WITH 39 RUNNERS and enough live challenges to give even the most seasoned tipster a headache, there’s no such thing as a “sure thing” in the Crabbie’s Grand National.
More often than not, picking a finisher is a success in itself.
Everyone will have their favourite — and you should never change your mind — but if you’re still struggling to make your pick, here are three each-way fancies who could go close.
We’re focusing on those horses available at odds of 20/1 or bigger. If you’re backing each-way, check to see which bookies are paying five places.
We tipped up Irish Grand National winner Thunder and Roses at 25/1 on Easter Monday. Lightning couldn’t strike twice, could it?
Odds correct at the time of writing.
Alvarado (20/1)
In so far as any jockey can have the notoriously tricky Grand National fences sussed, Paul Moloney has done it. The Tipperary rider has finished in the top four places for the last six years, first on State of Play and Cappa Bleu and then last year on Alvarado (4th).
Fergal O’Brien’s 10-year-old has been prepped for this race ever since — there was little to fault in his only run this season — and the goal this time will be to get him settled as quickly as possible. The big field and big fences won’t faze him and he has all the attributes to be in the mix come the finish.
Saint Are (33/1)
Saint Are is only nine-years-old but there aren’t many more experienced chasers in the field. He has run over the larger obstacles more than 20 times, is no stranger to big handicap fields, and loves Aintree, finishing over the National fences twice (ninth in the 2013 National, third in the Becher Chase last December).
He’s now at Tom George’s yard and, according to the trainer, preparations have been good and the 4m3f trip should bring out the best in him. Very appealing at 33/1.
Court By Surprise (33/1)
Are we about to see another female trainer follow in the footsteps of Venetia Williams and Sue Smith? Court by Surprise is Emma Lavelle’s first-ever runner in the Grand National and carries a measly 10-3 which leaves him as an interesting contender.
It’s unusual for a horse to arrive at Aintree without having run in five months but Lavelle has been saving this horse for better ground, which he will certainly get today. The National course will be a new test, as will the 4m+ trip … but stranger things have happened. Stranger things frequently happen in the National.
