Grand National Big Race Verdict: Back 12/1 Oscars Brother to steal the Aintree show

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Randox Grand National
Saturday, 16:00
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Panic Attack fighting out favouritism with I Am Maximus

Dan Skelton's Aintree fortunes could dramatically change with Panic Attack, who was holding top spot in the betting and from 8/19.00 into 13/27.50 at one stage, but a little shift in the afternoon pushed her back out to 15/28.50 with I Am Maximus at 7/18.00.

Panic Attack is looking to become the first mare to win the famous old steeplechase since 1951 heroine Nickel Coin, but in her favour are two prestigious handicaps already collected this term and is a speedy improver. But I Am Maximus is the Aintree performer - first and second in the race in the last two years is a far stronger CV.

Gerri Colombe was a mover as of Friday afternoon in from 33/134.00 to 20/121.00. Gorgeous Tom and Perceval Legallois were symmetrically trimmed from 25s into 20s and at bigger prices Mr Vango and Twig were positives.

Can I Am Maximus regain his crown?

I Am Maximus has not been apprehensive about his past Liverpool excursions, running a mighty second to Nic Rockett 12 months ago conceding weight from a mark of 167.

Two mistakes on each circuit at the Canal Turn were blots on the jumping copybook and several awkward jumps might have made the difference. He is 1lb higher off 168 and Paul Townend maintains his partnership, but at the age of 10 and already two Liverpool battles under his belt, he looks more of a place bet as he could potentially be vulnerable to the improver.

The McManus posse led by Ultima alumni

Owner JP McManus has five of the top seven in the betting, one being I Am Maximus, the others include Iroko and Jagwar.

Iroko was sent off favourite 12 months ago at 13/27.50 from a mark of 152, and 7lb higher and a year wiser gives a little and takes a little. Iroko was 10h in the Ultima, while Jagwar ran a screamer in second and now races with the first-time headgear combination.

Johnnywho beat them both at Cheltenham and he has earned a pretty healthy Timeform rating of 184 weight adjusted for this. With track form too at Aintree and a fifth in the Sefton over shorter back in November, he has to be involved in a 1-2-3.

Oscars Brother and Quai on the wishlist

I put up Quai De Bourbon for the Irish National as a young horse on the up and skipping Fairyhouse for Aintree looks a bold move from Willie Mullins.

It's been a nothing season that appears to have been geared all around a final spring hoorah and his third last time out was very much a step in the right direction over an inadequate distance.

He's only a seven-year-old and was a year younger when finishing third in last term's Irish Grand National behind Haiti Couleurs which was a fair run in the circumstances as his jumping was not always fluent. He didn't have much luck at all at Aintree as a novice when he was brought down by Dancing City and at the price, off a low weight and a good age bracket, I am including him from 151 and Donagh Meyler isn't a bad pilot to have on your side after winning the said Irish version recently.

Potentially the horse with a lot of class is Oscars Brother and with three wins from six starts over fences will be tested to the maximum and thrown in at the deep end by his trainer Connor King.

King has guided him well thus far and his win in different silks at Punchestown in November in the Florida Pearl Grade 2 prompted JP to part with some euros to buy him, probably impressed by his jumping that day as a novice. Beating Kocktail Divin too looks even better after this win at Aintree in Grade 1 company.

Oscars Brother then slammed The Wallpark in the Grade 2 Ten Up at Navan under positive tactics.

He was doing his best work late on in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham appearing not to quite possess the pace and speed not the early jumping prowess to muster a challenge, but a fourth in Grade 1 company makes him a very interesting handicap debutant of 155.

I really like his chances running a big race and he's got a decent weight adjusted Timeform figure too at 178 and he heads up my 1-2-3.

Now read more tips from Alan Dudman here for Saturday!