Here's your guide to the Famous Grand National 2013

The Lingfield classic trials took place last weekend on the polytrack due to the adverse weather conditions. Although this is an unusual preparation for a classic, there did not seem any reason to doubt the quality of the trials and Highclere Racing look to have a major contender for the Epsom Oaks in Vow.

Trained by William Haggas who won the Oaks last season with Dancing Rain, the filly ran a little green but was well on top by the finish to run out a convincing winner from Colima and Estrela. This was only a second racecourse appearance for the daughter of Motivator and jockey Johnny Murtagh reported that she still ran a bit green. He felt that she was distracted by the crowd but had been travelling strongly two furlongs out and he considers her good enough to go to Epsom. Paddy Power were sufficiently impressed to cut her odds to 7-1 in the Oaks betting.

The colt’s trial was less conclusive as Main Sequence got the better of a tussle with favourite Shantaram to stake a claim for his Derby place. Main Sequence is owned by the Niarchos family and is now unbeaten in four starts. The first two finished six lengths clear of Cavaleiro in third and could both be useful colts. Trainer David Lanigan has the French Derby as a possible alternative which is over a shorter trip but jockey Ted Durcan has no doubts that he will stay a mile and a half.

Another trial winner heading for Epsom is Richard Fahey’s Mickdaam who just got the verdict in a tight finish to the Chester Vase. Having taken up the running in the short straight, Mickdaam had to pull out all the stops in order to hold off the fast finishing Model Pupil. It was a tremendous ride by jockey Tony Hamilton and Richard Fahey was thrilled at the prospect of taking the colt to Epsom. Mickdaam rejoined Fahey after a spell with Mike De Kock in Dubai and stepped up on his previous race at Newmarket. Charlie Hills was equally delighted with the brave run of the runner-up but feels he will benefit from going up in trip with the St Leger a possible long term objective. Model Pupil had previously got the better of John Gosden’s Shantaram at Newmarket and that form looks solid.

Paddy Power have Main Sequence priced at 20-1 in the Epsom Derby betting with Shantaram at 25-1 and Mickdaam at 33-1. Camelot remains a very strong favourite at even money.

Frankel makes his long awaited seasonal reappearance in Newbury’s Lockinge Stakes on May 19th. The champion racehorse of last season and the highest rated horse in the world met with an injury to his off fore leg in his build up to this race and there was some concern as to the severity of the injury. Fortunately it was nothing serious and he was quickly back in work and is set to start his campaign. Such is the media interest surrounding the horse that there was a good turn out to see him do his last serious piece of work on the gallops before taking up his Newbury engagement.

Trainer Sir Henry Cecil has made clear his intention to race Frankel over further than a mile this season and is confident that he will stay a mile and a quarter. He captured the public imagination last season when running away with the 2,000 Guineas in devastating style and was far and away the best of his generation. He remains unbeaten in nine races and only the Australian trained Black Caviar is attracting so much publicity worldwide.

Frankel heads an entry of nine for the Lockinge Stakes including his stable companion Bullet Train who will act as pacemaker. Frankel settled better in his races as the season went on last year but Cecil presumably feels that he may be a little fresh first time out. Aidan O’Brien’s Excelebration and So You Think look like the strongest opposition, although this mile trip looks on the sharp side for the latter. O’Brien may also run Windsor Palace who set the pace for St Nicholas Abbey in Ireland recently but could not be pegged back. Richard Hannon could be doubly represented with Strong Suit and Dubawi Gold, as could Charlie Hills with Ransom Note and Red Jazz.

Excelebration got within four lengths of Cecil’s superstar twice last season including over seven furlongs at Newbury’s Greenham Stakes. Although he was an effortless winner at the Curragh on his seasonal debut, he should still be comfortably held by Frankel if last season’s champion is anywhere near his peak. So You Think won the Eclipse over a mile and a quarter last season and is generally regarded as a mile and a half horse. Richard Hannon’s pair are talented individuals in their own right but have a lot to find if they are to trouble Frankel.

Paddy Power have Frankel at 2-5 favourite to stretch is unbeaten run to ten with Excelebration rated the main danger at 3-1. Strong Suit and So You Think are priced at 8-1 with 33-1 bar. A massive crowd is guaranteed at Newbury and the vast majority of those are hoping to see Frankel return at his brilliant best to set up a fantastic summer of flat racing.

