We bring you the latest Grand National news, betting odds and tips ahead of the 2021 renewal of the famous steeplechase. You will also find a wealth of free bets which can be claimed by registering with any of our featured betting partners using the links provided.
Nicky Henderson set to take six shots at Grand National glory
Nicky Henderson has one glaring omission from his otherwise hugely impressive CV, a Grand National winner. Nevertheless the trainer will look to correct this by aiming six runners at this year’s renewal, the attack headed by Beware The Bear and OK Corral.
Two-time winner Tiger Roll will head the 106-strong list of entries for this year’s race on 10th April and Gordon Elliott will send 16 into the steeplechase. Henderson will dominate the entries for British trainers in a contest he has described as being “the biggest of the lot”.
Henderson has yet to taste victory in any British or Irish National and he has certainly picked the biggest of the lot as he attempts to break that duck. The trainer came closest to victory in the world’s most famous steeplechase with Tsarevich which finished second behind Maori Venture back in 1987.
Henderson said: “It’s the race isn’t it? It’s the biggest of the lot. We’ve been involved in it for years and there is something very special about it – it’s very historic and the whole meeting has a terrific atmosphere. My whole life has revolved around National Hunt racing so, not surprisingly, winning the Grand National would be very special.
“We’ve been lucky in most races, everything has fallen into line apart from in the Nationals. We managed the American one last year but that’s a bit of a fudge over two miles and five furlongs. If you’re going to win any I’d rather have Aintree.”
Henderson considers his best chance of success in the 2021 Grand National to be Beware The Bear and OK Corral, the former winning the Ultima Handicap Chase in 2019 and Corral triumphing in the 2020 Sky Bet Chase. His list of entries also include Pym, Valtor, Gold Present and Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Santini, the latter admittedly an ideal horse for the Grand National but not really expected to take up his anticipated entry into the race given that the Cheltenham Gold Cup will surely be his priority.
The trainer said: “The two most likely to run are Beware The Bear and Ok Corral, who are the two that were due to run in it last year. They are being aimed primarily at Aintree.
“There is no doubt that one day this is where Santini will go, but the objective this year is Cheltenham and he wouldn’t do both. He is there as an alternative in case anything goes wrong before then. It’s a big possibility next year for him and I do think he’d be suited by the race.”
Tiger Roll will be looking to emulate the three-time success of Red Rum by winning his third Grand National in succession. The eleven-year-old romped home to victory in the 2018 and 2019 renewals of the race but was denied the chance to make it three on the trot due to the 2020 event being cancelled. Tiger Roll is just one of sixteen entries aimed at the Grand National by Gordon Elliott, his line-up also including Presenting Percy and Delta Work.