Vanillier Grand National Odds & Betting Profile
One of the big movers in the antepost lists this season for the 2023 Grand National Odds is Vanillier, a former high class hurdler who seemed to lose his way before a few signs of life recently. Available at as big as 100/1 earlier in the year (and much bigger on the exchanges) he is now a 20/1 shot to claim Grand National glory and here we analyse his chances...
Age: 8
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
Chase Runs: 9
Chase Wins: 1
The sky looked to be the limit for Vanillier back in March of 2021 when he ran out an ultra-impressive winner of the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham. Sent off 14/1 that day, he made light work of the opposition and eventually cruised home eleven lengths clear of the second. Despite somewhat disappointing next time out at Punchestown behind what we now know to be a monster in Galopin Des Champs, hopes were still high for Gavin Cromwell's charge heading into his novice chase campaign.
He began life over fences finishing a good third on debut over a test not stiff enough at Down Royal, before winning for the first time over fences at Punchestown next time. Worryingly though, his jumping looked far from fluent on both occasions and this would become a theme of his fence jumping run style. That win at Punchestown was in fact his last win, and he has taken in eight more starts without success since.
His fence jumping was so poor after this and indeed in the National Hunt Chase when finishing nearly 40 lengths behind Stattler, that Cromwell chose to send him back over hurdles at Punchestown 2022 for the Stayers' Hurdle. This saw many quietly fancy him, but once again he ran like a drain beaten into 6th out of 7. Connections discovered at the end of the season he had been suffering with a kissing spine and over the summer he had surgery to fix this.
This season it seemed like more of the same despite that surgery when he was dismissed with ease by Fury Road before coming last of six behind Galopin Des Champs again in the John Durkan. Connections discovered at the end of the season he had been suffering with a kissing spine and over the summer he had surgery to fix this.
The run which has rocketed him into many people's Grand National thoughts, especially off just ten stone six pounds, is his half length second to Kemboy in the BobbyJo Chase recently at Fairyhouse. This was much more like it and his jumping was very assured, so if he is finally back to the ability he once showed he is a massive threat off a feather weight.
Sire: Mortaline
Dam: Virgata
Dam's Sire: Turgeon
Vanillier Analysis
Positives
- He fits the age profile
- Has a brilliant racing weight
- No stamina or ground worries
Negatives
- Jumping issues may still remain
- Has not won for a long time
Frequently Asked Questions About Vanillier
No, Vanillier has never run in the Grand National.
Vanillier has won a total of three races.
Gavin Cromwell trains Vanillier.
Mrs H M Keaveney owns Vanillier
