Why Don’t Push It can repeat Grand National victory
Published:Don’t Push It has been written off in many quarters to repeat last year’s Grand National success, but there a few reasons as to why he should still be considered to be a serious contender.
The ante-post Grand National odds have Don’t Push It at 14/1 to be the first horse since the legendary Red Rum in 1974 to win the race in successive years, but punters should not be put off by this statistic.
Don’t Push It may not thank the handicapper for rising him 5lb in the weights from last year, which means that he will have to lug 11st 10lb around Aintree.
However, there is the belief that an extra 5lb would have had little impact on his run 12 months ago, so therefore it should not be doubted that he has the class to repeat his success.
Furthermore, although time may have moved on, much of Don’t Push It’s preparation has been the same.
He has warmed up for Aintree with four runs over the course of the season, which is identical to last year, while this has included some trials over hurdles.
Eight of the last ten Grand National winners had run over hurdles in the season prior to arriving at Aintree.
Meanwhile, experience counts for a lot in the Grand National and the fact that Don’t Push It has successfully negotiated the Aintree fences before and proved his jumping can only be seen as a positive.
Don’t Push It has won on two of his last three visits to Aintree.
Other statistics that work in Don’t Push It’s favour are that he is a previous winner over a distance further than three miles and that he has had at least ten career starts over fences.
All of the winners to have won the Grand National in the past 20 years had also run within 48 days of Aintree and Don’t Push It meets this criteria having tackled the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival.
A £20 stake on Don’t Push It winning the 2011 Grand National would return £280. New customers can sign up here to take advantage of free bets totalling up to £60.
