VANILLIER can land victory for Ireland again in the 2023 Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse.
Gavin Cromwell’s grey can become the 30th Irish-trained winner of the world’s greatest steeplechase and continue the recent domination of those from the Emerald Isle. Irish handlers have won the last four runnings – and five of the last six – of the Aintree marathon. And they look to hold the whip hand again – despite Scottish-based Lucinda Russell’s Corach Rambler likely to go off favourite – with Irish-trained runners in the majority (27-12) and many of the others near the head of the market including last year’s one-two-three – Noble Yeats, Any Second Now and Delta Work. All three could go close again this time, but a little further down the betting and the handicap, Cromwell’s Vanillier looks to have the right changing profile of recent winners and may come out on top to give his County Meath trainer a first Grand National victory.
Vanillier is an eight-year-old – like recent scorers One For Arthur, Tiger Roll and Minella Times – and he is in his second season over fences. The grey son of Martaline had been a smart hurdler prior to his switch to the bigger obstacles, winning the Grade One Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, showing his stamina at an early age in the three-mile contest, staying-on well for a wide-margin success. Since going chasing, Vanillier has won one of his nine chase starts but he clearly has plenty of scope for improvement especially at this marathon distance. His efforts in defeat have also been good, especially with the Aintree showpiece in mind.
