'She has a decent chance' - quotes and analysis for the North Yorkshire National

Vickers.Bet North Yorkshire Grand National Handicap Chase | 3m6f | 5yo+ | RTV

Every course seems to love a National these days and on a day for the bog-sloggers at Catterick, the North Yorkshire version is the feature.

No fewer than five of the races on the card are scheduled to be over at least 3m1f on heavy ground, but it's 3m6f for this seven-runner race.

One horse no stranger to such conditions is , who is a 'National' regular and in his time has run, mostly well, in the Lincolnshire, Surrey, Somerset, Southern, Borders, Cambridgeshire and Highland versions, and was pulled up in the Welsh last time.

Now 12-years-old, he hasn't won since taking the Highland heat in April 2021, but he was in fine form before his Welsh run, having finished third at Fontwell (Southern) and at Kelso (Borders).

This is certainly more his grade and he's not badly treated, and the same can be said for , who was struggling but still in contention before unseating when well backed at Haydock last time, and is 17lb lower than when winning the 2021 Eider.

Those who have stamina to prove include , a 50-1 runner-up over hurdles last time who is yet to go much beyond 3m, and , who was a fine staying-on third at Cheltenham when last seen but on good ground over just 2m4½f.

She has won over as far as 3m2f, though, has winning form on heavy ground and represents a trainer/jockey combination with an excellent record at Catterick.
Analysis by Paul Kealy

What they say

David Dennis, trainer of Cyclop
He's in very good form and he's 12-years-old now, but you wouldn't know that at home. His run in the Welsh Grand National was a bit of a no-show and it was over before he started – he only ran around two miles before he was pulled up, it was a bit disappointing. However, he stays very well and jumps well and the soft ground should suit him.

Jamie Snowden, trainer of Legends Ryde
She ran a lovely race at Cheltenham last time over two miles four and a half furlongs and we've been keen to step her up to this sort of trip since. The testing ground should suit her well and it'll be her first time at such a trip, but there's no reason why she shouldn't stay and it could suit her well. She has a decent chance.

Brian Ellison, trainer of Sam's Adventure
We've stuck the visor on him for this as he's become a bit sloppy with his jumping and has become a bit lazy, so we think it'll help him with his racing. He's in good order at home and the softer the better it'll be for him.

Phil Kirby, trainer of Bushypark
He's come out of his last race grand. He'd started to lose his way a bit. We couldn't work out why and were starting to panic a bit, but it was a great run last time and I thought he'd win it coming to the final hurdle. We're back chasing and he seems to be coming back to himself now.
Reporting by Matt Rennie

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