Aintree 2023: Grand National Betting Trends and Form Pointers

Younger Horses Have Been Shining in the National

Horses aged 9-11 dominated the National during the early part of the 21st century, but things have changed a little over the past few years.

Five of the last seven winners have been aged 7-8, with only Rule The World (2016) and Tiger Roll (2019) bucking the trend.

Last year’s winner Noble Yeats still fits the criteria as an eight-year-old, although the handicapper has lumbered the horse with 11st 11lbs this year.

Of the other horses in the 7-8 age category, Gaillard Du Mesnil and Le Milos appeal as the most likely ones to give punters a good run for their money.

The latter is available at 16/1 with Fitzdares and trainer Dan Skelton rates him as the best chance he has ever had of winning the National.

Treat the Race Favourite with Caution

With 40 runners lining up in the big event at Aintree each year, the National can be an extremely tricky race for punters to unravel.

Since the turn of the century, just four favourites have won the race - Hedgehunter (2005), Comply or Die (2008), Don’t Push It (2010) and Tiger Roll (2019).

Corach Rambler is the ante-post favourite on most UK betting apps and he may well attract plenty of support before the race gets underway.

The nine-year-old is 10lb well-in at the weights after being given a new rating of 156 following his recent victory in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

However, while that form potentially makes Corach Rambler a blot on the handicap, a Festival success is not generally a pointer towards National glory.

Steer Clear of Cheltenham Festival Winners

Tiger Roll’s National victories in 2018 and 2019 were all the more remarkable given that the horse had also won at the Cheltenham Festival during the same season.

No other horse has achieved that feat since 1961, highlighting the difficult task that faces some of this year’s most fancied runners.

In addition to Corach Rambler, Delta Work and Gaillard Du Mensil are bidding to follow up Cheltenham victories in the National.

Delta Work finished third in the National last year after being outstayed on the run-in and a similar fate may await him this time around.

Gaillard Du Mensil does fit the aforementioned age trend, which may allow him to overcome the Cheltenham curse and give trainer Willie Mullins another big race win.