This week sees the Grand National 2018 take place from Aintree and, as is usually the case, there are plenty of horses to choose from prior to the start of the world’s most prestigious steeplechase. Last year’s race saw One For Arthur winning, which started off at a price of 14/1. It was only the second horse trained in Scotland to win the Grand National.
It’s the highlight of the Aintree Festival and this year’s race will be run over a distance of 4m 2f, with the winning owner taking home £500,000.
One of the most amazing things that happens with the Grand National is that it brings out the casual punter, who won’t place a bet on anything else over the course of the year.
This year sees 63 horses announced to take to the field at Aintree, with Blaklion, Total Recall and Tiger Roll all starting off as joint-favourites at 10/1.
The favourites don’t always win the Grand National though, which is one of the reasons as to why it’s the most exciting race. Here’s our guide as to those who could force their way in from the outside to take home the trophy and earn the prestige.
Grand National Tips
SEEYOUATMIDNIGHT (16/1) had an impressive career as a novice, including beating National-favourite, Blaklion, in the Dipper Chase at Cheltenham. He finished third at the 2016 Scottish Grand National, eventually losing by three lengths, but he hasn’t featured in too many races since and returned the following season to win at Carlisle. He then took part in the Betfair Chase, but pulled out and didn’t return to action until Kelso twelve months ago, where he finished second.
He’s since undergone a wind procedure and made a very pleasing return at Newbury last month, finishing third, but looking likely to be suited to longer distances. The odds on the gelding will plummet if the ground turns to soft and will then definitely give rivals like Blaklion a good run for their money. His recent return suggests that he’ll be able to mount a good challenge for the Grand National fences.
Trained by Mouse Morris, ALPHA DES OBEAUX (40/1) had a blistering start to his career, winning two of his first three starts over fences, but after pulling up in the 2016 Neville Hotels Novices’ Chase, he endured a mostly forgettable season. He finished runner-up to Total Recall, another favourite for this year’s National, at the Munster National last year, before winning at Clonmell. His last two runs have seen him finish sixth at the Leopardstown Christmas Chase and the Irish Gold Cup.
He hasn’t performed that well, but there’s a suggestion that he’s overpriced, and he does have a good record at Aintree. He’s won twice over fences and has shown excellent staying potential, most notably in last year’s Irish Grand National.
Grand National Top Each Way Bets
It’s been a frustrating season for Richard Hobson, but SHANTOU FLYER (33/1) is an excellent each-way bet, particularly if the ground gets soft. He’s recorded four consecutive second-place finishes, the most recent coming at a Grade Three Handicap Chase at Cheltenham Festival back in March. James Bowen was jockey that day and he can consider himself particularly unlucky not to win, as the gap between Shantou Flyer and Coo Star Sivola narrowed as they reached the finish line. Bowen rides him again on Saturday and it’ll be a challenge for him, but if the rain falls as expected, then the odds could plummet.
GAS LINE BOY’S (28/1) odds have dropped massively heading into this year’s Grand National, from 100/1 down to 28/1, making him a good shout for an each-way finish. Funnily enough, something similar happened at last year’s National, where he entered at 50/1 and finished in fifth. Since then, the 12-year old hasn’t looked back. He won at Aintree by five lengths in the Grand Sefton back in December and finished third in the Veterans’ Chase Series Final in his last run. One thing that might count against him is that horses over the age of 11 generally have poor records in the National, but that doesn’t mean that he can’t buck the trend.
Grand National Outsiders
It’s been a good year for trainer Neil Muloholland and he’s got THE YOUNG MASTER (66/1) running at Aintree. It’s been a mixed season for the 9-year old, but he impressed on his last outing at Cheltenham, finishing 6th in the Kim Muir. It’s his first appearance in the Grand National, but Mulholland has been impressed with how he’s coped recently, particularly with the fences. He’ll be aided by jockey Sam Waley-Cohen in this one too. Waley-Cohen has ridden six winners at Aintree. It’s an outside bet, but it could be a seventh by 5.30 on Saturday afternoon.