Aidan O’Brien already has the red-hot Derby favourite in 2,000 Guineas winner Camelot but he has more than one top class middle distance colt, judging by last week’s Chester meeting. The tight northern circuit is very different from the Epsom Derby course but the May meeting has still produced some Derby winners in the past, most famously the great Shergar in 1981. It was a similarly wet and miserable day when the Aga Khan’s brilliant colt strode to victory and, whilst nobody is putting Astrology in that class, it would be foolish to write him off as a soft ground horse.

Aidan O’Brien was delighted with is 11 length victory which was a significant improvement on his seasonal debut at Newmarket over a mile. O’Brien also feels that the son of Galileo will be seen to even better effect on a sound surface. The race lost much of its interest with the withdrawal of Derby second-favourite Bonfire due to the increasingly testing conditions. However, Astrology could do no more than slam the remaining three runners and O’Brien is leaning towards letting him take his chance at Epsom. Paddy Power cut his price from 33-1 to 20-1 in the Derby betting.

O’Brien has not trained the Epsom Derby winner since 2002 when High Chaparral triumphed in the race by outstaying his classy stable companion Hawk Wing. He has saddled a remarkable 39 horses in the race since then without success so it seems safe to assume that Camelot will not travel to Epsom alone. Impressive Sandown winner Imperial Monarch is another possible runner along with Ernest Hemingway and Father of Science.

Ernest Hemingway won a Dundalk maiden by 10 lengths and is another imposing colt by Galileo. He could go to York this week to find out whether he is up to Derby class. If he contests the Dante, he will come up against a number of promising colts including Bonfire, Mandaean and Noble Mission. The Dante has proved to be one of the most significant Derby trials in recent seasons and a good run there would certainly put him in the picture for Epsom. O’Brien has yet another son of Galileo with classic potential in Father of Science who won a useful looking maiden at Chester last week in the soft ground. The trainer will be discussing all available options, including the Irish and French Derby, for his useful team of colts. Paddy Power quote Ernest Hemingway and Imperial Monarch as 16-1 chances for Epsom with Father of Science at 33-1.

The 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket was won in stunning fashion by Aidan O’Brien’s Homecoming Queen under Ryan Moore at odds of 25-1. Having left the stalls like a bullet from a gun, she never saw another rival and eventually sluiced home through the Newmarket mud to win by an astonishing nine lengths. In doing so, she recorded the biggest winning margin in the fillies’ classic since Mayonaise won by twenty lengths in 1859. O’Brien also saddled the favourite, Maybe, who finished third.

The race was marred by a tragic accident in which Gray Pearl sustained fatal injuries. She tragically injured her back when attempting to get out under the starting gate and the race was delayed almost half an hour while she was removed in the horse ambulance. There has been speculation that the lengthy delay had an impact on the race with Homecoming Queen and the second horse, Starscope, the only two horses not to have already entered the stalls. The winner completed a classic double for O’Brien following Camelot’s 2,000 Guineas win the previous day. It ended a four-year drought in the English classics for the Ballydoyle trainer who now has the favourite in the three remaining classics for an unprecedented clean sweep.

Homecoming Queen had been largely overlooked in the build up to the race with her stable companion Maybe being the main focus of attention. Although she has a classic pedigree, being a half-brother to Dylan Thomas, she was a precocious two-year-old and raced twelve times. Although she won on two occasions and was thought good enough to go to the Breeders’ Cup (where she finished last), there was certainly nothing in her form to suggest that she was capable of destroying a classic field by a record margin.

O’Brien now has a dilemma as to whether to keep her to a mile or step her up to the mile and a half of the Oaks. Paddy Power has cut her price to 5-1 in the Oaks betting, the same as Maybe and behind yet another O’Brien filly in Kissed (3-1 favourite). Such was her dominance in the 1,000 Guineas that her trainer may take her to Royal Ascot to attempt to confirm her superiority in the Coronation Stakes. Her pedigree indicates that she may get beyond a mile but she showed such blistering speed in the Guineas that it would be stepping into unknown territory.

The 138th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs produced a thrilling finish as I’ll Have Another swooped late to catch the brave front-running Bodemeister well inside the final furlong. A record crowd of 165,307 were treated to a classic finish as jockey Mario Gutierrez, riding in his first Kentucky Derby, timed his run to perfection to cut down the favourite in the shadow of the post.

The winner is trained in California by Doug O’Neill and was sent off at odds of 15-1 but the runner-up lost nothing in defeat and it sets up an intriguing rematch between the pair in the Preakness. Jockey Mike Smith set some record-breaking fractions on Bodemeister that had most of the field under pressure before they entered the home stretch. The Bob-Baffert trained colt even outpaced the sprinter Trinniberg who was expected to set the early pace and the suicidal early pace inevitably took its toll at the end of the race. The times told the story as the last quarter mile was covered in almost five seconds longer than the first sectional split. Bodemeister held on for second ahead of Dullahan and Went The Day Well. Aidan O’Brien’s classic weekend in Britain could not be repeated overseas as Daddy Long Legs failed to act on the surface and weakened tamely to finish last.

