Pipe’s dream of another National

Trainer holds a strong hand on Saturday

Star trainer David Pipe goes into Saturday’s meeting at Aintree with a Grand National win already on his growing list of achievements, and he has left no stone unturned in his quest to do it again. Boasting a strong hand, he has Vieux Lion Rouge, Doctor Harper, Ballynagour and La Vaticane in the line-up.

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Pipe won the race back in 2008 with Comply Or Die, who did the business for punters when going off as a 7/1 joint-favourite. Vieux Lion Rouge rates as his best chance of repeating the feat, according to the odds compilers at least.

The eight-year-old gelding held plenty of weight in the build up to the 2017 renewal of the nation’s favourite race, floating around as ante-post favourite. He has remained near the head of the betting as the field has been narrowed down, but saw Brian Ellison’s Definitly Red jump the queue, now sitting as 10/1 jolly, ahead of Vieux Lion Rouge 11/1 second-fav.

Lion Rouge has the measure of main rivals

Travelling to Aintree with a career record reading 11 wins and three places from 21 starts, he has been a profitable pick for followers, and a Grand National win would cap an impressive hat-trick, having scored in each of his last two goes. Winner of the Becher Chase around here late last year, he had the likes of Highland Lodge, The Last Samuri, Ucello Conti and One For Arthur in behind that day, showing his national rivals their place over three-miles one-furlong.

That form was enhanced when winning a Grand National Trial around Haydock last time out, getting the better of Blaklion and Vintage Clouds in convincing fashion. Numbers like that are sure to hold plenty of weight with followers of the stats as we edge closer to the off, and the price gives backers something sweet to work with too.