Grand National 2024 Tips: Mark Milligan's Three to Follow in the big one at Aintree

• Last year's runner-up well weighted

• Mahler just the type for National Mission

• Skelton mare should relish the test

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Back Vanillier 2pts win only @ 8/19.00

This year's Grand National very much revolves around last year's 1-2, with Corach Rambler sure to take all the beating in his follow-up bid.

However, while clearly right at the top of his game following his recent Cheltenham Gold Cup third, there's little mileage in his current price and I'm happy to take last year's runner-up to turn the tables on much better terms.

While Lucinda Russell's charge took to the National fences like an absolute natural last year, Vanillier hardly shaped badly himself, particularly given where he came from in relation to the winner.

Still no better than ninth as close to home as two out (eight lengths behind the eventual winner), and only a place nearer over the last. He mustered the sort of surge that had carried him to a clear-cut Albert Bartlett win in 2021, Vanillier finished with even more to give despite the marathon trip.

Some of his best efforts have come in cheekpieces (including in the last year's race) and it's notable they'd been left off this season until last time, where he finished an encouraging second to I Am Maximus at Fairyhouse.

Everything appears to have been geared around another tilt at the National for Vanillier, and this year he receives 8lb from Corach Rambler having had to concede weight to that one last season.

Back Mahler Mission 0.5pts each-way @ 16/117.00

While Vanillier goes down as the main win selection, there are a couple at bigger prices that are worth each-way savers, the first of them being Mahler Mission, who looks tailor-made for this sort of test.

Blessed with stamina in abundance, he looked the most likely winner in last season's National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham, where he was five lengths up and responding to pressure before falling two out.

His jumping had largely been sound in novice chases before that unfortunate incident and the lesser test of jumping now posed by the Aintree National fences ought to work in his favour, while his prominent running style should ensure he's away from any potential trouble.

Shaping well when second over an inadequate trip on his comeback at Carlisle in November, Mahler Mission built on that when second to Datsalrightgino in the Coral Cup at Newbury when last seen in December, an even better slant put on the race considering he was reported to have lost both fore shoes.

He'll come here fresher than most having not been seen since that excellent effort and while his mark of 158 probably isn't as much of a bargain as it could have been, he's got the requisite class to play a big part.

Back Galia Des Liteaux 0.5pts each-way @ 25/126.00

One to keep in mind at an even bigger price is Dan Skelton's mare Galia Des Liteaux, who should get in right towards the bottom of the weights.

She'd looked a bit out of the ordinary when winning on chase debut at Bangor last season and was hardly disgraced when tried in Grade 1 novice company on her final two starts, finishing fifth in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham and fourth in the Mildmay at Aintree.

The daughter of Saddler Maker returned with a win in a Listed Mares' Chase at Market Rasen in November. However, it was her performance from a mark of 142 when finishing second to My Silver Lining in the Classic Chase at Warwick in January that makes her of most interest for a race such as this.

That was her first try at a marathon distance and she acquitted herself admirably, no disgrace in being unable to concede 20lb to a mare who went on to run cracking races in the Grand National Trial at Haydock and the Midlands National at Uttoxeter.

Galia Des Liteaux's National mark of 146 looks a fair one and she should prove well suited by the demands of this contest.

She can make a splash at what looks a generous price.

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