Date: Saturday 9th April 2022
The Grand National once again looks an ultra-competitive contest and in recent years we have seen a clear shift in the type of horse required to win it.
Gone are the days where you could rely purely on traditional handicap trends, with classier horses now regularly featuring at the business end of the race, even when carrying more weight than would have been ideal in the past.
With that in mind, I have applied the core Turf Talk trends alongside a stronger emphasis on class, recent form and overall profile to produce this year’s ratings.
TURF TALK RATINGS - LEADING CONTENDERS
| Horse | Turf Talk Rating |
|---|---|
| Any Second Now | 221 |
| Delta Work | 214 |
| Minella Times | 206 |
| Snow Leopardess | 195 |
| Escaria Ten | 188 |
| Noble Yeats | 181 |
| Good Boy Bobby | 174 |
The ratings are built around a blend of traditional trends such as recent run, number of chase starts and big field experience, combined with more modern indicators such as class, festival form and overall profile.
Irish-trained runners continue to perform strongly in this race and that is another factor that has been taken into account this year.
MAIN SELECTION
Any Second Now (12/1 available)
He comes out top on the Turf Talk Ratings and looks to have an ideal profile for this year’s race.
He ticks a number of the key trends including having had a recent run, plenty of chase experience and strong form in big-field handicaps. His performance in last year’s race also stands out and suggests he is very well suited to Aintree.
With the benefit of that experience and a similar preparation, he looks the one to beat.
BACKUP SELECTION 1
Delta Work (16/1 available)
A very classy performer who represents the more modern Grand National profile.
He brings high-level form into the race and while he does not fit every traditional trend, his class and experience make him very hard to ignore. His recent run and overall profile suggest he is ready for a test like this.
He looks a major player if adapting to the unique demands of the race.
BACKUP SELECTION 2
Minella Times (12/1 available)
Last year’s winner returns and once again makes the shortlist on the ratings.
He has proven course form, has had a recent run and retains a strong overall profile. While repeat wins are difficult in this race, his experience and suitability for the track make him impossible to dismiss.
He may not be quite as well treated as last year, but still looks capable of running a big race.
SUMMARY
This looks another fascinating renewal and the continued evolution of the race makes it as challenging as ever to assess.
Any Second Now tops the ratings and is taken as the main selection, with Delta Work and Minella Times looking the strongest alternatives in a race that continues to favour class and well-prepared runners.
