Randox Health Grand National 2017 Odds and Preview – Horse Racing Betting April 8

Can The Young Master teach Grand National rivals a lesson?

Horse Racing Betting

There are trends aplenty concerning the Grand National and most have already been covered on our site.

My favourite is probably the one that tells us that there has only been one winner in the last 10 years not aged between nine and 11 – that was the eight-year-old Many Clouds two years ago. Only one 12-year-old, Amberleigh House in 2004, has won the great race in the last 20 years. But the Grand National has been more of a bookmakers’ benefit than ever before in the last five years with the winners starting at 33/1, 66/1, 25/1, 25/1 and 33/1.

Last year’s winner, Rule The World, also bucked the trends as his success at Aintree was his first, and his last, over fences, though he did have plenty of experience. Mon Mome was a 100/1 when winning in 2009 and the first winner to start at those odds since the infamous Foinavon race of 1967 – that incident-packed contest will be commemorated in 50th anniversary celebrations this year. It is even harder to believe that it is 40 years since the legendary Red Rum won the first of his three Grand Nationals!

It was always the case that a low handicap weight was favoured in the Aintree showpiece but there has been a shift in recent years as the race has successfully attracted a higher calibre of chaser. The handicapper has definitely started to give those situated at the top of the weights more of a chance and three of the last seven winners have carried between 11st 5lb and 11st 9lb.

Nowadays, winning form over at least 3m in a race worth at least £12,000 is a useful pointer and the winner has normally had the experience of at least a dozen races over the larger obstacles. Proven stamina is essential as the Grand National is the longest race in the UK racing calendar and its history is littered with nearly horses who have been found wanting in the staying stakes on the long ran up to and beyond the Elbow on the final circuit. Needless to say, you also want to be onside with a runner that will not be scared to take on the big fences.

This, of course, is the one race in which those who wouldn’t normally be seen within an open tab of an online betting site will have a bet. Many novice punters will be looking for any name that has a personal meaning attached. Others will be reading sites like online-betting.me.uk for clues. It’s almost obligatory to back more than one horse, however, so let’s put forward a selection from which to choose which might offer a bit of value.

  • THE YOUNG MASTER – only 2lb higher than when successful in last year’s bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown. Fell in the Becher Chase at Aintree in December but has had a light campaign and looked to be on the way back at Cheltenham last month. Jockey Sam Waley-Cohen has plenty of experience over the National fences and his mount is available at a general 20/1.
  • CAUSE OF CAUSES – is a three-times Cheltenham Festival winner and seems to love competing in big fields. He was eighth in 2015 when only a seven-year-old, has bags of stamina and jumps well on good ground. Another ridden by a very good amateur in Jamie Codd and currently a general 14/1.
  • BLAKLION – makes up for a lack of stature with the heart of a lion. His trainer won the Grand National in 2002 with the eight-year-old Bindaree and has been equally bullish about his challenger this year. Noel Fehily has said he wouldn’t swap his mount for any other and he has the class to go close (currently a general 14/1)
  • THUNDER AND ROSES – currently a stand-out 40/1 with Skybet which will look generous if he’s able to reproduce the form he showed when beating last year’s hero, Rule The World, in the Irish National in 2015. Now in the charge of Rule the World’s trainer Mouse Morris and not without a chance if a previous visit to Aintree hasn’t soured his enthusiasm.
  • SAPHIR DE RHEU – hasn’t quite lived up to expectations over fences given he was a top-class hurdler but maybe this unique test will give the Gold Cup fifth new purpose. The general 20/1 makes some appeal if he lasts the distance.

Important note: for the Grand National, covering the period from Thursday, April 6th at 4pm to Sunday, April 9th at 10am UK time, the standard sports free bets welcome offer at Skybet and all other bookmakers will not be valid, though BetVictor and Betway are both offering six places for each-way betting on the big race.

Randox Health Grand National Forecast Likely Odds

Definitly Red (8/1), One For Arthur and Vieux Lion Rouge (10/1), Blaklion and More Of That (12/1), Cause Of Causes and The Last Samuri (14/1), Pleasant Company, Saphir Du Rheu, The Young Master and Ucello Conti (16/1), Rogue Angel and Vicente (20/1), Highland Lodge and Raz De Maree (25/1), Double Shuffle, Houblon Des Obeaux, Just A Par, Le Mercurey, Measureofmydreams, Perfect Candidate, Roi Des Francs, Saint Are, Tenor Nivernais, Thunder And Roses and Wonderful Charm (33/1), Bishops Road, Doctor Harper, Drop Out Joe, Gas Line Boy, Goodtoknow, Lord Windermere, O’Faolains Boy, Regal Encore, Shantou Flyer, Stellar Notion and Wounded Warrior (50/1), Ballynagour, Cocktails At Dawn and La Vaticane (66/1)