With the Cheltenham Festival for 2012 just finished following a surprising and fascinating Cheltenham Gold Cup, serious National Hunt horse racing fans and part-time enthusiasts alike begin to turn their attention to perhaps the biggest race of them all – the Grand National.
John Smiths Grand National 2012 is set to be another big occassion, with the four and a half mile marathon around Aintree racecourse due to take place on Saturday 14th April 2012. But the question on everyone’s lips is who will win the big race this time around?
The current antepost favourite for the 2012 Aintree Grand National is Prince De Beauchene, which is available at a short-looking 10/1 a month from the big race. The Willie Mullins trained nine year old certainly has a lot in his favour, and produced a good win by 6 lengths over fellow National hopeful Black Apalachi at Fairyhouse at the end of February.
The next horse the bookmakers like the look of is Junior who is available at around 12/1 (best priced 13/1 on the betting exchanges). This David Pipe trained horse is also nine years old, and has finished outside the first three only once on his eight starts over fences to date.
BallaBriggs and Burton Port are both 16/1 following Cheltenham week, with Burton Port looking full of stamina, and a sound enough jumper to give punters some hope of glory.
West End Rocker‘s win at Aintree in December was impressive – a 22 length success – and tells the story of why this Alan King trained 10 year old comes next in the betting, at a best-priced 20/1.
Favourites for John Smiths Grand National 2012
The top of the antepost John Smiths Grand National 2012 betting is as follows (see table below for live prices):
Prince De Beauchene 10/1; Junior 13/1; BallaBriggs 16/1; Burton Port 16/1; West End Rocker 20/1; Cappa Bleu 21/1; Chicago Grey 25/1; Seabass 25/1; Sunnyhillboy 25/1; Becauseicouldntsee 26/1; Synchronised 26/1; Treacle 26/1; Calgary Bay 27/1; Shakalakaboomboom 29/1; Giles Cross 31/1; Organisedconfusion 33/1; Planet of Sound 33/1. 33/1 Bar.