Who cares .....its the race I look forward to watching the most every year due to its unique test for horse and jockey and the most testing of fences.... Its a fascinating spectacle..Watched worldwide and its the race people in the country get involved in the most year on year!!
I can enjoy a race without the need to have a bet. When I do have a bet though i like to give myself a chance of beating the bookies, and if you bet in races like the Grand National, in the long run your not going to win. The race is a 40 runner handicap, over fences that are very rarely used, and over a distance that very few of the horses have form over, unless they've run in the race before, and managed to jump round. The Grand National may be 'the greatest steeple chase' to some, but it certainly isn't as far as I'm concerned. The Grade 1 races at the Aintree meeting are far more important to me than the Grand National, from a betting perspective and from an interest perspective
Had a small e/w on Saint Are - 50/1, won at this meeting 2 years running and will like the better ground.
Poker de Sivola out of the National. Soll is in the 40 runners .... Interesting runner actually ..jumps very well
Its the only race that catches the imagination of the public with many families across the country betting who wouldnt normally bet. It reaches a world wide audience and is the most unique fences. Grade 1 races are also fab to watch but to most you could be watching a grade 1 at Newbury, Sandown or Haydock. The unique design of the fences and the physical test makes the Grand National the most exciting race to watch all year for so many reasons ...number of runners, fallers, fairytale stories, Red Rum etc etc . Its also the race that Im surw for many got them in to watching horse racing! If I win on the National its a bonus - i love the atmosphere of the day overall
I agree with alot of that, I enjoy watching the race as a spectacle, but I don't feel the need to bet just to get enjoyment. Chances are if I did have a bet il just have the needle after a couple of fences when mines brought down by a faller. I'd rather just watch the whole race without worrying about where my money is. I will route for the best horses in the race though, the ones carrying the most weight as I'd rather see the race won by a classy horse than some rag off 10 stone
Yes, Soll is a very interesting runner. Saw him when he won at Sandown LTO and won very well. Just not sure if he'll enjoy the trip but he's well weighted....
Another hiorse has come out which means Viking Blond gets in (1st fence faller last year) ... wont get far in my book ! Also AP has decided to ride Colbert Station - his odds have started to tumble as you would expect. Best price 11s at present with Hills.
Any one see the Mathematician who went over all the stats etc etc and said Seabass will win. That's another I can chalk of the shortlist.
I had viking blond in a sweepstake last year it actually fell just before the first fence i belive as it was tripped
Alot of my friends know I like racing, so there always asking me which horse to back. In my whole life I've never picked the winner of the National, the closest I came was when Sunny Bay was 2nd. So the horse you should all avoid like the plague tommorow is Cappa Bleu. I apologise to Evan Williams and the owners for putting the kiss of death on there horse
good luck all if you havig a punt in the national-- can be a hard luck story for many-- i have managed to get Rare Bob in a sweep-- over the years have picked Maori Venture , Red Marauder, and Mon Mome, so not due a winner for a few years now.......i shall be backing Almaty Express in the last at wolves-- Robert Tart in the saddle-- not quite a cert, but not far off---!
