Grand National odds shorten after three big hopes withdraw from race
Published:Welsh National winner Synchronised is the latest to withdraw from the 2011 Grand National as the field is whittled down to 65.
Fifth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Midnight Chase also joins Synchronised on the sidelines and their Grand National odds have now been removed from the ante-post Grand National betting market.
Synchronised was a potential Grand National winner for many punters and is arguably the highest-profile casualty at the six-day stage although Notre Pere – also a former Welsh National winner – is another big name casualty.
Those three join Scotsirish, Ballytrim, Nedzer’s Return, Frankie Figg, the late One Cool Cookie and Dev as Grand National non-runners, making it slightly easier for punters searching for the 2011 Grand National winner.
Just 40 runners can take part in the Grand National and Katie Walsh will be delighted this lunchtime as her mount Our Monty currently sits at number 40 on the Grand National card.
With six days until the most popular horse race of the year, there is still plenty of time for others to withdraw but punters should consider scouring the ante-post betting for the best value.
Like Walsh, a lot of Irish punters will be cheering this morning now the highly-fancied Arbor Supreme looks certain to run and the Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old’s Grand National odds of 20/1 are likely to shorten up on the day.
Arbor Supreme finished one length behind 8/1 Grand National favourite The Midnight Club on their last meeting at Fairyhouse, and considering Arbor Supreme is 10lb’s lighter at the weights on Saturday, he must have a huge chance.
While The Midnight Club has never seen the Grand National fences, Arbor Supreme unseated Paul Towned in the 2010 Grand National at the chair and it’s this form that’s the reasoning behind his longer Grand National odds.
A £20 stake on Arbor Supreme winning the Grand National would return £420. New customers can sign up here to get £60 in free bets.
