Eight reasons why equine achievement has stalled in recent times while humans continue to push athletic boundaries. Next month marks one of the highlights in the horse racing calendar, the Grand National.

• Which Horse Is Going To Win The Grand National Park
• Which Horse Will Win The Virtual Grand National
• Which Horse Is Going To Win The Grand Nationals

How the favourites are warming up for the Grand National

Next month marks one of the highlights in the horse racing calendar, the Grand National. Aintree’s fearsome fences provide the ultimate test for horses and jockeys alike, and this year’s edition is bound to be no different.

Betting opportunities on Grand National outright winner are currently in the favour of defending, and two-time champion Tiger Roll, but who else is in the running and how are they going to prepare for such a gruelling challenge?

Tiger Roll

Will he or won’t he race was the dilemma last month, when connections of the 10-year-old weren’t happy with his allocated weight. But Eddie O’Leary then issued the green light and racing fans heard the news they had been waiting for – Tiger Roll will be entered into the Grand National in a bid to win a hat-trick of races, emulating the feat of Red Rum in the 1960s. He will also race in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, another race that Tiger Roll has won for the last two years. The Gordon Elliott-trained bay recently had a run-out at Leopardstown, but in his last official outing, came fifth in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan.

Any Second Now

Ted Walsh’s eight-year-old recently enhanced his Grand National credentials with a gutsy performance at Naas in the WhatOddsPaddy? Chase – winning by one-and-a-

quarter lengths. Any Second Now had been largely unfancied before then but has since entered the fray as one of Tiger Roll’s biggest challengers. His trainer was pleased with the performance, saying after the race:

“He travelled well and jumped well, and if he runs as well as Seabass (at Aintree), I’ll be delighted. It’s a good prep for Aintree. Whether he’s good enough or not, only time will tell.”

Any Second Now will head straight to the National on April 4th.

Burrows Saint

Burrows Saint is another horse heading straight to Aintree, despite not racing since December. Willie Mullins’ bay won the Punchestown Hurdle on his last outing and famously won the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse with Ruby Walsh in the saddle last April. The seven-year-old has been ridden by numerous jockeys over the last year or so, and while it’s not yet been confirmed who will be in the saddle for the National, Mullins will be hoping for his second success in the prestigious chase. History suggests seven-year-olds don’t have much luck in the National, but Burrows Saint has plenty of experience over fences, albeit over shorter distances.

Definitly Red

Definitly Red warmed up for the Grand National with a run-out at Kelso which proved a great success. Trainer Brian Ellison was jubilant following the win by 14 lengths in the Premier Chase.

There’s some unfinished business for the 10-year-old, who previously took to the Aintree fences in the 2018 race – but pulled up before the ninth fence after struggling at Becher’s Brook.

The now-veteran was fancied for the race then at odds of 10/1 and despite slightly longer odds this time around, is among the favourites. Following victory at Kelso, Ellison said:

“I’ve always thought the race would suit him, as he’s a proper stayer. He’s got plenty going for him, he’s got a nice weight, 10st 12lb, but you need luck.”

Which Horse Is Going To Win The Grand National Park

Many are hoping to spoil Tiger Roll’s party, with Becher Chase winner Walk In The Mill and one of last year’s contenders Anibale Fly also in the running. One thing’s for certain, the Grand National is anything but predictable and as fans await the final starting entries to be announced, there could be a twist in the plot yet.

With 40 guaranteed runners, the Grand National is the hardest race of the year to pick the winner. A gruelling stamina test with 4 miles and 2 furlongs to race, with 30 fences to jump and congested turns around two laps of Aintree’s chase track. Red Rum was the only horse in the past 60 years to have won multiple runnings of the race, which goes to show how hard it is to win the race. Every trainer, jockey and owner dreams of running or riding in the Grand National, let alone winning it.

So how exactly do you pick the winner of the Grand National?

Every aspect of racing can have an influence on the winner. Ground conditions, trainer, jockey, horse form all have a part to play for the runners, but even more valuable is luck. When 40 fully-grown thoroughbreds jump over the same fence, at the same time, bumping and knocking each other in the process, things are bound to go wrong. The claustrophobic nature of the race, unfortunately, sees a number of horses fall and so does your chances of winning. However, with that being said there is plenty of factors you can account for when attempting to pick the winner.

It’s a marathon, not a sprint, stamina is key. Picking a horse who’s form includes longer trips is essential. A 2-mile specialist has a far inferior chance of winning than a 4-mile specialist as their stamina is unlikely to hold out. Weight can also dictate a horses chances, the more weight a horse carries the harder it will be. In fact, 7 of the last 10 Grand National winners carried 11 stone or less to victory. Opt for youth over experience. 7 of the last 10 Grand National winners were aged 10 or younger, which suggests younger horses have a far better chance of winning. Never judge a horses chance based on its price. 6 of the last 10 Grand National winners were priced 25/1 or bigger.

Improve your chances

Many punters place multiple Grand National bets in the hope of picking the winner, but that’s cheating, right? Wrong. Why not split your stake up into multiple smaller bets? After all, you have a bigger chance of winning and the prices of Grand National runners are big enough to make it worthwhile. Another way of increasing your chances is to bet Each-Way. You are far more likely to pick a horse that finishes in the top 4 than picking the winner. Horses in the Grand National are often big prices and pay handsomely with a place on an each-way bet. Some bookmaker promotions offer up to 6 places, taking full advantage of this can make the task of finding a winner that bit easier.

The past 10 Grand National winners:

Which Horse Will Win The Virtual Grand National

Which Horse Is Going To Win The Grand Nationals

2018 – Tiger Roll (7yo, 10st 13lb, 10/1)
2017 – One For Arthur (8yo, 10st 11lb, 14/1)
2016 – Rule The World (9yo, 10st 7lb, 33/1)
2015 – Many Clouds (8yo, 11st 9lb, 25/1)
2014 – Pineau De Re (11yo, 10st 6lb, 25/1)
2013 – Auroras Encore (11yo, 10st 3lb, 66/1)
2012 – Neptune Collonges (11yo, 11st 6lb, 33/1)
2011 – Ballabriggs (10yo, 11st, 14/1)
2010 – Don’t Push It (10yo, 11st 5lb, 10/1)
2009 – Mon Mome (9yo, 11st, 100/1)
2008 – Comply or Die (9yo, 10st 9lb, 7/1)