BOOKIES FEAR £200M SISTER ACT
VICTORY for one of the ‘sisters in the saddle’ in today’s Randox Health Grand National at Aintree will make history and leave the bookies £200million worse off.
For only the second time in the 179-year history of the world’s greatest steeplechase, three of the field — Baie Des Iles (Katie Walsh), Milansbar (Bryony Frost) and Alpha Des Obeaux (Rachael Blackmore) – have female riders.
But while the three-strong representation in 1988 went off unfancied at 33-1, 200-1 and 200-1, the layers expect today’s trio to be in demand – especially to women punters.
“The media interest in the three women jockeys riding in the 2018 Grand National has been nothing short of immense,” said William Hill’s Rupert Adams.
“And while female riders in the race have often been aboard no-hopers, that definitely can’t be said of Katie Walsh, Bryony Frost and Rachael Blackmore.
“We list the three horses at 16-1, 33-1, 40-1 respectively, and we expect an army of punters — male and female — to get involved.
“If one of Baie Des Iles, Milansbar or Alpha Des Obeaux comes home in front, it will cost the industry in the region of £200m.”
While Frost and Blackmore are taking their first Grand National mounts, Walsh, who partners grey mare Baie Des Iles for her husband Ross O’Sullivan, is riding in the race for the sixth time, having finished third aboard Seabass in 2012.
“There’s always great excitement and I’m thrilled that Rachael and Bryony are part of it, too,” said Walsh.
“The top lads have a ride in it every year, but for the rest of us the chance doesn’t come too often.”
Frost, whose father Jimmy won the National aboard Little Polveir in 1989, said of success for a woman rider: “It would make history — anything that has never been done before makes history.
“It’s like somebody sailing round the world for the first time — it’s a massive thing.”
Walsh’s older brother Ruby, a National hero on Papillon in 2000 and Hedgehunter in 2005, agrees.
“If Katie wins the National on a grey mare trained by her husband, they’ll make it into a film,” he said, “and I’ll be played by George Clooney!”