3 Outsiders for the 2019 Grand National

As mentioned in our ‘Need to know guide to the 2019 Grand National‘ the big race is often referred to as a lottery.

From Mon Mome winning it for Liam Treadwell and Venetia Williams as a 100/1 shot in 2009, to little Tiger Roll roaring over the National fences, finding the winner or riding the winner, is never a straight forward task.

30 fences and over 4 miles await the 40 runners on Saturday and with traffic problems bringing plenty of hard luck stories over the years, there’s more than a few reasons to side with an outsider in the betting.

Only three favourites or joint-favourites have obliged for the punters since the turn of the Millennium, so here’s a trio of names that could upset the odds once again in the biggest jumps race on the planet.

Ramses De Teille

Aged just seven years of age it’s a surprise to see Ramses De Teille given his chance in a race that is usually saved for slightly older horses.

Connections must be confident though because a bad experience around these National fences can really put a dent in a racehorse’s career. To do it without rating his chances, would surely be a pointless exercise.

His form certainly suggests he is worth a dabble with close runner-up efforts in major races over 3m4f and 3m5f, most notably when second to Elegant Escape in the Welsh Grand National last year on soft.

Much like Tiger Roll, he is one who jumps rather low at his fences, but given that didn’t bother the winner last year, Ramses De Teillee looks a fair each-way contender.

Go Conquer

Go Conquer has proved to be a consistent stayer this season for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, with his highlight being a win in the SkyBet Chase at Doncaster. That proved his credentials for a race like the Grand National, and considering he has at least placed on all three starts at three miles during this campaign, he’s well worth a second luck.

Experience over the National fences can mean a lot in the big one, so the fact he ran in the Topham in 2017 is a big tick in his box. He was only 17th that day, so although you’d prefer him finishing closer to the leaders, at least he’ll know what to expect what greeted by that famous spruce.

Conditions shouldn’t cause too many problems either, although another deluge of rain on top of Thursday’s weather might well make things less than ideal. If that does happen though, he is at least in the hands of a trainer who knows exactly what it takes to win the National. Nigel Twiston-Davies has a better record than most with his two Grand National triumphs coming in 1998 with Earth Summit and in 2002 with Bindaree.

Mala Beach

We all know that jockey Jamie Codd is only amateur by name. The Wexford man’s skills are some of the best in the saddle and he’s shown that better than most of late with two victories at the Cheltenham Festival, including the National Hunt Chase with Le Breuil and the Champion Bumper with Envoi Allen.

He’s not done badly in the Grand National either, most notably grabbing 2nd with Cause of Causes in 2017, when finishing four-and-a-half lengths behind One For Arthur. This time around, Codd gets the leg up on the Gordon Elliott-trained Mala Beach.

The 11yo was second to Jury Duty over 3m2f at Down Royal last time and looks to have plenty of stamina in the tank. Softer ground will help his chances, and unlike Go Conquer, he’ll relish a real slog in the mud.

Both of his last two victories have come with heavy in the going description, so if Mala Beach is on your own list of Aintree betting tips this week, then this is your cue to start the rain dance.