Soll can be first this century to win National from out of handicap

Not since Bobbyjo in 1999 has a horse won the Grand National from out of the handicap, but now that Soll is a confirmed runner, he is a big price to end this barren streak.

Ladbrokes are offering the best price on Soll at 40/1 and despite having to run at Aintree from a mark 2lb higher than his official rating off 132, he remains a seriously live contender.

Soll is in because of the withdrawals of Quinz and Poker De Sivola and because of a victory at Sandown last month off 132, the handicapper has raised his mark to 139 for any future races.

Therefore, he is still technically 5lb well-in for the Grand National based on his upcoming hike in official rating.

The one thing that is seemingly vital to Soll’s chances is the state of the ground, as all of his career victories have arrived in testing conditions.

Soll had never finished out of the first two before arriving at the Cheltenham Festival for the four-miler last year and he appeared to be travelling well in the National Hunt Chase before being brought down.

He left the yard of Willie Mullins soon after and was sent to the yard of Jo Hughes instead, who has campaigned him with some tough assignments.

Soll didn’t harm his reputation in the Hennessy Gold Cup when travelling well for a long way and even looked like getting involved in the latter stages before fading slightly from a career-high mark.

Meanwhile, Teaforthree only finished six lengths ahead of him that day and will re-oppose 11lb worse off. Yet, he is 16/1 to win the Grand National.

From there, Soll headed to the Welsh National, but was one of a number of horses that found the particularly sticky conditions against his liking.

A slightly sounder surface will aid him at Aintree, even if he doesn’t want it too quick, and he looks one of only a dozen or so horses that are capable of running to a level beyond their allocated mark.

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