The excitement is building for this years Grand National, the competition is Englands largest sporting events. It takes place at the famous Aintree race circuit in Liverpool, Britain.
The prize cash on offer is in excess of 1 million quid, the complete population comes to a comprehensive stand still on the afternoon of the competition. Young, Old and even those with no interest in steeple chase racing watch the event. Tube exposure is live by the BCC with spectators of 10 million watching globally.
The past champion Mon Mome ran in at
odds of 100/1, the competition is wide open and to all intents and purposes anyone of the forty
riders may well win it. Double digit odds victors are not special. The chase is so tricky because the track has thirty very big fences that the horses must bound, in total the race is four and a half miles in total.
By now there are a number of antepost favourites that appear like real champs, Denman the sure thing of the gold cup possibly the shortest priced steed ever to run in the battle. With forty horses to choose from picking a champ is never trouble-free, but there are a few tips to mull over.
Weight is very significant, Hedgehunter became the originally sure thing since Corbiere to carry over 11st to triumph. A pound here or there over 11st should not be a major apprehension but do not put money on on a horse to come first if it carries greater than 11st 3lbs. The uncomplicated truth is only one other horse in times past has managed to succeed with that kind of load and that was Red Rum! The 2008 Aintree grand national winner, Comply or Die, weighed 10-09 and the 2009 star, Mon Mome, weighed 11-00!
Up to that time I would have recommended that you disregard the French bred horses and regardless of the sensational triumph from Mon Mome in 2009, I still stand by that because regardless of what people may say, they just can’t last in this event. Celtic and English horses are specially trained day in and day out, all year around, for this kind of race so go with one of them!
Knowledge counts for much in the
John Smiths Grand National. Eleven out of the last seventeen victors were aged ten or above but nine is the new ten and horses are so well trained now that nine year olds are very much in favour. 1st, 2nd and 3rd in both the 2008 and 2009 Grand Nationals were all nine years old. Eight is a little on the early side and don’t bet any seven year olds as it’s been sixty seven years ever since one claimed glory and few even complete the hard course!
