Kitty’s Light amongst early Grand National contenders

The early betting for next year’s Grand National is headed up by the top performers from April’s race, but it can pay to widen the horizons and look at the horses who are yet to make their Aintree debuts. After all, none of the most recent three winners had raced over the famous fences before winning it.

Experts at grandnational.org.uk have taken a look at the likely field to give us four horses to watch out for while others are distracted by this week’s action at Royal Ascot.

Kitty’s Light

Ireland will be twice as keen to win the 2024 Grand National after Lucinda Russell’s Corach Rambler meant Britain came out on top in April, but they will have their work cut out if Kitty’s Light goes to post.

The Christian Williams trained Kitty’s Light ended the jumps season in fine fashion, following a win in the Eider Chase with two more victories in the Scottish National and then the bet365 Gold Cup. Given two of those races were run over four miles, there will surely be no doubts over stamina as and when he makes his first Aintree appearance next year.

Fastorslow

The two most recent Grand National winners, Corach Rambler and Noble Yeats, both warmed up for their big Aintree wins with a run in the Ultima Handicap Chase, so it makes sense to look at other runners that were in contention. Corach Rambler won the Cheltenham Festival race on both occasions, but it was no plain sailing, with March’s victory coming by just a neck from Fastorslow.

That run was Fastorslow’s first over three miles or more, and his stamina at the end evidently impressed trainer Martin Brassil, with the seven year old entered in the Punchestown Gold Cup a month later. Despite being priced at 20/1 in a five runner field, Fastorslow saw off his more fancied rivals, one of which was Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs.

At 25/1, Fastorslow is surely one to keep a close eye on as the 2024 Grand National approaches.

Mahler Mission

March’s National Hunt Challenge Cup Chase proved an excellent indicator to future Grand National form. Gaillard Du Mesnil won at Cheltenham ahead of third placed Mister Coffey before both ran well in the National. It was Mahler Mission that looked the most likely winner till falling late on though, so he could be one to follow in the season ahead.

He has limited experience of running in larger fields thus far, but there’s time to remedy that and turn him into a genuine Grand National contender with another year under his belt.

Hewick

Hewick already has a host of notable victories to his name, most notably the Galway Plate, bet365 Gold Cup and American Grand National. Trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon had targeted the 2023 Grand National too, but was forced to pull Hewick out due to a fall in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Hanlon will surely want to have another punt at the National in 2024, so Hewick is certainly one for the shortlist at 33/1.