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| Horse | FSF | Comment
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| Halcon Genelardais | 181 | Displayed stamina credentials with a win, second and third in the Welsh National. A game and consistent performer who has never fallen over fences. Despite some excellent efforts in defeat at Cheltenham, his FSF ratings suggest he is not at his best at that course. However, he has shown with performances at Chepstow, Haydock, Exeter, and Ayr, where he finished second in the Scottish National, he is best on flatter, galloping, tracks. One can never be sure how horses will react to the National fences, on their first or subsequent visits. When they take to the unique challenge, they are capable of returning time after time to run well. Halcon Genelardais is top of the projected ratings and given his profile deserves the utmost respect.
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| Snowy Morning | 180 | Appears to be being brought to his peak for the March and April Festivals. Three of his five best FSF ratings have come in those months, with February supplying the other two. Snowy Morning ran a blinder in last season’s renewal and he looks the right age to produce an even better performance. It should not be forgotten his trainer was responsible for a similar type in Hedgehunter, winnerin 2005. One for the short list
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| Exotic Dancer | 179 | One can suggest this is not the race for a horse that has intermittent back trouble. Nevertheless, when he his on song, Exotic Dancer can travel powerfully off the pace before finishing to good effect. Should he turn up and be thereabouts as they jump the last, his finishing kick may cause more than a little concern to others with similar pretensions.
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| Notre Pere | 178 | Displayed stamina in abundance when running away with the Welsh National. The handicapper has not been overly harsh, though it should not be forgotten he loves soft to heavy ground. If good ground prevails, he may find stamina kicking in, too late in the day.
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| My Will | 178 | Returned from an enforced absence with an excellent effort, finishing fifth to Madison Du Berlais in the Hennessy Gold Cup. We know he stays three miles six-furlongs following two places in the Whitbread Gold Cup. The handicapper has shown some slack to this talented chaser who is now nine-years of age.
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| Air Force One | 178 | Unlikely to run in the race this year as he is seven-years of age. The last winner from that age group was Bogskar in 1940! Indeed only two eight-year-olds have won since 1990. Nevertheless, his trainer has always hoped he would participate at some stage of his career. Currently recovering from injury, the flat track will suit him and his jumping is normally safe.
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| Cloudy Lane | 176 | Consistent but just in the hands of the handicapper at present. Personal opinion is, he is not the out and out staying type one usually needs for this race.
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| Comply Or Die | 175 | Landed a countrywide gamble in 2008. Like so many previous winners and placed horses, he has not found things easy this season. The form of the stable has seen him restricted to two races, which may turn out to be a blessing in disguise coming April. Needless to say, he will be subject to a hefty weight rise; however, his performance last April, suggested he would go close again, given the necessary luck in running.
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| Madison Du Berlais | 175 | 2008 Hennessy Gold Cup hero, Madison Du Berlais fell at the eighth fence last season. The handicapper has put him up 10lb for his win and one would imagine he would find life tougher now. However, he is still only eight-years of age and there must be a chance he has further improvement to come.
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| Joe Lively | 174 | Joe Lively ran an excellent race in the Welsh National on conditions that would not have brought bring out the best in him. He has never fallen over jumps and if good ground prevails, on a track that appears likely to suit, he could run well.
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| Denman | 173 | Completed his rise to the top of Steeplechasings ranks with a stunning victory in the Gold Cup. The official handicapper has indicated he will carry a maximum of 11-10, which clearly gives him a good shot. However, as you see from the projected adjusted FSF ratings he still has it all to do. Personally, my biggest worry is the fact, if all goes to plan, he will have three races in fifty-six days; a tall order for any National Hunt horse at this level. If Denman reappears on February 7th in the Aon Chase as anticipated, he will have thirty-four days to recover for his Gold Cup challenge, having had almost a year off. One wonders if the, “bounce factor” will play a part, though I would assume connections are hoping he has an easy time of it at Newbury. With the French Grand National on May 24th also an option, a longer recovery period, following his intended defence of the Gold Cup on 13th March, may prove a more attractive alternative. Whilst nothing is set in stone, diving in the deep end of ante-post betting, may not be the most prudent course of action.
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| Gwanako | 173 | Bounced back to form following his horrific brush with The Chair in November. Paul Nicholls is on record as saying he does not possess the stamina or experience at this stage of his career and his participation must be considered extremely doubtful.
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| Snoopy Loopy | 173 | This fellow has had a wonderful season so far. Winner of the Betfair Chase in November, he ran disappointingly in the King George. It remains to be seen what form he returns in, following a break. In addition, he has the handicapper to contend with.
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| Dear Villez | 173 | This fellow may find the race coming a year too soon. He showed in the Hennessy Gold Cup, when running on late in the day, he is not short on the stamina front. In addition, he possesses an improving profile.
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| Nozic | 172 | Another to show stamina reserves when taking the Rowland Meyrick from Tidal Bay at Wetherby over Christmas. An eight-year-old, with improvement to come, he could develop into an interesting contender.
