FIRST LEG

PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS TO LAND NATIONAL GLORY WITH VANILLIER, NICK ROCKETT AND STUMPTOWN TO MAKE IT ANOTHER IRISH-TRAINED CLEAN SWEEP

- CHRIS WRIGHT

HAVING struck Gold at Cheltenham last month, Irish trainer Gavin Cromwell can land the other of National Hunt racing's crown jewels as PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS can triumph in the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse.

The County Meath handler, who is having his best season and won a first Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup at last month's Cheltenham Festival with one-time Grand National favourite Inothewayurthinkin, has a strong hand to grab a first victory in the world's greatest steeplechase at Aintree.

His 2023 Grand National runner-up Vanillier and another Cheltenham Festival scorer Stumptown are part of a threepronged attack on the Aintree showpiece, but it should be stable-mate Perceval Legallois who can come out on top.

Like the Willie Mullins-trained 2024 Aintree hero, the returning I Am Maximus, and Gold star Inothewayurthinkin, Perceval Legallois sports the famous green and gold colours of threetime Grand National-winning owner JP McManus. And he looks to have the ideal profile of the modern National winner.

With the modifications to the course, the reduction in both distance and field size (now 34 from the traditional 40 for a second year) younger, classier and more progressive horses have been winning the race.