Here are our 15 2008 Grand National Runners

Form - Horse - Trainer - Age - Weight

U-5111 CLOUDY LANE D McCain Jnr 8 10-8
Was already at the forefront of the betting after impressive wins at Haydock and Ayr, but is now as short as 6/1 after romping home in the Grimthorpe Chase on his latest start. Trained by Donald McCain - who should have learnt a lot from his father Ginger on how to prepare one for the National - he looks to have all the attributes of a National winner in that he travels supremely well in his races and jumps for fun.

Obvious candidate, although bookies are taking no chances.

Current best price: 8/1 Ladbrokes

29F-2P BEWLEYS BERRY J Howard Johnson 10 10-11
Couldn’t have been going better when coming down at Becher’s in last year’s race and could do a West Tip - he returned to win the race after a mishap at the same fence. This season, he again demonstrated his suitability for the National fences when sticking on well behind Mr Pointment in the Becher Chase, but ran a shocker at Haydock last time when tailed off (trainer out of form at the time). Should be a different proposition at Aintree in the spring.

Current best price: 16/1 Ladbrokes

F1133 SNOWY MORNING W P Mullins 8 10-12
Ran a fair third in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown and should stay, but may lack the racecourse savvy for a test of this nature and his jumping has been less than fluent on occasions - came down in the Hennessy at Newbury and made mistakes in the Royal & SunAlliance last season. Still, he does look well-weighted and, given the record of Irish-trained horses (won six of the last nine renewals), he can’t be ruled out with any confidence.

Current best price: 16/1 William Hill


F-52U4 SIMON J L Spearing 9 11-4
Wouldn’t be the first horse to win the National after a fall the previous year - 2007 winner Silver Birch and Hedgehunter, who won three years ago, are the most recent examples. He was certainly motoring and jumping like a possible winner when falling six from home last year and has been shrewdly handled all season with this prize in mind. Will be pin-sharp for another crack at the great race after his run in the Racing Post Chase last time out.

Current best price: bet365

3-62S5 SLIM PICKINGS T J Taaffe 9 11-0
Travelled and jumped well when finishing third in last year’s race (probably hit the front too soon), and this season, as is the case with National winners these days, has been a quiet one. Finished a prominent fifth in his prep run at Leopardstown recently over a trip patently too short; his first run since early December and only his second start over fences since his Aintree third. Very much the type to go well in this race again.

Current best price: 20/1 William Hill


7612-8 MCKELVEY P Bowen 9 10-11
Fine second in last year's race despite going lame on the run-in (probably would have beaten Silver Birch).

Has been given plenty of time to get over that injury, only returning to the track at the beginning of this month when finishing eighth in a handicap hurdle. Not surprisingly, he needed that run badly and is likely to have another spin over hurdles in the next couple of weeks. Providing he comes out of that race okay, he should go to Aintree with a live chance.

Current best price: 20/1 totesport

008040 POINT BARROW P Hughes 10 10-10

Started co-favourite for this race last season, only to exit at the first fence. That’s highly unlikely to happen again and, if he can negotiate the first circuit without incident, he should be involved in the finish. As a previous winner of the Irish National and Pierse Handicap Chase (under top weight), he certainly has plenty of big-field form to his name and looked to be returning to something like his best at Gowran Park in January in first-time blinkers, although he’s since run disappointingly at Haydock.

Current best price: 20/1 Boylesports

22-416 MR POINTMENT P F Nicholls 9 11-8

Jumped to the head of the market after taking to the National fences like a duck to water when winning the Becher Chase in November. A harsh weight has been the price for that victory, though, and broke a blood vessel on his latest start when finishing stone last in the Doncaster race won by Cloudy Lane. That might be a one-off and his trainer will no doubt have him spot on for this, but he clearly has questions to answer.

Current best price: 25/1 VCbet

P/0P21 COMPLY OR DIE D E Pipe 9 10-6

Plagued by injury since finishing fourth in the 2005 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, and was disappointing on his first two starts this season. Connections then decided to apply blinkers and he has looked rejuvenated as a result, finishing second to Cloudy Lane in testing ground at Haydock, and building on that run when winning the Eider Chase under top weight on his latest start. Clearly in good heart and has a nice racing weight, so could make a bold bid.

Current best price: 25/1 VCbet

11-373 BUTLER’S CABIN Jonjo O´Neill 8 11-0 |
Won the Irish National last season (collapsed after the race) and, as that race has been one of the best trials, he must come into the reckoning. However, he has been disappointing all this season, including last time out at Wincanton where he dived to the left at most of his fences for most of the final circuit before folding tamely entering the straight. It’s possible that his experience in the Irish National has got to him and it remains to be seen if he can recapture his form.

Current best price: 25/1sportingbet

423-54 PARSONS LEGACY P J Hobbs 10 10-7
Ran well to finish third in the Scottish National last season, which shows he has the necessary stamina for this race. Has run well on ground perhaps a little softer than ideal on both his starts at Cheltenham this season and, although he has no experience of the National fences, he looks very nicely handicapped if taking to them. Must have place prospects at least.

Current best price: 33/1 VCbet

3F6514 CHELSEA HARBOUR
Thomas Mullins 8 10-13 Looked very good when winning a Grand National Trial at Punchestown in early February, running away from a good novice after the last, despite carrying a huge weight. On that evidence, he looks a horse very much on the up and stamina isn’t an issue with him. Was ridden with more constraint on his most recent start over 2m5f, coming home better than anything to be nearest at the finish, and he must have a big chance if taking to the National fences.

Current best price: 33/1 Paddy Power

51P-06 DUN DOIRE A J Martin 9 10-4
Bad vibes about him last season, when he was a significant market drifter, but the ground was way too fast on that occasion and his current price will look massive if the heavens open for the National meeting. Ran disappointingly on his first run this season, but looked to be recapturing his best form on his latest start at Naas. The downside in backing him now is that he probably won’t even line up on unsuitable ground, so keep stakes to a minimum.

Current best price: 40/1 sportingbet

434-P3 MON MOME Miss Venetia Williams 8 10-8
Looks nicely weighted on the form of his fourth in last season’s William Hill Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival and his earlier second to Halcon Generlardais in the Welsh National. Not surprisingly, couldn't go the pace over 2m6f when running over hurdles last time out, but showed his well-being when digging in to finish third. After starting his season late, there should be plenty more to come in the spring. Lively outsider.

Current best price: 40/1 BetDirect

3-4425 MADISON DU BERLAIS D E Pipe 7 11-6
Only a seven-year-old, but he’s had plenty of experience and does bring some extremely good handicap form to the table. The pick of his efforts this season came in the Hennessy, where he finished fourth behind Denman - further evidence that he wants further than the 2m4f over which he has done much of his racing. He jumps and travels well and Tom Scudamore (his regular jockey) thinks he will be suited to the National, so no surprise if he makes the frame at a big price.

Current best price: 50/1 Ladbrokes