Having traded at best odds of 50/1 for Grand National victory before the weekend, JP McManus-owned Kimberlite Candy triumphed in the weekend Classic Chase at Warwick and the gelding is now as low as 14/1 for Grand National glory on April 4th.
As things stand, William Hill Bookmakers are best price for the eight-year-old in the betting at Grand National odds of 25/1 with this firm paying five-places EW at quarter-odds. We envisage this price contracting substantially over the coming weeks as the first Saturday in April grows ever closer.
Following up on an encouraging showing in the Becher Chase at Aintree, Kimberlite Candy’s record across the season reads somewhat similarly to that of One For Arthur who won the National in 2017.
Rated at 140 prior to the weekend, there handicapper will be revising Kimberlite Candy’s mark to one which will guarantee a place in the 2020 renewal of the famous steeplechase. The bottom weights from 2019 had a BHA rating of 142 when announced.
Is there a good reason why you should back Kimberlite Candy ante-post?
This runner has triumphed in two recognised National trials , including one which involves the same fences as the big race itself. Indeed the revised BHA rating will ensure that he will make the cut for the 2020 Grand National and while the trainer has suggested that soft ground will be something of a prerequisite should the stayer be aimed towards the race, two of the last four Nationals have been on soft or worse.
Either way, the massive lure of the Grand National will be far too big to ignore and barring fitness issues, we expect his Grand National odds to shorten substantially from 25/1 as the race fast approaches.
