It’s April. The days are getting brighter, the weather is improving and of course the Grand National is on the horizon.
The Grand National is the one race in the UK in which the country seemingly comes to a standstill as the nation tunes in for the Saturday showpiece at Aintree. We are just over a week away from this famous old event getting underway and it is the one race throughout the year where almost everyone you know has a bet put on.
From detailed research to choosing horses because the name sounds funny, there are all kinds of reasons for punters selecting their horses. Many people like to put their faith in the outsiders who are the biggest prices - just look at 50/1 Noble Yeats last year.
These are a few of the long shot stars who might be worth an each way bet next weekend.
Coko Beach - 33/1
Coko Beach was well beaten at the 2022 Grand National, but he has really made huge strides this season and trainer Gordon Elliott's could be set to give a good account of himself in Liverpool. The eight-year-old ran well despite not winning in three major handicaps earlier in the season but eventually had his moment when claiming the Grand National Trial at Punchestown back in February. Coko Beach powered his way through that contest and always looked to have plenty in the tank, jumping flawlessly throughout.
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The Big Breakaway - 40/1
The Big Breakaway was tipped for big things from a young age but he didn’t become the Grade 1 star that many believed he could be. Despite this, he looks in good shape and ideally weighted to stake a claim in this year’s National. He is a horse proven to have a great engine so stamina will not be an issue for the four-mile race. He handles both good and soft ground, which is another tick in the box, and his jumping could prove to be an advantage for him.
Mister Coffey - 50/1
The Nicky Henderson-trained Mister Coffey heads into the Grand National after an impressive run at the Cheltenham Festival to place third in the Novices’ Chase behind Gaillard Du Mesnil. The eight-year-old had a largely strong run back in March which involved some strong staying and impressive jumping. He looked a little burnt out at the end but a lot of the signs were positive ahead of the National at Aintree.
Gabbys Cross - 66/1
He may not be the best handicapped horse in the race by any stretch, but this sort of distance could be to the liking of Gabbys Cross. He has run better than results suggest this year at around 3m, latterly when placing third at Naas in the Leinster National. Travelling well into that race, he made two bad mistakes at the final two fences which stunted his momentum. Despite that, he ran on well to the line to snatch third, which suggests he will be up for the distance of the National.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change | Odds Courtesy Of Betfred
