Grand National 2008: Latest Betting, Preview & Tips

Betting, Bookmakers, Grand National, Racing, Reviews, Tipsters | jimmyhillsbeard | March 24, 2008 at 1:14 pm

The biggest race in the UK betting calendar is less than 2 weeks away. 40 runners and riders will be aiming to emulate 2007’s winner Silver Birch by finishing first in the most famous race in the world at Aintree Racecourse – The Grand National.

A record 115 entries are still in the race, of which 93 are in the handicap. This will be whittled down to 40 in the week leading upto the big race on April 5th.

Bookies favourite at the moment is Cloudy Lane who has a link to the most famous Grand National winner of all time, Red Rum. Cloudy Lane is trained by Donald McCain – whose father Ginger won the Grand National four times in total, most famously with Red Rum in 1973, 1974 and in 1977. Could he go on and win the National for the McCain family once again? The bookies seem to think so as they have him at just 6/1 although you can still get 13/2 in places (BetDirect, Centrebet, Stan James).

Cloudy Lane’s biggest challenge is likely to come form one of the Irish raiders if the recent race history is anything to go by. Four of the last five winners have come from Ireland and this year’s threats include last years’ third placed Slim Pickings (12/1 BlueSq, Coral, Centrebet, Ladbrokes, NPBet, Paddy Power, Sportingbet), Snowy Morning (16/1 Ladbrokes), Point Barrow (20/1 Coral, Ladbrokes, Paddy Power, Skybet) and Chelsea Harbour (25/1, BetDirect, BlueSq, Coral, Centrebet, Paddy Power, PartyBets, Sportingbet, Totesport, Stan James, VCBet).

Mr Pointment (great name!) is on target for the National according to his trainer Paul Nicholls despite a recent below-par display at Doncaster. He’s been trimmed in from 25s to a best priced 20/1 at NPBet.

Finishing 2nd last year won’t deter Mckelvey and there will be a lot of money on for this stayer to go one better this year round. At 20/1 (Betfred, Coral, Ladbrokes, Skybet, Sportingbet, Totesport, VCBet) it might be worth an early each-way punt.

Punters will also no doubt be piling into the perennial jumper, Hedgehunter who won the race in 2005 and almost repeated the feat in 2006 when he finished second to Numbersixvalverde. It’s 3 years on now since his Aintree success and that’s reflected in the odds of 25/1 (BetDirect, Centrebet, Paddy Power, Stan James).

At this stage it’s too early to call. But keep your eyes peeled for tips and price updates in the lead up to the big race. If you’ve any inside info feel free to leave some comments below.

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