The Grand National is such a fiendishly hard race to win that even the great Willie Mullins only has one success to his name, with that coming courtesy of Hedgehunter all the way back in 2005.
Mullins could well be set to end an 18-year wait between drinks at Aintree in the 2023 running, with his leading contender boasting everything a modern National hero could need: Grade 1 class, proven staying power at extreme trips, a manageable racing weight and even novice status.
Grand National 2023 tips to win
Best Bet: Gaillard Du Mesnil to win (each-way) @ 12/1
Longshot: Minella Trump to win (each-way) @ 66/1
Check out the latest horse racing odds at Betzone
Betzone are paying five each way places at 1/4 odds on the 2023 Grand National
Gaillard Du Mesnil can claim the Grand National for Closutton
What are you looking for in a National contender? Proven ability to stay marathon trips?
Gaillard Du Mesnil won the 3m6f National Hunt Novices Chase at Cheltenham last month and finished third in the 2022 Irish Grand National as a six-year-old carrying a de-facto top weight of 11st 8lbs
How’s about having the class to contest and even win races at Grade 1 level? Gaillard Du Mesnil has career Grade 1 form figures of 12133213.
You don’t want too heavy a weight on your horse’s back? Gaillard Du Mesnil will shoulder a manageable 11st that seems very fair considering he’s a decent Grade 1 animal over fences.
On top of this he’s trainer by Willie Mullins, the dominant trainer of his day, who won the race in 2005 and got within a head of Tiger Roll with Pleasant Company in the 2018 running.
At seven years old and still a novice over fences (albeit a second season novice) he very much fits the bill in terms of the profile of the modern National winner. Since 2015, five of the seven victors were eight years old or younger, while 2022 scorer Noble Yeats was also a novice over fences.
Best Bet: Gaillard Du Mesnil to win (each-way) @ 12/1
Overlooked Minella Trump has a compelling resume for a 66/1 shot
Already highlighted as one of our best Grand National bets at 25/1 or more Minella Trump simply has to be in our each-way team for the Aintree marathon.
The nine-year-old’s season has evidently been geared around this race and this race only, with Donald McCain opting for a single February hurdles run before his date with destiny.
Prior to that Minella Trump had advanced his excellent strike rate over fences to eight wins, once second and two thirds from a dozen outings, culminating in two comfortable wins over 3m.
McCain has shrewdly kept his prolific charge to relatively low-key contests, suggesting he’s had this race in mind for quite a while.
Nonetheless, the gelding has managed to account for high profile opposition, beating subsequent bet365 Gold Cup, Galway Plate and Far Hills Grand National winner Hewick over 3m in 2021. Hewick was last seen running a mighty race in the Cheltenham Gold Cup before falling two out.
Minella Trump won despite idling in front on his last run over fences, suggesting he can improve a way beyond his current handicap mark. That improvement could well be found for stepping up markedly in trip and a light weight of 10st 6lb won’t be slowing him down.
Longshot: Minella Trump to win (each-way) @ 66/1
What are you looking for in a National contender? Proven ability to stay marathon trips?
Gaillard Du Mesnil won the 3m6f National Hunt Novices Chase at Cheltenham last month and finished third in the 2022 Irish Grand National as a six-year-old carrying a de-facto top weight of 11st 8lbs
How’s about having the class to contest and even win races at Grade 1 level? Gaillard Du Mesnil has career Grade 1 form figures of 12133213.
You don’t want too heavy a weight on your horse’s back? Gaillard Du Mesnil will shoulder a manageable 11st that seems very fair considering he’s a decent Grade 1 animal over fences.
On top of this he’s trainer by Willie Mullins, the dominant trainer of his day, who won the race in 2005 and got within a head of Tiger Roll with Pleasant Company in the 2018 running.
At seven years old and still a novice over fences (albeit a second season novice) he very much fits the bill in terms of the profile of the modern National winner. Since 2015, five of the seven victors were eight years old or younger, while 2022 scorer Noble Yeats was also a novice over fences.
Best Bet: Gaillard Du Mesnil to win (each-way) @ 12/1
Overlooked Minella Trump has a compelling resume for a 66/1 shot
Already highlighted as one of our best Grand National bets at 25/1 or more Minella Trump simply has to be in our each-way team for the Aintree marathon.
The nine-year-old’s season has evidently been geared around this race and this race only, with Donald McCain opting for a single February hurdles run before his date with destiny.
Prior to that Minella Trump had advanced his excellent strike rate over fences to eight wins, once second and two thirds from a dozen outings, culminating in two comfortable wins over 3m.
McCain has shrewdly kept his prolific charge to relatively low-key contests, suggesting he’s had this race in mind for quite a while.
Nonetheless, the gelding has managed to account for high profile opposition, beating subsequent bet365 Gold Cup, Galway Plate and Far Hills Grand National winner Hewick over 3m in 2021. Hewick was last seen running a mighty race in the Cheltenham Gold Cup before falling two out.
Minella Trump won despite idling in front on his last run over fences, suggesting he can improve a way beyond his current handicap mark. That improvement could well be found for stepping up markedly in trip and a light weight of 10st 6lb won’t be slowing him down.
Longshot: Minella Trump to win (each-way) @ 66/1
