Ain’t life Grand! 4 in 10 picked National winner
THE Grand National is galloping towards becoming a racing cert with punters – as a survey shows that 42% of racing fans who have bet on it picked the winner.
Two in three adults have had at least one flutter on the four-and-a-half mile Merseyside classic.
Ahead of Saturday’s drama, the poll revealed that when it comes to picking their Grand National fancy, 35% of punters are swayed by a runner’s name, 29% study form while 19% opt for a lucky number.
A third (31%) of the 2,000 adults in the Coral study say they will bet on two horses and 64% of National punters will place their wager online.
The bookmaker’s David Stevens said: “While last year’s winner Corach Rambler is the hot favourite, many will choose runners at larger odds. And while there are many different methods, for many it seems it’s all in the name.”
Around 150,000 racegoers will flock to the Aintree racecourse over the Randox Grand National Festival on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Some 80,000 punters will fill the stands for the 176th running of the world’s greatest steeplechase on Saturday, hoping that animal right activists do not disrupt the 30-fence spectacle.
The start of last year’s big race was delayed by 14 minutes after more than 100 Animal Rising activists held disruptive protests on and near the track.
The festival will be a huge cash boost to Merseyside – a report by Liverpool Business School at the city’s John Moores University estimated that the three-day meeting pumps more than £60million into local businesses.