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Grand National 2018: Three Horses To Follow

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We’re now just a few weeks away from the 2018 Grand National at Aintree Racecourse and the best trainers, jockeys and owners will be starting to get nervous for April’s showpiece. In terms of National Hunt racing, this is as big as it gets. A £1 million prize fund and a genuine opportunity to write your name into the history books – and all 40 runners are in with a fighting chance.

The Cheltenham Festival gave a few clues as to whether certain mounts will perform well at Aintree or not but there are so many unknowns in the Grand National. We look at three of the leading contenders ahead of the big race and try to predict this year’s winner.

ANIBALE FLY

One of the biggest takeaways from the Cheltenham Gold Cup? Anibale Fly’s incredible finish to the race. Might Bite and Native River were some way clear of the field but Anibale Fly was the fastest finisher and he will take some beating if involved in a sprint in the closing stages of the race. Stamina shouldn’t be a problem – he is tried and tested over long distances.

In a way, Anibale Fly ticks most of the Grand National checklist boxes. At eight years old, he is still learning but he has raced 19 times; that is some decent experience. You need guts and determination to win the Aintree showpiece and nobody could claim that Anibale Fly lacks either of those qualities. He could be the one to beat if he emulates that Gold Cup run.

Odds: 12/1

THE DUTCHMAN

At a slightly longer price, The Dutchman has a great each-way chance and should love it at Aintree. Colin Tizzard’s mount prefers heavy ground so any rain will increase his chances of victory. A convincing winner of the Grade 2 Peter Marsh Handicap Chase at Haydock Park in January, he could be there or thereabouts with a bit of luck on National day.

As of April 6th, those punters using the exchanges will see The Dutchman at 42.0 in the latest Grand National betting odds and he is certainly backable at that kind of price. On that run at Haydock, he has the beating of most of his rivals and he could feature prominently. Stamina may be an issue but only time will tell; on pure talent alone, he has every chance.

Odds: 33/1

BLAKLION

Blaklion has superb form around Aintree, finishing third behind Native River in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase in 2016 before a fourth-place effort in the Grand National twelve months ago. Did Noel Fehily move too early on him? Potentially. That question has been discussed many times since last April but that was then and this is now; Blaklion can go three better in 2018.

Now ranked second in the weights, his job is much tougher but Blaklion is no ordinary horse. Capable of defying the odds, he stands a great chance of victory and trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies believes that he is better suited to this year’s race. You can’t take anything for granted in racing but Blaklion should be there or thereabouts in the final two furlongs.

Odds: 11/1

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