Katie Power has attracted a rush of money to become the first ever female jockey to win the Grand National, according to bookmaker Ladbrokes. The Irish jockey will team up with mare Baie Des Iles in the world’s most famous steeplechase this Saturday, and following a flurry of support Ladbrokes has been forced to slash her odds of winning the race from 33/1 to 20s. “Katie Walsh and Baie Des Iles are the ultimate girl power pairing,” Ladbrokes’ Nicola McGeady told Bettingpro.com. “Walsh came so close to winning the Grand National back in 2012, but this year there is a…
Author: GrandNationalpro Staff
Brian Healy takes a look at the entries for the 2018 Aintree Grand National, and he picks out three potential runners who could have a big shout in the April spectacular if taking their chances in the world’s most famous steeplechase. The 2018 Aintree Grand National looms large, and the world’s most famous steeplechase is only a few weeks away. The pinnacle of the top-class Aintree Festival, the marathon contest has undergone numerous changes in recent years, and this year’s renewal will be contested over a trip just north of 4m 2f where the winner will scoop a monster £500,000.…
Brian Healy takes a runner-by-runner look ahead to today’s Grade One Aintree Bowl, the feature race on the opening day of the Aintree Grand National Festival. The Grade One Aintree Bowl is the feature race of the first day of the 2018 Aintree Grand National Festival, and a classy renewal of this three mile contest will go to post at 2.50pm as the third race on the card at the Liverpool venue. Some top-class performers have won this race down through the years, including Our Vic, dual-winner Silviniaco Conti and Cue Card in recent years, and boasting a first prize…
Brian Healy gives his runner-by-runner verdict on the big-race field for this afternoon’s Aintree Hurdle, one of four Grade One contests on a cracking opening day racecard. The fourth and final Grade One contest of the opening day of the 2018 Aintree Grand National meeting, the Aintree Hurdle goes to post at 3.25pm where a field of nine declared runners go to post to compete over a trip of 2m 4f for a winners’ prize in excess of £140,000. Some top-class winners of this race in recent years feature on the roll-of-honour, including reigning champion and dual-Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winner…
Willie Mullins confirmed to the press over in Ireland yesterday that he will only be sending a small group of challengers to the Aintree Festival this year. It was a wonderful treat last season to see so many of Willie Mullins’ stable stars make the trip from County Carlow to Merseyside and strut their stuff at the Aintree Festival. Mullins was in the midst of a ding-dong battle with Paul Nicholls for the British Champion Trainer title and victories for Annie Power, Douvan and Yorkhill meant Willie would leave Liverpool with a narrow lead. Nicholls managed to arrest that advantage…
Our expert brings you some insider tips for the Grand National on Saturday afternoon. The Last Samuri was beaten 14 lengths by Definitly Red in the Grimthorpe at Doncaster and is no better off at the weights. But another tilt at this, in which he finished a gallant second last year, has always been the long-term aim, though he is 12lb higher. Vieux Lion Rouge won the Becher Chase here in December but only three lengths covered the first five home and all take their chance today. Highland Lodge won the Becher in 2015, The Last Samuri was third and…
Insider tips for the Liverpool Hurdle, the feature Grade 1 contest on the final day of the Aintree Festival.Cole Harden adopted his usual front-running tactics in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham last month but was outpaced once headed approaching the last. However, he still finished well ahead of Snow Falcon. Yanworth started favourite for the Champion Hurdle but was soon left behind when the pace quickened at the top of the hill. He’s probably shown his best over 2m4f and is entering unknown territory over this trip in a race in which a strong pace is guaranteed. Ballyoptic has been…
Our expert brings you insider tips for the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle, the first Grade 1 contests on Grand National day at Aintree.Many of these are dipping a first hoof into pattern race company having proved prolific in less-exalted novice events but Messire Des Obeaux is an exception. He won the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle in December and was a close-up third in the Neptune Investment at Cheltenham, though has been on the go for a while. FINIAN’S OSCAR was forced to miss Cheltenham after suffering a minor setback but he looks the one to beat in this if back fighting fit.…
Here are some insider tips for the Maghull Novices’ Chase, the second Grade 1 on the Grand National day card at Aintree.Charbel paid a heavy price for his one and only mistake in the Arkle at Cheltenham last month. He may well have made Altior work hard for victory had he stood up and would definitely have finished ahead of eventual fifth Forest Bihan.He’ll be hard to beat if that hasn’t affected his confidence but a chance is taken with POLITOLOGUE as the drop back to 2m should suit this free-going sort, who finished ahead of Thursday’s winner Flying Angel when fourth…
Our expert brings you insider tips for the Gaskells Handicap Hurdle, the opening race on the final day of the Aintree Festival. No-one would begrudge the unlucky Barney Dwan a first victory of the campaign but his reward for another terrific run behind Presenting Percy in the Pertemps Final was a 5lb rise in the handicap. Fourth-placed The Tourard Man should get closer today and For Good Measure met traffic on the home turn in that race and ran better than his final position suggests – he may prove the best of three JP McManus-owned runners. Duke Street has been…