GO WITH GALVIN Daily Express
Elliott bids for a record-equalling National win with his classy chaser
GALVIN (4.00, Nap) is fancied to make Randox Grand National history for Tiger Roll’s trainer Gordon Elliott at Aintree today.
It is five years since the small and mighty chaser ended a 45-year wait for a dual winner of the race.
Red Rum’s 1970s hat-trick was one of four titles for Ginger McCain – and Elliott will match that number with the ultimate reward from his eight-horse challenge.
At 33-1, Galvin is excellent value for a classy chaser with bundles of stamina, two essentials for this 30-fence test over 4m2½f.
Elliott’s trainee has bagged a Grade One over fences, which suggests a mark of 155 is workable with young rider Sam Ewing in the saddle.
The 20-year-old, in only his second season riding over jumps, was aboard when Galvin finished an eye-catching fourth in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan in February.
A regular warm-up for Tiger Roll, relentless rain then washed away his cross country chase bid at the Cheltenham Festival, a new experience for the 10-yearold in 2023.
But he relished its variety of jumps, working his way to the front under Davy Russell before finding DeltaWork a touch stronger on testing ground.
He appeared to jump into the back of his stablemate in this race a year ago, when unseating Davy Russell at the first fence.
A total of 11lb lower now, drying weather is ideal for Galvin along with a 62-day break, with his good record fresh.
Conditions are also coming right for Lucinda Russell’s titleholder and Cheltenham Gold Cup third Corach Rambler.
With 13lb extra to carry, after a hard race at Prestbury Park, the reigning champion could struggle to confirm the form with runner-up Vanillier.
The grey finished strongly from well off the pace and has been aimed at this all season by Gavin Cromwell, operating at a 24 per cent strike rate in Britain.
No horse this century has won without a run in the same year, a stat Mahler Mission tries to overcome for John McConnell.
Unexposed over fences, the second-season chaser lost both shoes when doing best of Newbury’s Coral Gold Cup pacesetters.
He is a strong place player, with Panda Boy, laid out for this by Martin Brassil who saddled 2006 hero Numbersixvalverde, while Farouk D’Alene’s class has him as an interesting outsider.