Grand National Trial Tips: Yeah Man Can Win Again

This year's Grand National Trial at Haydock looks set to be a different proposition to last year's race in terms of ground, with the frost covers down this year versus heavy ground in the 2024 renewal. Nevertheless, Billy Grimshaw is retaining the faith with his winning pick from last season...

Last season it certainly paid to back Gavin Cromwell blind whenever he sent a raider or two across the Irish Sea for big British Saturday races, with the season ending and Cromwell registering a near 20% strike-rate. YEAH MAN was one of those successful raiders in this race and despite being 11lbs worse off this season, I think he rates a knocking each-way bet in here once more with a big chance of victory. Cromwell is the target trainer of all target trainers and it does not take a rocket scientist to think that since the day he won this last season, he will have been planning backwards from the race again for Yeah Man.

This horse is crackingly consistent and has run with credit both times this season over inadequate trips, staying on strongly to take fourth last time out at Gowran. Obviously being higher in the weights is not ideal and many will desert him due to the ground not being heavy, but he is no mudlark and has proven to be a versatile sort when it comes to the going. There are horses in here running off the back of really attritional tests (particularly Val Dancer and Jubilee Express in the Welsh National over Christmas) whereas Yeah Man has simply been lobbing around waiting for his big day in the sun once more. I think that day has arrived and fancy him strongly to retain his title.

The potential fly in the ointment for all other contenders in this race is Royale Pagaille, the top weight but comfortably the best horse in the field on ratings and a notorious Haydock specialist. I strongly fancied him here last time out in the Peter Marsh and was left with burnt fingers, but usually I am inclined to forgive a horse a blip. However, the manner in which he completely stunk the place out at a track he has proven to relish set alarm bells ringing in my head and even with the excuse of the poor stable form at the time, he'd have to drift to a wild price in here for me to back him again. Of course, on peak form he will bolt up so if you do feel more forgiving than me, don't let my stung words of caution put you off.

With Royale Pagaille taking his chance a host of runners (including the aforementioned Welsh National 1-2) are running in here from out of the weights, and while I am against the duo previously mentioned I would not totally rule out Jamie Snowden's Git Maker despite being five pounds 'wrong'. The yard are in good form at the moment and this horse will relish the better than expected ground, as proven with a smashing third up at Ayr in the Scottish National and with a prep run over hurdles under his belt he could go close.

Apple Away is another who was tempting for me, as although she has not quite hit the heights a few giddy kippers expected her to as a chaser she is still dangerous running in a race like this off such a low weight. She put in a fine performance for second last time out at Newbury with plenty of spark back in her jumping and with her yard renowned for their horses coming alive in spring, she has her chance and it's good to see her finally going for these longer races as she looks likely to stay longer than the mother in law.

Famous Bridge could be an outsider worth noting for Nicky Richards given he ran with credit on heavy last time out and will appreciate the better ground here, however for all this is a competitive affair I cannot get away from last season's winner and he rates the safe each-way play of the day in my book.