We all want to pick the National winner but with such an enormous field that is notoriously tough.
At Betfair you can also bet on other Grand National markets that might be easier to predict including Number of Finishers Market, Age of Winners Market, Irish Winner Market, Distance to Last Market, Weight of Winner, Will they Finish, Winner's Starting Price, Winning Distance, Winning Racecard Number, Winning Time and Name the Favourite.
Number of Finishers
This market gives punters the opportunity to wager on how many runners will complete the course through a spread such as 'less than 12', '12-18' and 'more than 18'. This is a good market for punters as you don't actually have to specify who will complete and have several running for you. Ground conditions and good Aintree records will need to be factored in here. For example, a heavy ground National as in 2001, could lead to fewer finishers.
Age of Winner
This is in a sense a match bet - last season's options were either 'less than 10' or '10-years and over'. Ahead of the 2010 running, nine- and 10-year-olds have won the last five Nationals. So, for example, if there are not many nine-year-olds with good chances and a few market leaders younger than this, punters can take them on collectively by laying 'less than 10'.
Irish Winner
Simply a 'yes' or 'no' market. I like this one as it couples all of the Irish contenders together. They have done well this decade, winning five times, and prices will no doubt be swayed by the number of genuine chances.
Distance First to Last
Usually two options here for punters to go 'over' or 'under' a specified amount. Ground conditions will again play a role here.
Weight of Winner
Punters will be given the option to bet on, for example, whether this will be 'lighter than 11-0' or '11-0 or heavier'. This again allows the grouping of several runners. No horse has carried more than 11-01 to victory since 1983.
Will They Finish?
For all runners and another 'yes' or 'no' market. Good for punters as it is clearly easier to get round than win and jumping ability / Aintree records can be used for or against each runner.
Winner's Starting Price
This will be in the form of a spread with last term's winner Mon Mome falling into the 'longer than 25/1' category. Punters can, for example, take a view about market leaders and back or lay them accordingly.
Winning Distance
What will the distance between first and second be? Softish ground can lead to bigger winning distances and better ground the opposite.
Winning Racecard Number
This again groups several runners together, typically numbers '1-10', '11-20', '21-30' and '31-40'. Several good fancies in the '21-30' category would likely see them as favourites.
Winning Time
Punters can use ground conditions and the likely pace of the race in order to predict whether the race will be under or over a specified time.
Name the Favourite
Has anything caught the imagination of the public? Who is 'best in' at the weights? These and more can be used to determine a likely favourite and backed or laid accordingly.
Match Bets
Who will perform the best out of two stated runners? There will be several of these head-to- head markets in which punters can win even if their selection finishes last.