Purple Grand National Horses

Former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo stormed back to top-form in the Grand National last year when finishing eight lengths third to I Am Maximus. Trainer Henry De Bromhead was reluctant to prep his stable star in Cross Country races this year and instead has used a softly-softly approach with the twelve-year-old gelding only running twice so far this season. Minella Indo reappeared this season at Punchestown in October where he ran a very encouraging race finishing second to French Dynamite and having one of the favourites for this year's Grand National, Hewick, over four lengths behind. It wasn't until nearly four months later that Minella Indo ran again having what looked like an exercise outing when finishing a well-beaten sixth in a hurdle race at Navan.  Henry De Bromhead brought Minella Indo to last year's Grand National off a four month break due to his intended target (the Cheltenham Festival Cross Country race) being abandoned and he obviously feels Minella Indo's best chance this year is to go into the big race fresh once again.  The handicapper has given Minella Indo one pound less to carry this year but that may not be enough as no twelve-year-old has won the Grand National since Amberleigh House in 2004.

Rookie trainer Michael Keady has yet to train a winner in National Hunt racing but hopes to change all that by winning the biggest race in the world: The Grand National. Keady took out a licence in December and has had winners on the all-weather but has yet to record a victory over obstacles. Keady oversaw the online purchase of Horantzau d’Airy, by his business partner Jim Gill, who went to £52,000 to secure the gelding who was sold out of the Willie Mullins yard with a Grand National entry included.  Keady trains from Newmarket and that area has been low on Grand National entries in recent years but Keady believes this horse has the pre-requisite form to be competitive in the big race. The eight-year-old gelding was previously owned by Rich Ricci so had been campaigned in some big races including the Kerry National where he finished second and then finished second again in the Munster National. Since those two runner-up efforts this son of Legolas has been disappointing in three further big handicaps.  If Horantzau d’Airy could get back to his early season form he could play a part in the Grand National but a fairytale success for his new trainer looks unlikely.