Horse racing betting tips: Rathvinden looks the one to tame the Tiger
WHO IS the most likely winner of tomorrow’s Randox Health Grand National (5.15pm)?
The answer is without doubt TIGER ROLL.
The question is whether you are prepared to take 7/2 about a horse in a 40- runner race with 30 monster fences.
Plenty will be put off by those skinny odds, but the reality is that he lines up at Aintree tomorrow in the form of his life.
His most recent wins over hurdles at Navan and his demolition job at Cheltenham in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase last month are head and shoulders above what he achieved on his way to victory here 12 months ago.
Although 9lbs higher in the weights this time, the handicapper’s recent reassessment post-Cheltenham means he should actually be carrying an extra 8lbs.
If he stays out of trouble, it is hard to imagine him not mounting a serious bid to become the first horse since Red Rum in the 1970s to win back-to-back Nationals.
However, the horse I fancy to give him the most to fear is fellow Irish-raider RATHVINDEN who looks to have been laid out for the race by Willie Mullins.
Winner of last season’s four-mile National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham, we have only seen him the once so far this season when an impressive winner of the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse last month.
He arrives here a fresh horse with very few questions to answer in the stamina department.
I suppose if there is a tiny concern it would be over his jumping as he is prone to make the odd mistake, but
there are very few horses who that isn’t a concern for.
At 10/1, he looks the best each-way option with both Coral and Ladbrokes who are offering six places for online punters.
Looking at the other leading contenders, it would be no surprise to see either of the Trevor Hemmings-owned
pair Vintage Clouds or Lake View Lad be involved.
Last year’s fourth Anibale Fly should go well again despite top weight, while cases can also be made for last year’s runner-up Pleasant Company and Coral Scottish Grand National winner Joe Farrell.
However, for my third pick I’m going to take a chance on in-form Nigel Twiston-Davies’ BALLYOPTIC who can be backed at 50/1 in places.
If you put a line through his latest disappointing display at Haydock, he had previously finished sixth in the Coral Welsh Grand National and was beaten a nose by Joe Farrell in last season’s Scottish equivalent.
His trainer already has two winners of this great race on his CV so is no stranger in readying one for this prize.
My last dart will be aimed at Grand National veteran VIEUX LION ROUGE who will be running in the race for a fourth successive year.
He finished seventh in 2016, sixth in 2017 and then ninth 12 months ago.
Those performance came off marks of 146, 149 and 150 respectively, but he lines up back down to that original mark of 146.
He has been treated for ulcers recently and it would be no surprise to see him hit the frame at a monster price.