Magnanimity may well love step up in distance for Grand National

For a horse that has previously finished second in a Grade One novice chase, been a length away from victory at the Cheltenham Festival and this season finished second to Sizing Europe, 50/1 seems a monster price on Magnanimity in the Grand National.

Rewind back two years and Magnanimity was not far away from winning the RSA Chase at Cheltenham and his career has not really developed in the expected manner since.

One of the big problems is that he tends to be found wanting at the business end of races, still bang in contention approaching the final few fences, only to lack the finishing speed of some of his rivals.

This suggests that a step up to a marathon trip for the Grand National should be ideal and he previously went well in the Irish equivalent for a long way, until a mistake two fences from home curtailed his challenge.

Meanwhile, he was only beaten five lengths by Roi Du Mee earlier this season off level weights and that horse has since won the BobbyJo Chase, beating Grand National favourites Prince De Beauchene and Seabass in the process off a rating 11lb higher.

If Magnanimity could run up to the level of his Punchestown defeat at Aintree, he would certainly not be without an each-way chance, while his mark has actually slipped 4lb since, which could suggest he is capable of some improvement.

Some of the leading trends among Grand National winners of the last decade also suggest that Magnanimity is primed for a promising run.

Dessie Hughes’ horse is a nine-year-old and eight of the last ten winners have either been this age or 10.

Runners rated between 136 and 148 have also taken seven of the renewals in the same period, while nine victors finished in the top five on their last completed start, with Magnanimity taking second at Clonmel.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.