The Grand National Festival at Aintree takes centre stage from Thursday, April 3rd – Saturday, April 5th, with everything building towards the big race itself on day three.
There are lots of major prizes to be won, and we’re focusing on riders with a good record at Aintree who should be considered during the three-day Grand National Meeting.
Harry Skelton
Harry Skelton has been the leading rider at Aintree over the last five seasons, riding 20 winners from 119 starts for a 17 per cent strike rate and showing a positive +22.86 return to a level stake.
Skelton will be teaming up with his brother and champion trainer-elect Dan throughout the three days at Aintree, though the latter has no contender for the big race, leaving the 2020/21 champion jockey available for hire! It will be interesting to see who recruits him for the National.
Elsewhere, Grey Dawning looks set to bid for glory in the Aintree Bowl on day one after opting to miss the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Harry Skelton should enjoy a fine book of rides on Merseyside.
Harry Cobden
Britain’s current champion jumps jockey, Harry Cobden, has partnered 15 winners at Aintree across the last five seasons from 82 rides, giving him an 18 per cent strike rate.
Like Skelton, he’s yet to win the Grand National, but he’ll hope his Ditcheat boss Paul Nicholls can offer him a leading contender this time with the likes of Bravemansgame, Threeunderthrufive, Hitman and Stay Away Fay, all possible contenders.
Sean Bowen
Sean Bowen is in control of the jumps jockeys’ championship and looks set to be crowned champion for the first time come the Sandown Jumps Finale meeting in late April.
He creeps into the top five Aintree jockeys of the last five seasons with 10 winners around the Liverpool layout and will be hoping to add to that tally as he looks to crown his first-ever jockeys’ title, with seemingly only an injury scare likely to derail him now.
Rachael Blackmore
Rachael Blackmore’s association with Aintree is forever assured after she won the 2021 Grand National on Minella Times, making worldwide headlines in doing so.
That’s one of five successes at the course over the last five seasons, with Blackmore getting a further 10 of her mounts into the frame from 42 runners in that timeframe.
After a double at the Cheltenham Festival, she’ll be back in England with hopes of further big-race success.
Paul Townend
The stable jockey job at Willie Mullins’ yard means Paul Townend is assured lots of major chances at all the big festivals.
The six-time Irish champion jockey was leading rider at the Cheltenham Festival again last month for the fifth time in his career and he enjoyed his biggest Aintree success last season when I Am Maximus won the Grand National.
They may well be bidding to repeat the feat this time, with the JP McManus-owned star amongst the favourites again from an 8lb higher mark.
Townend’s Aintree record shows 11 winners from 71 mounts, with a further 14 making the frame, giving him a more than acceptable 15 per cent strike rate at the Merseyside course.
Article written by Anthony Vella
