Grand National 2019 - Race Preview - Lets

Grand National 2019

Race Preview

The Grand National at Aintree is just days away, with the excitement among owners, trainers, jockeys, professional gamblers and casual punters all growing for what has become one of the highlights of the horse racing calendar.

Here, we take a look at the runners and riders who have the best chance of winning the race this year.

2018 Grand National

Last year, the race was won in a photo finish by the Davy Russell ridden Tiger Roll.

The 10/1 shot came into the race with a growing reputation having won the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival the month before and showed heart, talent, and determination to hold on for the win and give Davy Russell his first Grand National winner.

Pleasant Company, the Willie Mullins trained 25/1 shot, held the lead approaching the final couple of fences, with Tiger Roll taking over at the front at the penultimate obstacle. David Mullins pushed Pleasant Company to fight until the finish and almost caught up, with Tiger Roll holding on to win by a head on the line.

Third place went to 40/1 shot Bless the Wings, who was 11 lengths behind second, and Anibale Fly was a neck behind in fourth.

2019 Grand National – Betting Favourite

The clear betting favourite for his years race in last years winner Tiger Roll. He followed up his National win in 2018 by winning at Navan in February this year and then dominated the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival again last month.

That Cheltenham Festival performance was even more impressive than the one last year, with a 22 length victory over Josie’s Orders this year showing an improvement in Tiger Roll in the last twelve months.

Betfair have the Gordon Elliott trained Gelding priced at just 7/2, making him a clear favourite from 10/1 shots Anibale Fly and Rathvinden.

2018 Placed Horses

Last years second, Pleasant Company, is entered to run again but is an 18/1 shot this year following a less than impressive twelve months since coming so close to winning the Grand National.

A fifteenth place finish at Leopardstown in December was followed by an eleventh at Gowran Park in January, which shows signs of decline for the eleven-year-old. Although, heading into last years race he had pulled up and finished eleventh in the last two. Age will definitely be a factor here though and it’s more than likely that second place in 2018 was a one off and will not be repeated.

Third place in 2018 was Bless The Wings and at the moment it’s unclear whether he will run or not. Again though, at the age of fourteen his chance to win the National is most likely long gone.

Anibale Fly is the likeliest of last years placed horses to mount a challenge here. Despite carrying top weight, which would require being the first horse over 11-06 to win since Many Clouds in 2015, the A.J Martin 9-year-old Gelding ticks many boxes and showed class to finish second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month.

Although the weight may be an issue and the lack of victories over 3 miles since 2017 shows possible stamina issues, Anibale Fly cannot be counted out and should definitely be high on the list of Each-Way shots.

Looking at statistics shows us the optimum age for the Grand National winner is 9-years-old, weighing between 10-06 and 11-06, with previous experience in the race, at least one victory over 3+ miles, and fallen or unseated its rider less than twice in their career.

This year, only one horse ticks all the boxes and that is last years winner and huge betting favourite Tiger Roll.

With the bookmakers backing him, form and experience on his side, and ticking every box when taking an analytical approach, it would seem Tiger Roll is the likeliest winner of the 2019 Grand National and it will take bad luck or a phenomenal performance from another horse to prevent back to back victories at Aintree.

Mall Dini, Step Back, and Lake View Lad tick most of the boxes except for previous race experience. But, the 20/1, 25/1, and 14/1 shots could all be good each way shouts if taking to the extremely challenging course.

Visit Betfair for full betting odds for this years Grand National

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