Grand National: What we’re looking forward to and ways to pick a horse
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The Grand National Festival is almost upon us. But the three-day event at Aintree isn’t just about the racing. It’s also about the fashion, the hats and the people that make it all happen.
With that in mind let us take you through what we’re looking forward to before the spectacle gets underway on Thursday, and culminates with the Grand National at 5:15pm on Saturday evening.
The Fashion
From dodgy suits, to dazzling dresses and head-turning hats, for some the Grand National Festival is as much about the fashion as it is about the racing.
Ladies Day is the pinnacle for those more interested in looking glam than backing a winner. So much so that the winner of the Aintree Style Award on Day Two will receive a big car prize!
We don’t know how much horsepower the car will have. But we reckon it’d give Tiger Roll a run for his money around the Merseyside course.
The Racing
It’s not just the Grand National that has punters purring. There are three fabulous days of racing with a whole host of top class renewals on Thursday, Friday and throughout Saturday.
The Aintree Bowl is the feature race on Day One, where Cheltenham Gold Cup rivals Clan Des Obeaux, Kemboy, Bristol De Mai and Elegant Escape will all do battle again over 3m 1f.
On Day Two it’s all about the Topham and the Melling Chase. Top-rated horse Cyrname may be missing, but the likes of Politologue, Waiting Patiently and Min will all contest the latter race.
Apple’s Jade is among the contenders for the Stayers’ Hurdle on Day Three before the big one – the Grand National – later in the afternoon.
The Grand National
With 40-runners, over 600m viewers around the world and £500,000 to the winner, the Grand National gets underway live on ITV from 5:15pm.
The country stops for the people’s race. But from your Nan to the postman and everyone in between, there are plenty of different ways to try and pick the winner.
Form is the obvious one. On that basis it’s Tiger Roll’s to lose after his win in the 2018 Grand National and subsequent success in the 2019 Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham.
Millwall fans may be tempted by Walk In The Mill, while Ultragold will be a popular pick for Wolverhampton Wanderers supporters. And don’t forget Captain Redbeard if your team plays in…well…red.
Vieux Lion Rouge is one for the publicans, with Rock The Kasbah sure to delight fans of The Clash.
Add in silk colours, family related names, jockeys and trainers and there are tonnes of ways to go about picking your horse for the Grand National!
Check our latest Grand National odds.
All Odds and Markets correct as of date of publication
