Grey Runners In The Grand National 2022
There are plenty of reasons why people love backing certain runners in the Grand National. Sometimes it’s because of a name, other times it’s the jockey on board but for a lot of fans, it’s because the runner is a grey horse.
Racing fans absolutely love them. And while grey winners are few and far between, there is a good reason for that. So few grey runners get entered, with even less making the starting tape, that statistically, it is very difficult to notch up the wins.
Neptune Collonges from trainer Paul Nicholls was the last grey runner to win the Grand National in 2012. That made him only the third grey to win in the history of the race.
That said, any horse can win the Grand National and its colour is irrelevant!
Below are the Grey runners entered into the 2022 Grand National. Can any of them tear up the history books and become the winner on April 9th 2022?
Snow Leopardess
The grey mare faces a double whammy of burdens as greys don’t often win and mares even less so. So what a feat it would be if Charlie Longsdon’s 10-year-old could rip up the history books on Saturday.
It’s a distinct possibility for the horse that is in fantastic form, having already triumphed at Aintree in the Becher Chase back in December.
And if there were any question marks over her stamina, then her 4th place finish in the National Hunt, over 3m6f, at Cheltenham in 2021 should answer them.
Given her ideal weight for the Grand National, her form, consistency and the fact that she has never fallen, unseated her rider or pulled-up and Snow Leopardess is looking more and more like the dark horse in this race.
Or should I say, the grey horse in this race!
👩👧 "…not many mothers have won the Grand National"
📊 @CharlieLongsdon admits Snow Leopardess will have to defy the statistics if she is to become the first mare in history to have a foal and go on to win the Grand National https://t.co/3KjQ8SXbcd
— Sporting Life Racing (@SportingLife) March 24, 2022
Coko Beach
The second Gigginstown grey that looks set to run in the Grand National 2022, Coko Beach is also trained by Gordon Elliott.
Like Farclas last season, he too is only 7-years-old and given that it has been over 80 years since a horse that age won the race, the odds are really stacked against him.
With six starts this season, his best result has been 4th place and last time out Any Second Now beat him by 59L.
I fear he may be outclassed on the day.
Commodore
Just sneaking into the starting 40 runners is Commodore from Grand National winning trainer Venetia Williams.
The 10-year-old had wind surgery last year and returned in December with a solid win at Cheltenham in the Betfair Handicap Chase.
Unfortunately, that has also been his only run this season. Will it be enough to get him around the course and even contend for the win?
Commodore wins the Betfair Handicap Chase
A third win for Venetia Williams in this race
Watch LIVE
📺 @ITV4
📱 https://t.co/FI4VjrJa48#ITVRacing pic.twitter.com/kEjBn76v34— ITV Racing (@itvracing) December 10, 2021
Grey Non Runners In The National
Four other grey horses were entered into the 2022 Grand National. However, two were withdrawn at the latter stages and two others simply did not make the cut.
Farclas – withdrawn
Caribean Boy – withdrawn
Scoir Mear – did not make the cut
Achille – did not make the cut
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