Favourite fancied: Cloth Cap wins Virtual Grand National from Kimberlite Candy

Cloth Cap joined the Virtual Grand National roll of honour list on Friday night, giving favourite backers a big boost ahead of the Randox Grand National on Saturday afternoon.

The Virtual National is a computer-simulated race using mathematical algorithms to try and correctly predict the National result.

In 2021, it simulated 4-1 favourite Cloth Cap taking the lead on the swing for home and proving too good for the fast-finishing Kimberlite Candy, a 16-1 chance.

Leading fancy Any Second Now finished third, ahead of Burrows Saint and Minella Times meaning all five at the top of the betting made the frame.

2021 Virtual Grand National result

1 Cloth Cap
2 Kimberlite Candy
3 Any Second Now
4 Burrows Saint
5 Minella Times
6 Lord Du Mesnil
7 Milan Native

The 40-1 chance Lord Du Mesnil finished sixth ahead of Milan Native and Talkischeap. Last year's Virtual National winner Potters Corner travelled strongly for a long way before fading out of contention to finish ninth.

The computer simulation predicts Cabaret Queen would be the first faller, while 23 of the 40 runners completed the course with eight falling.

In it's four-year history, the Virtual National successfully predicted 2018 winner Tiger Roll while Cause Of Causes and Rathvinden both placed.

Virtual Grand National winners (real-life result)

2020 Potters Corner (N/A)
2019 Rathvinden (third)
2018 Tiger Roll (won)
2017 Cause Of Causes (second)

With the Grand National cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Virtual Grand National was given its terrestrial TV slot. Betting was opened on the race and all profits, amassing to £2.6m, was donated to NHS charities.

Read previews for the real-life race:

Runner-by-runner guide: trainer quotes and ratings for the Grand National

Grand National strategies: how to find the winner of the 40-runner Aintree epic

How to bet on the Randox Grand National, the world's greatest jumps race

2021 Grand National: the runners, the odds, the verdict

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