Six Early Picks for the Grand National

The Grand National is one of the most iconic events on the horse racing calendar, with punters all around the world tuning in for an incredible spectacle and a must-watch occasion. It’s certainly high up on the list when it comes to UK sporting events.

Held at the Aintree racecourse in Liverpool, England, the Grand National is a handicap steeplechase contested across four miles with horses jumping 30 fences over two laps. The winner receives the most lucrative payout of any horse racing event anywhere in Europe, bringing home a staggering £1 million in 2017.

With the race still a while away (April 2019, to be precise), many punters are already planning their long-term predictions in order to secure their bets and make a more profitable return in the process. Plenty of value can be found in the Grand National because there are so many runners and any horse can essentially win, although it also makes it incredibly hard to predict.

Mon Mome, for example, won at 100/1 in 2009, and Auroras Encore, in 2013, won the coveted prize after being priced at 66/1. Tiger Roll, who won last year’s race, bucked the usual trend after being priced at 10/1, but that tends to be a rarity.

Ahead of this year’s big race, here are six horses in with a strong chance of winning at some very tempting prices. 888sport.com has released the latest odds to bet on Grand National online, so let’s look for some long-term value in the 2019 Grand National.

Vintage Clouds – 33/1

Certainly not one of the favourites but with a decent pedigree, Vintage Clouds represents a potentially fantastic value bet at 33/1. The Irish horse trained by Mrs. S J Smith is more than capable of having a strong finish in England.

Seeyouatmidnight – 40/1

Pre-parade #GrandNational
Seeyouatmidnight pic.twitter.com/vL5cSq7vGB

— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) April 14, 2018

With its fairly distinctive name, Seeyouatmidnight is another horse that represents an incredibly kind return should he reign supreme in Liverpool. Priced at 40/1, this horse is perhaps more of a punt, but as the Grand National has proved time and time again, punts can pay off.

Bellshill – 25/1

A horse who, on his day, is certainly up there with the best, Bellshill could be a dangerous proposition and a real contender for this year’s Grand National. His trainer recently said: “He’s much stronger this year and he’s going nicely.” Odds of 25/1 will certainly tempt some.

Children’s List – 40/1

Another Irish runner, campaigned by respected trainer Willie Mullins, Children’s List is another horse who’s capable of success at this year’s race. Odds of 40/1 could deter some from betting, but with past winners having been priced as high as 100/1, Children’s List is certainly worth considering.

Captain Redbeard – 66/1

Not only does this horse have a great name, but he also has tempting odds. Certainly, in the ‘punt category’, Captain Redbeard, priced at 66/1, is yet another Irish horse competing and one who could appeal to the braver bettor’s out there.

Tiger Roll – 20/1

Winner of the 2018 Grand National as seen above, Tiger Roll is impossible to ignore. The return of the Irish-bred is perhaps not as appealing as others, but the security is certainly there, with the strong contender expected to be a high finisher at Aintree. Odds of 20/1 still represent a decent return, that’s for sure.