Grand National Preview 2021 – Betting Odds & Top Ten Tips

The list of 40 entries for Grand National Betting 2021 was announced on Thursday.

That means the market will have shifted a little bit.

There has been no change at the top of the winners market for the 2021 Grand National, with CLOTH CAP holding steady at a quote of 9/2* (betting odds recorded on April 8th, 2021 at 19:37 GMT at Bet365)

For Grand National 2021 betting we are taking a look at the big names in the field, as well as sizing up some intriguing longer-priced options that we see.

That includes Welsh National winner Secret Reprieve who is only on the waitlist to see if he can make it to the starting line up.

Wo made the Final 40?

On Thursday, the final field for the Grand national 2021 was set.

The only change happened with the withdrawal of The Storyteller, meaning that reserve Blaklion takes a place.

If any other horses are pulled out before 13:00 BST on Friday, reserves can take their place in the line-up.

Grand National Betting Odds 2021

Cloth Cap 9/2
Minella Times 10/1
Burrows Saint 10/1
Any Second Now 11/1
Kimberlite Candy 14/1
Secret Reprieve 14/1
Discorama 16/1
Farclas 20/1
Magic Of Light 20/1
Potters Corner 20/1
Anibale Fly 28/1
Bristol De Mai 28/1
Milan Native 28/1
Lord Du Mesnil 33/1
Mister Malarky 33/1
Acapella Bourgeois 33/1
Canelo 40/1
Takingrisks 40/1
Yala Enki 40/1
Some Neck 40/1
Vieux Lion Rouge 40/1
Class Conti 40/1
Shattered Love 40/1
50/1 bar
* (betting odds recorded on April 8th, 2021 at 19:37 GMT at Bet365)

Where can I watch the Grand National?

The Grand National is being shown on ITV and any subscribers to Racing TV will also be able to watch the race live there.

ITV are covering the main races from each day of the Festival. The BBC and Talksport will be broadcasting the event over the radio airwaves as well.

What times does the Grand National 2021 start?

The starting time for the Grand National 2021 is 5:15 pm

Who is the favourite for the Grand National 2021?

Cloth Cap is the current market leader in Grand national 2021 betting at 9/2* (betting odds recorded on April 8th, 2021 at 19:37 GMT at Bet365).

He has been trading strongly, and a bigger case has been made for him since Tiger Roll was scratched from the race early.

There has been some imposing form from Cloth Cap who dominated the Listed Kelso fixture, the Premier Chase.

But there was also a striking, eye-catching win for him at the Ladbrokes Trophy earlier in the season.

One huge factor on his side is the weights. The victory at Kelso was recorded after the official weights for the 2021 Grand National were released.

That means that he is going to be running ahead of the handicapper.

So form and weight are there, with Cloth Cap coming in at 14lb for the big showcase. It’s hard to deny Jonjo O’Neill’s 9-year-old has a big chance of scoring at Merseyside on Saturday.

Equally important perhaps, is that he has been clearly driven towards the Grand National not having gone to the Cheltenham Festival this year.

The cheekpieces and aggressive tactics has just seen him go from strength to strength. The only thing really working against him from a Grand National Betting perspective is his short odds.

Also, he has the proven distance in him, having completed more than four miles at the Scottish National to claim a place finish. So stamina is not an issue.

Cloth Cap Grand National Betting Odds: 9/2
* (betting odds recorded on April 8th, 2021 at 19:37 GMT at Bet365)

Horse Racing Betting at Bet365

 

 

What are the race conditions?

The Grand National has a daunting 30 fences for the runners to complete, as they take on two laps of the venue.

The most feared fence of all is Becher’s Brook which runners have to tackle twice.

The famous Chair only comes into play once during the race. The Grand Nationals is over a distance of 4m 2f and 74 yards to be precise.

Which horses get to run?

There is a pecking order for the Grand National and that is based on qualification criteria. For anyone to get to the starting line up, they must meet certain factors. That’s to ensure a strong competitive race.

