Four live long shots that could thwart Tiger Roll at Aintree in the 2020 Grand National. (photo courtesy of Aintree Racecourse)
The 2020 Grand National at Aintree could see history in the making as Tiger Roll bids for an unprecedented third successive victory. He would join Red Rum in the record books as only the second horse to win the race three times. Bookmakers make him clear favourite, despite having to carry top weight, but what of the opposition?
Tiger Roll was the first outright favourite to win the National since Hedgehunter in 2005 when successful 12 months’ ago. The years in between yielded winners such as Mon Mome 100-1 (2009), Auroras Encore 66-1 (2013) and Rule The World 33-1 (2016). We have picked out four outsiders that could deny Tiger Roll an historic third victory.
Any Second Now 25-1
Any Second Now hails from the stable of Ted Walsh, successful with Papillon in 2000. He also trained Seabass who came so close to providing his daughter Katie with a fairy-tale winner when third in 2012. Any Second Now is currently available at five times the price of Tiger Roll but many shrewd judges expect him to start a lot shorter.
Any Second Now certainly has the right profile for Aintree after winning the Kim Muir at Cheltenham in 2019. You can get the in-depth analysis and suggestions on the Grand National at the OLBG Grand National Guide. The site provides the latest Grand National odds along with the best bookmaker offers and enhanced betting terms.
Potters Corner 25-1
Potters Corner ended a 54-year wait for a Welsh-trained winner of the Welsh Grand National. The ten-year-old is trained by Christian Williams who rode Royal Auclair to finish second at Aintree in 2005. The Welsh National is a thorough test of stamina, usually run in heavy ground, and the temptation is to label Potters Corner as a mud-lark.
While his best form has been when the mud is flying, the ten-year-old is no slouch and often travels up with the pace. This will certainly help him at Aintree, although soft ground would be a massive bonus. The last Welsh-trained winner of the Grand National was Kirkland in 1905 but records are there to be broken.
Ramses De Teillee 33-1
David Pipe won the Grand National with Comply Or Die in 2008. He could run Ramses De Teillee who was pulled up last year after his rein snapped. The grey was well beaten at the time but had safely negotiated a circuit of the famous Aintree fences.
This season he has been enjoying a spell over hurdles and would line up a relatively fresh horse. He had finished runner-up in the Welsh Grand National and the Haydock Grand National Trial in 2019 and those hard races may have taken their toll. A decision on his participation will be made closer to the race so ante-post bets should only be placed with the Non-runner – no bet concession*.
OK Corral 40-1
When Nicky Henderson trained Zongalero to finish second to Rubstic in the 1979 National it seemed only a matter of time before he claimed the famous prize. More than forty years later the Grand National still eludes the Lambourn trainer. He has four entries this year but the one that stands out is OK Corral.
He was a smart staying novice and was strongly fancied for the National Hunt Chase at least year’s Cheltenham Festival. He was pulled up in that gruelling contest and has been slow to recover his form this season. OK Corral bounced back with a win in the valuable Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster in January. His improvement was put down to the flatter track and faster ground, two things that should be in his favour at Aintree.
*Several leading bookmakers are already offering “NRNB”, meaning your stake is refunded should the horse not run in the Grand National. Always check terms and conditions before placing your ante-post bets.
