Seabass has been popular with a number of firms on Saturday morning
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)National hope Seabass 'smashed off boards'
SEABASS was by far the most notable market mover on the morning of the John Smith's Grand National as the price of the Katie Walsh ridden nine-year-old, who has won his last seven races, collapsed.
A general 10-1 having been 22-1 first thing, only Gold Cup hero Synchronised, the mount of Tony McCoy, remains above Seabass with most firms, although William Hill make the Ted Walsh-trained challenger their favourite.
"New favourite!!!!! Seabass now 9-1, Synchronised 10-1," tweeted William Hill's Kate Miller.
Betfred spokesman George Primarolo added: "Seabass has been smashed off the boards this morning for the Grand National with punters reeling in the price in the hope that this won't be the one that got away."
Speaking on The Morning Line, Ted Walsh expressed stamina concerns about Seabass.
"He's won over two miles five and won a few point-to-points over three miles, but he might not stay," he said. "But that might apply to a few of them in the race. There's very few of them that have gone the full trip."
Katie Walsh is bidding to become the first woman to ride a Grand National winner and, while her odds have tumbled, brother Ruby's have gone in the other direction as his mount, On His Own, has been friendless in the betting, drifting to 16-1 (from 14).
Seabass has also proven popular on the exchanges and Betfair spokesman Barry Orr said: "The last time we saw a National gamble like this was when Ruby rode Papillon to victory for his father Ted in 2000.
"The Grand National winner invariably has a great back story and if Seabass were to win, it would be a first on so many fronts, not least the money it would cost the betting industry as a whole."
The Racing Post's Tom Segal tipped Becauseicouldntsee and Rare Bob in Saturday's Pricewise column, having already advised Treacle, and the two latest tips have inevitably been market springers.
Becauseicouldntsee is now just 14-1 with Coral, having been tipped at 22-1 with that firm, while Rare Bob is a 28-1 chance with the same firm having been advised by Segal at 50-1.
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