With 18 of the 40 runners trained in Ireland, hopes of a National homecoming in this country must be high, though we’ve only won two of the last 10.

It would be some year if Willie Mullins added to his Gold Cup success today and the National looks a bit of a Mullins versus Elliott battle again.

For all the time spent working out ratings and who is well in and who is not, the one starting point when seeking a winning selection is – four miles, two furlongs – the horse must stay. Aintree looked a tough test on Thursday.

Rathvinden is my main selection; he is well in and has form in some of the better staying chases. He would be a worthy favourite if we didn’t have the Tiger tale.

Gigginstown House has been responsible for two of the last three Irish winners and, in many ways, those strong, staying types are ideal for the demands of this race. If they don’t make up into the Gold Cup horse they were originally bought to be, this race can be up their street, even if Tiger Roll has gone against the trend. He surely has too much weight on 11st 5lb. Dounikos takes the eye of the Gigginstown group. He has form on soft ground and stamina does not look an issue.

Lake View Lad’s form and his run at Cheltenham puts him right in the mix. At the other end of the scale we have Folsom Blue – a horse – in the manner of Just So – who looks like he needs five miles. He was a fast-finishing (yes, you read that right) sixth in the Midlands National last time out.

BHA go a-rowing

IF, as a sports administrator, you are accused of being out of touch with the people you represent, it might be seen as a strange shot from left-field to select someone from outside the sport as your new chairperson.

That’s what the BHA has done with the appoint ment of Olympic rower Annamarie Phelps. Will she rock the boat or steer a calmer path to unite some of the more disenchanted disciples in the racing flock? Time will tell.

Fran the right man

IT came as a shock early this week to learn that Fran Berry has been forced to retire from the saddle. A career in the media is his next step.

It sounds obvious but it is often ignored that the first prerequisite of a television presenter or analyst should be an ability to communicate.

What might work in the weighroom does not always work coming from a TV screen. They must be a good and engaging communicator. There should be no worries that Berry ticks all those boxes.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“My point is that thoroughbreds are born to run and they love to run. The ones who don’t, won’t.

“When people ask me, do they enjoy it, I just say, watch them. Stop trying to hear things, just watch” – the best summary or defence of racing by Bryony Frost in the Post this week.