Grey horses stand out in the crowd of 40 runners every time the Grand National rolls around, not only due to their bold coats but because of the rarity to see one triumph in the toughest of steeple chases.
Only three have ever stormed to victory in front of the Aintree grandstand since the first ever race was run in 1839 - The Lamb (1868, 1871), Nicolaus Silver (1961) and Neptune Collonges (2012).
This has a simple explanation - the population of grey racehorses comes at a fraction to the rest. In 2022 only three of the field were greys, with that number increased by one for this year's race.
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For those that believe it could once again be the year of the grey, the Liverpool Echo takes a look at the four horses in contention for Grand National glory on Saturday.
Gaillard Du Mesnil - 14/1
Joint-third favourite Willie Mullins entry Gaillard Du Mesnil has recently proven it has all the credentials needed to go the distance over 16 fences, and this is backed by the stat that he has never finished outside of the top three in his nine races over fences.
The gelding looked well beaten with three fences to go in last month's National Hunt Challenge Cup on the Cheltenham Festival's opening day, but powered on to lead with less than half a furlong to run and triumph over Chemical Energy by almost three lengths.
Whilst that race was run at 3m6f to the Grand National's 4m2½f, Gaillard Du Mesnil displayed the staying power and jumping abilities required to be a serious contender on Saturday.
Vanillier - 22/1
When on song, Vanillier has been tipped for greatness over long distances, despite having had back surgery last year. However, jumping could easily be his undoing.
This was the case at Cheltenham in 2022, when he was unable to push for a place higher than his finishing third in the National Hunt Challenge Cup, and in his penultimate runout at Leopardstown, when a costly mistake resulted in a fall.
Coko Beach - 33/1
Finished eighth in last year's Grand National, 66 lengths behind the winner, Noble Yeats.
Victory in his last outing at Punchestown has renewed hope that this Gordon Elliott-trained horse can handle the fences and distance to improve on his 2022 showing.
Another defining feature of Coko Beach to be aware of is that it wears all the headgear for races.
Eva's Oskar - 50-1
Welsh entry Eva's Oskar stuck it out over four miles in his last start in the Eidar Chase to finish fourth. At over four miles long, this might be evidence this horse also has what it takes stamina-wise to go the distance at Aintree, though maybe not at full throttle to the finishing line.
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