Grand National 2009

JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL, Aintree: Saturday 4 April, 1615 BST
Coverage: Full TV coverage from Aintree on Thursday and Friday on BBC2 and online from 1345, and on Saturday from 1300. Saturday - radio coverage on BBC Radio 5 Live and live text commentary on BBC Sport website & mobiles

By Oliver Brett

Verdict: Following some high-profile withdrawals, this famous race looks even more open than normal.

606: DEBATE Tip the National winner

Two trained by Paul Nicholls - My Will and Big Fella Thanks - require plenty of respect, but the lightly raced DARKNESS, who loves good ground, is the selection.
Butler's Cabin has strong claims for second, while Rambling Minster and Kilbeggan Blade have the low weight others crave.

Pinstickers' choice:
1 Darkness 2 Butler's Cabin 3 Rambling Minster 4 Kilbeggan Blade

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(Number, form, horse's name, age, weight, jockey, trainer)
All horses trained in UK unless otherwise stated.
Odds are approximate and for information puposes only

1

6-0431F CLOUDY LANE 9 11-10
Jason Maguire Donald McCain Jnr
Long-term fancy for last year's National, he finished tired in sixth place - and his huge weight this year will make life even harder. Iffy form this season, including a fall at Kelso.
Rating: 5/10 Odds: 33-1

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2

U1F234 CHELSEA HARBOUR 9 11-08
Emmet Mullins Tom Mullins (Ire)
Ninth horse home last year, has had a very heavy workload this season in which familiar jumping errors have resurfaced. Needs performance of a lifetime to earn a place this time.
Rating: 4/10 Odds: 40-1

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3

32-56F2 SNOWY MORNING 9 11-08
Andrew McNamara Willie Mullins (Ire)
An uncertain jumper with a big weight and no wins in his last nine races. Would have to pull something special out of the bag to land this one, though he did come third last year.
Rating: 5/10 Odds: 28-1

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4

6UP-10P KNOWHERE 11 11-07
Paddy Brennan Nigel Twiston-Davies
Unseated his rider in each of his last two Nationals and was soundly thumped in both the Hennessy and the Gold Cup. Should only be backed by people who enjoy losing money.
Rating: 4/10 Odds: 50-1

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5

211-P00 COMPLY OR DIE 10 11-06
Timmy Murphy David Pipe
Bidding to be first horse since Red Rum to win two Nationals. A four-length winner last year on good ground, began the season poorly before signs of revival last time at Cheltenham.
Rating: 7/10 Odds: 16-1

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6

255550 OLLIE MAGERN 11 11-06
Sam Waley-Cohen Nigel Twiston-Davies
Usually finds one or two horses too fast for him - especially at this stage of the season. A safe enough jumper, but more likely to be challenging for last place than third or fourth.
Rating: 3/10 Odds: 100-1

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7

51P04P STAN 10 11-06
Aidan Coleman Venetia Williams
All four of his past wins over fences have come at half this distance, and following a very busy season he should be out munching grass, not slogging out this marathon.
Rating: 3/10 Odds: 100-1

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8

F2-P151 BLACK APALACHI 10 11-05
Denis O'Regan Dessie Hughes (Ire)
Blew away the opposition in winning Becher Chase last November over the National fences having fallen at the second in this race last year. May prefer softer ground, but is very much a live contender.
Rating: 7/10 Odds: 14-1

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9

01-556U HEAR THE ECHO 8 11-05
Davy Russell Mouse Morris (Ire)
Won the Irish National by 12 lengths last year on good to yielding ground and this has been a natural follow-up target. Not the most consistent jumper, and these fences are sure to test him.
Rating: 7/10 Odds: 16-1

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10

40-0F10 PREISTS LEAP 9 11-05
Philip Enright Gerald O'Leary (Ire)
Out-and-out stayer who has had his fair share of success, but has not yet raced in England. Seems to have been given an unduly big weight for this major step into the unknown.
Rating: 4/10 Odds: 50-1

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11

2023/-55 MY WILL 9 11-04
Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
Fifth place in Gold Cup made him ante-post favourite for champion trainer seeking a first Grand National success. A solid performer who jumps well, may take some beating. Walsh enjoying midas touch.
Rating: 8/10 Odds: 7-1

