Grand National: Which Cheltenham Festival runners enhanced their Aintree claims?

As the dust settles on a spectacular Cheltenham Festival, the attentions move swiftly on to Aintree and most importantly the 2022 Grand National, which takes place on April 9. We take a look back at last week's festival and focus our attentions on those horses that will look to use their exertions at Prestbury Park as a springboard to Grand National glory..

Delta Work - 1st in Cross Country Chase

The scene was set for Tiger Roll to bow out with his sixth Cheltenham Festival win, but his stablemate Delta Work had different ideas, as the multiple Grade 1 winner produced a barnstorming surge up the hill to deny the Gordon Elliott-trained legend, who had to settle for second in the Cross Country Chase. A class apart last Wednesday, Delta Work produced a faultless display in the Cross Country, and was duly slashed in the betting for next month's Grand National.

A former winner of the Grade 1 Savills Chase and Irish Gold Cup, Delta Work was always going to be tough to beat, if able to deal with the idiosyncrasies of the Cross Country, but he took to them like a duck to water, and the Cullentra House inmate could be bound for a trip to Aintree now for the world's greatest steeplechase. Having been around a 40/1-50/1 shot for the National prior to Wednesday's win, Delta Work is now a best-priced 16/1 chance for the Merseyside marathon.

Currently carrying 11st 3lbs for the contest, Delta Work is sure to be one of the class acts lining up, and he could be the next Gigginstown House Stud-owned National star off the production line, and has to be a major player, if taking his chance.

Run Wild Fred - 2nd in National Hunt Chase

Another set to carry the maroon silks of Gigginstown at Aintree next month is Run Wild Fred, who wasn't disgraced when finishing second in the National Hunt Chase last Tuesday, but was just ultimately outclassed by a ready winner in the shape of Stattler, who romped to an eight-length victory,

A Troytown winner already this season, Run Wild Fred was eased from around 16/1 to 22/1 for the Grand National, but he's not one to completely avoid, as having finished second in the Irish Grand National last season, he showed that he relishes a real test of stamina, and the real energy-sapping assignment that the National poses could really suit his strengths. Only 2lbs lower in the handicap than Delta Work, Run Wild Fred is a little less attractive than his stablemate, but he ran well at Cheltenham, so his second placed display shouldn't put you off backing him for the National.

Mount Ida - 7th in Mares' Chase

Sent off a 5/2 chance for the Mares' Chase, Mount Ida produced a hugely disappointing, lacklustre run in the Friday event, and she was duly eased in the Grand National betting to 25/1 after such a poor Cheltenham showing. Last year's Kim Muir winner was expected to challenge the likes of Elimay and Concertista, who were prominent in the betting, but much like her Kim Muir success she found herself out the back from the get-go.

Jumping to her right, she never got involved, which left you thinking whether a left-handed track like Aintree would suit. There's no doubting that on her day she is a class act, but would the hustle and bustle of a Grand National really see her in her best light. Going by her Cheltenham Festival, she's not an Aintree prospect that you can hold with significant confidence after last week's run.

Galvin (4th), Santini (8th) - Cheltenham Gold Cup

No match for the incredible A Plus Tard in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, both Galvin (4th) and Santini (8th) showed that they lack the pace to win the blue riband event at the Cheltenham Festival, but both could be interesting prospects in the Grand National. Unable to quicken at the crucial stage of the Gold Cup, Galvin and Santini were left in the wake of the speedy A Plus Tard, who rocketed up the Cheltenham hill to claim an emphatic victory.

Galvin was well fancied for the race having won the Savills Chase, but the former National Hunt Chase winner showed that marathon trips are definitely his forte, so many would enjoy getting stuck into the 28/1 about him at Aintree. Outpaced from a long way out, Santini dourly stayed on for eighth spot last Friday, and he's now a 50/1 chance for the Grand National.

With a racing weight of 10st 10lbs, Santini will find it tougher to land a blow against a host of potential improving horses, and while he should relish the jumping test and exertions the National brings, he's ultimately not the force of old and is tough to fancy.

Best Of The Rest

Several Grand National entries were seen running at Cheltenham last week, and one of the disappointing ones was School Boy Hours, who was sent off favourite for the Kim Muir, but was duly pulled up. Significant jumping errors hindered his chances of landing the prize and he was eased from 28s to 40/1. Both Melon and Conflated were seen in the Ryanair Chase, but both were no match for Allaho, and the extreme distance of the Grand National will surely see them struggle, and they are likely to take their place.

Death Duty was put up as one of the most eye-catching handicap runners of the week, but he failed to land a significant blow when sixth in the Ultima Handicap Chase on day one of the festival, and the 33/1 chance failed to quicken at a crucial time. A step up in trip would certainly help him, and he's sure to be another interesting shot fired by the Elliott gun next month. Two places behind him was Lostintranslation, who shapes like the extreme test at Aintree wouldn't be to his liking.

Henry De Bromhead had a fabulous festival and he would've been pleased with Plan Of Attack's fine third in the Cross Country Chase, and he's now a 66/1 chance for the National, but may struggle to get in, while another National entry that featured in that race was the Willie Mullins-trained Brahma Bull, but he unseated, and is now available at 80/1 for next month's Grand National. Former Cross Country winner Easysland doesn't look the force of old, and he was pulled up and he looks no Aintree prospect on current form, as does Potters Corner, who was a distant seventh.