This year's Grand National race is fast approaching and the short list of entries has just been announced. The race will be run, as always at the Aintree Race Course in Liverpool, England.
On Saturday the 5th of April an estimated 500 million people will tune in to watch the race from around the globe. The Grand National is one of the biggest sports betting events of the year and horse owners and trainers compete for the $1.5 million dollar prize (800,000 UK sterling).
The Grand National is the high point of the steeple chase season and the horses must navigate 30 fences and complete the four and a half mile circuit to be crowned champion, in such a difficult race it's no wonder that half of the horses will not make it around the course.
Which leads to some very interesting betting opportunities for those brave enough to take a punt on this race? The 2007 Grand National winner Silver Birch came in at odds of 33/1, in this race the long shots really do have a chance.
Looking at Silver Birch last year it was surprising to find him priced so high with the bookmakers. Before the race he ticked every box of a potential Grand National winner, he was in the right age bracket, didn't have too much weight to carry and possessed other qualities that made him stand out from the rest of the field.
Backing a Grand National winner is never easy, but you can rule out many of the horses in the race by following some simple tips. The horses that remain should be considered as good each way bets. Below you will find our top five tips for selected a Grand National winner.
Tip 1... The National is a grueling race and horses that carry top weight struggle to make the trip, in the last fifty years only Red Rum and Corbiere have won carrying big weight, so look for a horse carrying no more than 11st 3lbs.
Tip 2... Look for horses from Ireland, the last six National winners have all made the trip across the Irish Sea to victory!
Tip 3... Just as Irish horses perform well in the Grand National, French horses perform very badly! Only one winner in the last hundred year, so you can forget those runners instantly.
Tip 4... The age of a horse running in the Grand National is very important, young horses just don't have the experience to cope in a field this big - So don't go for a horse younger than 9 or older than 12.
Tip 5... Do not go anywhere near a high street bookmakers on Grand National day! Unless you love standing in line for hours. High street bookies are swamped from early morning until the start of the race. Bet online with bookmaker like ToteSport, it's safe, secure and you also get a free bet when you join.
It's interesting to point out that most professional gamblers wouldn't dream of placing a bet on the Grand National, for the very reasons that most of us love too, it's too unpredictable!