Entries must be:

• At least 7 years old
• Rated at least 125
• Have run three previous steeplechases
• Been a top-four finisher in any steeplechaser of at least 2m7f 11o yards.

Kimberlite Candy

This will be the first run at the Aintree Festival for Kimberlite Candy, as it actually is for favourite Cloth Cap.

There are solid trends to support Kimberley Candy putting a strong run together.

There is plenty of chase experience there and the 9 year old’s big notable mark of stamina was a victory in the Warwick Classic Chase.

That was a remarkably dominant win by 10 lengths that he took on that 3m 5f trip. It appears that he has stamina in spades.

Kimberlite Candy has experience of the National fences having claimed a runner up spot in two attempts at the Becher.

We have slight concerns over his rating and the conditions underfoot potentially being too firm.

Kimberlite Candy Grand National Betting Odds: 14/1
* (betting odds recorded on April 8th, 2021 at 19:37 GMT at Bet365)

Horse Racing Betting at Bet365

Potters Corner

The 11-year-old definitely gets on our shortlist in Grand National 2021 horse racing betting. He has run at Aintree before, taking a place finish in a Grade 2 bumper in 2015.

He’s just rated in the zone for Grand National trends and he will be tackling the fences for the first time at the venue.

Does victory in last year’s Virtual Grand National count as form? Of course not.

But still, Potters Corner has been well-respected ahead of this contest, having previously won the Welsh Grand National and the Midlands National.

He checks all the boxes for stamina without question.

He was set to go at the Cheltenham Festival in the Cross Country but was pulled out late. Current form could be better, but it definitely rates a threat.

Potters Corner Grand National Betting Odds: 20/1
* (betting odds recorded on April 8th, 2021 at 19:37 GMT at Bet365)

Horse Racing Betting at Bet365

Magic Of Light

What’s not to like about Magic of Light? She had that brilliant run in the 2019 edition, taking second place behind Tiger Roll from a 66/1 SP.

That was a sparkling run and Magic Of Light was leading at the last as well. The pressure got to her and she made a mistake, and the initiative went to Tiger Roll.

Magic of Light is up 5lb in the ratings. Seasonal form doesn’t really point to her making a big of a splash as she did last year. But that C&D form piques interest.

Magic Of Light Grand National Betting Odds: 20/1
* (betting odds recorded on April 8th, 2021 at 19:37 GMT at Bet365)

Horse Racing Betting at Bet365

Yala Enki

We are reaching down the market here for an each-way consideration on Yala Enki. The 11-year-old is a born and bred stayer.

He just has a tremendous engine that never seems to quit, and therefore we think he’s worth a look.

He has placed before in three consecutive Welsh Grand Nationals.

Yala Enki did take on the National fences once before and was a faller in the Becher’s.

That’s a slight niggle there and the conditions are probably a little stiff for his liking. But if gets the jumping form right then he most certainly has the engine to get in the mix.

Yala Enki Grand National Betting Odds: 40/1
* (betting odds recorded on April 8th, 2021 at 19:37 GMT at Bet365)

Horse Racing Betting at Bet365

Burrows Saint

He was lining up as one of the key contenders for last year’s Grand National, which was ultimately cancelled.

Burrows Saint has enjoyed a couple of trips over the hurdles this winter, Willie Mullins sending him to the Bobbyjo Chase in February for a blast over the fences.

It was a second-place finish that he took there, so he should arrive sharp. Ground conditions will help him along very well.

Because he was only sent out over the hurdles until after the Grand National ratings came in, it means that the handicapper hasn’t had a chance to get at him.

Burrows Saint, who looks for all the world like he can churn up the ground at Aintree goes at a 156 rating.

He won the Irish Grand National a couple of years ago and he never even had to work too hard to get that.

Burrows Saint Grand National Betting Odds: 10/1
* (betting odds recorded on April 8th, 2021 at 19:37 GMT at Bet365)

Horse Racing Betting at Bet365

Any Second Now

Trainer Ted Walsh has seen the market react well to the entry for Any Second Now this year.

