The Grand National is one of the most famous horse racing events in the world. With the first race being run in 1839, this event has a long and colorful history. Of course, some of the best stories about this racecourse are about its formidable obstacles!
The dates for the Grand National in 2020 are from April 2 to April 4 and horse racing enthusiasts the world over are eagerly preparing for this event of events!
While the final selection of horses that will participate in this event has not even been finalized, a few Ante post betting markets have already started to publish the latest betting odds and markets for the Grand National.
Bettors and bookmakers alike already have expectations about who will run the final races and favorites are already being selected. So, who are the favorites for this year’s Grand National? Let’s find out!
Grand National 2020 Favorites
The Grand National will see 40 runners cross 30 obstacles over a 4-mile, 2.5-furlong course to compete for prize money that totals up to a million pounds! For this year, here is the list of the top contenders for the sport’s biggest event.
1. Tiger Roll
According to the Liverpool Echo news blog, Tiger Roll is leading the remaining 89 entries for the Grand National this year. This 10-year-old, trained by Gordon Elliot, has won the last two Grand Nationals (for 2018 and 2019), and is looking to make history by being the first runner ever to win the biggest race of the race for the third time in a row. His odds are currently running at 5/1 to win the race!
2. Burrows Saint
Favorite number 2 is Mullins-trained Burrows Saint. This 7-year old won the Irish Grand National in 2019, so punters have high expectations of this young horse. However, the last time a 7-year-old won the Grand National was 80 years ago in 1940! His odds are currently at 12/1 for the win!
3. Any Second Now
Trained by T. Walsh, Any Second Now is an 8-year-old horse that won the Kim Muir Chase at Cheltenham in 2019. While still considered a lightweight, Any Second Now established his status as a top contender for the Grand National by winning at Naas. This winner’s odds for the big day are now at 14/1, but those odds could change for the better if he continues to perform as he did at his latest race.
4. Kimberlite Candy
This 8-year-old, trained by T. Laccy and owned by JP McManus, established his claim to the top contender list for the Grand National by winning the Classic Chase at Warwick earlier this year. With odds at 16/1, this horse is going to face a big challenge, since news reports have confirmed that he will not run anymore until the big race at Aintree.
5. Walk in the Mill
Walk in the Mill is a 10-year-old horse trained by R. Walford, and he is the number 5 contender for the Grand National race this year. In 2019, he came in 4th at the Grand National, but won the Becher Chase in 2018 and 2019, so he knows the fences at Aintree well. Walk in the Mill comes in with odds at 16/1.
6. Magic of Light
This 9-year-old mare had a 66/1 odds for last year’s Grand National, but she surprised everyone by storming the finish line at second place, just 3 lengths behind Tiger Roll. Trained by Jessie Harrington, she has been in excellent form this season, and her odds for this year’s big race are at 16/1.
7. Potters Corner
According to the Daily Mail, 10-year-old Potters Corner, trained by Christian Williams, is the first home-trained horse to with Welsh National in the last 54-years in 2019! He also won the 2019 Midlands National before that race. Given that this horse is comfortable on all types of ground, and has already shown his endurance in the Welsh and Midlands Nationals, he stands a good chance at the Grand National. His odds are currently at 20/1.
8. Definitely Red
This 11-year-old, trained by Brian Ellison, came in second at this year’s Paddy Marsh Chase and fourth at the Becher Chase fences in December 2019. He has made it to the top 89 contenders for the Grand National for this year and stands a 25/1 chance to win the big race.
9. Le Breuil
This 8-year-old, trained by Ben Pauling, won the 2019 National Hunt Challenge at Cheltenham, so his staying power is not in question at all! With the experience he builds up in races leading up to the Grand National, Le Breuil stands a 25/1 chance of winning at Aintree.
10. Ballyoptic
The last of the top ten contenders, Ballyoptic, has been trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies and is 10 years old. He finished second at the Scottish Grand National in 2019, but fell at the Becher Chase in December. His odds of winning at Aintree are 25/1.