Don't mind the gap: how the leading yards fare at the Grand National meeting

The Grand National meeting at Aintree has been described as being like the last week of term, the thinly veiled implication being the exams that matter are all out of the way, the teachers are wearing blue denim and someone has brought in KerPlunk.

It is a deeply unfair comparison. While the races are more competitive at Cheltenham and the form tends to work out better, the depth of high-quality races at Aintree is unsurpassed elsewhere in the jumps season in Britain. It is also where the slightly slower developers often announce themselves on the big stage, whether in the Graded races or handicaps. Any trainer would be well advised to pay close attention to a three-day meeting that offers 13 races worth £100,000 or more.

Terrefort (grey): turned second at Cheltenham into first at Aintree in 2018Credit: Alex Livesey

The gap between Cheltenham and Aintree in a given year tends to get more than its share of scrutiny, especially so in years like this which offer among the shortest turnarounds – between 20 and 25 days, depending on how the corresponding races fall within the two meetings.