Jacob Joins Nicholls again for fancied Grand National mount

Although Brian Fletcher rode the Grand National winner in consecutive years in 1973 and 1974, both of these successes came on board the same horse in Red Rum.

Punters have to rewind to the 1950s and Bryan Marshall to find the last jockey to win back-to-back Grand Nationals with different horses, as he partnered Royal Mist to victory in 1953 and then mopped up again the following year with Royal Tan.

Daryl Jacob has the opportunity to emulate Marshall’s accomplishment this year as he has been confirmed as the jockey for Join Together.

Jacob gave Paul Nicholls a first Grand National winner last year when getting Neptune Collonges up in the final strides and joins forces with the same trainer again.

Technically, Jacob will be in a stronger position this year as Aintree last year was the first time he had ridden Neptune Collonges.

In fact, he has been on board Neptune Collonges three times and notably the latter of these was at Aintree, when just failing to reel in Hello Bud in the Becher Chase in December.

The anticipated good to soft ground at Aintree will be ideal for Join Together and 16/1 is a fair price that he wins the Grand National.

His breeding suggests that he has the background to become a serious Grand National candidate, especially the fact that he is sired by Old Vic, who in the last five years has been responsible for five of the 10 runners to finish in the top two.

The one question mark over his chances is whether this year’s race will be a year too soon given that he is relatively inexperienced.

Should he run well without victory this year, he would almost certainly be one to watch in 2014.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.