There are any number of chases that could be described as Grand National Trial races that are run throughout the National Hunt season. Each will have a major bearing on the Grand National odds. We highlight several of them here and include horses that have run well in them and gone on to Grand National success:
This race was won in 2008 by the Evan Williams trained State Of Play, who went on to finish 4th in the 2009 Grand National behind Mon Mome. The Charlie Hall Chase was won in 2009 by another Williams trained horse, Deep Purple, who does not hold a Grand National entry.
2009 Result
Despite being run in early season, this Chase is always a good guide for the Grand National and has produced a couple of recent winners. Silver Birch won this in 2004 and went on to win the 2007 Grand National and Amberleigh House trained by Ginger McCain won the Becher Chase in 2001 and the 2004 Grand National.
This year the race was won by the Dessie Hughes trained, Vic Venturi, who by 5 lengths from Keenans Future. His very impressive win came just four weeks after an equally impressive victory in the Wilderness Chase at Clonmel and has put the nine year old bang in the 2010 Grand National odds picture with a price of around 25/1. Hughes now has two of the favourites for the race, the other being Black Apalachi.
2009 Result
Raced at the Chepstow racecourse and over a distance of 3 miles and 5½ furlongs at the end of December, this is an excellent Trial for Aintree. It is a top class race that usually attracts a top class field which has produced three winners of both the Welsh National and the Grand National in recent times, Silver Birch who won the Welsh version in 2004 and the 2007 Grand National. Bindaree actually won the 2002 Grand National before winning the Welsh National in 2003. Before them the great Earth Summit had won the Welsh National in 1997 and four months later triumphed at Aintree.
2009 winner was the Phillip Hobbs trained Dream Alliance, who got the better of Silver By Nature in a close run race by ¾ length with favourite, Le Beau Bai, seven lengths firther back in third. Dream Alliance has odds of 33/1 for Aintree.
2009 Result
Our Vic who has been handed 11-8 to carry in the National was a game second in the Blue Square Gold Cup at Haydock Park on 20 February, which is a traditional Grand National Trial. The 12 year old, trained by David Pipe led from the off until caught by eventual winner, Silver By Nature, a couple of fences from home, but hung on gamely to claim second spot ahead of le Beau Bai. Our Vic won the Grade 2, Peter Marsh Chase also at Haydock in January, but his outstanding efforts this season seem not to be impressing the Bookmakers, who still list the 12 year old as a 66/1 chance for Aintree.
2010 Race Result
Raced over four miles at Newcastle in February, this race is becoming an increasingly important Grand National trial. It was won in 2008 by Comply Or Die who of course went on to win the 2008 Grand National just two months later.
Raced over 3 miles and 18 fences, this Grade 3, Chase was first run in 1988 and was won by the David Elsworth trained, Rhyme And Reason, who went on a few weeks later to win the Aintree Grand National. Although not a prolific producer of National winners, it did prodcue a second in 1996, when Rough Quest won the race. Its most famous winner however was of course the great Desert Orchid who won in 1988 then went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup a year later and the Irish Grand National in 1990.
favourite to win the race this year is the Tom George trained, Nacarat, who also won in 2009, but most eyes will be on the performance of Madison Du Berlais, the David Pipe trained, Grade 2 winner, who is one of three top weights for the 2010 Grand National.
The Irish National raced at Fairyhouse and over a distance of 3 miles 5 furlongs, is another race that has produced dual winners, but neither of the last two winners have won in the same season, mainly due to the two races being run so close together. Bobbyjo won the Irish National in 1998 and followed that up with victory at Aintree a year later. Numbersixvalverde did exactly the same, winning at Fairyhouse in 2005 and at Aintree in 2006. Should this trend occur this season then punters should perhaps look at the claims of the 2009 Irish Grand National winner, Niche Market who is currently a 33/1 shot in the Grand National Odds.
Run at the Cheltenham Festival, these Class2 Handicap Chase is for amateur riders but has produced several top quality Grand National horses , particularly over recent years. 2009 Grand National winner, Mon Mome was second in this race in this in 2006, while Character Building was amongst the favourites for the Grand National after winning this race last year. Other top Grand National horses to have run well in this include, Cloudy Lane and Parsons Legacy
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