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Tricky Trickster

Grand National picture becoming clearer

The demise of the mighty Denman at Newbury last Saturday understandably stole most of the racing headlines. While many eyes were cast back down the home straight to see that the former Gold Cup was ok, and he was, a titanic struggle ensued up front with Tricky Trickster reeling in Niche Market to land the Aon Chase, writes Elliot Slater.

Only a short-head separated the pair at the line with Tricky Trickster just getting the nod, but to many people Niche Market's bold effort in taking on Denman from the start gave him the moral victory. He was three lengths clear jumping the last, but the duel with the McCoy-ridden star eventually took its toll and he faded ever so slightly allowing Tricky Trickster and Ruby Walsh to catch him in the very last stride.

Both horses ran tremendous John Smith's Grand National trials and now head the ante-post betting for the world's greatest steeplechase. Paul Nicholls' Tricky Trickster is 12/1 favourite for the race with Irish Grand National winner Niche Market generally available at 14/1, although Totesport, Paddy Power and William Hill still offer 16s.

Rated only 1lb different on official BHA figures, it was appropriate that the pair should be separated by such a miniscule difference. It is hard to imagine that there will be more than a pound between them when the official weights are announced for the four-mile-four-furlong marathon.

The Aon Chase really heightened the anticipation for the Grand National 2010 on 10th April. The statistics however are against Tricky Trickster who, as a seven-year-old, would be more or less breaking the mould as no horse his age has won the race since 1940.

Bob Buckler's Niche Market, a nine-year-old, fits well into all the statistical analysis and, of the pair, he would most likely be my pick.

With more big Grand National trials in the coming weeks, the picture ahead of Aintree is starting to become clearer race by race.

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