(3 minute read)
This weekend sees the culmination of the three-day Aintree Festival with the world famous Grand National steeple chase. 40 runners will go to post in what is undoubtedly the most frenetic betting heat of the national hunt season.
It’s a near impossible job to select the winner although we have whittled the field down to five best bets from across the handicap! We have selected one of the well fancied runners along with some highly regarded Grand National outsiders.
Best bets from our partner firms, Bet365, William Hill, Bet Victor, Betfred and Boylesports.
Extra Places and Non Runner No Bet
Bet365, William Hill, Bet Victor and Betfred are all paying 6 places and Non Runner No Bet on all bets for The Grand National.
Gaillard Du Mesnil
Willie Mullins has seven official entries in the race at the time of writing although Gaillard Du Meisnil provides the most quality out of the seven and is without doubt Mullins’ chief hope for a first winner in the race since Hedgehunter obliged back in 2005.
He ran a great race in the National Hunt Chase recently at The Cheltenham Festival, staying on impressively up the hill. Paul Townend, who is riding out of his skin at the moment, looks sure to be on board.
Gaillard Du Meisnil relishes a test of stamina and will be there or thereabouts providing he can handle the fences.
Best odds 14/1 with Bet365, paying 6 places and with NRNB.
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Lifetime Ambition
This Jessica Harrington trained eight-year-old has been aimed at this race for some time. He seems to be a “Spring horse” as most of his wins come in April, most noticeably a Grade 3 win at Limerick and running well behind the well fancied Capodanno at The Punchestown Festival.
However, he really comes into the each way reckoning after a very good fourth in the Grand Sefton last November, proving he can handle the fences.
Great each way value at 25/1 best with Bet365, William Hill, Bet Victor and Betfred all paying 6 places.
The Big Dog
A horse who performs well in the Welsh National is always worth a punt in the Aintree showpiece and this 10-year-old trained by Peter Fahey ran well in the Chepstow slog to gain a decent third.
The Big Dog has actually got on the scoreboard twice this season landing the prestigious Munster National and Troytown handicaps.
This horse doesn’t know how to run a bad race and looks fantastic each way value at 25/1 with Bet365, William Hill, Bet Victor and Betfred, all paying 6 places.
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Dunboyne
Going down the handicap, it’s always worth looking at Gordon Elliott’s entries at the feather end of the weights. Dunboyne ran a very decent race in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup recently at The Cheltenham Festival, overcoming a slow start and some bumping from other horses, to finish a creditable fourth.
Before that, Dunboyne ran a great race behind the Willie Mullins’ trained Carefully Selected in a valuable handicap at Gowran Park. He looks well handicapped and with enticing each way odds of 50/1 with Bet365, William Hill, Bet Victor all paying 6 places.
Cloudy Glen
Those looking for a really good value big outsider bet at 100/1 should look no further than the Venetia Williams trained Cloudy Glen. It’s easy to forget that Cloudy Glen was the winner of the Ladbrokes Trophy back in 2021.
He had a miserable time in the Ultima Handicap at Cheltenham back in March but showed signs of his ability with a decent third behind stable mate Quick Wave in the Haydock Grand National trial.
He is slipping down the weights and now only racing 2 ibs above his Ladbrokes Trophy winning mark. Still available at 100/1 with William Hill, paying 6 places and his odds could be significantly higher if you take advantage of William Hill’s Bet Boost offer, potentially increasing his odds to 117/1 as I just found out!
Recap
The serious bet is all about Gaillard Du Mesnil who has been primed for this by the Willie Mullins team. Strong Cheltenham Festival form is always encouraging, whilst the big outsider best bet has to be Cloudy Glen at incredible odds of 100/1.
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Verdict
Gaillard Du Mesnil 3pts win 14/1 with Bet365, paying 6 places and with NRNB.
Cloudy Glen 1pt each way 100/1 with William Hill, paying 6 places, don’t forget to use Bet Boost.
Enjoy the Grand National 2023 and have fun!
Please note all odds are correct at the time of publishing (9:00am 14th April 2023) and are subject to change.
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