Donald McCain's Grand National entry Ballabriggs fits all the trends for a Grand National winning horse
Ladbrokes have unveiled the ultimate pin-stickers guide to the Grand National and identified BALLABRIGGS as the most likely winner of Saturday's big race.
The bookies have conducted extensive research into the last ten races to find what the winners had in common.
Quirky factors such as the number of letters in the horse’s name, nationality of the winning jockey and the colours of the jockey's silks have been used rather than more traditional yardsticks such as form and handicaps.
David Williams of Ladbrokes told Bettingpro:
"For many people the form-book goes out of the window and they make their Grand National selections based on less conventional criteria.
"We've factored in a host of brand new trends and the pin has fallen on Ballabriggs.
"We'll be on red alert if the gamble starts to materialise. Ballabriggs could easily be the housewife's selection this weekend.”
The seven trends highlighted by Ladbrokes are:
1. Aged to perfection: Seven winning horses were 9 or 10 years old
2. I like those odds: Nine of the winning horses had odds of 33/1 or shorter
3. Legs Eleven: Four of the winning horses had an 11 letter name
4. Irish eyes are smiling: Seven of the winning jockeys were Irish
5. Green with envy: Seven winning jockeys wore green silks
6. First name terms: Nine winning jockeys had 6 or fewer letters in their first name
7. Lucky for all: All ten winning jockeys had 13 or fewer letters in their full name
Ballabriggs is the only horse that meets all seven of these trends. Trained by Donald McCain - son of legendary Red Rum trainer Ginger - Ballabriggs is ten years old, has an eleven letter name, and is 14/1 with Ladbrokes. The horse will be ridden by an Irish jockey, Jason Maguire, with a five letter first name and twelve letters in his whole name, and the jockey will be wearing green and yellow silks.
The Grand National is the biggest day of the racing calendar and worth an estimated £300 million to the betting industry.
As well as matching all of Ladbrokes’ criteria, Ballabriggs is also one of the few horses running in this year’s race to meet the seven criteria shared by each of the last ten Grand National winners:
8 to 12 years old
Handicap rating above 135 on the day
Weight of 11 stone 5lb or under
Won over at least three miles
Run in at least ten chases
Won a chase worth at least £17,000
No more than two career falls
Horses which meet all 7 criteria: Ballabriggs
Horses which meet 6 criteria: The Midnight Club, Arbor Supreme
Horses which meet 5 criteria: Comply or Die
Latest Ladbrokes betting:
The Grand National
4m 4f, Aintree, April 2011
8 The Midnight Club, 12 Backstage, 12 Don’t Push It, 12 Oscar Time, 12 What A Friend, 14 Ballabriggs, 14 Big Fella Thanks, 14 Silver By Nature, 16 Niche Market, 16 Junior, 16 Quinz, 20 Bluesea Cracker, 20 Arbor Supreme, 25 State Of Play, 25 Hello Bud, 25 Majestic Concorde, 25 Becauseicouldntsee, 25 Character Building, 33 Merigo, 33 West End Rocker, 33 Calgary Bay, 33 Northern Alliance, 33 Skippers Brig, 40 Chief Dan George, 40 The Tother One, 40 Ballyfitz, 40 Comply Or Die, 40 Giles Cross, 40 Tidal Bay, 50 bar (1/4 odds 1,2,3,4)
