Grand National 2022: Mighty Thunder Profile

Lucinda Russell's Mighty Thunder was a fine winner of last year's Scottish Grand National, and the dour stayer will head to Aintree on April 9 to try and claim victory in the 2022 Randox Grand National. We profile the nine-year-old here...

Mighty Thunder

Age: 9

Trainer: Lucinda Russell

Chase Runs: 9

Chase Wins: 4

Notable Race Wins: 2021 Scottish Grand National

A stalwart of the northern National Hunt scene over the last few seasons, Mighty Thunder has turned into a cracking staying handicap chaser, and having won the Scottish Grand National in 2021 he's bidding to land the English equivalent at Aintree on April 9, 2022.

Finishing in the first three in 11 of his 18 hurdles starts, Mighty Thunder was a real model of consistency over the smaller obstacles, but it's been over fences that has seen him blossom and he's duly notched four wins over fences from nine starts, and on his tenth he will bid for glory on Merseyside.

Having won the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh last February, he then ran a stormer to finish second in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter a month later, before a further month later he outbattled Dingo Dollar in a pulsating finish of the Ayr showpiece. Opting to avoid trying to retain that crown, Mighty Thunder will be sent in the quest of landing the big one this season, but doesn't come into the race in such good form as last season.

A well beaten fourth in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, Lucinda Russell's star was then pulled up in both the Welsh Grand National and in the Edinburgh National, and he's now 3lbs higher in the ratings than what is Scottish National victory came off of, so a mark of 147 will be tough for a horse looking to hand his trainer a second win in the race.