Age: 9
Weight: 11st 1lb
Latest odds: 40/1 with 888sport.
Owner: JP McManus
Grand National record:
1982 Deep Gale (FELL 1st)
1988 Bucko (PU 27th)
1992 Laura’s Beau (3rd)
1994 Laura’s Beau (FELL 6th)
1996 Wylde Hide (UR 24th)
1997 Wylde Hide (UR 22nd)
1998 Gimme Five (5th)
2002 Spot Thedifference (UR 27th)
2003 Youlneverwalkalone (PU 13th)
2004 Clan Royal (2nd), Spot Thedifference (5th), Risk Accessor (UR 6th), Le Coudray (FELL 22nd)
2005 Innox (7th), Spot Thedifference (18th), Shamawan (21st), Clan Royal (CO 22nd), Le Coudray (PU 21st), Risk Accessor (UR 2nd)
2006 Clan Royal (3rd), Risk Accessor (5th), Innox (FELL 1st), First Gold (UR 23rd)
2007 L’Ami (10th), Clan Royal (11th)
2008 King Johns Castle (2nd), L’Ami (FELL 2nd), Bob Hall (PU 19th), Butler’s Cabin (FELL 22nd)
2009 Butler’s Cabin (7th), Reveillez (BD 3rd), Can’t Buy Time (FELL 18th), L’Ami (PU 30th)
2010 Don’t Push It (WON), Can’t Buy Time (FELL 8th), Arbor Supreme (UR 15th), King Johns Castle (refused to race)
2011 Don’t Push It (3rd), Blue Sea Cracker (14th), Quolibet (UR 11th), Can’t Buy Time (FELL 18th), Arbor Supreme (FELL 28th)
2012 Sunnyhillboy (2nd), Synchronised (FELL 6th), Arbor Supreme (UR 10th), Quiscover Fontaine (FELL 17th)
2013 Quiscover Fontaine (16th), Colbert Station (UR 15th), Lost Glory (PU 17th), Sunnyhillboy (UR last)
2014 Double Seven (3rd), Colbert Station (PU 25th)
2015 Shutthefrontdoor (5th), Cause Of Causes (8th), Wyck Hill (PU 29th)
2016 Gilgamboa (4th), Shutthefrontdoor (9th), Pendra (13th), Gallant Oscar (UR 18th)
2017 Cause Of Causes (2nd), Regal Encore (8th), More Of That (PU 30th)
2018 Anibale Fly (4th), Carlingford Lough (PU 30th), Pendra (PU 30th)
Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill
Grand National record:
2003 Carbury Cross (7th)
2004 Clan Royal (2nd), Joss Naylor (PU 19th)
2005 Simply Gifted (3rd), Shamawan (21st), Native Emperor (UR 9th), Clan Royal (CO 22nd)
2006 Clan Royal (3rd), Risk Accessor (5th)
2007 Clan Royal (11th)
2008 Bob Hall (PU 19th), Butler’s Cabin (FELL 22nd)
2009 Butler’s Cabin (7th), Reveillez (BD 3rd), Can’t Buy Time (FELL 18th)
2010 Don’t Push It (WON), Can’t Buy Time (FELL 8th)
2011 Don’t Push It (3rd), Quolibet (UR 11th), Can’t Buy Time (FELL 18th)
2012 Sunnyhillboy (2nd), Synchronised (FELL 6th), Arbor Supreme (UR 10th)
2013 Lost Glory (PU 17th), Sunnyhillboy (UR 30th)
2014 Twirling Magnet (FELL 1st), Burton Port (UR 2nd)
2015 Shutthefrontdoor (5th)
2016 Shutthefrontdoor (9th), Holywell (Fell 2nd)
2017 More Of That (PU 30th)
Form
11/3P621/3FU2/4P4F-59P
Minella Rocco pulled out of the race on the eve of last year’s Grand National on account of the ground when set to carry top-weight (rated 162). Due to line-up off a mark of 155 this year.
Career-best performance came when runner-up to Sizing John in the Grade 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup over 3m 2f in March 2017.
Has failed to sparkle on three appearances so far this season, finishing a distant fifth in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January, before coming home ninth over hurdles at Exeter the following month.
Pulled-up on latest start in Grade 3 Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on March 12.
Minella Rocco fell at the last when in second and challenging on only previous visit to Aintree in a Listed chase over 3m 1f on the Mildmay course in December 2016.
Last victory came when defeating 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Native River in the 4m National Hunt Chase for novices at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2016.
Questionable if he remains the force of old, but back form and powerful connections mean Minella Rocco cannot be ruled out completely.
Jumps race record
Starts: 18
Wins: 3
2nd: 2
3rd: 2
OpenOdds five-star rating
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