Gavin Cromwell will return to Aintree for next year’s Randox Grand National with Vanillier after the grey stayed on to take a superb second place behind Corach Rambler in the 175th running of the world’s most famous race.

Bookmakers pronounced themselves content despite 8-1 favourite Corach Rambler prevailing in the Randox Grand National at Aintree.

If a trainer’s confidence was a guide to winning the Randox Grand National, The Big Dog would be already be home and hosed.

A year on from his Randox Grand National success with Noble Yeats, trainer Emmet Mullins is still trying to grasp the enormity of that achievement, even as he bids for back-to-back wins in the Aintree showpiece on Saturday.

For a horse who has won a Grand National trial, two of the most competitive handicap chases in Ireland, finished third in the Welsh National and was in front of Galopin Des Champs when falling two out in the Irish Gold Cup, The Big Dog heads to Aintree under the radar.