Mouse Morris taking the mickey?

Trainer targets a Grand National double

Trainer Mouse Morris won the Grand National last year, with his representative Rule The World getting home in front off a chunky SP. The winning horse won’t be back to defend, but the winning trainer certainly will be. We are non-runner money back, place your Grand National bets here.

66-year-old Irishman Morris did the double last year, winning both the Grand National and the Irish Grand National. That was his second success in the Irish version, and he also has a Cheltenham Gold Cup sitting at home to keep them company.

Irish National winner Rogue Angel his best bet

This year the best of his chances looks to go in the form of Rogue Angel. The nine-year-old gelding travels to Aintree with a CV reading five wins and nine placed efforts from 38 starts, which may not immediately jump off the page at punters on the day, but Coral traders want to keep him close in the early betting.

He hasn’t been seen getting his head in front for over a year now, banking the prize money in the Irish National at Fairyhouse last March. He edged out Bless The Wings that day by a short-head in a heart-stopping finish, but it was an all guts and glory performance that saw him grind out the desired result. He’s a lovely horse with a real fondness for a scrap, and backers who saw that performance will have no hesitation in taking him again.

Since then he’s not done too much to get excited about, and finished well off the pace in the Becher Chase around here, which gives plenty of clues as to how this race will pan out. Including the likes of national hopefuls Vieux Lion Rouge, who won that day, Highland Lodge, The Last Samuri and Ucello Conti, his 10^th-place finish would suggest he has much improvement to find to feature on Saturday.