KATIE’S ODDS ARE SLASHED
BOOKMAKERS are bracing themselves for an avalanche of support for the runners ridden by the three female jockeys in Saturday’s Randox Health Grand National at Aintree.
Coral and Ladbrokes both cut the odds of Katie Walsh’s mount Baie Des Iles yesterday. The grey mare, trained by Walsh’s husband Ross O’Sullivan, was a 50-1 shot on Monday but is now at 20-1. Ladbrokes cut the price of victory for a female jockey to 10-1.
Also in the race are Bryony Frost on Milansbar (33-1) and Rachael Blackmore on Alpha Des Obeaux (40-1).
Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: ‘We are expecting a lot of bets on the girl jockeys, especially with female empowerment so much in the news.
‘But Baie Des Iles is not just being backed because Katie is riding. A lot of good judges are tipping her.’
Dave Stevens of Coral added: ‘There is every chance Baie Des Iles could halve in price yet.’
Walsh said: ‘There is so much luck involved in a Grand National. It can depend on where you’ve been positioned throughout the race or whether you’re behind a horse who doesn’t jump well. There are a lot of variables involved.
‘Every runner has a chance of winning the Grand National — you just do not know what is going to happen. We’re really excited about Baie Des Iles and it will be great to be a part of the race again — I’m really looking forward to it.’
Walsh’s mount was a creditable third in the Grand National Trial at Punchestown back in February on heavy ground and conditions on Merseyside are not expected to pose a problem.
She added: ‘She has plenty of form on heavy ground, but she has a good action and I think better ground wouldn’t be too much of an issue, either. We’re counting down the days now, but it’s going to be a great experience.
‘I’m looking forward to riding in the race again and especially for Ross.’
Rising star Frost teamed up with Milansbar to good effect back in January to win the Classic Chase at Warwick and octogenarian owner Robert Bothway is hoping the pair can triumph again.
He told Racing UK: ‘We were hoping to run in the National last year, but we didn’t get in and this year when we were down the list, we didn’t dream of getting in.
‘He’s always jumped well. He’s by Milan, he stays forever, the wetter the better and he never hesitates at a fence.
‘When he won at Warwick, Bryony had never sat on him before and she just gelled with him straight away. He won 11 lengths and would have gone round again and I was so glad Paul Nicholls let her ride him this year.
‘I’d been following her with the winners she’d had and she gelled with the horse.
‘She said her father (1989 Grand National-winning jockey Jimmy Frost) had given her plenty of advice and said if everything goes all right he’ll be in the first five.
‘I’m not a very good watcher, but I will watch it. It would mean everything (to win it). I’m over 80 now and it would be a dream come true.’
Baie Des Iles forms part of a strong Irish challenge this year, with the likes of Gordon Elliott’s Tiger Roll and the Willie Mullinstrained Total Recall prominent in the ante-post market.
Another live chance for the raiding party is Raz De Maree, winner of the Welsh National at Chepstow on his most recent outing in January.
Trainer Gavin Cromwell is hoping his 13-year-old can go the early pace in the four-and-quarter-mile feature. ‘They go off very quick and the key thing is whether he can stay in the race or not. As long as he doesn’t get detached he’ll be fine.’