Following the incredible four day Cheltenham Festival it is now the Grand National at Aintree up next for racing fans as the flat season fast approaches. The weights have been revealed so many people are looking for the best bets from Betfair for the Grand National. One horse that could be an interesting runner for the race is the Jonjo O’Neill trained Minella Rocco. He was initially allotted 11 stone 7lb and was 5th in the weights list but following the withdrawal of Definitly Red he will be moving higher up the list. He was set to contest the Cheltenham Gold Cup but following the testing racing conditions connections removed him from the race as the horse needs better ground.
Minella Rocco is a very classy horse as shown in his 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup second. The horse has always looked tailor made for a test like the National so if the ground comes right he would have to be a leader contender for the race. Another fancied runner for the race has to be the ever reliable 10 year old The Last Samuri. The Kim Bailey trained runner is coming off the back of a highly encouraging 3rd in the Cross Country at the Cheltenham Festival. He also finished a 9 length second in the Becher Chase behind the 2018 National favourite Blaklion having also given him 6lb on the day. The Last Samuri boasts an impressive record in the National having looked the winner in 2016 only to be overhauled late on by the Gigginstown owned Rule the World. He is the current 16/1 third favourite for the race.
The previously mentioned Blaklion is the joint 12/1 market leader for the Aintree showpiece and must have a solid chance of success. He ran a highly encouraging fourth in last year’s race having looked the winner for much of the contest. His trainer is a duel winner of the race so will certainly have the horse ready for the big occasion. Blaklion has then gone on to put in a faultless round of jumping in the Becher Chase over the course. He has also been kept fresh for the race having bypassed the Cheltenham Festival so must be a big player for the 2018 edition of the contest. Check out the infographic below which covers the leading trainers heading in to the race and their top horses looking to enhance their National records.
