Making the trip over from the virtual Emerald Isle, the Ted Walsh-trained Any Second Now was among the leading contenders for the 2022 Virtual Grand National. Having finished third in both the virtual and real versions in 2021, he earned a tick in the course and distance box. As did Minella Times, who sought to complete the Grand National/Virtual Grand National double, having won the real-world version in 2021.
The Gordon Elliott duo of Delta Work and Run Wild Fred were others who appeared likely to be favoured by the prediction algorithm. The former was a class act, with five Grade 1 wins to his name, while the latter had shown a liking for a test of stamina when second in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. The mare Snow Leopardess excelled over these fences when claiming the 2021 edition of the Becher Chase. If handling the step up in trip, she looked set to go well.
Result
- 1st – Snow Leopardess, Jockey: Aidan Coleman, Trainer: Charlie Longsdon
- 2nd – Any Second Now, Jockey: Mark Walsh, Trainer: Ted Walsh
- 3rd – Delta Work, Jockey: Jack Kennedy, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
- 4th – Minella Times, Jockey: Rachael Blackmore, Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
2022 Virtual Grand National vs 2022 Grand National
An ability to handle the famous fences came to the fore in the 2022 Virtual Grand National. Three of the first four finishers boasted solid form over the iconic obstacles. But how accurately did that outcome predict the real-world result? Pretty well as it turns out, with the second and third filling the same positions in the actual Grand National a few hours later.
| Position | Virtual Grand National 2022 | Real Grand National 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snow Leopardess | Noble Yeats |
| 2 | Any Second Now | Any Second Now |
| 3 | Delta Work | Delta Work |
| 4 | Minella Times | Santini |
Snow Leopardess transferred her Becher Chase form to the virtual Aintree turf but was unable to replicate that effort in the real world. Struggling before the end of the first circuit, the likeable mare was pulled up after the sixteenth fence.
Finding only Snow Leopardess too good on the run to the virtual line, Any Second Now also settled for second in the real version – improving on his third-place finish from 2021. Delta Work followed the virtual script to the letter when finishing a gallant third under Jack Kennedy in the real-world event.
While fourth in the virtual edition, Minella Times never had a chance to defend his 2021 crown in the real world. Badly hampered in the early stages, he was brought down at Valentines but happily emerged unscathed.
So, if not Snow Leopardess, who won the Grand National in 2022? The algorithm can probably be forgiven for this miscalculation, as the race fell to the 50/1 outsider, Noble Yeats. Beaten by 20 lengths on his previous outing in the Ultima Handicap Chase, he became only the second novice in the modern era to claim the famous prize. A result which left many punters scratching their heads, but it provided a fine story as Sam Waley-Cohen won the biggest race in the jumps racing world before immediately heading into retirement. With Minella Times making it no further than the ninth fence, the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Santini took fourth place for Polly Gundry and Nick Scholfield.
Runners
- 1. Minella Times – Trainer: Henry De Bromhead, Jockey: Rachael Blackmore
- 2. Delta Work – Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Jack Kennedy
- 3. School Boy Hours – Trainer: Noel Meade, Jockey: Sean Flanagan
- 4. Any Second Now – Trainer: Ted Walsh, Jockey: Mark Walsh
- 5. Run Wild Fred – Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Davy Russell
- 6. Lostintranslation – Trainer: Colin Tizzard, Jockey: Harry Cobden
- 7. Brahma Bull – Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Bryan Hayes
- 8. Burrows Saint – Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Paul Townend
- 9. Mount Ida – Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Denis O’Regan
- 10. Longhouse Poet – Trainer: Martin Brassil, Jockey: Darragh O’Keeffe
- 11. Fiddlerontheroof – Trainer: Colin Tizzard, Jockey: Brendan Powell
- 12. Two For Gold – Trainer: Kim Bailey, Jockey: David Bass
- 13. Santini – Trainer: Polly Gundry, Jockey: Nick Scholfield
- 14. Samcro – Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Sean Bowen
- 15. Escaria Ten – Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Adrian Heskin
- 16. Good Boy Bobby – Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies, Jockey: Daryl Jacob
- 17. Romain De Senam – Trainer: David Pipe, Jockey: Philip Armson
- 18. Coko Beach – Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr
- 19. De Rasher Counter – Trainer: Emma Lavelle, Jockey: Adam Wedge
- 20. Kildisart – Trainer: Ben Pauling, Jockey: James Bowen
- 21. Discorama – Trainer: Paul Nolan, Jockey: Bryan Cooper
- 22. Top Ville Ben – Trainer: Philip Kirby, Jockey: Thomas Dawson
- 23. Enjoy D’allen – Trainer: Ciaran Murphy, Jockey: Conor Orr
- 24. Anibale Fly – Trainer: Tony Martin, Jockey: Luke Dempsey
- 25. Dingo Dollar – Trainer: Sandy Thompson, Jockey: Ryan Mania
- 26. Freewheelin Dylan – Trainer: Dermot McLoughlin, Jockey: Ricky Doyle
- 27. Class Conti – Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
- 28. Noble Yeats – Trainer: Emmet Mullins, Jockey: Mr Sam Waley Cohen
- 29. Mighty Thunder – Trainer: Lucinda Russell, Jockey: Derek Fox
- 30. Cloth Cap – Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill, Jockey: Tom Scudamore
- 31. Snow Leopardess – Trainer: Charlie Longsdon, Jockey: Aidan Coleman
- 32. Agusta Gold – Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Danny Mullins
- 33. Commodore – Trainer: Venetia Williams, Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
- 34. Deise Alba – Trainer: Philip Hobbs, Jockey: Tom O’Brien
- 35. Blaklion – Trainer: Dan Skelton, Jockey: Harry Skelton
- 36. Poker Party – Trainer: Henry De Bromhead, Jockey: Robbie Power
- 37. Death Duty – Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Jordan Gainford
- 38. Domaine De L’Isle – Trainer: Sean Curran, Jockey: Harry Bannister
- 39. Éclair Surf – Trainer: Emma Lavelle, Jockey: Tom Bellamy
- 40. Fortrescue – Trainer: Henry Daly, Jockey: Hugh Nugent