4m2½f (Grand National) Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (7yo+)
We are less than three weeks away from the Grand National at Aintree and at the present moment, Corach Rambler heads the field to complete back-to-back successes of the race, off the back of a commendable third place finish in the Gold Cup. However, you’d have to be mad to take 5/1 against the field right now, even if the race has been reduced to 34 runners from 40, and is therefore that bit easier to win.
JP McManus has a strong contingent of challengers with last year’s fancy Capodanno, I Am Maximus and Meetingofthewaters all with huge potential. But at the current odds, I am going to get stuck into MR INCREDIBLE from the Willie Mullins yard.
Mr Incredible has only completed 3 of his 5 chase starts since moving from Henry De Bromhead to Willie Mullins in April 2022. These three finishes include a second in the 2023 Warwick Classic Chase behind Iwilldoit over 3m 5f (heavy), third in the 2023 Kim Muir at Cheltenham over 3m 2f and a second in the 4m 2f Midlands Grand National less than 2 weeks ago on his come-back run having been off the track since running in the Grand National last year.
His two non-finishes include getting brought down in a Leopardstown Handicap and last year in the National when the saddle strap broke on the second circuit leaving Brian Hayes with no option but to bail out after the canal turn at Aintree. That makes me feel like we haven’t seen the best that Mr Incredible can offer and whilst he’s officially well-in to the tune of 3lbs, he could still be a horse ahead of the handicapper, capable of hitting a mark of 160+ over this sort of trip.
Mr Incredible was putting in some run last season in the Grand National, he was only a couple of lengths behind Corach Rambler when he had his unfortunate mishap and with the way Mr Incredible stays, you can see that he would have been there or thereabouts turning in for home. Now whether he would have beaten Corach Rambler is another matter, but Mr Incredible is 8lbs better off with the favourite, and he will be a very fresh horse coming in to the race having had only one start this season and now attempting this race an 8 year old as opposed to a 7 year old.
The big question mark against Mr Incredible’s name has been his temperament having done some strange things in his novice years, but he is that year older and looked every bit a professional chaser travelling powerfully and jumping smartly on his latest start at Uttoxeter. That run should have put him spot on and this race has been the plan all season for Mr Incredible who has been looked after specifically by Patrick Mullins as part of a plan to target this race again.
20/1 are very nice odds and I expect him to be half the price on the day.
1pt each-way Mr. Incredible @20/1, 16:00 Aintree, Grand National (1-5 places, 1/5 odds antepost) – 13 April 2024
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