Good-ground horses have been increasingly marginalised in modern Grand Nationals as Aintree waters the track in an attempt to slow the race down but, with the going drying as fast as it can be irrigated this week, they will never get a better chance and Hyland can capitalise on that by winning the 177th edition of the world’s greatest steeplechase. In the ‘old days’ running a novice in the National would have been considered foolhardy but Rule The World and Noble Yeats, both winners within the last 10 years, were novices, indeed Rule The World had not won a race over fences when he turned up at Aintree in 2016. As such there is every possibility Hyland is still ahead of the handicapper, another box which needs to be ticked in order to win a modern National. But this National is nothing if not open and a dozen or more have good chances. We’ll be providing live updates from all the day’s races, starting with the 17-runner William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle at 1.20pm.
