Rundown of This Year’s Grand National Favourites
It’s not long now til the Grand National kicks off, this year for a cool £1 million purse. Already the bookies have given us their favourites, and there are some strong contenders and tasty odds for 2014’s big race. If you fancy a flutter, take a look at the Bet365 Grand National favourite odds to work out your wagers, and check out our rundown of the favourite runners so you can get to know just what you’re putting your money on.
Teaforthree
At the moment this is looking like the one to beat. Nine years old, and trained by Rebecca Curtis, one of the reasons the bookies fancy this horse so much is that it finished in third place in last year’s National. He’s also run off with a win at the 2012 National Hunt Chase, and finished second at Ascot. It certainly makes Teaforthree a main contender.
On His Own
This ten-year old has been a favourite with the bookies two years running, and it could just be third time lucky for On His Own. Trained by Willie Mullins, he was unfortunate to fall at Valentine’s last year, after being hotly tipped at 8/1. It’s the second National fall in as many years for the otherwise strong contender, who’s racked up two straight wins, at Fairyhouse and Gowran Park too.
Long Run
One of Nicky Henderson’s runners, and a horse with a very strong track record of late. The eight-year old has already bagged a Cheltenham Gold Cup win, back in 2011, and has placed in two further Gold Cups since. Over 22 starts, Long Run has won 10, placed second 5 times and placed third 4 times. So it’s easy to see why this one’s getting the bookies hot under the collar.
Triolo D’Alene
Next up it’s another horse trained by Nicky Henderson, and another true winner. Hailing from France, this seven-year old gelding won the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury last year. It hasn’t been tested too strongly over fences, and its youth definitely counts against it – the last time a horse of its age won was in the ‘40s. However, it did just win at the Topham chase, so the bookies’ confidence in him is high.
Tidal Bay
Officially the top weighted horse in this year’s National, when its top weight was announced its odds shortened considerably. Some will argue that it shouldn’t really be sharing the same odds as the likes of Teaforthree, but others will argue that at thirteen years of age it certainly has the experience. A record setter if it does win, as the last time a thirteen-year old won the National was almost 100 years ago – Tidal Bay’s still much-fancied thanks to its immense power over fences and a good track record that saw it win the Welsh Grand National last year. This one definitely still has legs.
