Tidal Bay’s jumping gives him place claims in Grand National odds
Published:Brian Hughes failed to finish his first attempt at the Grand National last year, but is expecting a solid performance from Tidal Bay in the Aintree showpiece this weekend.
Tidal Bay is a solid each-way price at 40/1 in the Grand National odds and given the way that he tends to run on late in his races, there is every chance that if he is relatively close to the front jumping the last, then he could improve into the first four.
The fact that Tidal Bay has never fallen in his 27 career starts over both hurdles and fences gives confidence that he will see out the race, while he has also never pulled up.
Tidal Bay has also run in four chase races around Aintree, winning on two occasions, and jockey Hughes believes that he is likely to go much closer than when Beat The Boys pulled up last year.
Hughes said: “People say he is quirky, but he isn’t. He hits a flat spot but he stays on in top company all the time. It is the Grand National and it is like a lottery. He is fit and well and if he turns up on the day, hopefully he will run a big race.
“He knows how to get from A to B. He has jumped round most tracks, the top tracks. He has schooled very well at home over the National fences.”
However, there are two mammoth obstacles that Tidal Bay will have to overcome if he is to win the Grand National.
Firstly, no horse since Red Rum has carried in excess of 11st 5lb to victory in the Grand National and Tidal Bay has been handed 11st 10lb by the handicapper.
Furthermore, hold-up horses who come from off the pace are rarely involved in the finish of a Grand National, with Tidal Bay not naturally ridden in a prominent way stalking the leaders.
A £20 stake on Tidal Bay winning the Grand National would return £800. New customers can sign up here to take advantage of free bets totalling up to £60.
