When Racing Post analysts identify a horse as "the pick at the prices" in the Grand National, it is worth paying close attention. The phrase is specific — it does not mean the most likely winner, it means the horse where the current market price offers the best value relative to the form assessment. For the 2026 Grand National, that horse is Captain Cody.
The Scottish National Win
Captain Cody won last season's Scottish Grand National at Ayr under Harry Cobden. The Scottish National is the most relevant trial for the Aintree Grand National of any race on the British jump racing calendar. It is run over four miles one furlong, tests stamina over a similar distance to Aintree, and the horses that win it have consistently proven they can handle the demands of marathon handicap chasing at the highest level.
Winning the Scottish National with a cosy margin, described as a "super-cool ride by Harry Cobden," tells you this is a horse that travels well in big fields, jumps efficiently over marathon trips, and has a jockey who understands how to manage the race rather than react to it.
The Profile
Captain Cody is eight years old — the ideal age for a Grand National winner based on historical trends. He carries a weight that sits within the productive winning range for the race. The Racing Post assessment notes he "proved his stamina when a cosy winner of last season's Scottish Grand National" and describes him as "the pick at the prices" — identifying the gap between his market price and the underlying form quality as the key value angle.
Harry Cobden
Harry Cobden is one of the most accomplished jump jockeys in Britain and Ireland. He is set to become the JP McManus retained rider from May 2026 — a position that reflects the confidence the most powerful ownership operation in jumping has in his ability. His ride on Captain Cody in the Scottish National produced a performance he described enthusiastically, and the continuation of that partnership at Aintree means a jockey who knows the horse intimately is taking the reins on Saturday.
The Each-Way Case
At current prices, Captain Cody offers each-way value that the short-priced market leaders cannot match. Five places are paid. A horse with Scottish National form, ideal age, manageable weight and a high-quality jockey finishing in the first five returns meaningful money at the current odds. The Racing Post's identification of him as the value pick is not a guarantee of success — it is an assessment that the price available is better than the form warrants.
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