I’ll Have Another is owned by CashCall boss Paul Reddam who has enjoyed Breeders’ Cup success with British trained horses Wilko and Red Rocks. He was sold as a yearling for only $11,000 at Keeneland’s September Sale before making $35,000 as a two-year-old. The winning trainer is already looking forward to the Preakness and another clash with Bodemeister and connections of the runner-up are equally bullish. Baffert refused to criticise his jockey for the early pace but it seems safe to assume that he will be ridden with a little more restraint next time. I’ll Have Another will be content to sit and bide his time in the hope that his superior stamina will be enough to secure the second leg of the triple crown.

There were no hard luck stories from the beaten horses with Creative Cause finishing fifth and Union Rags a disappointing seventh. Hansen, a winner at the Breeders’ Cup, could do no better than ninth here with Godolphin continuing to be frustrated in their efforts in the great race as Alpha faded into 12th place.

Aidan O’Brien’s Camelot captured the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in spite of the soft ground and is now a red-hot favourite for the Epsom Derby 2012. An imposing son of Montjeu, the colt had raced twice over a mile as a juvenile and many expected the Newmarket race to be his absolute minimum trip this season. Held up in rear by a confident Joseph O’Brien, he came through late to fight off the persistent challenge of French Fifteen and retain his unbeaten record.

Post-race reaction from the bookmakers was swift with Paddy Power cutting Camelot to Even money favourite in the Epsom Derby betting. Everything about the horse suggests that he is made for Epsom’s one and a half-mile test and it is going to take something exceptional to challenge his supremacy in the market. His pedigree certainly suggests that he will be even better over a longer distance and he has already shown that he has a devastating turn of foot on better ground when running away with the Racing Post Trophy last season.

There were no excuses from the beaten horses and they are unlikely to come up against Camelot again this season. French Fifteen will either go for the French Derby over a mile and a quarter or stay at a mile for the St James’ Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. The third horse, Hermival, is also trained in France and may not have been helped by racing on the far side.

Paddy Power has Akeed Mofeed at 11-1 second favourite for the Derby. He missed the Guineas through injury and had been receiving some rave reviews in the build up to the race. Parish Hall was a late withdrawal from the 2,000 Guineas because of the rain-softened ground and he remains a 16-1 chance. However, the form of his Dewhurst Stakes victory does not look exceptional after Trumpet Major fared best in fourth. The ante-post market is likely to get a reshuffle after the Dante Stakes at York with several leading candidates expected to run. These include Godolphin’s major Derby hope Mandaean and Andrew Balding’s Bonfire who looked unlucky not to beat French Fifteen last season. Aidan O’Brien may have a second string to his bow with the Sandown winner Imperial Monarch. He got the better of a tactical race when beating Thought Worthy in heavy going having raced alone in search of better ground. As a son of Galileo out of a Slip Anchor mare, there will be no doubts about his stamina for Epsom for which he is quoted at 16-1.

Paul Nicholls won his battle with Nicky Henderson for the champion jump trainers’ championship in fine style as he recorded a big-race double at Sandown on the final day. The Ditcheat trainer had clinched the title with the dramatic last stride victory of Neptune Collonges in the Grand National but fittingly wrapped up the season with wins for Tidal Bay and Sanctuaire. It is the seventh consecutive season that Nicholls has topped the trainers’s championship.

Although the season ended in a blaze of glory, it was certainly not without it’s darker moments with the retirement of Denman and Master Minded through injury and a bout of coughing in the yard uncomfortably close to the Cheltenham festival. Big Buck’s continued his domination of the staying hurdlers division, setting a new record for consecutive victories in the process. Kauto Star had an early season resurgence that culminated in a fantastic fifth King George VI Chase victory before his Gold Cup preparation was sadly interrupted through injury. It should not be overlooked that Nicholls also collected his first Champion Hurdle through Rock on Ruby and he will have been delighted to chalk off both that and the Grand National from his wanted list in the same season.

