The
Grand National isn't far away.
It's
a tough course: 4 miles and 2 furlongs, 30 fences, 2 circuits, and a
long finish to sap tired legs. Infamous fences such a Becher's
Brook, The Chair, Canal Turn & Foinavon detailing stories of luck
or sting in their tail. Mud-spattered faces of jockeys, toothless
from past encounters of a life of winning and losing. For those who love to bet, check out the Grand National Betting 2018.
This
steeplechase is like nothing you have ever seen before. Jumps once
the size of a double-decker bus, covered with spruce and landing side
lower to deceive. Perhaps those fences were bigger in the old day on
that black and white TV.
The
Grand National has a winner's prize of £500,000. No wonder the great
and the good are tempted by the prestige of taking the spoils. Red
Rum made this race his own in the 1970s. Horses go via Cheltenham to
Aintree. Two possible wins rather than one! Who will be winning this
year?
The
Randox
Health Grand National.
14th
April - 5:15 Aintree
Many
punters will be looking to bet on the favourite. As far as the
betting goes it has the best chance.
The
shortest price favourite in the history of this Grand race was back
in 1919 when Poethlyn won at 11/4f, trained by Harry Escott and
ridden by Ernie Piggott who is the grandfather of the legendary
Lester Piggott.
In
truth, betting on the Favourite in the Grand National hasn't been the
best idea in recent years. The last favourite to strike was Don't Push
It who started joint favourite back in 2010. He was ridden by A P
McCoy, trained by Jonjo O'Neill in the ownership of J P McManus.
Two
years previous, Comply Or Die won for David Pipe at 7/1f. Before that
in 2005, Hedge Hunter won for Willie Mullins.
In
fact, since 1998 when ten-year-old Earth Summit won for Nigel
Twiston-Davies there have been just four jollys winning in the last
20 year.
Hope
that doesn't put you off.
At
the time of writing, the betting suggests we have a couple of likely
lads who may be vying for favouritism.
Blaklion
is a nine-year-old bay gelding trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies. He
won over the National course back in December. Also, fourth in last
year's race behind One For Authur when starting 8/1f. Will this son
of Kayf Tara start favourite? Can he defy the favourite voodoo?
Total
Recall has been very well backed. This bay gelding is trained by
Willie Mullins and similarly priced at 10/1 with major bookmakers.
Betting: Blaklion 10/1, Total Recall 11/1, Cause Of Causes 16/1, The
Last Samuri 16/1, Definitely Red 20/1, Gold Present 20/1, Minella
Rocco, Anibale Fly 25/1. 33/1 Bar.
Here's
the question. Should you back the favourite or not? It's been seven
years since the last favourite prevailed so it could be time for
another to hit the mark.