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Randox Health Grand National Handicap Chase preview

Vicente can make it a ‘Fab Four’ victories in the Grand National (5.15) for ‘Mr Aintree’ Trevor Hemmings by beating 39 rivals for the world’s greatest steeplechase on Merseyside this afternoon.

Hemmings has seen his colours carried to success by Hedgehunter (2005), Ballabriggs (2011) and the much-loved - but ill-starred - Many Clouds (2015).

After Many Clouds lost his life at Cheltenham in January, Hemmings embarked on a search for a horse to carry his hopes at Aintree this year - and the Paul Nicholls-trained Vicente is the result.

“He’s a spring horse, and I’m delighted with him,” Hemmings told me yesterday. “Hopefully, be could be the ‘Fab Fourth’!”

The eight-year-old is already a ‘National’ winner - he landed the Scottish version at Ayr last April.

My selection hasn’t got within a stone of that form this winter, falling in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in November before finishing a well-held sixth in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow over Christmas.

Vicente occupied the same position in the valuable Sky Bet Handicap Chase at Doncaster in January, and then completed in behind today’s rival Vieux Lion Rouge in the Grand National Trial at Haydock Park last time out.

(Image: PA)

But that cloud of uninspiring returns has a silver lining - the handicapper has dropped the son of the late, lamented stallion Dom Alco - a renowned stamina influence and the sire of Nicholls’ 2012 National winner Neptune Collonges - to a British Horseracing Authority rating of 147.

That’s just 1lb more than the handicap mark from which he won the Scottish National, and Nicholls reports the bay to be “the picture of health” now the spring weather has arrived.

Brian Hughes, one of the finest horsemen in the weighing room, takes the mount, and Vicente’s sound jumping technique and proven staying power make him the prime candidate for honours.

After his second of 12 months ago, The Last Samuri will have his supporters to go one better, but is 12lb higher this time around.

Both Ucello Conti, sixth last year, and seventh-placed Vieux Lion Rouge warrant a second look - the former will find this afternoon’s faster ground more to his liking, while the latter has improved.

Also on the up is Scottish challenger One For Arthur, winner of a stamina test at Warwick in January, while Saphir Du Rheu and More Of That, respectively fifth and sixth in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham last month, are well handicapped on that form.

Cause Of Causes won at Cheltenham but isn’t the easiest to predict, while Definitly Red is well handicapped but has his stamina to prove.

Blaklion hails from a stable that has won the National twice and merits consideration, along with Shantou Flyer, who looks capable of running above his outsider’s odds.