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12

411P-1P/ EUROTREK 13 11-03
Sam Thomas Paul Nicholls
So injury-prone he could be dubbed the Ledley King of racing, this veteran is making one last stab at a big prize after two years off. But the fairytale isn't going to happen.
Rating: 4/10 Odds: 66-1

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13

2560-14 STATE OF PLAY 9 11-02
Paul Moloney Evan Williams
Classy sort, and a reliable jumper who can count a Hennessy win and a sixth place in the Gold Cup among past exploits. But whether this extended trip suits is another matter.
Rating: 7/10 Odds: 14-1

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14

322U13 BIG FELLA THANKS 7 11-01
Christian Williams Paul Nicholls
Lacks experience, but apart from unseating his rider last December has rarely put a foot wrong. Easily won at Doncaster (3m, soft) and stayed on strongly in the Racing Post Chase.
Rating: 8/10 Odds: 16-1

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15

210200 MON MOME 9 11-00
Liam Treadwell Venetia Williams
Starting as favourite for the Welsh National in December, he blundered away his chances with an early error. Tenth in this last year, probably about where he'll come this time.
Rating: 4/10 Odds: 50-1

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16

02421/-0 SILVER BIRCH 12 11-00
Robbie Power Gordon Elliott (Ire)
Took nearly two years off after winning this in 2007, and has a mixed bag of recent form after three gentle prep races including two point-to-points. A story in the making? Don't hold your breath.
Rating: 4/10 Odds: 50-1

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17

3F-0005 BUTLER'S CABIN 9 10-13
AP McCoy Jonjo O'Neill
One of the leading fancies last year, was disputing the lead and tanking along when falling at Becher's on the second circuit. Quietly campaigned in shorter handicaps this term - solid chances.
Rating: 8/10 Odds: 9-1

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18

111/U2-2 OFFSHORE ACCOUNT 9 10-13
David Casey Charlie Swan
Ten-time Irish champion jockey bids to win a race that eluded him as a rider with horse who was a superb novice two years ago but has barely raced since. Unlikely to be sharp enough for this.
Rating: 5/10 Odds: 33-1

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19

23/54-1P PARSONS LEGACY 11 10-12
Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs
Third in the Scottish National as a nine-year-old, this veteran now does much of his work at Cheltenham, where he picked up a win in October (3m, good). Hard to completely rule out.
Rating: 6/10 Odds: 28-1

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20

0612-P0 REVEILLEZ 10 10-12
Mark Walsh Jonjo O'Neill
A winner of a shorter race here 12 months ago (3m1f, good) he has disappointed connections this term and does not look likely to trouble the leading contenders.
Rating: 3/10 Odds: 100-1

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21

146P6P FUNDAMENTALIST 11 10-11
David England Nigel Twiston-Davies
Heavily campaigned for the past two seasons, he has taken in 17 steeplechases in that time and is likely to be running on empty if he makes it to the second circuit.
Rating: 3/10 Odds: 100-1

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22

P133/3-0 GOLDEN FLIGHT 10 10-11
Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
Beaten into 12th by several of these at Cheltenham last month in first English race after being bought out of a French yard. Hard to take this one seriously in this sort of company.
Rating: 4/10 Odds: 50-1

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23

F0-4212 L'AMI 10 10-11
Robert Thornton Enda Bolger (Ire)
If he jumps well he has every chance, based on some really encouraging form this season. But it's a big if - he fell at the second fence last year, and has had jumping problems in the past.
Rating: 6/10 Odds: 20-1

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24

32-245P BATTLECRY 8 10-10
Tom Scudamore Nigel Twiston-Davies
Ran out of gas badly in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton, having had similar problems in previous start. His trainer has won this race twice, but will surely struggle to do so with this one.
Rating: 5/10 Odds: 40-1

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25

00-F120 CORNISH SETT 10 10-10
Nick Scholfield Paul Nicholls
He can get round these fences - he finished 12th last year - and landed a decent handicap at Wincanton last autumn (3m, soft). If travelling well, could overtake some at the finish.
Rating: 6/10 Odds: 28-1

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26

42-P610 FLEET STREET 10 10-10
Andrew Tinkler Nicky Henderson
Tidy winner of a 3m handicap at Kempton in December, but really struggled when stepping up in class and not particularly well handicapped for this one.
Rating: 3/10 Odds: 66-1

