It's a Grand Time for the Nation to Bet!

There's certainly been no lack of excitement in the racing world of late. From the 12^th - 15^th March we were treated to the ever popular Cheltenham Festival. This year's four day event saw a number of big odds winners hitting the bookmakers where it hurts, as well as record breaking performances by female jockeys. Bryony Frost and Rachael Blackmore both won Grade 1 races, with Blackmore doing so on 50-1 shot Minella Indo. The excitement from Cheltenham now rolls over to what most see as the pinnacle of UK racing, The Aintree Grand National. This enthralling three day festival culminates in the show piece Grand National race, this year held on Saturday 6^th April 2019. The race will be watched worldwide by TV audiences into the hundreds of millions,as well as by a heaving on-course crowd.

The Grand National is the one racing occasion where even those typically not interested in betting on racing decide to have a punt at picking a winner. Some do so based on name alone, just anything that stands out to them. Others take part in an office sweepstake or have a casual bet with friends. More shrewd types may well be analysing form and looking into the various betting bonuses and Grand National Free Bets on offer by online bookmakers. It's a competitive environment and a staggering £300 million is bet on the Grand National each year. Bookmakers are all looking to stand out from the crowd, and to gain your custom. Some bookmakers offer bet boosts and an increased number of places for place bets too. There are countless betting opportunities and incentives to explore.

So, where then to place your bet on the 2019 Grand National? Well, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention current favourite Tiger Roll (7/2) high on the list. The winner of the 2018 event is looking to become the first horse since Red Rum to win this coveted race back to back. Fresh from winning the Glenfarclas Chase for a second years straight, Trainer Gordon Elliot, hailed Tiger Roll a 'horse of a lifetime' so he clearly has high hopes. Anibale Fly is joint second favourite at betting odds of 10-1 with Rathvinden. The Trevor Hemmings owned Vintage Clouds, available at odds of 14-1 is a decent choice too considering the owners prior successes (Grand National wins with Hedgehunter, Ballabriggs and Many Clouds) For those looking for a more speculative bet Warriors Tale and Ultragold are avaialble at odds of 66-1.

It's not all about form analysis and the like though. With such a broad field and 30 fences to traverse over the 4 miles 514 yards distance, an element of good fortune is needed on the day too. As they say though, 'you make your own luck' and being guided by the right trainer can make a world of difference. The aforementioned Rathvinden stands out for this very reason, since trainer Willie Mullins has won the national twice before, so he's an old hand at the event compared to most. With up to forty runners on the day, whoever you put your money on, it's bound to be a sporting moment that captivates the nation.

Willie Mullins

William Peter Mullins, usually known as Willie, has the distinction of being Irish National Hunt champion trainer 11 times and, in an illustrious career stretching back three decades, has won most of the high-profile races. He has saddled 61 winners at the Cheltenham Festival and won the Grand National with Hedgehunter, ridden by Ruby Walsh, in 2005. The one notable omission from his CV was the Cheltenham Gold Cup, in which he had saddled several well-fancied runners over the years.

In September, 2016, in a shock move, which had a seismic effect on the National Hunt landscape in Ireland and beyond, Gigginstown House Stud removed around 60 horses from Willie Mullins’ County Carlow yard after a row of training fees. Around top-class 20 horses were transferred to Mullins’ arch-rival, Gordon Elliot, but Mullins still managed to secure the trainers’ title after an epic battle that lasted until the penultimate day of the season.

In the 2017/18 season, though, having played second fiddle to Gordon Elliot at the Cheltenham Festival for the second season running, Mullins headed to the Punchestown Festival in April with little, or no, chance of retaining his crown as Irish National Hunt champion trainer. However, after losing out on a winner on day one, when Paul Townend, deputising for the injured Ruby Walsh, inexplicably steered Al Boum Photo around the final obstacle in the Champion Novice Chase with the race at his mercy, Mullins saddled a stunning six-timer, including a one-two in the Punchestown Gold Cup, on day two to keep his title chances alive.

In 2019 Mullins finally found the missing puzzle piece, a Cheltenham Gold Cup, win with 12-1 shot Al Boum, ridden by Paul Townend. The seven year old gelding took control two fences out, battling past Anibale Fly in the process, gifting the 62 year old trainer a memorable victory.

"I had probably resigned myself to the fact I would not win the Gold Cup," said Mullins.

There's a lesson in perseverance there for us all.

Trainers: Grand National and Cheltenham Greats

With the festival season almost upon us, it's as good a time as any to take a look at trainers known for their ability to master the big occasions. Of course it's only days now until the Cheltenham Festival begins so it'd be remiss of me if I didn't highlight the horse trainers with a stellar record at the event. Cheltenham is a broad challenge when compared to the Grand National on account of the number of races involved in this prestigeous four day festival of racing. The real jewel in the crown of this showcase of high quality racing is the Cheltenham Gold Cup, held on the final day of the festival. The most successful Cheltham Festival trainer is Willie Mullins with 61 winners, closely followed by Nicky Henderson with 60, and Paul Nicholls with 43.

How does this data translate to both betting odds and where to place your money during the 2019 event you may ask. Well, the more information you're armed with the better in my book, especially when you're on the look out for betting opportunities. At time of writing, current favourite with bookmakers for the 15th March Gold Cup is Presenting Percy at 10/3, followed by 2nd favourite Clans Des Obeaux at 4-1 and Native River at 5-1. The Colin Tizzard trained Native River was last years winner, so a repeat would be somethng special. Clans Des Obeaux is trained by the aforementioned Paul Nichols so if trainer pedigree factors into how you place your bets, this could be a good choice. They're perhaps a little short for an each way / place bet, but if you're going for a win bet these three are all decent options.

Hot on the heels of Cheltenham comes the one and only Grand National. It's thought that close to £300 million will be bet on the Grand National this year with TV audiences into the hundreds of millions. Crazy numbers. Even those typically not interested in betting, tend to enjoy a flutter on the Grand National and due to the size of the field, there are plenty of big priced Grand National betting opportunities to be had. Perhaps the comically named Splash of Ginge holds appeal for you at 100-1 or Rathlin Rose at similar betting odds. Current favourite is last years winner, Tiger Roll at 12-1 and Rathvinden at around the name odds. The field size also makes an each way / place bet a more realistic option for punters.

Much like Cheltenham, some trainers of course have much more pedigree in the Grand National than others. The Grand National is more of a precise, yet unpredictable, event in some ways. It's a single race focus rather than the broader stroke of looking at Cheltenham Festival wins. The most successful Grand National trainer of all time is Nigel Twiston-Davies with 106 runners and 9 wins, followed by Jonjo ONeill with 67 and 5 wins, David Pipe with 66 runners and 3 wins and Willie Mullins with 2 wins from 57 runners. Mullins will have his fingers crossed during this year's Grand National as he trains Rathvinden, a horse in with a real chance in the race.