IT is understandable that most of the Grand National talk this week was about Many Clouds. The 2015 winner put up a fine performance to land the three-mile chase at Aintree last Saturday in which he was beaten by Don Poli last year. He finished well down the field in the National last April, but the magic of the wind op appears to have done the trick and, given that he is owned by Trevor Hemmings, it is not surprising that all anyone could say afterwards was Grand National.

It is not going to be easy for Many Clouds this season though. He is rated 166 now, 6lb higher than the mark off which he won the National in 2015 and the last horse to win two Nationals was Red Rum. And he’s the 14/1 and 16/1 favourite.