Cloudy Lane heads 99 horses that have been left in the John Smith’s Grand National at the five day stage and the son of Cloudings is the 11/2 favourite with Blue Square for the Aintree showpiece this Saturday.
16 horses have defected following the latest declaration stage, with Ungaro, Patsy Hall and Over The Creek being the most notable, but most of the big guns stand their ground.
Last year’s third Slim Pickings is next in the market at 10/1, with recent Eider Chase winner Comply Or Die also a 10/1 shot.
‘There is no doubt that Cloudy Lane will go off favourite on Saturday but he is unlikely to be as big as 11/2,’ said Blue Square spokesman George Primarolo.
‘All the major firms have big liabilities on Trevor Hemmings’ horse and an SP of 4/1 looks likely given the fact that he is 20lbs well in. Couple this with the McCain factor and Cloudy Lane could well be one of the shortest priced Grand National favourites in history.’
John Smith’s Grand National – Blue Square bet: 11/2 Cloudy Lane, 10 Slim Pickings, Comply Or Die, 12 Simon, 14 Chelsea Harbour, Butler’s Cabin, Bewleys Berry, 16 King Johns Castle, Point Barrow, Mr Pointment, McKelvey, Snowy Morning, 20 Hedgehunter, 25 Vodka Bleu, Joes Edge, L’Ami, Mon Mome, Philson Run, 33 Dun Doire, d’Argent, Turko, 40 Knowhere, Newbay Prop, Dunbrody Millar, Kelami, Irish Raptor, Longshanks, Ossmoses, 50 Black Apalachi, Fundamentalist, Hi Cloy, Opera Mundi, Idle Talk, 66 Backbeat, Naunton Brook, Madison du Berlais, Iron Man, Bob Hall, Baily Breeze, No Full, Ardaghey, Joaaci, Tumbling Dice, Whispered Secret, Lankawi, Drombeag, Bannister Lane, In The High Grass, Eric’s Charm, Blue Splash, Le Duc, Livingstonebramble, Merdeka, Pak Jack, Theatre Knight, 100 Cornish Sett, Loulou Nivernais, Milan Deux Mille, Ollie Magern, Risk Accessor, Tommy Spar, Nadover, Glenfinn Captain, Cornish Rebel, 500 Contraband.