Category: Horses

The Timeform Grand National Guide: ‘The Aintree Factor’

The Aintree Factor may sound like a lame Simon Cowell-inspired initiative forming part of the current Racing For Change rebranding campaign but, in fact, the tag has been associated with the National ever since Red Rum dominated the race back in the ’seventies. “previous course experience has often outweighed handicapping issues in recent years. A prime example came in 2007, when nine of the twelve finishers had had previous experience of the big fences, notably winner Silver Birch (won 2004 Becher Chase)” Although Red Rum enjoyed significant success away from Aintree during his peak years, there was no doubt he reserved his best for the daunting National fences in the latter stages of his career, a comment which also applied to contemporaries of his such as Eyecatcher and The Pilgarlic. There have been numerous similar examples since that era – Corbiere, Greasepaint and West Tip were notable Aintree performers of the ‘eighties – and it is fair to say that the ‘Aintree Factor’ has returned with a vengeance during the past decade, possibly as a result of modifications to the fences in 2001. Indeed, previous course experience has often outweighed handicapping issues in recent years . A prime example came in 2007, when nine of the twelve finishers had had previous experience of the big fences, notably winner Silver Birch (won 2004 Becher Chase), runner-up Mckelvey (promising sixth in 2006 Becher) and fifth-placed Liberthine (won 2006 Topham Chase).