Grand National Trial 2024 Runners, Trends, Tips & Betting: Highland Hunter An Interesting Outsider

See our Grand National Trial runners guide, trends, tips and the latest betting odds for the big race at Haydock this weekend in a race where it often pays to stay away from the favourite. 

Grand National Trial 2024 Runners: Highland Hunter May Be The Answer In Testing Conditions

Note: Form figures have latest run on right. 

Iwilldoit

Iwilldoit won the Welsh Grand National three years ago and was also third in this season’s renewal over Christmas and comes into the race after three placed starts so far this campaign. He will carry top weight of 12st if he lines up at Haydock this weekend, and is one of the few in the race not entered in the Randox Grand National in April.

Chambard

Chambard is another horse with plenty of weight on his back and will be using this trial as a prep for the Aintree spectacle in a couple of months time. He has already shown a liking for the National fences after winning the Becher Chase at Aintree back in December under Lucy Turner.

Highland Hunter

Fergal O’Brien’s Highland Hunter has had a couple of solid runs this season including a good second at Kelso on reappearance and fifth behind L’Homme Presse, either side of his unseating at the Chair in the Becher Chase. There is a lot to like about about this 11-year-old who will get a stamina test on his favoured soft ground which he should cherish.

Iron Bridge

Despite being 34 lengths behind Welsh National hero Nassalam, Iron Bridge ran a decent race in 2nd in what was a true test of guts and courage over the marathon trip on heavy ground. He should be in good nick for this one on his way to a tilt at the Grand National and his jumping can help him here with conditions no issue.

Fontaine Collonges

After winning the Rowland Meyrick Chase on Boxing Day, Venetia Williams’ Fontaine Collonges was disappointing when seen last. However, he would have wanted the ground to be a little softer than what it was in the Classic Chase at Warwick and he should enjoy this one a lot more on route to the National at Aintree.

Famous Bridge

Famous Bridge has won two good chases thus far this season, but was pulled up when seen last in the Great Yorkshire Chase, likely due to the ground being too fast. Nicky Richards’ charge will relish the heavy ground forecast in this one and it should be the perfect prep on his way to the Grand National.

Yeah Man

Yeah Man ran very nicely behind Victtorino the last day and despite still being a maiden over fences, he still commands respect given his versatility ground wise. He has never ran over a marathon trip before, but shaped as if he would fair well over longer when seen last time out.

Full Back

Full Back stays well on his day and whilst he has been uninspiring up to this point so far this, he does hold a Grand National entry and the Gary Moore stable is in top form. Will need to run a big race though looking to win for the first time in over two years,

Credo

Credo has been behind two of his rivals My Silver Lining and Famous Bridge twice each in the last year, but he has been in steady form so far this season. With three good performances in tough staying handicaps so far, he comes into this in fine tune.

My Silver Lining

Classy mare My Silver Lining won her biggest prize yet when landing the Classic Chase at Warwick when seen last, with a fair few in this field behind her. Should go well here for Emma Lavelle and is in good hands again with James Best who has won aboard her on all five career victories.

Snipe

Snipe has been in top form this season, and landed a decent race at Aintree on testing ground on Boxing Day. He is low in the weights and is still capable of better of better for Dan Skelton. Tristan Durrell also takes off a handy 3lb, so is in with a chance of going close.

Grand National Trial 2024 Tip

HIGHLAND HUNTER from the Fegal O’Brien yard is our pick for the Grand National Trial 2024. He has top each-way credentials at a nice price and can benefit going back up in trip on testing ground in conditions that are sure to suit.

This 11-year-old returned from a 630-day break back in October with a fine effort at Kelso in the Edinburgh Gin Chase. He would then unseat Paddy Brennan next time out in the Becher Chase at the Chair, but led from the front and who knows how he could have finished barring that mistake.

Highland Hunter has since ran a steady race behind L’Homme Presse round Lingfield in the Fleur De Lys Chase and given the record of older horses paired with uncertainty around shorter prices in this contest, he is our pick.

Back Highland Hunter Each-Way @ 11/1 

Grand National Trial Date, Time And TV Channel

📅Date: Saturday 17th February 2024
🕙Time: 3:15pm
🏇Racecourse: Haydock
📺 TV: Racing TV / ITV

Grand National Trial 2024 Trends

Take a look at the latest trends for this Haydock and see which Grand National Trial runners fit them. You can put history and stats on your side when trying to find the winner for the staying contest.

Irish raiders have never done well in this race, and SP favourites tend to struggle

• 21/21 – UK-based trained winners
•  20/21 – Had won between 2-4 times when chasing
•  19/21 – Had won over at least 3 miles (fences) before
•  17/21 – Had raced within the last 7 weeks
•  17/21 – Rated 135 or higher
•  16/21 – Aged 10 or younger
•  15/21 – Not inside the top three in the betting
•  15/21 – Finished at least 1st, 2nd or 3rd last time out
• 15/21 – Had won just twice or 3 times over fences (rules) before
•  13/21 – Aged 9 or younger
•  12/21 – Finished either 1st or 2nd last time out
•  11/21 – Carried 11-0 or less
•  11/21 – Returned a double-figure price in the betting (10/1 or higher)
•  11/21 – Unplaced favourites
•  8/21 – Won last race
•  8/20 – Winners that went onto run in that season’s Grand National (none won or placed)
•  7/21 – Irish-bred winners
•  6/21 – Ran in the Welsh Grand National last time out
•  4/21 – Won with 11-12 in weight
•  3/21 – Finished 1st or 2nd in the Welsh Grand National last time out
•  3/21 – Lucinda Russell-trained
•  3/21 – Venetia Williams-trained
•  2/21 – Winning SP favourites
•  5 of the last 9 winners returned 8/1 in the betting
•  The last 16 winners were aged between 8-11 years-old
•  The average winning SP in the last 20 runnings is 11/1

Grand National Trial Betting With BetMGM

See below the latest Grand National Trial betting odds with BetMGM, where you can get £40 in free bets for staking just £10.

• Iron Bridge @ 9/2
• My Silver Lining @ 11/2
• Famous Bridge @ 6/1
• Credo @ 6/1
• Snipe @ 6/1
• Iwilldoit @ 13/2
• Yeah Man @ 8/1
• Highland Hunter @ 11/1
• Fontaine Collonges @ 14/1
• Chambard @ 18/1
• Full Back @ 20/1

Note: Odds are subject to change

1.

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