Buzz surrounds the Aintree Grand National all year around with rampant speculation as to who will win months before the entrants have even been named so what are the prospects for one of the more seasoned horses – Comply or Die?

Comply or Die is trained by David Pipe and made his racecourse debut in a novices hurdle at Taunton, in October 2003. In March 2005 he managed to finish second to Trabolgan in the Grade One Royal and Sunalliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and finished the 2004/05 season with a sixth placing in the Befred Gold Cup. The following season was cut short after a setback in the Coral Welsh National and it would be two years before he was put on a racecourse again. Back at Cheltenham in October, 2007, Comply or Die lacked race fitness and only managed to finish in 16th place. He also disappointed on his next run when pulled up in a Grade Three Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on November 17.

It was the application of blinkers that produced a huge turnaround in Comply or Die, and he ran his best race up to that point, in the Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase at Haydock in December, finishing second behind the Grand National favourite Cloudy Lane. In the 2008 Grand National he beat off a strong challenge from King John’s Castle to take victory by four lengths, with Irish jockey Timmy Murphy riding the David Pipe-trained nine-year-old for his first Grand National win after 11 previous attempts. He followed up in the 2009 Grand National with a second place behind Mon Mome. He came out of the race in good shape so it looks likely that owner David Johnson will see fit to put him the 2010 National.

Age – generally we recommend horses who are 9 or 10 years old and Comply or Die will be 10 for the 2010 Grand National, making him a very good age.

Stamina – we know he can run the distance – he’s done it twice before without faltering…

Weight – could go against him with his previous great performances – he may get one of the top weights which could slow him down, limiting his chances for a second win.

Season – he hasn’t run in a single race since the 2009 Grand National so he’s either being groomed for the next one or he’s showing poor form and being given a bit of a break, only time will tell.

There have been horses that have gone down in Grand National history for their repeat performances – think Red Rum and Hedgehunter – can Comply or Die reach those dizzy heights of success? He was joint favourite at 7/1 in 2008, and odds fell to 14/1 in 2009 but I expect short odds on him again this year – somewhere around 10/1 or less if the bookies have their way so he could be good for an each-way bet…

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