Grand National 2021: Five contenders for the famous steeplechase
Grand National Runners
The grandstands and terraces at Aintree Racecourse will be largely silent but make no bones about it, the 2021 Randox Grand National will be just as exciting as ever and we can be certain of a few surprises along the way. As usual, forty horses will battle it out for top honours in what can justly claim to be the most famous horse race in the world and the only real question is, who will be first over the finish line?
Everyone has their own way of picking a horse, whether it is based on carefully studied form or just a name that is fancied. There really is no winning formula, however we have delved through the list of runners to see if any take our fancy.
Luck plays a big part in determining who will win the Grand National but it is important that you should consider a few basic things. Firstly, does your horse have what it takes to complete the course? Has it proven itself over this distance? How has the trainer and jockey fared in recent weeks or months? Is your horse a good jumper? Can it cope with a big field? These are all things that you should consider before parting with your hard-earned Euros!
Anibale Fly – 25/1
This is without doubt a high-class horse when at his best and prior to finishing 5th under top weight in the 2019 Grand National he finished runner-up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup a few weeks earlier. Having finished fourth in the Grand National the previous year, he races off a much kinder weight this time around and we believe that he can reward an each-way approach on Saturday afternoon..
Farclas – 18/1
Farclas may at first glance seem to be a strange choice given that he has yet to prove himself over three miles. Nevertheless while the Grand National is a massive test of stamina as well as a large chunk of luck, we believe that the seven-year-old will be going all-out to prove his staying power on Saturday afternoon. Should he manage to stay this far he will be a big danger to the rest of the field given that he has proven to be progressive in his steeplechasing career.
Bristol De Mai – 28/1
Topweight Bristol De Mai kicked off the season with a win over Clan Des Obeaux in the Cotswold Chase and he is certainly the class horse in this race. He is no stranger to the Grand National fences and is a proven stayer. As long as he stays out of trouble along the way and finds a nice rhythm – notoriously hard in this sort of contest – he can reward his backers on Saturday afternoon.
Chris’s Dream – 50/1
Henry de Bromhead enjoyed a fantastic 2021 Cheltenham Festival and he would dearly love to follow this up by bagging a Grand National winner. He claimed the Champion Chase, Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup last month and he has multiple chances for victory at Aintree at 5:15 on Saturday afternoon, Chris’s Dream looking a tasty each-way punt at healthy odds of 50/1
Definitely Red – 50/1
This will almost certainly be a hugely popular choice for the red half of Merseyside and having went off at 10/1 in the Grand National four years ago, he was badly hampered at Becher’s Brook and will clearly be looking to stay out of trouble on Saturday afternoon. He has proven himself over the National fences and is a proven stayer, therefore if he keeps out of trouble he could prove himself a danger to the rest of the field.
