First thing to note, most priced quoted here are Antipost prices. VCBet and William Hill are now NRNB.
As a serious punter, I don’t usually spend more than an hour or so on the grand national, the race is steeped in tradition but can be perceived as equine bingo.
You could go down the route of ignoring everything I say, and just write down all the runners on a piece of paper, and throw some darts at it. The vast amount of people who bet on the race will be doing something like that, possibly not with the darts, but the fact remains, this race is difficult to dissect as a pro punter.
That being said, some horses come into this race with some cracking form and if they get around they COULD have a chance. I also thought this last year and that race was won by a horse I wouldn’t of backed in a million years. Hmm.
Below are some of the horses that caught my eye:
On his own
Ran well in last years race when unfortunately unseating at Beachers when on the heels of the leaders. He spent almost 10 months on the sidelines after the national and reappeared at Navan last month when winning the boyne hurdle (grade two). He comes into the race with a win, and with Ruby Walsh could well be riding this which would mean his already cramped odds of 8-1 could well tumble down to the 5/6-1 mark come the day of the race. Would you play a horse at 5-1 to win the national? Not sure I would.
Teaforthree
Ran a blinder at the Coral Welsh national when he ended up getting chinned on the run in by Monbeg Dude. He’s also won the 4 miler at Cheltenham last year. 25-1 was on offer last week, he’s now as short as 16-1. The value is being sapped out of that horse with every day that passes.
Seabass
Third in this race last year, coming to the 2nd last I actually thought he was travelling the best and he’d have a super chance to win this. He’s had two really good prep races, espeiclaly his latest start where he finished 1 ½ behind Prince De Beauchene that day. Seabass could be a shrewd each way bet.
Cappa Bleu
The Grand National has been the plan for this horse, finished 4th in the race last year and finished a decent, staying on 2nd to Vino Griego at Ascot last time. Again, same with Seabass, he could be a decent eachway bet, but at the prices (14-1) I wouldn’t personally play either of them. ¼ of the odds first 5 on a 10-1 and 14-1 shot doesn’t appeal as a money making opportunity. But if that’s your thing, you could do much worse than these two horses.
Across the bay
Now, this is more like it. If youre a fan of Cappa Bleu, you need to consider this horse seriously. Across the bay hasn’t set the world a light by any means, taking on Big Bucks and Dynaste last year and finishing down the field. He did however win a race at Weatherby on his last start where he beat Cappa Bleu 28 lengths.
28 lengths!
I admit, that was over hurdles, and 3 miles. But he’s won at 3m 2f before and contested the Coral Welsh National over 3m 5f. The Grand National trip is an unknown for quite a few horses, there wont be many who’ve done such a marathon distance before.
He’s currently 40-1 with William Hill which is a pretty big price considering what he’s done. Last year we had a 40-1 winner, a few years ago a 100-1 winner. He could literally be anything. If he gets around, he could place, or better still, win! You have been told.
Chicago Grey
Surprised many by winning at Navan last month, beating the long odds on favorite Rubi Light and the fairly consistent Foildubh. He’s run in the 4 miler at Cheltenham before so we know he has stamina, but he’s a hold up horse, can he cut his way through a 40 strong field to win the national? Tough ask. Price is quite short now at 16-1.
Saint Are
66-1 shot with Bet365 – and rightly so, has done literally nothing snce winning at last years Aintree Festival. That was a 3m 1f chase he won that day. He beat Chapoturgeon that day, who’d just finished 2nd at the Cheltenham Foxhunters race won by Salsfy. This was a year ago however. In the Weatherbys race that Vino Griego won (Cappa bleu 2nd) Saint Are was back in 3rd, which on the face of it might be half decent prep for this race. Another outsider with a squeak.
