UK Horse Racing Tips

This Saturday, 6th April, it’s time for the greatest steeplechase in the world: The John Smith’s Grand National (4:15 Aintree). Check out our guide to the Grand National here. Of all horse races this attracts the attention of the general public and a race that many enjoy a flutter. But can you beat the bookies? I’m going to cut to the chase and just say it now: ”Can I please have another 100/1 winner? I guess that seems a tall order. Perhaps I’m just plain greedy. But hold your horses don’t I remember seeing a big priced winner? The Grand National is one of those races where anything can happen. In fact since its inauguration in 1829 there have been some remarkable stories. So ”Yes” if I cross my fingers, repeat the mantra Redrumredrumredrum…. until I’m blue in the face, this could be my lucky year.

Don’t believe me? Well let’s take a quick look a few big-priced winners of this amazing race. 

For starters, did you know five horses have won at odds of 100/1?

The most recent was Mon Mone, trained by Venetia Williams and ridden by Liam Treadwell, who won in 2009. 
We have to go back to 1967 to find our next colossal priced winner. Foinavon may not have been the best horse in the world but he was one of the luckiest and famed for his National victory. A loose horse scuppered the chance of just about every rival when mayhem ensued at the 23rd fence. Foinavon, trained by John Kempton, trailed so far behind the field that his jockey had time to steer round the chaos. A few jockeys remounted but as much a they tried they couldn’t catch this most remarkable winner.

In 1947 the Grand National crowd saw another surprise performance when Caughoo won at – you’ve guessed it – 100/1. The eight-year-old was bought for just £50 & traveled from Ireland. Eddie Dempsey rode the horse to victory. Fifty-seven horses ran and all returned safely to their stables.

I know what you’re thinking. These 100/1 winners don’t come along very often? The last two winners had a gap of twenty and forty-two years, respectively. Surely it couldn’t be possible for 100/1 winners to happen in consecutive years? 

Amazingly it happened in 1928 & 1929. 

Tipperary Tim (1928) won a remarkable race. On a misty day with heavy ground conditions, there was a pile-up at the Canal Turn. Seven of the forty-two strong field emerge from the gloom. By the penultimate fence there were only three left standing. One horse was pulled up when his saddle slipped while the other fell at the last fence. William Dutton went on to win with only two horses finishing, after the fallen horse was remounted. The story goes that before the race one of Dutton’s friends said: ”Billy boy, you’ll only win if all the others fall.” His words turned out to be true!

Not only did the race in 1929 prove to be an outside-backers paradise it was also famed for being the largest Grand National field of all time with sixty-six runners. Gregalach, trained by Tom Leader, may have proved victorious at 100/1 but each way backers of the fourth-placed Mallery’s Belle were in for a surprise returning an SP of 200/1.

Surely it couldn’t be time for another 100/1 winner?

Good luck to all. 

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