GRAND NATIONAL SWEEPSTAKE KIT
AT the start of the season it seemed Tiger Roll would be the history-seeker in the Randox Grand National by attempting a third win in the biggest steeplechase in the world.
He is absent from tomorrow’s line-up but there is still the chance of a landmark moment courtesy of Rachael Blackmore.
The Irish-based jockey took last month’s Cheltenham Festival by storm with six wins to become the first female rider to be crowned the Festival’s leading jockey.
Plenty of pundits believe Blackmore could now become the first female jockey to win the Grand National on well-backed 14-1 shot Minella Times.
Her young, improving mount is at the bottom of the weights with only 10st 3lb to carry and has run well in some of Ireland’s most competitive handicap chases.
The third-place finish by Katie Walsh on Seabass in 2013 is the best a female jockey has had so far in the Grand National.
Two other female jockeys ride in the race. Bryony Frost will fancy her chances of a place finish on consistent Yala Enki but Tabitha Worsley will need luck on her side partnering 100-1 shot Sub Lieutenant.
Hot favourite is Cloth Cap, who is trying to give trainer Jonjo O’Neill his second win in the race and jockey Tom Scudamore his first.
Cloth Cap is seen as the best handicapped horse in the race and would have been given 14lb extra to carry had the handicapper had a chance to reassess his form since the weights were publicised in February.
Having outscored the British-trained horses 23 wins to five at the Cheltenham Festival, the Irish challenge is bound to be well supported.
Burrows Saint and Any Second Now are among the best of their challengers. However, this year’s race will very different. There will be no crowd with only a handful of owners in attendance.
But one thing never changes with the Grand National — its glorious uncertainty.
That is what makes the Grand National so popular and it is why 8.5 million people tuned in to watch the race on ITV in 2019.
There was even an audience of 4.8 million for last year’s computergenerated Virtual Grand National when the real thing had to be cancelled because of Covid-19, with bookmakers donating £3million profits to NHS charities.
Everyone who backs one of the 40 runners will feel they have a chance when the starting tape goes up at 5.15pm.
The modern-day National, with less daunting fences, means that a surprise winner is more of a reality than ever.
Only three winners this century returned at single figure odds — 4-1 Tiger Roll in 2019, 7-1 Comply Or Die in 2008 and 7-1 Hedgehunter in 2005. Since then we’ve had two winners at 33-1, one at 66-1, while Mon Mome won at 100-1 in 2009. Cases can again be made for plenty of the 40 runners. They include the 2019 Scottish National winner Takingrisks and last season’s Welsh National winner Potters Corner. Also in the line-up is Give Me A Copper, who is partowned by former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson One other big change this year is that betting shops remain closed until Monday. The only way to have a bet on the race is online. Getting involved in a sweepstake with family, friends, neighbours or work colleagues might be your best chance of getting involved with this year’s race. So give it a go!