Three Horses Worth Each-Way Consideration For The Grand National
The biggest race of the National Hunt season is fast approaching, as Aintree will play host to the Grand National on April 10th.
The featured race of the three-day meeting will attract millions of viewers on the day, with fans having missed the big race 12 months ago after it was called off.
However, this year’s race could be one of the most open for many years. Cloth Cap is the heavy favourite to win the Grand National for trainer Jonjo O’Neill, but his short odds are likely to put off a lot of gamblers that will be looking to find better value than the 7/2 chance.
There will certainly be each-way value throughout the market, and these are some of the horses that are worth a second look.
Secret Reprieve
There has been Welsh success in the Welsh Grand National over the last two years, and gamblers looking for a selection with no issue staying the distance shouldn’t look past Secret Reprieve.
The seven-year-old has been in excellent form since falling at Haydock at the start of the season, and has won his last two. Some gamblers may be wary of the fact that both his wins have come at Chepstow, but there is no denying that he has the ability to transfer that form to the Aintree track.
His most recent success came in the Welsh Grand National, as he won over three miles and six furlongs. He performed excellently in testing conditions on that day at Chepstow, as he won by three lengths from The Two Amigos. At a bigger price for the Grand National this year, he will be one to keep an eye on.
Magic Of Light
The Irish were in dominant form at the Cheltenham Festival, and one horse that could be set to continue that excellent form is Magic Of Light. The ten-year-old is trained by John Harrington and is a proven stayer over the distance required.
She hasn’t run over the distance required since the Grand National in 2019, where she finished second behind Tiger Roll.
Still, that form illustrates that Magic Of Light has the ability and temperament to get around the course, and could be an excellent chance to get a place.
Since that second at Aintree, she has won three from eight starts, but is one of the runners that is bound to improve given the longer trip.
Much of her chances will depend on the condition that she is in following a testing run at the Cheltenham Festival last month, as she finished eighth in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase. However, we expect a much-improved performance back at Aintree.
Acapella Bourgeois
Willie Mullins has won virtually every race that there is to win in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Nevertheless, one race that his record isn’t the best in is the Grand National. The Irish trainer has won on just one occasion, with that success coming back in 2005 with Hedgehunter.
Acapella Bourgeois could be his best opportunity to end that run, as the eleven-year-old has improved throughout the season.
The Grand National will be just his fourth run of the season, and he has constantly improved the longer the trip.
His season started with a second-place finish behind dual Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo, and he was victorious last time out at Fairyhouse, as he beat fellow Grand National contender Burrows Saints by four and three-quarter lengths.
Most sportsbooks will be offering prices in the region of 20/1 for the Irish-trained horse, and we expect him to put in an excellent run at high odds.
There you have it, our early predictions for the Grand National. And if you fancy horse racing visit website of TwinSpires.com to find the current Kentucky Derby odds.