Secret Reprieve Bidding To Become Youngest Grand National Winner Since 1940

Secret Reprieve goes into the 2021 Grand National at Aintree as one of the fancied horses to come out on top in the world’s most famous steeplechase. No seven-year-old has been successful in the race since Bogskar scored in the 1940 renewal.

Many Clouds, One For Arthur, and Tiger Roll all prevailed at the age of eight in 2015, 2017, and 2018 respectively. If betting on anything to go by, Secret Reprieve has an excellent chance of repeating what those horses did but at an even younger age.

As you can see from the Aintree racing results, horses with a lot more experience on their side have done well in the Grand National over the last decade. Ballabriggs, Neptune Collonges, Auroras Encore and Pineau De Ree were all 10 years or older when they came out on top at the Merseyside course.

Despite his age, the only horse ahead of Secret Reprieve in the bookmakers’ ante-post market this year is Cloth Cap, who is the +350 favorite. Evan Williams chaser can be backed at +1000, as can Any Second Now, the leading Irish-trained horse in the field.

Connections of Secret Reprieve avoided the temptation of running in any of the races at Cheltenham this season. This means he will be much fresher than many of his rivals who appeared in some of the staying races such as the Ultima Handicap Chase and National Hunt Challenge Cup at the meeting.

Welsh Success Makes Him A Big Player

The Grand National has been on the cards for Secret Reprieve ever since he prevailed at Chepstow back in January in the Welsh Grand National, a race which takes place over 3m6½f. Despite his age, the Welsh-trained horse has appeared six times over fences, winning two of those outings.

Williams’ runner finished the race strongly last time which suggests he has the stamina to perform really well at the Merseyside track next month. His jumping was also very good, something which will be tested to the maximum with the bigger fences at Aintree. Before his victory at Chepstow, the second-season chaser won the Welsh Grand National Trial at the same course. That contest was over a shorter trip of 2m7½f and took place on heavy ground. Those conditions proved that if the rain does fall ahead of Aintree, he shouldn’t be hampered by conditions.

Secret Reprieve is now officially rated at 144 over fences. He is 50th in the weights for the 4m2½f contest which means he is not guaranteed to be part of the 40-runner field, however, a number of horses ahead of him are expected to withdraw.

The seven-year-old will not have to take on the winner of the last two renewals of the race. Connections of Tiger Roll have opted against their horse running again as they feel he has been treated unfairly by the official handicapper.

Williams Has Come Close To Grand National Glory Before

Although Williams has yet to win the Grand National, some of his horses have come really close before. Between them, State of Play and Cappa Bleu were placed in the race five times between 2009 and 2013.

The performances of those two runners indicate the Welshman knows exactly how to prepare a horse for the unique contest in the spring. If he can finally get a horse into the winner’s enclosure after the race, it will be the biggest moment in his career so far.

This year’s Grand National is scheduled to take place at 17:15BST on April 12.