Aquarius Grand National Horses

This will be Coko Beach's fourth run in the Grand National where he has finished eighth (beaten sixty-six lengths), Pulled Up and eleventh (beaten thirty-three lengths) last year. The grey gelding has also finished second in a Becher Chase so he has plenty of experience of jumping the Grand National fences. Coko Beach's jumping of the National fences is usually superb but he tends to find the extreme distance of the race too demanding.  Still only ten-years-old, Coko Beach has been given a little help by the handicapper as his rating of 150 is back to what it was on his first attempt at the National. This year he has rated eleven pounds lower than in 2024. Coko Beach always gives his all but it's a huge ask to expect him to win the Grand National on his fourth attempt.

Conflated has been a brilliant servant to his connections winning seven of his forty-one races, including two at Grade One level. He has amassed over half-a-million pounds in prize money and has run at least four times in every year of his career.  The Gigginstown House owned gelding has been an infrequent runner in handicaps but did run in one at the recent Cheltenham Festival where he showed up well until a mistake at the second-last fence.   Conflated is now rated eleven pounds lower than at his peak, which arguably should give him a chance, but there has to be doubts about his ability to see out the Grand National distance. He did finish just over thirteen lengths third in the 26 furlong Cheltenham Gold Cup three seasons ago but he has always given the indication that three miles is about as far as he wants to go. The other negative factor is that he has fallen or unseated his rider seven times in his career. It's unlikely that any other horse has lined up in recent Grand Nationals with as many falls/unseats. The fences are undoubtedly easier at Aintree these days but his jumping must still be a major concern in a Grand National.