Talking Horses: Mahler Mission best value in soft-ground Grand National

The more pessimistic forecasts for rainfall at Aintree this week failed to materialise but the going for Saturday’s race will still be the most gruelling for 23 years and only thorough stayers should be considered for inclusion on backers’ shortlists.

In that respect, the betting market has already done a lot of the legwork, as all but a couple of the runners priced up at 33-1 or below have stamina as one of their strongest suits. Narrowing them down to three or four prime candidates is much more problematic, though, and ultimately depends on an individual punter’s idea of what might be required.

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Lucinda Russell has pulled off the remarkable trick of getting Corach Rambler to Aintree as arguably the best-handicapped horse in the race for the second year in a row, and his course form makes him more appealing than I Am Maximus or Meetingofthewaters at a similar sort of price.

But ultimately his chance is little better than that of runners at twice the odds, and rivals too like Panda Boy that have crept in at the bottom of the weights.

In truth, there is little juice left in most of the leading contenders’ prices, but a possible exception is the 16-1 about Mahler Mission (4.00), who has been kept fresh since November with only the National in mind.

John McConnell, his trainer, is also a little under the radar in Britain, but he has an outstanding record with his runners in this country and his first Grand National contender has a near-perfect profile for the race in terms of his age, talent, stamina and form to date.

Aintree 1.20 Nicky Henderson’s string is still operating some way below its normal high level, but Bold Endeavour put up the best performance of any the trainer’s 16 runners at last month’s Cheltenham Festival when he finished fourth in the Pertemps Final. If he could build on that career-best, the eight-year-old’s early price of around 25-1 could be an each-way snip.

Aintree 1.55 Caldwell Potter was the star lot in the dispersal sale when his previous owners, Andy and Gemma Brown, surprisingly sold their entire string earlier this year. He has a clear chance here to get a Grade One on the board at the first attempt for his new owners, a group that includes the former Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson.

Chelmsford 10.00 Winter Snowfall 10.30 Urban Road 11.00 Pentacle 11.30 Billy Mill 12.00 Placated 12.30 New Hope Bullet 1.05 Local Music

Chepstow 12.40 Knight Of Allen 1.10 Casa No Mento 1.40 Wise Guy 2.15 Bolsover Bill 2.50 King Of Brazil 3.32 Lady Balko 4.40 J’Habite En France

Newcastle 12.55 Fainche 1.30 One More Stroke 2.05 Choosethenews 2.40 Beneficially Yours 3.25 Atomic Angel 4.30 Rollerruler 5.05 Battle Born Lad

Aintree 1.20 Bold Endeavour 1.55 Caldwell Potter 2.20 Kilbeg King (nb) 3.05 Sire Du Berlais 4.00 Mahler Mission (nap) 5.00 Hercule Du Seuil 5.35 Castle Ivers

Yarmouth 3.40 Handel 4.25 Fighter Command 4.55 Letaba 5.30 Stone Circle 6.00 Berry Clever 6.30 Mister Mojito 7.00 Blue Collar Lad 7.30 Special Mayson

Wolverhampton 5.10 Profitman 5.40 Orchard Park 6.10 Local Hero 6.40 Damoiseau 7.10 Radio Goo Goo 7.40 Gogo Yubari8.10 Red Dwarf

Aintree 2.20 The company in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham was a little too hot for Kilbeg King to handle last time, but he remains a fine prospect for staying handicap chases.

Aintree 3.05 The admirable Sire Du Berlais is well into the veteran stage of his career but ran right up to form in the Stayers’ at Cheltenham last time and has a fine chance to register a third straight win in this race.