Age: 11
Weight: 11st
Latest odds: 11/1 with William Hill.
Owner: Ronnie Bartlett
Grand National record:
No previous runners
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Grand National record:
2000 Micko’s Dream (FELL 1st)
2002 Alexander Banquet (UR 6th)
2004 Alexander Banquet (FELL 18th), Hedgehunter (FELL 30th)
2005 Hedgehunter (WON)
2006 Hedgehunter (2nd)
2007 Hedgehunter (9th), Livingstonebramble (UR 6th), Homer Wells (PU 22nd), Bothar Na (PU 29th)
2008 Snowy Morning (3rd), Hedgehunter (13th)
2009 Snowy Morning (9th), Irish Invader (11th)
2010 Snowy Morning (6th), Arbor Supreme (UR 15th)
2011 The Midnight Club (6th), Dooney’s Gate (FELL 6th), Arbor Supreme (FELL 28th)
2012 The Midnight Club (11th), Quiscover Fontaine (FELL 17th), On His Own (FELL 22nd)
2013 Quiscover Fontaine (16th), Quel Esprit (PU 24th), On His Own (FELL 25th)
2014 Vesper Bell (13th), Prince De Beauchene (16th)
2015 Ballycasey (BD 8th)
2016 On His Own (FELL 15th), Sir Des Champs (FELL 15th), Boston Bob (PU 22nd), Ballycasey (UR 29th)
2017 Pleasant Company (9th)
2018 Pleasant Company (2nd), Total Recall (PU 29th), Childrens List (PU 30th)
Form
111F23/P/2113112BU14-1
Rathvinden took high rank among the staying novice chasers last season, finishing second in the Grade 1 Drinmore over 2m 4f at Fairyhouse before landing the Grade 2 National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in ultra-game fashion when relishing the step up to 4m.
He also Impressed on his reappearance this term when comfortably defeating Alpha Des Obeaux in the Grade 2 Bobbyjo Chase over 3m 2f at Fairyhouse on February 23 – 11 days after the weights were issued for this.
It was was a personal best performance by this lightly-raced 11-year-old and he is officially 8lb well-in on ratings, so is one of the best handicapped horses in the race.
Rathvinden is also a sound jumper and has stamina in abundance, so looks a major contender at Aintree and has a massive chance of landing the spoils.
Jumps race record
Starts: 19
Wins: 9
2nd: 3
3rd: 2
Win & Place Prize Money: £213,693
OpenOdds five-star rating
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