Five Outsiders That Could Hit The Frame At The Grand National Meeting

The six year old gelding was thought very highly of last term having previously won a bumper and then sent over hurdles and looking a potential runner in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

In December 2019 he won a 17 runner introductory hurdle at Newbury beating smart horses like On To Victory and Shakem Up'Arry.

He was then sent to Huntingdon where it looked like he would have another routine win but instead did not run to form and finished second in a weak event.

He was put away for the season after that, but this term has come back and looks to have matured massively, winning on seasonal debut over course and distance at Sandown in a handicap hurdle.

Mister Coffey headed back over the same course and distance next time out for the Listed Handicap Hurdle and although up 10lb and on heavy ground he still ran a nice race to finish third, with the second since franking the form.

The gelding on a mark of 138 went into the Betfair Hurdle last time out and was a fair seventh of 23 and if improving for that run has a big chance in this one off 1lb lower.

Has a huge amount of potential and is yet to fulfil it and at 12/1 is worth taking a chance on.

The four year old ran in two bumpers in the middle of 2020 in France, winning on debut and then finishing second on his final start before being moved over hurdles.

He made his hurdles debut at Auteuil in September and finished a good third over 2m2f in soft conditions and then next time out over a similar trip he got off the mark.

He was bought and given to Nicholls, making his debut in January at Chepstow in the Grade One Finale Juvenile Hurdle and finishing a well beaten third behind Adagio and Nassalam.

That form does not look all that strong with the second and fourth since getting beat, but it allowed him to be given a very nice mark of 128 for the Boodles at Prestbury Park.

Coming to last he looked to have a huge chance, but in the end could only manage fourth, but he still gave a good showing having also been heavily backed before the off.

He stays at two miles for this event and is being given his chance in pattern company and if what his trainer says is true, the way he works at home should see him go close in this at 12/1.

At a huge price of 20/1 in the Grade Three Topham Handicap Chase over the National fences, Huntsman Son for trainer Alex Hales has a big chance of entering the frame.

Having been off the track for over a year, the 11 year old made his return to the track this season on October and landed a Listed chase event ahead of Two For Gold, who has since franked the form.

He then headed to Cheltenham in December for the Grade Three Caspian Caviar Gold Cup and he was pulled up with soft going not suiting him at all.

Given some time off, he returned at the Cheltenham festival last month and finished a good sixth in the Paddy Power Plate behind the likes of The Shunter and Farclas.

He is obviously much better suited going left handed and getting his better ground on Friday makes him a big player.

Henry De Bromhead is a trainer that can do very little wrong at the moment, landing six winners at the Cheltenham festival, including being the first handler in the history of the sport to land the Champion Hurdle, Gold Cup and Champion Chase at the same festival.

In the Grand National his leading chance looks to Minella Times, who off a mark of 146 could have some serious weight in hand, if staying the monster trip.

A highly consistent gelding for the yard, he has been running in big fielded handicaps all season to a decent level, not finishing out of the top two on all three of his runs this term.

He made his seasonal debut at Listowel over 2m6f and got off the a winning start and then backed that up next time out when a good second behind Castlebawn West in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas.

Last time out he was another decent second at Leopardstown in February behind Off You Go, with the form of that race working out really nicely.

It looks as though his season has been geared towards Aintree and if handling the extra distance should be a big player for a thriving yard off a low weight.

Nice each way price.

The final outsider we think could hit the frame in their respective race is the nine year old mare Snow Leopardess, who is a thorough stayer, that will enjoy dropping back to this trip so she can dominate from the front.

The Charlie Longsdon trained horse has been in superb form this season, being a smart hurdler and being sent over fences and knocking on the door in every race.

She made her seasonal debut in September at Bangor on quick ground and finished a fair third when looking like needing the run.

Next time she went to Wetherby over three miles and was a good second behind Shan Blue that went on to land the Grade One Kauto Star Novices' Chase off the back of that race.

Snow Leopardess also franked the form of that race by winning at Haydock over 3m2f, with her and second Commodore being well clear of the third placed horse.

She then went back to Wetherby over three miles again and nearly backed up her win at Haydock when narrowly going down to Canelo in the final stages.

Last time out she stepped up in trip and class when taking on the boys in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham festival and although finishing fourth, the horses she was behind were a class above and she gave a fair showing.

Stepping back to three miles will be perfect for her and if her runs this season are not starting to take their toll on her then she is a live player at a double figure price.