Grand National Weights: Three eye-catchers after the weights reveal

With the weights for the 2021 Grand National revealed today, Joe Tuffin has taken a look at the entires and picked out three that catch they eye at the weights… 

Potters Corner: 10-6

How can’t you include a Welsh Grand National winner who has been completely laid out for this running off 10-6? Christian Williams has a smart performer on his hands with Potters Corner, whose win in the virtual Grand National last year was watched by millions around the country, and It’s very clear that this season has been planned with Aintree in mind. A winner of both the Midlands and Welsh Nationals, he is as proven a stayer as you could imagine and with more than stone in hand compared to some of the rivals he sits alongside at the forefront of the National betting, he has to be worth a mention at 25/1.

He’s been campaigned over hurdles mainly this term where he has somewhat predictably struggled with the higher intensity and speed of a race in this sphere, but this ensures his Chase mark stays unaffected and having already qualified due to running in the Cross-Country earlier in the year, you can certainly expect to see him lined up at Aintree in April after a warm up over the cross-country fences at the Cheltenham Festival.

Cloth Cap: 10-5

Low weight? Check. Winner of a big staying handicap already this term? Check. Running in the Aintree recognised Trevor Hemmings colours? Check. Cloth Cap certainly ticks a lot of boxes and punters have piled into him after the release of the weights, with the highs of the 25/1 now replaced with 16/1 favouritism, with one firm even going as short as 12/1. Similarly to Potters Corner, It’s no secret that this race is his ultimate goal and this attractive weight places him as one of the key players for the race.

In his two runs this year, he’s finished third - behind eventual King George winner Frodon - before turning up at the Ladbrokes Trophy (ex-Hennessey) and putting a classy field to the sword with a ten length demolition job, with other National candidate The Conditional 11-and-a-half lengths behind in third. This is really admirable form and it’s no secret that this race is a key pointer for the National, with fellow Hemmings star Many Clouds managing the double back in 2014/15 season. He’s got the pedigree to feature and the market support tells you all you need to know - it may be worth adding him to your ante-post portfolio.

Vieux Lion Rouge: 10-5

I must admit, I had completely written off Vieux Lion Rouge before this season and didn’t expect him to win another race, but he didn’t half show the fire in the belly still burned when he beat the likes of Kimberlite Candy and Le Breuil by 24-lengths in the Becher Chase. Obviously - the Becher Chase is one of four races which use the National fences - and whenever the veteran is faced with the Aintree birch he comes alive. His form over the fences reads a very impressive 716792091, and not once has he ever failed to complete the course - which is a staggering statistic given the brutal nature of the test.

The weight he has been assigned certainly gives him a chance here as well. The last time he carried this sort of weight was on his Grand National debut back in 2016 where he managed a 7th at 66/1 - which would have paid if you backed with certain bookies. Since then he’s been on the higher end of the 10-stone scale and has still always managed to finish in the top 10, except for when finishing 15th last year off a pound higher than this. This is obviously cause for concern, as is the fact he’s not getting younger and is in the twilight of his career, but a recent winner over these fences with the most respected record of anyone in the field at 50/1? Why not have play...