Grand National day betting: 'Edwardstone is the banker in all the multis'

While the high street firms all report that the once-a-year money is beginning to add up on Rachael Blackmore and her repeat bid on Minella Times, Star Sports say they have seen "a really good spread of business" on the Randox Grand National (5.15 Aintree), with decent money being laid on a number of horses near the head of the market.

And with a further three Grade 1 races on the card as an appetizer for the National, all featuring well-advertised Cheltenham Festival form and short-priced favourites, there has been plenty of activity with accumulators and multiples.

Star Sports's Ed Dark says the biggest bet laid early in the day was away from the National itself in the Poundland Maghull Novices' Chase (3.00), which sees the return of last month's Arkle hero Edwardstone.

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"We expect to see quite a lot of money for Edwardstone and the biggest bet we’ve laid on him so far is £7,500 to win £4,000," said Dark.

"He is also in every multiple, as well as Flooring Porter, but really it’s Edwardstone who is the banker of all the multis we’ve seen so far.

"The double with the two of them has also been popular and we've laid a £5,000 bet on that as well as £3,000 and £2,000 doubles."

In the National itself, Longhouse Poet has attracted support to give Martin Brassil a second success in the race, 16 years on from Numbersixvalverde.

"There's been a very good spread of business on the National," said Dark. "Longhouse Poet would be our bogey, we laid five grand each-way at 14s and overall he'd be a six-figure loser for us now.

"We've also seen a couple of grand each-way on Minella Times as well as the same on Delta Work and Run Wild Fred."

2022 Grand National: the runners, the odds, the verdict

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Racing Post tipsters predict the first four home in the Grand National

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2022 Grand National: everything you need to run a sweepstake on the big race

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