Snowy Morning is the new 10/1 favourite with Blue Square for the John Smith’s Grand National following the publication of the weights on Tuesday morning, with jumps handicapper Phil Smith having allocated him 10st 12lbs for the Aintree marathon.
Willie Mullins’ charge replaces totesport Becher Chase winner Mr Pointment at the head of the market and Paul Nicholls’ main hope is now a 12/1 chance alongside Bewleys Berry, who was travelling well last year until departing at Becher’s second time around.
Mercy Rimell’s Simon is being aimed at the race and is a 14/1 shot along with Butler’s Cabin, who went into many people’s notebooks last season after adding the Irish Grand National to his Cheltenham Festival success. His owner JP McManus has ten has ten entries in the race and is 8/1 to win his first Grand National.
Paul Nicholls has eight entries and is a 7/1 shot to win his first Grand National, whilst Donald McCain jnr is a 16/1 shot to emulate his father by winning the Aintree showpiece, having Cloudy Lane and Idle Talk amongst his entries.
‘Snowy Morning is the horse that jumped out at our odds-compilers when the weights were released and with Hedgehunter likely to run, his stablemate should be sitting pretty at around the 11 stone mark,’ said Blue Square spokesman George Primarolo.
‘Mr Pointment has been popular in the betting since his Becher Chase win but he doesn’t have much room for manoeuvre at 11st 8lbs and would have to put up a superb weight-carrying performance if he is to be successful in April.’
There are several prominent French-bred horses in the betting for the Grand National but there has been no French-bred winner in modern times – though several have been placed. Blue Square make it a 9/1 shot that this trend is broken this year.
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John Smith’s Grand National – Blue Square bet: 10 Snowy Morning, 12 Mr Pointment, Bewleys Berry, 14 Simon, Butler’s Cabin, 20 Slim Pickings, Point Barrow, Cloudy Lane, Royal Country Star, 25 Ungaro, McKelvey, Nine de Sivola, Character Building, Irish Raptor, 33 Hedgehunter, Knowhere, Madison du Berlais, Dream Alliance, Chelsea Harbour, Vodka Bleu, King Johns Castle, Over The Creek, Parsons Legacy, Philson Run, Dun Doire, Joe’s Edge, Dunbrody Millar, Newbay Prop, 40 Beef or Salmon, Turpin Green, Hi Cloy, Forget The Past, Monkerhostin, Turko, Billyvoddan, Joe Lively, Knight Legend, Opera Mundi, Sir Rembrandt, D’Argent, Mon Mome, Patsy Hall, Tumbling Dice, Comply Or Die, Cool Running, Longshanks, Ossmoses, Hear The Echo, 50 bar.
¼ 1-2-3-4
To Train The Winner – Blue Square bet: 7 Paul Nicholls, 8 Willie Mullins, 10 Jonjo O’Neill, 16 Peter Bowen, Donald McCain, David Pipe, Nigel Twiston-Davies, Philip Hobbs, Tony Martin, 20 Ferdy Murphy.
To Own The Winner – Blue Square bet: 8 JP McManus, 16 Trevor Hemmings
French-Bred Winner – Blue Square bet: 9 French-Bred Winner
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