How the 2017 Grand National market is shaping up
Published:
With less than two weeks to go until the nation’s favourite race, we’ve been taking a look through the books to see how the betting is shaping up ahead of this year’s Grand National.
Vieux Lion Rouge is still the market leader with his February win in the Grand National Trial at Haydock still fresh in the memory.
The David Pipe-trained charge was clipped into 10/1 last week with Blaklion, the runner-up on Merseyside, one of four horses currently priced at 14/1.
The others in that quartet are One For Arthur, Definitly Red and The Last Samuri.
It’s the latter who we’re most concerned about, having been especially well-backed in the run-up to this year’s renewal.
He was runner-up behind Rule the World in the 2016 edition and remains likeable enough.
However, a second behind re-opposing Definitly Red in this season’s Grimthorpe Chase and a third behind the current leading fancy in December’s Becher Chase are perhaps reasons enough to oppose Kim Bailey’s nine-year-old.
Further down the list, recent Cross Country Chase winner Cause of Causes (16/1) has come in for some noteworthy support since his Cheltenham Festival win. The possibility of having Barry Geraghty in the saddle is another plus point.
And with regards to Irish raiders, Gordon Elliott’s Ucello Conti is another attracting interest.
Respectable performances in the Becher, Thyestes Chase and Leinster National this season have seen his odds fall from an opening 33/1 to 20/1 in recent months.
Elsewhere, trainer Tom George has two interesting entries at bigger prices.
Adrian Heskin is set to be onboard Double Shuffle (40/1) while Davy Russell has picked up the ride on 2015 Grand National runner-up, Saint Are (50/1).
Now aged 11-years-old, it would be a huge shock should he manage to get his nose in front on this occasion.
However, in Russell he’ll have an experienced partner with the Irish jockey having competed in 12 Nationals before.
A seventh-placed position on Joe’s Edge in 2006 is the closest he’s come so far.
But when betting on the biggest race of them all his mount is likely to feature on more than a few shortlists.
Latest Ladbrokes Betting:
2017 Grand National
Vieux Lion Rogue – 10/1
Blaklion – 14/1
One For Arthur – 14/1
Definitly Red – 14/1
The Last Samuri – 14/1
Cause of Causes – 16/1
The Young Master – 20/1
Ucello Conti – 20/1
Foxrock – 20/1
More Of That – 20/1
Pleasant Company – 20/1
Saphir Du Rheu – 20/1
25/1 bar
Click here for the latest Grand National odds.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