The 9-year-old did have a run in the Irish national and fell at the eight in that. That equates to him still needing to prove his stamina.

But back at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival, he stayed very well to take the  Kim Muir. It’s been a relatively quiet season from him in terms of form.

But a recent spark of revival to win a 2m trip at Navan, after the Grand National weights came out, means that Any Second Now could have something up his sleeve for Saturday.

Any Second Now Grand National Betting Odds: 11/1
* (betting odds recorded on April 8th, 2021 at 19:37 GMT at Bet365)

Horse Racing Betting at Bet365

Anibale Fly

It is a little hard to read the challenge of Anibale Fly in this year’s Grand National. If you look at recent form, then he’s one to scratch off.

But he is actually very well treated at 155 based on his previous efforts in the Grand National. It’s been two solid efforts in that, taking fourth and fifth in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

So Anibale Fly has some merit if he can tap into the Aintree vibe on the day.

It’s been downhill in form really second that 2019 Grand National. C&D form is undoubtedly there though. He fits the trends well too.

Anibale Fly Grand National Betting Odds: 28/1
* (betting odds recorded on April 8th, 2021 at 19:37 GMT at Bet365)

Horse Racing Betting at Bet365

Takingrisks

For punters looking for a strong, versatile and consistent horse, then it’s hard to look past 12-year-old Taking Risks.

He looks to have a big chance in this one. Having won the Scottish National in 2019, with Cloth Cap behind him in third, the stamina has been proven, which is a very nice thing.

Taking Risks has also hit some top from this season, claiming a victory in the Sky Bet Chase. Wind surgery may well have perked him up.

If he handles the National fences, then we can see him just plugging away and getting a very bold run together.

Takingrisks Grand National Betting Odds: 40/1
* (betting odds recorded on April 8th, 2021 at 19:37 GMT at Bet365)

Horse Racing Betting at Bet365

Lord Du Mesnil

There is no question about the staying ability of Lord De Mesnil either. The 8-year-old should handle this trip because of the tremendous engine that he has.

He has proven form and staying ability around the 3m 6f distance so this is in his range.

Lord Du Mesnil claimed the win in the Grand National Trial at Haydock on his last run.

There’s enough meat on the bone from him in terms of Grand National Odds 2021.

He would probably prefer softer ground underfoot, but definitely rates high enough with us to get on shortlist.

Lord Du Mesnil Grand National Betting Odds: 33/1
* (betting odds recorded on April 8th, 2021 at 19:37 GMT at Bet365)

Horse Racing Betting at Bet365

Acapella Bourgeois

A stablemate to Burrows Saint, Acapella Bourgeois is well worthy of mention here.

In the Irish National, he was beaten by more than seven lengths by Burrows Saint, having given his rival 6lb on the day.

Acapella Bourgeois was sent to the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse and turned the tables on his stalemate by keeping on well to pick up the victory.

Acapella Bourgeois was still giving Burrows Saint 6lb on the day but took the win by almost five lengths.

That puts the 11-year-old on the radar in Grand National betting 2021 for us and brings a little more experience at the table.

Acapella Bourgeios Grand National Betting Odds: 33/1
* (betting odds recorded on April 8th, 2021 at 19:37 GMT at Bet365)

Horse Racing Betting at Bet365

What about Secret Reprieve?

Well, if the Welsh National winner Secret Reprieve manages it to get in, as he is only a reserve, then he would make for a fascinating entry.

To actually get in the race, he would need two others to pull out before Friday afternoon.

What makes him appealing is not only his victory in the Welsh national, which hints that a run around Aintree is going to suit him, but Secret Receive is well handicapped.

Leniently so. He just pounded out the distance at the Welsh National and looked as if he could impress in this figure. If he can get in.

Kimberlite Candy Grand National Betting Odds: 14/1
* (betting odds recorded on April 8th, 2021 at 19:37 GMT at Bet365)

Horse Racing Betting at Bet365