John ‘Shark’ Hanlon was forced to pull Hewick out of this year’s Grand National but he can make up for lost time as one to watch ahead of the 2024 renewal.
That’s according to a spokesman at grandnational.org.uk who have run the rule over the likely field and given us four horses to look out for once the new jumps season really gets going.
The betting for the Grand National is often dominated by the best runners in the previous year’s race, and this year is no different, with Corach Rambler the early favourite to win back-to-back races at Aintree. The reality is that he’ll be saddled with far more weight next time round and so it can pay to look at the alternatives, starting with Hewick.
Hewick
As mentioned, Hanlon’s initial plan was to aim for the 2023 Grand National with Hewick, before they had to withdraw due to a fall at Cheltenham. Nevertheless, Hewick bounced back swiftly by recovering with a victory in late April.
With an impressive track record that includes notable triumphs in the Galway Plate, bet365 Gold Cup, and American Grand National, it’s highly likely that Hanlon will consider Hewick a strong contender worth considering for the 2024 National.
Fastorslow
In preparation for Aintree, the previous two Grand National victors, Corach Rambler and Noble Yeats, participated in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Corach Rambler emerged victorious in both instances, but it was no easy feat, particularly in March’s race, where Fastorslow fell just a neck short.
This marked Fastorslow’s debut over a distance of three miles or more and the seven-year-old was consequently entered into the Punchestown Gold Cup the following month, where, despite being a 20/1 outsider in a field of five, Fastorslow triumphed over his more favoured competitors, including Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs.
With odds of 25/1, Fastorslow surely deserves consideration as a potential contender for the 2024 Grand National.
Kitty’s Light
After Lucinda Russell’s Corach Rambler secured a British victory in 2023, Ireland will undoubtedly be eager to reclaim the title in next year’s Grand National. However, they may encounter significant competition from Kitty’s Light.
Under the guidance of trainer Christian Williams, Kitty’s Light concluded the jumps season in exceptional fashion, triumphing in the Eider Chase and subsequently clinching victories in the Scottish National and bet365 Gold Cup. Notably, two of these races were run over a distance of four miles or more, leaving no doubts regarding Kitty’s Light’s stamina when he makes his inaugural appearance at Aintree.
Mahler Mission
The National Hunt Challenge Cup Chase in March served as an excellent precursor to Aintree this year. Gaillard Du Mesnil emerged victorious at Cheltenham, with Mister Coffey finishing in third place, before both horses performed admirably in the subsequent Grand National. However, Mahler Mission appeared poised for triumph at Cheltenham before an unfortunate fall in the latter stages of the race.
While Mahler Mission may possess limited experience in larger fields, there is still time to develop into a genuine contender for the Grand National in 2024.
