3 hot horses to follow for the 2016 Grand National
Published:
The Grand National buzz is building by the day as declaration deadlines come and go and the time to raise the tape on Europe’s most coveted jumps racing prize edges ever closer.
Naturally, theories and support for many of the bulging field are beginning to fly around and, never ones to miss out on the fun, Ladbrokes News are eager to join the conversation.
Here our three horses to follow on the day of the country’s most famous race:
There is little doubting that Paul Nicholls’ star is the class horse in the field this year, having won seven Grade 1s in his haul of 11 victories over fences, including two in the King George.
He has never been out of the first three in four Aintree appearances and is 6lbs well in having won at Ascot in mid February, four days after being handed a Grand National weight of 11st 8lbs.
A debut in the National holds something of the unknown about it, but as a regular winner over 3m and having only ever fallen once in his career, his renowned sound jumping and an ability to stay longer trips means there is plenty to like about Ladbrokes’ second favourite.
Like Silviniaco Conti, Holywell will take on the Grand National having been well-treated in the weights.
Jonjo O’Neill’s nine-year-old was rated at 153 when the race’s weights were announced back in February and has since been bumped up to 157 following a seven-length second to Un Temps Pour Tout in the Cheltenham Festival’s Ultima Handicap Chase.
Since 1994 eight horses beaten at the Prestbury Park Festival have won the National later in the season.
Kerry Lee’s eight-year-old needs nine drop outs to be able to line up in the National, but would hold strong claims in the race should he do so.
An easy nine-length winner in heavy ground over 28.5 furlongs at Haydock last time out, Bishops Road carried 11st 7lbs that day and would be comparatively light as a feather at the National, where he’d have 10st 3 on his back.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
