The Grand National (Saturday 6 April, 5.15) was first run in 1839 and has for a long time been the most famous horse race in the world. It is run at Aintree over 4 miles 2 furlongs and 74 yards and is watched by millions of people on TV.
A maximum field of 40 runners will battle it out over fences like Becher’s Brook and The Chair for a first prize of £500,000. The most notable winner is three-time Grand National hero Red Rum, and last year’s winner Tiger Roll is likely to be a warm favourite to become the first horse to win the race more than once since Red Rum recorded the third of his victories in 1977.
Grand National 10-Year-Trends
- No horse younger than eight or older than eleven has won in the last decade
- Winners have been rated between 137 and 160
- Winners have carried between 10-3 and 11-9, with seven carrying 11-0 or less
- Winners have been returned at odds of between 10/1 and 100/1
- Gigginstown Stud and Trevor Hemmings have each owned two winners
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The Grand National Favourites 2019
Tiger Roll
The Gordon Elliott-trained nine-year-old jumped brilliantly to win the 2018 Grand National and he probably comes into this year’s race in even better form than he was at this time last year. He won the Cross-Country Race at the 2018 Cheltenham Festival by just two-lengths but sauntered to success in this year’s equivalent by a hard-held 22-lengths. That performance suggests that a 9lb higher mark in the weights than last year shouldn’t stop him winning, and he’ll surely go close if avoiding any hard luck stories. However, at his current odds, he would be the shortest-priced winner since Poethlyn in 1919.
Rathvinden
This lightly-raced 11-year-old is trying to follow in the footsteps of Tiger Roll by using the previous season’s National Hunt Chase as a stepping stone to Grand National success. He was not seen out this season until the Grand National weights were announced, after which he was an impressive winner of the BobbyJo Chase. He carries 11-0 and looks to have rock-solid each-way credentials for trainer Willie Mullins, who trained the 2005 Grand National winner Hedgehunter.
Anibale Fly
Ran a creditable race in last year’s Grand National, when he was badly hampered at the first but ran on to be fourth, beaten 11½ lengths. He was conceding eight pounds to Tiger Roll that day but only has to concede five pounds this year. After finishing second in this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, he is also officially well-in on a mark of 164, as the handicapper now rates him 172. Despite that, carrying top-weight to victory would be a heroic achievement, as the last horse to do it was Red Rum. However, he is only rated 4lb higher and has to carry 1lb more than the 2015 winner Many Clouds.
Best Of The British Grand National Challengers 2019
Vintage Clouds
This race has been a long-term plan for this Trevor Hemmings-owned nine-year-old. After being balloted out of last year’s race, he ran a cracker to be third in the Scottish Grand National and he gets in here with a lovely low-weight on his back of just 10-4. Just like last year, he also ran a cracking race at the Cheltenham Festival to finish second, and he’s officially five pounds well-in after that run. He’s also reportedly schooled well over the Grand National fences and has been pleasing trainer Sue Smith, who won the 2013 Grand National with Auroras Encore
Lake View Lad
Also owned by Trevor Hemmings and this one has been a big improver this season with victories in the Rehearsal Chase and the Rowland Meyrick. He also ran a stormer when one place behind Vintage Clouds at the Cheltenham Festival, when he carried top-weight of 11-12. Officially three pounds well-in after that run and could find further improvement stepped up to this sort of trip for the first time.
Best Grand National Outsiders 2019
Minella Rocco
It’s hard to bet on this nine-year-old with confidence after seven consecutive bad runs, but this race has been the plan ever since he was second in the 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup. However, on that run and his win in the 2016 National Hunt Chase, he is a seriously well-handicapped horse on a mark of 155, even if the handicapper has actually dropped him to 152 since a poor run at this year’s Cheltenham Festival. His connections also prepared Don’t Push It to win the 2010 renewal.
One For Arthur
Unseating in both his runs this season hasn’t been the ideal preparation for the 2017 Grand National winner but his work at home recently has reportedly been impressing his connections. He also has bottomless stamina and the way he powered up the run-in to victory two-years-ago makes him an interesting each-way bet in a race that few horses truly stay the trip.
Grand National 2019 Summary
Tiger Roll could be hard to beat but his odds of 4/1 don’t represent value in a field of 40 runners. Much more interesting at bigger odds are Rathvinden and Vintage Clouds, who have also proven they stay four-miles, look well-handicapped after their last runs, and have been prepared specifically for the race. One For Arthur also represents each-way value at a bigger price.
Grand National 2019 Tips
- Rathvinden (Each-Way)
- Vintage Clouds (Each-Way) @
- One For Arthur (Each-Way) @