The Aintree Grand National Festival is one of the highlights of the racing calendar, and selecting the right trainer for your Dream Yard can make all the difference. With top trainers fielding multiple contenders, here’s a look at their key runners and jockey bookings. This gives you a sense of how your trainer selection could shape your yard’s performance.

Dan Skelton

Key Runners:

• Boombawn (Jockey: Harry Skelton) – RS Value: 3.0
• Live Conti (Jockey: Harry Skelton) – RS Value: 20.0
• Grey Dawning (Jockey: Harry Skelton) – RS Value: 26.0
• Take No Chances (Jockey: Harry Skelton) – RS Value: 2.0
• Bennys King (Jockey: Sean O’Connor) – RS Value: 5.0
• Frere D’Armes (Jockey: Heidi Palin) – RS Value: 2.0
• Jet Plane (Jockey: Jack Andrews) – RS Value: 2.0
• Calico (Jockey: Harry Skelton) – RS Value: 5.0

W P Mullins

Key Runners:

• Impaire Et Passe (Jockey: Paul Townend) – RS Value: 22.0
• Willy De Houelle (Jockey: Rachael Blackmore) – RS Value: 4.0
• Murcia (Jockey: Paul Townend) – RS Value: 7.0
• Embassy Gardens (Jockey: Paul Townend) – RS Value: 6.0
• Gaelic Warrior (Jockey: Mr P W Mullins) – RS Value: 15.0
• Lossiemouth (Jockey: Paul Townend) – RS Value: 32.0
• Annamix (Jockey: Mr P W Mullins) – RS Value: 2.0
• Hunters Yarn (Jockey: J J Slevin) – RS Value: 5.0

Gordon Elliott

Key Runners:

• Croke Park (Jockey: Sam Ewing) – RS Value: 20.0
• Wendrock (Jockey: Sam Ewing) – RS Value: 10.0
• Wodhooh (Jockey: Danny Gilligan) – RS Value: 11.0
• Willitgoahead (Jockey: J L Scallan) – RS Value: 12.0

Nicky Henderson

Key Runners:

• Jango Baie (Jockey: Nico de Boinville) – RS Value: 27.0
• Constitution Hill (Jockey: Nico de Boinville) – RS Value: 50.0

Paul Nicholls

Key Runners:

• Rubaud (Jockey: Harry Cobden) – RS Value: 9.0
• Stage Star (Jockey: Harry Cobden) – RS Value: 13.0
• Sans Bruit (Jockey: Harry Cobden) – RS Value: 10.0

Other Notable Trainers & Runners

• Harry Fry – Gidleigh Park (Bryan Carver), Coconut Grove (Bryan Carver)
• Gary & Josh Moore – Mark of Gold (Caoilin Quinn), Give It To Me OJ (Caoilin Quinn), Salver (Caoilin Quinn)
• Lucinda Russell – Ahoy Senor (Patrick Wadge), Primoz (Patrick Wadge)
• Henry De Bromhead – The Folkes Tiara (Rachael Blackmore)
• Joseph O’Brien – Naturally Nimble (J J Slevin), Puturhandstogether (Mark Walsh)
• Venetia Williams – Djelo (Charlie Deutsch)
• Olly Murphy – Gunsight Ridge (Sean Bowen)

What This Means for Your Dream Yard Selection

Choosing the right trainer is crucial in Fantasy Horse Racing. With multiple entries in key races, trainers like W P Mullins and Dan Skelton provide plenty of opportunities to rack up points. However, selecting a trainer with fewer but higher RS Value horses, like Nicky Henderson or Paul Nicholls, could be a strategic move.

Keep an eye on jockey bookings and race conditions as you finalize your selections for the Aintree Festival. Good luck with your Dream Yard!