Bookmakers expecting huge interest in Aintree showpiece race
This Saturday is the biggest race day in the horse racing calender, and bookmakers up and down the country are preparing themselves for one of their busiest weeks of all time, with WilliamHill predicting that upwards of £1 Billion will have been wagered by the time the Grand National has been run.
That race, combined with this week’s Champions League football action, as well as the US Masters, which sees Tiger Woods return to golf for the first time since November, will help that staggering figure be broken, and punters up and down the country will be dreaming of taking the bookies to the cleaners.
Most of the money on the Grand National is going on the Ruby Walsh ridden Big Fella Thanks, who is the 7/1 pre-race favourite at WilliamHill. Last year’s shock winner Mon Mome is also fancied at 10/1, while Paul Nicholls’ other horse, Tricky Trickster can be backed at 14/1.
David Hood, spokesman for William Hill, told Bettingpro:
“This will be a week of reckoning for the bookies – with an intense amount of betting activity surrounding the Grand National, Tiger’s return, and the major football action. After last year’s incredible 100-1 winner, the bookies were in clover – but we fear a strike-back as punters search for revenge.’’
John Smith’s Grand National (NRNB): 7-1 Big Fella Thanks, 10-1 Mon Mome, 14-1 Arbor Supreme, Black Apalachi , The Package, Tricky Trickster, 16-1 Niche Market, Snowy Morning, 20-1 Backstage, Can’t Buy Time, Character Building, State Of Play, Vic Venturi, 25-1 Don’t Push It, Whinstone Boy, 28-1 Comply or Die, 33-1 Ballyholland, Chief Dan George, 40-1 Dream Alliance, Irish Raptor, Johns Castle, Maljimar, My Will, 50-1 Ballytrim, Cloudy Lane, Galant Nuit, Hello Bud, King Offshore Account, Palypso De Creek, 66-1 Abbeybraney, Ballyfitz, Belon Gale, Cerium, Eric´s Charm, Flintoff, Joe Lively, Madison Du Berlais, Nozic, Officier De Reserve, Over The Creek, Silver Birch, Treacle, 100-1 According To John, Beat The Boys, Chiaro, Conna Castle, Duers, Ellerslie George, Faasel, Kings Advocate, Knowhere, Lorum Leader, Made In Taipan, Merigo, Mr Pointment, Ollie Magern, Oodachee, Pablo Du Charmil, Pak Jack, Piraya, Pomme Tiepy, Preists Leap, Royal Rosa, Wee Robbie, 200-1 Offaly ALL QUOTED (EW 1/4 1,2,3,4)
