We all look for the best possible value when it comes with parting with our hard-earned cash and as such, why should it be any different when it comes with picking a potential winner in the UK’s favourite steeplechase?
Gordon Elliott’s Tiger Roll is a very short price to repeat his success of 2018 and win his second Grand National on the bounce with most bookmakers offering around 7/2, however most punters will be aiming for a bigger return for their cash.
With that in mind, we’ve searched through the runners in this year’s Grand National in search of some far more lucrative alternatives.
Vintage Clouds @ 14/1
Sue Smith-trained Vintage Clouds is owned by Trevor Hemmings and as such carries his famous yellow, green and white colours, Hemmings’ last winner being Many Clouds in 2015. Success for Vintage Clouds at Haydock Park in November 2018 was followed by a disappointing showing in the Welsh National where he was pulled-up, however he came roaring back when finishing second behind Beware The Bear in a field of 24 in the Cheltenham Festival Ultima Handicap Chase.
Vintage Clouds can handle most conditions and finished third in the 2018 Scottish National. He has scored over regulation fences at Aintree in the past and as such ticks most of the boxes required to be a Grand National champion.
Rock The Kasbah @ 20/1
This gelding has always been held in very high regard by Philip Hobbs and his winning ratio of nine wins from 25 is very impressive, especially when coupled with six runner-up positions. Consistency is certainly his strong point and he provided us with plenty to admire when triumphing in a prestigious handicap race at Cheltenham last November.
Two excellent showings at Sandown Park in the end-of-season meeting prove that Rock The Kasbah is happy running at this time of year and this is certainly a runner with that touch of class which is one of the requirements for this gruelling marathon.
Mall Dini @ 20/1
There was disappointment for Partick Kelly when Presenting Percy came in from the Gold Cup lame earlier this month, however a win in the 2019 Grand National would more than compensate for any disappointments at Prestbury Park. Mall Dini is the sort of runner which appears to relish big occasions and they certainly don’t come much bigger than this. He can boast a Pertemps Network Final victory in 2016 on his CV and he also finished second in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup in the 2018 Festival when starting as favourite. It would appear that he has been trained with the Grand National in mind since then and as such represents excellent E/W value at the very least at this large price.