We’re on testing ground for this year’s Grand National Trial.

11 runners are fighting for a share of £100,000 here going three miles, four-and-a-half furlongs and taking on 22 fences around Haydock Park. While Haydock is known for being pretty flat, it is notoriously difficult to get on bad ground so we’ve kept that in mind.

In terms of past winners, age doesn’t tell us much. Winners of this race have been aged anywhere between 7 and 11 this millennium. Weight carried is also a broad spectrum. Winners have carried the minimum 10st right up to Bristol De Mai’s 11st12lbs in 2022, in fact each of the last three winners carried 11-6 or above.

We have a blank sheet for this one counting runners in rather than out according to form, progression and the like, leaving us with these six contenders: 

Main Contenders

Chambard 

Right up there near the top of the weights is Chambard, trained by Venetia Williams. Being a 12-year-old and carrying 11st12lbs around a heavy Haydock looks far from ideal, but this horse still possesses the class to make a major go of it.

He was pulled up when last seen in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow over Christmas, but he easily won the Becher at Aintree before that and so is far from a lost cause in these big staying races.

Famous Bridge 

Pushing for favouritism going into the weekend is Nicky Richards’ Famous Bridge, one carrying the famous Hemmings colours which are/were synonymous with races just like this.

Famous Bridge is only eight and can get much better yet. Winner of 50% of his chases, he is a course winner on heavy ground having taken the Tommy Whittle Chase back in November which followed up another course and distance success.

He needs to stay a little further this time, but he can handle his weight rise and being pulled up last time doesn’t worry us given the ground was just too quick at Doncaster.

Fontaine Collonges 

A good price for this event may well be Fontaine Collonges, another for trainer Venetia Williams.

This horse too was a course winner on soft ground back in 2022 and, much more recently, was a very impressive scorer in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day.

We’re taking a chance on the fact that he will stay as, if he does, then he is certainly still handicapped well enough to win this. The major doubt is that his worst performances, including in the Classic Chase, have come when he’s gone up in trip as it seems so far he is best at around three miles.

Full Back 

Gary Moore’s Full Back fell at 100/1 last time, hot on the heels of being pulled up in the Southern National the time before.

His most recent form then isn’t the best but he’s only nine, is a Cheltenham winner on New Years’ Day and can still make his mark in races like this.

Highland Hunter 

The ever-popular Fergal O’Brien is in charge of Highland Hunter, an 11-year-old with tons of life experience but only ten chase races under his belt.

He can handle this ground and appears to stay, so as long as he can put it all together on the day then his handicap mark doesn’t preclude him from getting into the winner’s enclosure.

My Silver Lining 

Some time ago we backed a tough staying mare to win the Becher Chase on this column in the shape of Snow Leopardess, now we’re looking carefully at one in the National Trial.

My Silver Lining, trained by Emma Lavelle, is racking up some impressive performances and can put in at least one more this season.

She was quick enough to win over 3m1f on good ground in October, yet was impressive when taking the Classic Chase at Warwick recently over 3m5f on the soft and she has much more to offer yet. James Best rides.

Summary

According to our private ratings, five of the six on this shortlist are very closely matched indeed. If we’re pushing it, we’d say Fontaine Collonges is the standout against the selection at a nice each-way price, that selection being MY SILVER LINING.

Emma Lavelle’s runner has really taken our eye and looks well placed to put in a mighty effort. She is the real improver in the field and can also quicken in bad ground when it’s needed which could be the deciding factor.

Whether this horse lines up in the Grand National itself at Aintree on April 13 remains to be seen, but at this sort of trip she’s certainly a galloper going places.