6:00am Saturday 14th April 2012
WHO will win this afternoon’s 165th running of the Grand National at Aintree? Here our expert tipster gives us his views on who could be there or thereabouts for the glory come 4.15pm.
Once again this year’s National looks wide open and any number of horses could land the prize of being first past the finishing post.
A lot of money has been going on Cheltenham Gold Cup winner SYNCHRONISED, but to win the Gold Cup and National in the same year has not happened since 1934 with Golden Miller – so history does not bode well for AP McCoy. But who knows – records like that are there to be broken.
Another horse looking to go against history is last year’s National winner BALLABRIGGS who is again well-fancied. But the last time a horse won back-to-back Nationals was the legendary Red Rum in 1973 and 1974.
History is not on the side of champion trainer Paul Nicholls either and his big hope NEPTUNE COLLOGNES. It is 51 years since a grey horse last won the National.
Another good-looking horse is JUNIOR, set to be ridden by Tom Scudamore – he could be in with a real chance.
But I’ve got a feeling this could be another “year for a story” at the National and after trainer Nicky Henderson enjoyed such great success at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, how about him winning today’s big race for the first time today with the greatly-named SHAKALAKABOOMBOOM?
A good each-way bet could be had on TREACLE, while if you really want to re-write the history books look at outsider HELLO BUD, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies. A horse aged 14-plus has only won the National once before and that was way back in 1853. So it might not look promising for Hello Bud, but it is that kind of story which makes the National such a great sporting occasion.
Here is our tipster’s first four.
1: SHAKALAKABOOMBOOM.
2: JUNIOR.
3: TREACLE.
4: SYNCHRONISED.
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