn’t be an issue here. He has been placed in three consecutive Welsh Grand Nationals which proves he is likely to stay the trip. However, with all the positives there are the negatives. The eleven-year-old has only run once over the National fences in the Becher where he fell at the first fence.

He’s quite a small nimble type, meaning there larger fences could catch him out like shown in the Becher. He could’ve done with a bit more rain to produce softer conditions, but we know he stays and has top pilot Bryony Frost on board so if he’s able to get into a nice jumping rhythm, he would have a chance.

Bristol De Mai (25/1)

J: Daryl Jacobs T: Nigel Twiston-Davies [11st 10lb]

Bristol De Mai is a Grade-One winning machine and has been a brilliant servant for connections. The gutsy ten-year-old now takes his chance in the most prestigious horse race in the world. We know he is a brilliant jumper and stays well. The furthest distance he has run was in the 2019 Gold Cup where he finished third behind Al Boum Photo so a potential stamina doubt could be in play now running over 4m 2f. However, he has form over 3m in very heavy ground at Haydock and didn’t look like stopping after crossing the line.

He is undoubtedly the classiest horse in the race, but as you know the Grand National is a gruelling test so it’s not always the classy ones that prevail. He would have to defy top-weight to win, but he has been kept fresh for this race and his jockey Daryl Jacobs has admitted he is extremely excited about the ride. A safe round of jumping and proving he could stay the trip would put him bang there in the finish.

We hope you enjoyed the article ‘Grand National Tips 2021: Sporting Ferret’s ‘5 To Watch.’ Who do you think will win this year’s Grand National? Do you agree with our selections? Let us know!

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