Sky Bet rate fewer than 12 finishers a 2-1 shot

Punters, as always, have an abundance of Grand National specials to choose from, and one which has already proved very popular is the number of finishers market.

Further rain at Aintree on Friday resulted in a change of going on the National course to heavy, soft in places.

Memories of Red Marauder’s slow-motion finish in 2001 in which only four of the 40 runners completed the course could have proved the catalyst for bet365 cutting the price of there being under 16 finishers to 8-11 (from 4-5), and extending the odds of there being over 18 finishers to 3-1 (from 11-4).

SkyBet offer 2-1 there being fewer than 12 finishers (from 9-4).

The first race run over the National fences this week saw 12 of the 21 starters complete the course in Thursday’s Foxhunters’, while 14 of the 27 who lined up for Friday’s Topham Handicap Chase finished.

The last five Grand Nationals, four of which were run on good to soft ground, have produced 19, 16, 19, 18 and 17 finishers.

Rule The World: won in soft conditionsCredit: Edward Whitaker

That lowest number was achieved two years ago when Rule The World triumphed for Mouse Morris, David Mullins and Gigginstown House Stud.

Frost, Walsh or Blackmore could make history

Female riders have regularly made headlines this jumps season, so it’s no real surprise that many punters think Bryony Frost, Katie Walsh or Rachael Blackmore could make history on the biggest stage of all.

Frost, who has shone many times already on Paul Nicholls-trained horses, such as Frodon, Present Man, Black Corton and Old Guard this term, partners Milansbar for Neil King.

Katie Walsh (left) with Bryony Frost (centre) and Rachael Blackmore (right)Credit: Edward Whitaker

Walsh rides Baie Des Isles for Ross O’Sullivan, while Blackmore is aboard the Mouse Morris-trained Alpha Des Obeaux.

No female rider has yet conquered Aintree’s 4m2f marathon in front of her rivals, but Ladbrokes cut the odds on history being rewritten to 8-1 (from 12) on Friday.

Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: "More often than not Aintree throws up a host of stories, but this year there's only show in town as the entire nation get behind the girls.

“Although a win for either Katie Walsh, Bryony Frost, or Rachael Blackmore would leave us with a massive pay-out, it would be so special to see history being made.”

The weighting game

Paddy Power have a host of specials, including 1-2 the winner will be trained in Britain, and 4-7 it will carry 10st 13lb or less.

For those who don’t want to wait for the end of the race to know the fate of their cash, punters can get 5-4 there is a false start in the National and 11-8 that all horses successfully clear the first fence.

Frost, Walsh and Blackmore are 9-1 to all complete the course, while punters can secure 40-1 about well-fancied Irish pair Anibale Fly and Total Recall to finish first and second in any order.

It is 11-1 a female trainer leads in the winner, 100-1 the Grand National is declared a void race and 1,000-1 every horse completes the course.

Racegoers arrive at AintreeCredit: Edward Whitaker

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: “The three members of the fairer sex competing in the race are attracting huge media attention and the female jockey to ride the winner has been a very popular special with the price already being trimmed from 10-1.”

JP McManus, represented by Anibale Fly, Regal Encore, Carlingford Lough and Pendra, is 5-1 to own the winner (Betfair), while Gigginstown Stud (Tiger Roll, Thunder And Roses, Valseur Lido, Road To Riches, Alpha Des Obeaux) can be supported at 8-1 with the same firm.

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