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| Simon | 171 | Simon has fallen at Valentines, second time round, in the last two renewals. On both occasions, he has looked capable of taking a hand in the finish; if he gets past his bogey fence, he looks sure to be thereabouts.
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| Mon Mome | 170 | May have found two gallant efforts at Haydock Park and Cheltenham, taking the edge off him in the Welsh National. Hampered at Bechers last season, when a never nearer tenth, he will go into the race in better shape, if he is able to maintain his present form.
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| An Accordion | 169 | Yet to be seen since his win at Cheltenham last March. With just seven races over fences as I write, he may still be a shade inexperienced for this race.
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| Slim Pickings | 169 | Third in 2007 and fourth last year, Slim Pickings clearly enjoys running at Aintree. Likely to be on the same handicap mark this time round, he looks sure to give a good account again, if he can put a couple of recent disappointing efforts behind him.
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| Parsons Legacy | 168 | Has been aimed at this race since he won at Cheltenham’s October meeting. He loves good ground and a fast pace. Granted those conditions he can develop into a lively outsider.
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| Garde Champetre | 169 | Has finally shown the form to justify his heavy purchase price. An excellent record in Cheltenham and Punchestown’s Cross-Country events, suggest he may enjoy the unique fences at Aintree. Whether an out and out gallop rather than scooting round twists and turns will, is another matter.
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| Hear The Echo | 168 | This fellow has been kept to hurdling since his runaway win in the Irish National last April. His trainer Mouse Morris is particularly adept with staying chasers, while his owner (Mr Ryanair) would like nothing better than to see another of his acquisitions hitting the headlines. In the Irish National, he had Notre Pere sixteen lengths back in third places. For the purposes of this analysis, Notre Pere would be just 7lb better off if they were to both run off the lowest weight of ten-stone.
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| Mr Pointment | 168 | Mt Pointment has failed to show the form of his 2007 Becher Chase win in six subsequent starts. He showed a little more last time out; overall, he has plenty to prove.
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| Black Apalachi | 167 | Ran away with the 2008 Becher Chase. Raised 8lb for that wide-margin success, he would hold a decent chance if getting his favoured soft ground. In addition, it would appear important he is able to dictate matters from an early stage.
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| Abbeybraney | 166 | Cost the Wylies 200,ooo Guineas at the Cheltenham’s November sale. Ran respectably at Sandown Park and finished a head behind Notre Pere (level weights) in December 2007 at Leopardstown. Looks sure to improve for his new connections.
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| Battlecry | 165 | Bought by Trevor Hemmings has a potential Grand National winner. Ran well on the Melling Course at Aintree when second to Big Bucks in the April of last year. Dias appointing thus far this season, he has something to prove at present.
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| Endless Power | 164 | Two runs and two wins at Aintree. The first came on The Melling Course last April and he made all the running to win the Grand Sefton in November. Clearly at home here and at Ayr, he needs to prove his stamina for the race.
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| Rambling Minster | 164 | Bounced back top form when landing a gamble at Cheltenham in December. One can hardly call him consistent; nevertheless, he has won over four-miles and appears to act on any ground conditions.
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| Himalayan Trail | 163 | Winner of the 2008 Midlands Grand National, Himalayan Trail is now trained in Ireland. Four runs for his new trainer Jimmy (Monty’s Pass) Mangan, have not produced an awful lot of promise. However, if history is anything to go by, he will begin his revival in the coming weeks.
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| Chelsea Harbour | 162 | Dour staying chaser who has clocked some decent speed figures in his career. Chelsea Harbour can spoil his chances with jumping errors and has so far proved he stays three and a half miles. Best form has come on soft to heavy ground.
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| Royal County Star | 161 | Useful chase on his day though comprehensively outstayed by hear the Echo in the Irish National. Just a suspicion three or three and quarter miles is his best distance.
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| Butler’s Cabin | 161 | Winner of the 2007 National Hunt Chase and the Irish National a month later. Fell at Bechers second time round last year when looking full of run. Taking time to find his form this season, he showed a little promise at Kempton Park over Christmas. One whose progress should be monitored in the coming weeks; with his official rating now 135 (147 in 2008 National) one wonders how the handicapper will react.
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| Hot Weld | 160 | Irish National and Whitbread Cup hero in 2007. He won the 2006 renewal of the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham and is clearly blessed with stamina. A thin-skinned horse, he is at his best in the Spring. Reported by his trainer to be working well, he should be in action at Doncaster in a few weeks followed by a possible visit to Cheltenham and then a crack at this race.
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| Character Building | 160 | Consistent but lacks a finishing kick. Finished second to Butlers Cabin in the 2007 National Hunt Chase and not without a chance if making the race in one piece.
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| Arbor Supreme | 156 | This chap has won his last two races by five-lengths. In the first of those, he beat Black Apalachi receiving 19lb. If the race were run with Denman in the field, he would clearly have it all to do at the weights.
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| Dix Villez | 156 | Beat Grande Champetre in the Cross-Country race at Cheltenham’s November meeting. There appeared to be no fluke about the result, though once again he would be forced to run from a long way out of the handicap if Denman turns up for the fun.
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