Gemini Grand National Horses

Royal Pagaille has been a real stable star for Venetia Williams and his charismatic owner, Rich Ricci.  A winner of Graded races over fences, including taking the prestigious Betfair Chase twice at his favourite track Haydock. The key to Royal Pagaille tends to be very soft ground, something he is highly unlikely to get this year at Aintree. Also, his last three runs have been rather lacklustre with the eleven-year-old gelding looking as if he was ready for a break. All Royal Pagaille's seven career wins have come before the end of January in each season and his record from February onwards in the UK reads: 362556F66. Royal Pagaille looks to face a very hard task from his position of so high in the weights.

Minella Cocooner was part of the team Willie Mullins highlighted to help him win the British Trainers’ Championship and this horse certainly did his bit when victorious in the Bet365 Gold Cup and winning over £95,000 in the process.  That win at Sandown was only Minella Cocooner’s second win over fences and with only a six pound rise for that big win he looks to have the scope to win some more big pots. As well as winning at Sandown on good ground he had previously been third in the Irish National when four lengths behind Intense Raffles on heavy ground.  This season Mullins has campaigned this horse mainly at Grade One level and he has been comprehensively beaten on his three starts by 25, 41 and 32 lengths. Minella Cocooner's one race outside Grade One level was in the Bobbyjo at Fairyhouse where he showed some improved form to finish fourth just over eight lengths behind the winner, Nick Rockett. Minella Cocooner’s supporters should not lose heart though as it appears the nine-year-old gelding tends to find his best form toward the end of the season. His four best performances on Racing Post ratings have all come from March onwards in the season so there is every chance he can show an improved performance in the Grand National. It's somewhat surprising that Danny Mullins has elected to not ride this horse as he has been in the plate eight times in the horse's career including that big win at Sandown.

One of the few races Nicky Henderson has failed to win in his long career is the Grand National but, in truth, he hasn’t had many strong chances in the last few years. This year he has a very interesting challenger in Hyland who has already won three chases this season. The eight-year-old gelding is still a novice but has already had six races over the bigger obstacles. The highlight of his chasing career so far was probably when running top novice The Jukebox Man to two-and-a-half lengths in a Grade One race at Kempton.  Hyland is undoubtedly a progressive novice but he is very ground dependant and tends to reserve his very best form for genuinely good ground which he may not get at Aintree as the course will ensure watering takes place to provide ground that is at least good to soft.  If the track is not overwatered then Hyland looks set to give Nicky Henderson his best chance of winning the Grand National for a very long time.