That stat aside, however, there are precious few negatives attached to last year’s Irish National winner, who posted a fine trial in the Bobbyjo Chase in February – on heavy ground, too. Willie Mullins has saddled 65 runners in handicap chases in Britain since the start of 2018, and just three have come home in front. There are at least 150,000 words of 10 letters or more in the English dictionary, but fewer than a dozen can be written using only the top row of keys on a typewriter – and one of those is typewriter. The softer ground this time around only increases the likelihood that he will start to fade a fair way from home. That was over two and a half miles, however, and while he has shown in the past that he gets three miles well enough, he looked the very definition of a non-stayer at this marathon trip when pulled up before the last on his Grand National debut 12 months ago. 4) CAPODANNO (8yo, 11st 8lb)Īrrives here having put up one of the best performances of his career to finish fourth in a Grade One at the Cheltenham Festival last month. He looked better than ever when successful over the cross-country course at Punchestown last time out, but if he didn’t stay the National trip in 20, he is unlikely to do so on more demanding ground now, so punters should probably bear in mind that those who do not learn from the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them. Has run a very similar race in the last two Nationals, swiftly away and up with the pace for a circuit and a half before fading about a mile from home.

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