Any Second Now clear favourite for Grand National for red-hot McManus and Walsh

Your one-stop shop for Grand National festival news on Saturday morning

Market movers: JP McManus to dominate?

Any Second Now has usurped last year's winner Minella Times at the head of the market for the Grand National on Saturday.

The Ted Walsh-trained runner has been backed into 15-2 (from 10) with bookmakers for favouritism, with Minella Times priced as a general 9-1 shot.

5.15 Aintree Saturday: Randox Grand National racecard and betting

A winner of the Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase on his last start in February, Any Second Now could land the trainer his first National success since 2000, when Papillon secured Ted and his son Ruby their first triumph in the contest.

The ten-year-old will be partnered by Mark Walsh, who has enjoyed dual Grade 1 successes on Saturday's card with Gentleman De Mee in the Maghull Novices' Chase and Sire Du Berlais in the Liverpool Hurdle, both owned by JP McManus.

The market leaders represent two of five runners in the National for McManus, who also fields Enjoy D'Allen, Anibale Fly and School Boy Hours, who was one of the final reserves to make the field on Friday afternoon.

Last year's winner Minella Times was as big as 14-1 on Thursday but punters are putting their faith in Rachael Blackmore's mount, who has to defy a 15lb higher mark.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained nine-year-old carries topweight and his form figures read FP in two starts this season. A return to this unique course could see a marked improvement though.

2022 Grand National: can Rachael Blackmore repeat last year's Aintree heroics?

Minella Times's owner JP McManus said of his chances in our pinstickers' guide: "It's a big ask, 15lb higher this year. He's probably entitled to it but it's a big ask. But who knows? You can only win if you're here."

Irish raiders attract support

Irish-trained runners claimed all three Grade 1 contests on Saturday and could land another big-race victory with hopefuls Run Wild Fred and Longhouse Poet, who have been backed into 11-1 and 12-1 (from 16) for the Randox Grand National.

Longhouse Poet is the mount of Darragh O'Keeffe, who will be hoping to follow up success in February's Thyestes Chase with his first National victory.

Trainer Martin Brassil successfully charted the Thyestes-National double with Numbersixvalverde in 2006, his sole victory in the race, and sends Longhouse Poet past 3m1f for the first time.

National Hunt Chase runner-up Run Wild Fred could set off the shortest-priced runner of Gordon Elliott's seven entries in the contest, having been priced as big as 18-1 on Thursday.

The eight-year-old is one of five Gigginstown House Stud runners and could crown a resurgence of form for Elliott, who landed the Betway Mersey Novices' Hurdle with Three Stripe Life earlier in the card, following a disappointing week at the Cheltenham Festival.

Strong support for Fiddler

Fiddlerontheroof has been one of the best backed horses for the Grand National with Sky Bet on Saturday, shortening to 11-1 (from 18).

The Colin Tizzard-trained eight-year-old, and the mount of Brendan Powell, is the second shortest-priced British contender behind Snow Leopardess.

He is a best-price 16-1 chance but has been supported with several firms.

Snow Leopardess is a best price 10-1 with Betfair Sportsbook and Paddy Power but as short as 9-1 with Ladbrokes and Coral, while Delta Work is out to 14-1 (from 11) with Betfair and Paddy Power.

Ladbrokes's Nicola McGeady said: "Minella Times and Snow Leopardess are proving the most popular selections by far, so far. As expected 'name' horses Run Wild Fred and Good Boy Bobby are high on the list of popular selections, as is Dingo Dollar, who has been very popular.

"We have shortened the above named horses and lengthened others such as Escaria Ten, Eclair Surf and Enjoy d'Allen, who are proving unpopular near the head of the market."

Other movers on the Aintree card

6.20 Ernest Gray 4-1 (from 9-2)

Updated at 4.45pm

Top stories: Poet gets McCoy's vote

Sir Anthony McCoy picked out Longhouse Poet as his main fancy for the big race on ITV's Opening Show on Saturday morning.

Darragh O'Keeffe's mount is a general 12-1 shot and McCoy, who went for Delta Work, Any Second Now and Run Wild Fred to fill second, third and fourth, said: "Longhouse Poet has plenty going for him and I really liked his Thyestes Chase win. It's a route that Martin went with Numbersixvalverde and he's definitely a player."

Ruby Walsh pinpointed Delta Work, Longhouse Poet and Fiddlerontheroof as his place horses but sided with last year's Any Second Now, who is trained by his father Ted.

Walsh said: "My heart is ruling my head and I hope Any Second Now can do it for Dad."

A sign of what's to come?

The Virtual Grand National was televised on ITV4 on Friday night and victory went to Snow Leopardess.

She is one of the big fancies for this afternoon's race and would be a very popular winner, particularly given her backstory after having a foal during a two-year break from racing.

The legends race went to Aintree stalwart Red Rum, who beat Arkle, Kauto Star and Ballabriggs. Quite the line-up!

Jockey change

Denis O'Regan replaces Jonathan Moore on Koshari in the Liverpool Hurdle (3.35). Moore was injured when Foxy Jacks fell heavily in the Topham Chase on Friday.

Updated at 3.30pm

Going update: tracks watered

The going on the Grand National course has eased to good to soft (from good to soft, good in places) following watering overnight.

There was 5mm applied to the National course and 3mm to the Mildmay and hurdles tracks, where the going has changed to good to soft, good in places (from good, good to soft in places).

It was dry overnight at the Merseyside track and the forecast suggests much the same for Saturday, with just a passing heavy shower hitting the course at 11.30am. It is sunny again now.

Varma said at 7am: "Aintree is a fast drying course and I could envisage conditions improving with a mainly dry day forecast. We'll see how jockeys find it early on in the day.

"The overnight watering has slightly eased conditions and we're set for a largely dry day and not too dissimilar to yesterday. There is a risk of an isolated shower in the early afternoon but it should only amount to one millimetre.

"Once again there's fresh ground on the Mildmay and hurdles tracks, we're three or four yards in and on the innermost position."

Updated at 12.30pm

Non-runners

5.15 Phoenix Way (temperature), Easysland (bad scope), Lord Du Mesnil (going)
6.20 Crambo (going), Rockinastorm (going)

Updated at 3.30pm

Best of social media: setting the scene

Updated at 11.10am

Saturday's Aintree previews:

3.00 Aintree: 'Nothing's given me any concern' – Edwardstone in line to join star-studded list

3.35 Aintree: can Flooring Porter follow in footsteps of the greats and complete the double?

5.15 Aintree: 'She's entitled to be the price she is' – Coleman excited by Snow Leopardess

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