The Grand National Is Back to Its Best and the Betting Is Open
Covid-19 led to the cancellation of the 2020 Grand National. 2021s race featured reduced prize money as it was staged behind closed doors. But the 2022 Randox Grand National is set to go ahead with its £1 million prize fund re-instated. Furthermore, a full complement of 70,000 racegoers will be permitted entry to the famous Aintree Racecourse on race day.
Rachael Blackmore made history when winning last year’s Grand National aboard Minella Times. ©GettyImages
With global viewing figures of 500 million, the Grand National is the most viewed horse race in the world. Resultantly it is also one of the biggest horse racing betting events on the planet.
Last year Rachael Blackmore entered the history books as the first female jockey to win the Randox Grand National. She rode the Henry De Bromhead-trained Minella Times to victory.
Mixed Signals from the Formbook
Could the duo land the race for a second time in 2022? In 2019 Tiger Roll became the first back-to-back Grand National winner since Red Rum in 1974. The statistics appear good for Minella Times fans as Irish-trained horses have won four of the last five Grand Nationals.
However, the Grand National is not a race where definitive clues can be found amongst its list of previous winners. During the past 15 years, seven winners have been sent off at odds of 25/1 or greater. They shouldered between 10-stone three-pounds and 11-stone six-pounds.
Vitally, most had taken different routes to the famous race. But it is noteworthy both two-time winner Tiger Roll and 2007 victor Silver Birch had contested the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Grand National Betting Is Open
Bookmakers love the Grand National. Why wouldn’t they? It is estimated 13 million Brits – one person in three of the adult population – will place a bet on the 2022 Grand National.
On race day, there will be countless Grand National promotions and bonuses as bookmakers fight for trade. For now, the ante-post betting market – that offers form students the opportunity to back their fancies at big prices – is open for business.
Currently, the betting is headed by the Irish-trained Galvin. However, the twelve-time winner is also entered in the Gold Cup and is just 5/1 to take the Cheltenham showpiece. The last horse to win the Gold Cup and Grand National in the same year was Golden Miller in 1934!
The 2022 Grand National will take place on April 9th but, if you are looking for betting value, there is no better time to look at the current favorites and assess their qualifications ahead of the famous marathon contest.
Galvin, 14/1
Just an eight-year-old, Galvin was unbeaten in all five starts during the 2020/21 season culminating with victory at the Cheltenham Festival.
Nevertheless, connections changed trainers at the start of the current campaign, and the horse is now in the care of Gordon Elliott.
Galvin has scored twice more this season and took the scalp of 2021 Gold Cup runner-up, A Plus Tard, on his most recent outing.
A very classy horse, Galvin’s Grand National participation will depend on his performance in the Gold Cup. But it would be no surprise if he skipped the 2022 National and took his chances in 2023 or even 2024.
Any Second Now, 16/1
Ran a huge race in last season’s Grand National finishing third after encountering significant interference from a faller. Went off as the 15/2 second favorite that day and is clearly being prepared for a second attempt at the race.
Trained by Ted Walsh, who landed the 2000 Grand National with Papillon, Any Second Now made his 2021/22 seasonal debut over hurdles.
His big-race preparation may involve further appearances over the smaller obstacles. It is a strategy that will protect his handicap mark over fences and see him run from a feasible Grand National-winning weight.
Run Wild Fred, 18/1
Unable to win a chase in his first eight attempts, Run Wild Fred has still won only one race over fences. But he has shown remarkable improvement in recent starts. On his latest outing the eight-year-old finished second in a Grade 1 contest.
Run Wild Fred’s owners, Gigginstown House Stud, have won three of the last five Grand Nationals. Similarly, trainer Gordon Elliott is a three-time Grand National-winning trainer. In Run Wild Fred, these formidable operators may have a contender that is ahead of the handicapper and a genuine Grand National dark horse.
Minella Times, 20/1
Minella Times has run just once since his famous victory in the 2021 Grand National. On this occasion, he fell when detached from a Grade 1 field over an insufficient two-miles four-furlongs chase at Punchestown.
Still only nine, a back-to-back national victory is not out of the question given the ease of last year’s success. But the handicapper will hand Minella Times significantly more weight in 2022 and his supporters will want to see some semblance of wellbeing on his next outing.
Snow Leopardess, 20/1
The Grand National has a great history of producing winners with remarkable back-stories. Red Rum and Aldaniti are two fine examples. If Snow Leopardess could land the 2022 Grand National her story would be worthy of a Netflix feature.
Snow Leopardess has already had a remarkable career. Can she top it off by winning the Grand National? ©GettyImages
A winner in Ireland, Wales, England and France, she was retired to the breeding paddocks in 2017 following an injury. Now aged 10, she produced a foal in 2018. But a surprise return to the racecourse followed and, in December 2021, the grey won the Becher Chase over the Grand National fences.
Only three greys have won the Grand National, but they are always popular with punters. If Snow Leopardess gets into the race, she is likely to run from a light weight.
Secret Reprieve, 25/1
Winner of the Welsh Grand National in January 2021, Secret Reprieve was beaten a long way into fifth when trying to defend his crown in his only subsequent run. A troubled preparation and lack of fitness may have been attributed to the defeat.
A lightly-raced eight-year-old, Secret Reprieve has scope for further improvement and could follow in the hoofprints of Bindaree (2003) and Silver Birch (2004) in winning both Nationals.
Farclas, 25/1
The 2018 Triumph Hurdle winner played a big part in the 2021 Grand National until capitulating in the closing stages. He eventually finished fifth.
Farclas could be stronger in 2022, and he put forward a career-best effort over fences when runner-up in a Navan handicap in November. The grey French-bred is another horse that may have his final Grand National preparations over hurdles.
Mount Ida, 25/1
A remarkable winner of the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase at last season’s Cheltenham Festival – jumping right throughout and looking in trouble at the rear of the field for much of the race – this Irish mare has also won both starts this season.
Despite her undoubted talent and impressive strike rate, frequent jumping errors make her a chancy proposition over the large and unconventional Aintree obstacles.
Cloth Cap, 40/1
On an upward trajectory and ahead of the handicapper, Cloth Cap headed last year’s Grand National betting as the 11/2 favorite. However, he was a bitter disappointment and was pulled-up three fences from home.
Three runs this season have been equally disappointing – he refused when well beaten in his latest outing – and despite tumbling down the handicap, Cloth Cap is now difficult to fancy.
