Irish Grand National betting shaken up after favourite misses out

Despite missing out on the entry list for the Irish Grand National, there is still plenty of money for the ante-post favourite Beautiful Sound.

Gordon Elliott’s Beautiful Sound has until an hour before the Irish Grand National starts on Monday for a non-runner to be declared to make space for any reserve horse, but as second reserve, Beautiful Sound needs two withdrawals.

But despite this the nine-year-old, who has been trading at around 6/1 in the Irish Grand National betting, is now as short as 9/2 in what could either be the gamble of the year or the most ludicrous bet in history.

Prince Erik is the second favourite in the Irish Grand National betting and should Beautiful Sound not get a run on Monday, he’s likely to go off the favourite although the betting will get a lot tighter.

Having missed out on a Grand National winner despite having three of the leading fancies in the betting, the Irish will be desperate to land their own Grand National and Beautiful Sound is seen as their best chance.

There are just six British contenders lining up in the 25-man runner field and Nicky Henderson’s Quantativeeasing and Jonjo O’Neills Sunnyhillboy the most fancied at 10/1.

Jonjo O’Neill’s other runner Synchronised heads the weights and is available at 16/1.

The Irish Grand National odds suggest an Irish victory but the British have some leading fancies and after training the 2007 Irish Grand National winner in Butler’s Cabin, Jonjo O’Neil will be optimistic of a second victory.

A £10 stake on Sunnyhillboy winning the Irish Grand National would return £110. New customers can sign up here to take advantage of a free horse racing bet worth up to £30.