Tidal Bay has picked up something of a reputation in recent seasons as he had not got his head in front since January 2010. There was no questioning his resolve in the bet365 Gold Cup Chase as he carried top weight to victory, cruising alongside the long-time leader Roalco de Farges turning for home before bounding clear in the mud under Daryl Jacob. The same combination had earlier been responsible for a breathtaking performance from Sanctuaire to win the Celebration Chase. The free-running sort had been allowed to bowl off in front and never put a foot wrong at his fences, having his rivals toiling in his wake long before the finish. If he is able to reproduce this sort of form next season it sets up the possibility of a clash with the likes of Finian’s Rainbow, Sizing Europe and the star novice Sprinter Sacre.

Tony McCoy was crowned champion jump jockey for an incredible 17th consecutive time, although the gloss was taken off his season by the tragic loss of Synchronised in the Grand National at Aintree. Henry Brooke, who rides for Donald McCain’s stable, was top conditional jockey.

Aidan O’Brien appears to have an embarrassment of riches in this year’s classic races and his hand in the Epsom Oaks was strengthened by a stunning performance from Kissed at Navan. The daughter of Galileo is a three-parts sister to last season’s Derby winner Pour Moi and looks set to uphold the family name if her reappearance was anything to go by.

Sent off the 2-5 favourite, trainer’s son Joseph O’Brien allowed her to bowl along in front and she barely had to break sweat to gallop on to an easy eight-length victory. The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes may be a long way from the Epsom Oaks but you could not help but be impressed with her. Paddy Power immediately clipped her price to 5-1 behind her stable companion Maybe in the Epsom Oaks betting. Maybe will make her seasonal debut in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket next weekend and O’Brien will know a lot more about her prospects of lasting the mile and a half at Epsom after that. Wading, also trained by O’Brien, was withdrawn from the 1000 Guineas last week and her participation at Epsom must also be in doubt.

Other Epsom hopefuls engaged in the 1000 Guineas include the Godolphin pair Discourse and Lyric of Light. The Newmarket classic is often the best trial for the Oaks and a prominent display from either will see their price slashed for Epsom. Godolphin won the Guineas last year with Blue Bunting and the two-year-old careers of both fillies, trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni, were packed with encouragement. Discourse won the Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket in August whilst Lyric of Light won the Shadwell Fillies’ Mile in September. Neither filly left England over the winter and will be making their seasonal debut in the Newmarket classic.

Recent Newbury winners, Vow and Inchina, continue to attract interest in the ante-post market. Vow was particularly impressive for trainer Willie Haggas. Having been held up in rear, it took the daughter of Derby winner Motivator a while to realise what was required of her before picking up the bit and cutting through the field to win cosily. Jockey Johnny Murtagh was most impressed and was able to ease down close home. Inchina, by Montjeu, was a well backed favourite when winning another division of the same race for trainer Roger Charlton. In contrast to Vow, Inchina made most of the running and fought off all challengers.

Aidan O’Brien’s Camelot has been the winter favourite for both the 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby ever since his scintillating win at Doncaster at the end of last season. He is now ready to face his toughest task to date in the colt’s first classic. Paddy Power are offering him at 5-2 favourite for the Derby ahead of the Newmarket classic.

His short price for the classics is down to potential rather than proven form and his profile is similar to that of St Nicholas Abbey who failed to live up to the hype at three before restoring his reputation at the Breeders’ Cup last season. Whilst it was difficult not to be impressed with the manner of Camelot’s victory in the Racing Post Trophy, it is difficult to say how good the opposition was that day and his price of around 6-4 for the 2000 Guineas looks short enough.

O’Brien’s Imperial Monarch won a thoroughly unsatisfactory trial at Sandown last weekend on heavy ground but impressed Paddy Power sufficiently to be trimmed to 16-1 in the ante-post Derby betting. The Irish certainly look to have a particularly strong hand in the Derby this season with Akeed Mofeed, Born To Sea and Parish Hall being highly regarded by connections. John Oxx was anticipating a bold run from Akeed Mofeed in the 2000 Guineas before a recent setback meant missing the colt’s first classic. Born To Sea, a three parts brother to Guineas and Derby winner Sea of Stars, will represent the stable at Newmarket and is capable of stepping up on his second at Leopardstown in October. He was reported lame after the race and his jockey felt a better surface would have helped his cause. Akeed Mofeed’s injury was nothing serious and he is reportedly on course for the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown.

The home contingent could well be led by Andrew Balding’s promising colt Bonfire who went into many notebooks after his unlucky third at Saint-Cloud in October. He kicks off his season in Chester’s Dee Stakes and is currently on offer at 16-1 in the Derby betting. Godolphin’s most eagerly awaited Derby hope is Mandaean, trained last year in France by Andre Fabre but now with Mahmood Al Zarooni. He won the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud on only his second start and is to be aimed at this year’s top middle distance races.

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