14 April 2023 , 16:15
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THE Randox Grand National is going to be an Incredible spectacle.
MR INCREDIBLE (5.15) looks to have bottomless stamina and that should carry him home to glory in the world’s greatest race.
He’s only seven-years-old and that would have put me off an Aintree hopeful not so long ago but Noble Yeats confirmed 12 months ago that it’s the younger generation that come to the fore these days.
Some will be put off by Mr Incredible’s refusal to race in Leopardstown’s Grade 1 novice chase over Christmas last season but he’s shown none of that reluctance since switching to Willie Mullins.
The way he stayed on over 3m5f to finish second behind former Welsh National winner Iwilldoit in Warwick’s Classic Chase suggested this extreme test will be right up his street.
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He might well have won the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival had he jumped the last better but the stride just wasn’t there.
It was still an excellent prep race to finish third and Brian Hayes, the man on board at Warwick, is in the saddle again. Have 2pts each-way at 14-1. Several bookies are paying out on seven places.
HENRY’S FRIEND (2.25) is a promising novice and he is going to love stepping up to 3m for the first time.
He bounced back from a disappointing run on soft ground when winning at Doncaster last month.
His jumping was very good for an inexperienced horse and that bodes well for this big-field handicap.
Have 1pt each-way at 20-1. A couple of bookies are going six places with Sky Bet stretching to seven.
KARL PHILIPPE (4.15) is better than he showed when seventh behind National favourite Corach Rambler in the Ultima Chase at Cheltenham.
He sat too close to a brutal early pace and a mistake four fences from home knocked the stuffing out of him.
That was his first try at 3m and it was a tough race in which to test his stamina but I’ve no doubt he is going to be at home over this distance in a slightly less competitive race. Have 1pt each-way at 16-1. A few bookies are paying out on five places.