Can Gordon Elliott win yet another Grand National?

When Tiger Roll finished first past the post at Aintree’s feature race in 2019, Gordon Elliot joined elite company in becoming just the eleventh trainer to win back-to-back Grand Nationals. It also marked Elliott’s third victory in National Hunt racing’s preeminent fixture, with him also having experienced success in 2007’s renewal with Silver Birch.

Many fans and pundits believe he isn’t done yet, and with the 45-year-old boasting yet another strong team in 2023 – they could very well be right.

With that in mind, read on as we take a look at Elliott’s best chances at this year’s Grand National.

Delta Work

In what is Elliott’s shortest-price entry at the time of writing, ten-year-old Delta Work is taking relatively solid form with him to Aintree. After a less than stellar ride as the 5/2 favourite in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham in January – in which he finished third – the French-bred horse lined up again a few weeks later in a Grade 2 affair at Navan.

It didn’t go to plan once again for Elliott, as Delta Work made many mistakes en route to a sixth-place result. He would bounce back in convincing fashion his last time out however, dominating the field to reign supreme in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Prestbury Park last month.

If he can jump fluently and avoid any blunders throughout the upcoming marathon contest, he should be there or thereabouts down the stretch. For those following the betting odds for Grand national, Delta Work is currently paying 10/1 – which is good for third favourite.

Galvin

Similarly to his stablemate, Galvin has been solid without being spectacular this season. After opening his campaign with a five-and-a-half-length victory in a Grade 3 chase at Punchestown, the nine-year-old disappointed at Down Royal and Leopardstown – finishing fourth and sixth respectively.

He would return to form in his most recent outing, finishing a gallant second behind Delta Work in the aforementioned Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. He has shown enough to somewhat pique the interest of punters, with Galvin garnering an appealing price of 16/1 at the time of writing.

Coko Beach

Despite losses at Limerick, Navan and Gowran Park to kick off his season, 25/1 Grand National chance Coko Beach returned to form in style in the Grand National Trial Handicap Chase at Punchestown in February.

He won with relative ease by more than five lengths from Death Duty – and in doing so – firmed considerably in the Grand National betting lines. That’s in large part courtesy of the stamina he displayed down the stretch of what was a three-mile and four-furlong affair – and with the feature race at Aintree being arguably the most gruelling contest on the National Hunt racing schedule at more than four miles – that level of endurance and heart he showed at Punchestown could serve him well come April 15.

Fury Road

One of Elliott’s more tempting value bets at 33/1, Fury Road has shown enough this season against quality opposition to suggest that he could challenge some of the better-fancied thoroughbreds in the Grand National. The nine-year-old placed in two fixtures that were won by elite opposition in Galopin Des Champs and Conflated, to coincide with a victory in a Grade 2 at Down Royal.

Therefore, with the exception of his poor performance in the Ryanair Chase last time out – in which he finished sixth, Fury Road’s form has been respectable. With all of that being considered, he isn’t one to write off come race day.