Hundreds of thousands of avid and casual National Hunt racing fans will converge on the Aintree Racecourse next month for the UK & Ireland’s preeminent fixture on its annual calendar – the Grand National.
Oftentimes referred to as the ‘race the world stops to watch’, the premier handicap pits accomplished veterans, up-and-coming prospects and everything in between against each other in a gruelling four-mile and two-and-a-half-furlong contest consisting of 30 fences to be jumped during its running.
As is the case every year, a blockbuster field is expected to line up for 2023’s renewal – and with that in mind – read on as we take a look at the three antepost favourites in the Grand National 2023 bet markets at the time of writing.
Corach Rambler
Entering off the back of a second consecutive Ultima Handicap Chase win at the Cheltenham Festival earlier this month, the Lucinda Russell-trained Corach Rambler has proven time and again that he can rise to the occasion when up against a talented and fast field of opposition.
The nine-year-old also boasts course form, having reigned supreme in the Jewson St Helens Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase in October of 2021. It appears as though Corach Rambler’s recent form coupled with his success at Aintree in the past has excited punters – with the Irish-bred horse currently sitting as the favourite in the antepost markets at 6/1.
Noble Yeats
Despite a less than stellar performance in the Cheltenham Festival’s Gold Cup where he finished fourth and 15 lengths shy of eventual winner Galopin Des Champs, last year’s Grand National champion is not a horse you want to write off.
Firstly, he was challenging at the Grade 1 level when we last saw him at Prestbury Park – therefore – he should look more competitive in a premier handicap fixture. Couple that with the fact that he has the ultimate course and distance form having triumphed in the £1,000,000 race in 2022 – and the Emmet Mullins-trained thoroughbred could prove hard to beat at 8/1.
Delta Work
After starting his season well with a win at Punchestown, Gordon Elliot’s Delta Work experienced a form slump that saw him finish third and sixth at Cheltenham and Navan respectively. The ten-year-old bounced back in the best way possible at the Cheltenham Festival however, keeping on well to reign victorious in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase.
The French horse won with ease, besting a field that included graded winners in Galvin, Franco De Port, Snow Leopardess and Gin on Lime.
For those who believe Delta Work can replicate his Cheltenham success, the French horse is paying 12/1 to take home the spoils in the feature race at Aintree next month.
Gaillard Du Mesnil
While many pundits aren’t convinced by Gaillard Du Mesnil’s showing in the Grade 2 National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham earlier this month – the talented seven-year-old still had enough in the tank to justify his pre-race favourite’s tag as he went on to triumph by just shy of three lengths from Chemical Energy.
His win is a continuation of what has been a strong start to the season for the Willie Mullins-trained thoroughbred, who won a Grade 1 at Leopardstown along with a second and third-placed finish at Leopardstown and Fairyhouse respectively.
It’s clear for everyone to see that this French horse has boatloads of potential, and with him currently as wide as 14/1 with certain operators – for those following the Grand National tips, Gaillard Du Mesnil could be the value bet of this year’s renewal.
