Back Walsh to win Grand National over Prince De Beauchene
Published:Punters fancying 9/1 favourite Prince De Beauchene to win the Grand National can get a slightly better price on the horse securing victory at Aintree if they are willing to take a small risk.
Ladbrokes are running a number of Grand National specials ahead of the race, with one of which relating to which jockey will be celebrating at Aintree.
The Grand National odds have Ruby Walsh at 10/1 to ride a third career winner, following successes on Papillon in 2000 on his first attempt at the steeplechase and then with Hedgehunter in 2005.
Walsh has a number of possible mounts for the race this year because of his association with leading trainers Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins, alongside his father Ted.
Speaking to At The Races, Mullins stated that he had not discussed the Grand National with the jockey yet, but assumed that “it’s always nice to ride a favourite”.
The belief is that the stamina test of the Grand National is tailor made for the horse and the fact that he has got in of a low weight is a further boost to his chances.
However, there is the interesting point that Walsh has only ridden Prince De Beauchene once previously, which was when fifth at Navan earlier in the season.
Mullins is also set to send On His Own to Aintree, who would be in the middle of a three-race winning streak if he was not brought down at Leopardstown over Christmas.
On His Own is 20/1 to win the Grand National, but is another who Walsh has little experience of riding on a racecourse and he does seem the Mullins second string.
Neptune Collonges is the only runner from the Nicholls yard likely to take part and is arguably the safest option open to Walsh, after finishing second in the Grand National Trial at Haydock earlier in the season.
Perhaps the most interesting option is Seabass from the yard of his father Ted, who will arrive at Aintree on the back of seven straight victories and has a front-running style well suited to the race.
Although the fact that the horse has never run outside of Ireland before has to be considered a negative.
