The day we have all been waiting for is here. Yes, it’s Grand National day at the Aintree Festival. A field of 34 runners will go to post for the biggest handicap steeplechase on earth, with millions of viewers across the globe. A pot of £1million is up for grabs with £500,000 going to the winner! This is a race JP McManus loves to win and he owns the best backed horse of the week, so let’s take a look at that runner below.
The best backed horse of the week is without doubt Limerick Lace, who has been backed from 25/1 all the way into 8/1 in places this week which takes a fair sum of money in such a big race. The mare started off her season with an easy victory over fences at Clonmel in October, and she then finished second to Coko Beach in the Troytown at Navan in November.
That Troytown run is as far as she has gone. There’s a big step up from three miles to 4m2f, so obviously stamina has to be the main worry for backers. McManus is confident she’ll get the trip, and she was very gutsy when seeing off Dinoblue in the Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month over the extended 2m4f.
Paul Townend got the ride on McManus’ leading market fancy I Am Maximus, but Mark Walsh had the pick of the rest and he has opted to ride this girl. The stats say she can’t win and mares have a shocking record in the race, but records are there to be broken.
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