Grand National 2022: horse-by-horse guide to all the runners

Carried his rider into the history books 12 months ago as a flawless, ground-saving ride by Rachael Blackmore kept him out of trouble and in the right place to strike for home two out. A similar no-nonsense performance in the saddle can be expected but he is 15lb higher in the ratings and it is nearly half a century since Red Rum became the last top weight to win. Repeat wins in the National are extremely rare for a reason – all the stars need to align just to win once –, never mind with more lead in the saddle. A gallant run into fifth or sixth is probably a more plausible outcome.

The party-pooper at last month’s Cheltenham Festival, when loud boos rang out from the grandstands after he denied the legendary Tiger Roll victory on his final start. He would be a very popular winner at Aintree, though. The adaptability required to win on his first start over the cross-country obstacles felt like the final piece of the puzzle ahead of his Grand National debut, and he has been attracting plenty of support ever since. With five Grade One chase wins on his record, he also has the class to go with his stamina, but this latest challenge comes just 24 days after his huge effort at Cheltenham. With the juice squeezed out of his price, a couple of the fresher horses are marginally preferred.

It looked like a long-term plan was afoot when this cross-country race specialist – an easy winner at Cheltenham in March 2020 – joined Jonjo O’Neill from David Cottin’s French stable at the end of last season. If plot there was, however, three Ps on his record indicating he has been pulled-up three times since suggest that it has gone somewhat awry. He showed a little more of his old sparkle before dropping away tamely behind Delta Work in the