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27

222100 MUSICA BELLA 9 10-10
Philip Carberry Francois Cottin (Fra)
Bidding to be the first winner of this trained across the Channel since 1867, and the first mare to do it since 1951. A romantic bet perhaps? A foolish one, certainly.
Rating: 3/10 Odds: 100-1

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28

3-11134 CAN'T BUY TIME 7 10-09
Noel Fehilly Jonjo O'Neill
Strongly fancied to win at the Cheltenham Festival, he finished a bruising race in fourth place. If he has recovered in time to figure here it will be a brilliant effort. One for the future.
Rating: 5/10 Odds: 40-1

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29

13P//-3P1 DARKNESS 10 10-09
Wayne Hutchinson Charles Egerton
Interesting contender who had two-and-a-half years off the track before returning last November and winning a decent race at Newbury last time out. Outstanding each-way value.
Rating: 9/10 Odds: 20-1

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30

323111 IRISH INVADER 8 10-09
Paul Townend Willie Mullins (Ire)
Appropriately named challenger who has never raced outside Ireland, but completed recent hat-trick with success at Thurles (2m2f, soft). Much improved jumper, but big step up in trip and class.
Rating: 6/10 Odds: 16-1

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31

6-56511 RAMBLING MINSTER 11 10-09
James Reveley Keith Reveley
A former Scottish National winner enjoying a golden autumn to his career, and with a low weight to boot, it's no wonder this horse has quietly crept into the picture. Ignore the Minster at your peril.
Rating: 8/10 Odds: 10-1

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32

06U343 SOUTHERN VIC 10 10-09
Niall Madden Ted Walsh (Ire)
Would have much preferred soft ground and his uncertain jumping will be under the microscope, particularly given his error at the Canal Turn in last November's Becher Chase.
Rating: 6/10 Odds: 16-1

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33

0P-1112 KILBEGGAN BLADE 10 10-07
Graham Lee Tom George (Ire)
Winner of the inaugural London National at Sandown last December, this safe jumper has strong each-way prospects despite a disappointing defeat last time out.
Rating: 8/10 Odds: 20-1

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34

124021 BROOKLYN BROWNIE 10 10-06
Phil Kinsella Malcolm Jefferson
Versatile type who carried a big weight to victory at Wetherby last time out, after coming second here last November. Good jumper, with a chance of nabbing a place if he stays.
Rating: 5/10 Odds: 33-1

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35

P504P0 HIMALAYAN TRAIL 10 10-06
Paddy Flood Jimmy Mangan (Ire)
Finished last season on a high, winning Midlands National. But the move from West Yorkshire to County Cork has resulted in much weaker results. Trainer won this race in 2003.
Rating: 6/10 Odds: 25-1

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36

00010-0 ARTEEA 10 10-05
Richie McGrath David Pipe
Once decent as a novice in Irish races, now fading and looks to be punching several divisions above his weight. It would be a massive shock if this one produces a memorable run.
Rating: 2/10 Odds: 150-1

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37

P/50PP-0 CERIUM 10 10-05
Keith Mercer Paul Murphy
It was a miracle that this one beat five others when trailing home 11th in the Gold Cup a month ago. Connections have a rather higher opinion of this horse than his form warrants.
Rating: 2/10 Odds: 500-1

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38

50-2403 IDLE TALK 10 10-05
Brian Harding Donald McCain jnr
Observers claim his once awful jumping has improved, but he has never enjoyed himself in three previous National tilts, so it's difficult to see him banishing those memories.
Rating: 4/10 Odds: 66-1

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39

2U6-P00 KELAMI 11 10-05
Derek Laverty Lisa Williamson
Unable to finish this race in 2007, he lost his jockey early on last year. Has moved from France to Cheshire since then, but he continues to disappoint. This will be too much again.
Rating: 3/10 Odds: 100-1

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40

0/232P5/- ZABENZ 12 10-05
Tom O'Brien Philip Hobbs
Unraced since 2006-07, having been quietly fancied for that season's National (where he was pulled up after losing a leather). Seems sure to "need" this race, but low weight must help.
Rating: 3/10 Odds: 100-1