Grand National News |
 |
The Top Five 2015 Grand National Contenders |
The 2015 Aintree Grand National is due to take place on Saturday 11th April. With the national hunt showpiece just under three months away, now is a good time to assess which horses have the strongest claims in the race, and try and identify a bit of ante post value. Bookmakers Betfair currently go 20/1 the field, with the Paul Nicholls trained Sam Winner heading the betting following a series of good runs over fences thus far this season.
 |
Sam Winner
While I’m unsure as to whether connections will want to risk a horse of Sam Winner’s class in a race such as the National at this stage of his career, Paul Nicholls has entered some younger horses in recent years. This eight year old was last seen when finishing an excellent third in the Grade 1 Lexus Chase, and looks a leading Gold Cup contender for me on the evidence of that run. Sam Winner was also victorious in gutsy fashion at Cheltenham earlier in the campaign, and would be a leading player in the National should he line up at Aintree.
Oscar Time
Following a particularly taking performance when victorious in the Beecher Chase last time out, thirteen year old Oscar Time jumped to the forefront of the betting for the 2015 Grand National. Sam Waley-Cohen has a great record over the Aintree National fences, and he gave the horse a great ride to score by three quarters of a length from Mendip Express. The odds compilers at Betfair make Oscar Time a 25/1 chance for the 2015 National, and he could well be a solid each way wager this year.
Saint Are
Having finished third in the Beecher behind Oscar Time, Saint Are would have to enter calculations at 33/1. Tom George’s nine year old followed up his effort at Aintree with another creditable display in a class 2 handicap chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. Saint Are had a slightly patchy record during the early part of his career, but this horse is fast becoming a model of consistency and could well improve on the position of 9th he achieved in the 2014 National renewal.
Many Clouds
With back to back wins under his belt during November, one of which being victory in the prestigious Hennessy Gold Cup Chase. Oliver Sherwood’s gelding is still relatively lightly raced, and could well handle the step up to four miles plus, based on his performance at Newbury. Many Clouds has only competed over fences eight times, and would appear to still be improving over the larger obstacles. The horse’s next target is set to be the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March and depending on how Many Clouds comes out of the race, he may then compete at the Aintree Grand National the following month.
Shutthefrontdoor
Currently available at odds of 20/1 in the Betfair ante post market, Shutthefrontdoor would have to enter calculations based on his success in last season’s Irish Grand National. Jonjo O'Neill’s eight year old has been partnered by Barry Geraghty for his last two wins, but we may see Tony McCoy get the ride in the National, with Shutthefrontdoor looking like JP Mcmanus’ best chance of landing the race this year. This horse has a great win record, with nine victories in fourteen starts, and looks the stand out each way bet in the race for me at odds of 20/1. I expect him to go off a fair bit shorter come post time, and I also think the National will be the main target of Shutthefrontdoor, something which can’t be said for some of the other runners at the top of the market.
