Who will start GN favourite???

One of the interesting things at this stage of the Aintree Festival is to ponder who will start as favourite for tomorrow’s Grand National and at what odds??? Are the great brains of the forum ready to use their knowledge of the turf and the old betting market to make a prediction???

At this point in time those bookie chappies are shouting ‘15/2 the field’ and bet:

15/2 On His Own, 9/1 Seabass, 11/1 Colbert Station, 12/1 Cappa Bleu, 14/1 Chicago Grey, 16/1 Imperial Commander and Teaforthree, 18/1 Join Together and The Sunnyhillboy, 20/1 Balthazar King and Ballabriggs, 25/1 Bar.

The market for the race has been active since the runners pasted the winning post in last terms heat but the vast, vast, vast majority of the business will be done in the next 30 hours or so and 2 things will probably have major, major says as to the answer to my question – (i) who old boy Pricewise selects and (ii) who the ‘ordinary members of the public’ latch onto and steamroller in the betting.

I think the answer to both these conundrums could be Mr Henderson’s Roberto Goldback and wouldn’t at all be surprised to see a monumental plunge on the horse as he looks overpriced at 33’s, which will catch Pricewise’s eye, and in Mr Henderson the horse is trained by the most instantly recognisable name on the racecard and the most popular figure on our racetracks. The once a year punters and ‘ordinary members of the public’ will therefore rush to back his only runner keen to associate themselves with a total genius and all round much admired gent.

My answer to the question that I’ve asked above is therefore Roberto Goldback at 7/1.

What do you think???

Sorry Stick didn’t realise there was a ‘Name the Favourite’ market. Just checked it and those bookie chappies go, at this minute:

7/4 On His Own, 11/4 Seabass, 4/1 Colbert Station, 12/1 Cappa Bleu, 14/1 Chicago Grey, 16/1 Imperial Commander, 20/1 The Sunnyhillboy and Teaforthree, 40/1 Bar.

Cor blimey, they seem to have underestimated the popularity of Mr Henderson! Roberto Goldback is not even bally quoted!

Stick, I’d doubt that after Katie’s recent comments! Plus Seabass has just drifted to a best priced 10/1 now. Roberto Goldback and Always Waining amongst those in the middle of the betting to be shortening a little this morn (the most ‘blue’ on Oddschecker at any rate).

But surely the old ‘housewives’ will all plump for Mr Henderson's Roberto Goldback especially if he’s pictured in all the papers tomorrow in those yellow cords and purple V-necked jumper!

Red, I’m guessing that dead-heat rules would apply. And you’d get your stake halved if there were joint-faves.

Money coming for Seabass now and in the ‘name the favourite market’ he’s gone the jolly – 7/4 Seabass, 5/2 On his Own, 7/2 Colbert Station, 14/1 Bar

I’m finding the ‘who will be fave’ market almost as fascinating as the race itself! Roberto Goldback is inching closer to the market leaders and could still, you never know, make a late play but those bookie chappies are now firmly of the opinion it will be Seabass who will go off the jolly:

4/6 Seabass, 4/1 On His Own, 7/1 Colbert Station, 10/1 Teaforthree, 16/1 Cappa Bleu, Chicago Grey, 33/1 Bar

Any value left in this market???