Bailey hopes his Last will be first

THE Randox Health Grand National weights, decided by the British Horseracing Authority’s Head Handicapper, Phil Smith, were unveiled in London last night.

The world’s richest chase, worth £1million, is the only handicap of the year where Smith has absolute discretion to deviate from the normal handicap ratings when determining the weights.

Smith has framed the weights every year since 1999. This year is his 20th and final year in the role.

He said: “It is a task that has got easier in some respects and harder in others.

“We had a record 88 per cent of horses rated 135+ entered last year but have broken that record again this year with 90 per cent of this year’s entries falling into that category. The percentage is double what it was in 2003, when only 45 per cent of entries were rated 135+.” The Last Samuri has 11st 4lb and is a 20-1 chance with Betway. He finished second behind Rule The World in 2016 and came home 16th of the 19 finishers last year. “The Last Samuri’s weight is what we were expecting, given his rating,” said his trainer Kim Bailey, left, who won the National with Mr Frisk in 1990.

“If the weights stay as they are and don’t rise, I think he would have more of a chance.”

The ante-post favourite, Blaklion, is due to run in the Betfred Grand National Trial at Haydock this Saturday.

Betway odds: 10 Blaklion, 14 Total Recall, 20 Definitly Red, Gold Present, Minella Rocco, The Last Samuri, 25 Edwulf, Cause Of Causes, 28 others.