Grand National History Can Point You to the Winner
Author:
Roy Brindley
America, and its Kentucky Derby, lay claim to the mantle. As does Australia with its pride and joy, the Melbourne Cup. However, as 600 million people in 140 countries are known to watch the race on television, there should be no doubt that the Randox Health Grand National is the most famous horse race in the world.
Winning Partnership: Sam Waley-Cohen and Noble Yeats (nearside) clear the Chair ahead of Mark Walsh and Any Second Now during the 2022 Grand National. ?GettyImages
The Grand National was first officially staged in 1839 at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool. It was won by the aptly named ‘Lottery’. That first Grand National was titled the ‘Grand Liverpool Steeplechase’ and was advertised as being “four miles across country”. It featured 29 obstacles, including a five-foot-high stone wall and a brook that was six feet wide. The race attracted an estimated 50,000 racegoers.
The National Landed at Gatwick
Except for three years during World War I – when the intervention of the war meant the race was moved to the now defunct Gatwick Racecourse – the Grand National has always been staged at Aintree. There was no Grand National between 1941 and 1945 because of World War II. In 1993 a botched start saw the race voided.
Interestingly, Aintree Racecourse used to have a motor racing circuit within its grounds. It staged Formula 1’s British Grand Prix five times between 1955 and 1962. Crowds would watch the action from the same grandstands that would house Grand National racegoers.
The 1961 Formula 1 Grand Prix starting grid at Aintree home of the #GrandNational pic.twitter.com/wXPko8vglj
— Sports & Betting History by BestBettingSites (@CDCHistory) April 9, 2016
The list of Grand National winners shows repeat winners of the great race are relatively rare. Tiger Roll won back-to-back years in 2018-2019, as did the legendary Red Rum in 1973-1974. Before this, you need to go back to 1935-1936 to see a horse, Reynoldstown, appear twice on the list of previous winners.
What Will Be Bet on the 2023 Grand National?
The best horse racing betting sites are offering prices on the 2023 Grand National. They have done since the horses crossed the line in last season’s race! It is unsurprising, as an estimated ￡750 million will be gambled on the race by 13 million people this year.
It is not an exact figure, but the average starting price (SP) of the winners in recent times has been around 30/1. The SP of Grand National winners since 2009 has been: 100/1, 10/1, 14/1, 33/1, 66/1, 25/1, 25/1, 33/1, 14/1, 10/1, 4/1 and 11/1. The most recent winner, Noble Yeats was 50/1.
The 2023 Grand National Odds
If you have a Grand National fancy, Grand National tip or have yet to take a look at the field, here are the best odds currently available about the market principles:
13/2 Corach Rambler, 8/1 Noble Yeats, 10/1 Delta Work, 14/1 Gaillard Du Mesnil, 14/1 Mr Incredible, 16/1 Any Second Now, 16/1 Le Milos, 16/1 Longhouse Poet, 20/1 Galvin, 22/1 Ain’t That A Shame, 22/1 Vanillier, 25/1 Capodanno, 25/1 The Big Dog, 33/1 Lifetime Ambition, 33/1 Coko Beach, 33/1 The Big Breakaway, 40/1 Carefully Selected.
Grand National Free Bets and Strategy
And if you intend to open a new bookmaker account to take advantage of a free bet offer, do so early. Many online sports betting sites suspend their free bet offers ahead of the Grand National. Be mindful, as you may have to place a qualifying bet on a selection to receive or qualify for a free Grand National bet.
Once the final field of 40 runners – the maximum permitted – is confirmed, online bookmakers will cut the prices of many fancied runners. Therein, making your Grand National bets early is recommended. But only place bets in markets that feature ‘non-runner no bet’ (NRNB) terms.
Similarly, if placing bets after the final declarations are made, be sure to take advantage of the ‘best odds guaranteed’ (BOG) concession. By taking a BOG price about your selections, you will get the best possible odds – be it the SP or the odds struck when placing your bet.
Many More Special Grand National Bets
On the build-up to the big race, there will be several ‘special bets’ markets on all sorts of outcomes. This includes ‘the number of finishers’, an ‘Irish trained winner’, ‘age of the winner’, and many more.
Rachael Blackmore became the first female Grand National-winning rider when successful in 2021. Old habits die hard in the bookmaking business, and special odds will still be available about a female jockey winning the race.
Grand National Form Pointers to Consider
1988 Grand National winner Rhyme ‘n Reason, Bobbyjo (1999), Numbersixvalverde (2006), Rule The World (2016), Tiger Roll (2018 and 2019), and defending champion Noble Yeats are the most recent Irish-trained winners.
This year Gigginstown House Stud, who owned both Rule The World and Tiger Roll, are likely to have five runners in the famous race. Irish trainer Gordon Elliott – three times a Grand National winner – has a remarkable 12 horses entered.
Scotland won the Grand National in 2017 with One For Arthur, but before that, it was 1979 when Rubstick last landed the race for the Scots. This weekend’s big-race favorite, Corach Rambler, is trained in Scotland by Lucinda Russell, and she also handled One For Arthur.
Mares do not have a great Grand National record. The last winner representing the fairer sex was in 1951, and the last to be placed was Dubacilla (fourth in 1995). The sole mare amongst the entries in this year’s race, Darren’s Hope, only has a small chance of making the line-up – and an even slimmer hope of winning the Grand National!
The Welsh Grand National has been a good source of Grand National winners. Bindaree in 2002 and Silverbirch in 2007 landed both races. This year Secret Reprieve will seek to add the 2023 Grand National title to the Welsh crown he gained in 2020.
Expecting a Noble Show From Our Fancy
The history books are against repeat Grand National winners. But with two victories during the current season and an excellent fourth-placed effort in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Noble Yeats is an improving horse that can easily be fancied.
Forecast light rain – on a track already rated as ‘good-to-soft’ – favors Noble Yeats and, aged just eight, he can account for many older rivals under his burden of 11-stone 11-pound. Victory could be difficult, but he can certainly follow in the footsteps of numerous previous winners by finishing placed 12 months after winning the Grand National.
One That Could Give Henderson a Break
Nicky Henderson has taken almost every major prize in jumps racing, but he has never won the Grand National. The 72-year-old has claimed second twice – with Zongalero in 1979 and The Tsarevitch in 1987. 44 years after his first runner in the race, can he break his duck?
His one entry in this year’s race, Mister Coffey, has never won over fences. It should not be a major concern as the 2016 winner, Rule The World, was a novice when taking Grand National. Despite not winning over the big obstacles, Mister Coffey is improving in the eyes of the handicapper. Furthermore, the eight-year-old was a gallant third last time out at the Cheltenham Festival.
