The Grand National is the most famous horse race globally and is a key part of UK sporting culture, with many people placing their only bet of the year on the race.
Workplaces all over the country will see employees taking part in a Grand National sweepstake for the race that captures the public’s imagination.
The race is also followed around the world, and over 600 million people tune in annually to watch one of the most exhilarating horse races on the calendar while
And after being cancelled in 2020 and run behind closed doors in 2021, Aintree will be fully packed this year to witness what’s sure to be another thrilling contest.
Regular racing fans and once-a-year punters all love to have a bet on the Grand National, and we’re here to guide you through every aspect of the 2022 Grand National.
Know your way around the racecards already? Hop over to any of the following bookmakers to place your bet now:
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The Grand National is a jumps race run over 4 miles and 2½ furlongs with 30 fences to jump in total. It’s run annually at Aintree racecourse, on the outskirts of Liverpool, and is one of the highlights of the sporting calendar in the UK.
It’s classed as ‘the ultimate test of horse and rider’ and features two of the most challenging fences ever created in Becher’s Brook and the Chair plus the thrilling Canal Turn and the Elbow, one of the longest run-ins in UK racing.
Forty runners traditionally head to post, and the list of past Grand National winners includes some racing greats, including the legendary Red Rum, who won the race three times and Tiger Roll, who has won it twice in recent times.
The Grand National is a handicap, meaning that the horses carry an allocated weight based on their expected ability – those horses who are seen to have more ability carry more weight than a horse that is seen to have less ability.
This is implemented to ensure that every horse has a fair chance in the race.
The 2022 Grand National will be run on Saturday, 9 April, and in the next section, we look at some of the current favourites for the race.
Please note that the final 40 Grand National runners have not yet been confirmed, so some of the horses listed below may not run – make sure and check on the day of the race what the final field will be.
Any Second Now is the current ante-post favourite for the 2022 Grand National and is trained in Ireland by Ted Walsh, father of former jockey Ruby.
He won at the Cheltenham Festival in 2019 and placed 3rd in last year’s Grand National and will be looking to go even better this time around.
And his connections know what it takes to win the Grand National – Ted Walsh trained the winner of the 2000 Grand National while owner JP McManus has won the race twice, including last year.
This will be Escaria Ten’s first visit to Aintree if he runs, and he is trained in Ireland by Gordon Elliott, who has won the Grand National three times already.
Connections are confident of a big run if he goes to post, although he was pulled up in last year’s Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse – the longest distance he has raced over.
Snow Leopardess is a strong hope for the UK in the 2022 Grand National, and she won the Becher Chase in December, which is run over the Grand National fences.
Trained by Charlie Longsdon, she has won all three of her races this season, and she’s aiming to become the first mare to win the Grand National since Nickel Coin in 1951.
Delta Work will arrive at Aintree on the back of victory at the Cheltenham Festival, having edged out stablemate Tiger Roll in the Cross Country Chase in a thrilling finish.
Also trained by Gordon Elliott, Delta Work is owned by Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, who won the race with Rule The World and the excellent Tiger Roll.
Minella Times won last year’s Grand National under jockey Rachael Blackmore who became the first female jockey to win the big race. They look set to be back to defend their crown this year, but it won’t be as easy with the duo having a lot more weight to carry this season.
But after a successful Cheltenham Festival, trainer Henry de Bromhead will be confident that Minella Times can once more land the big one this year.
If you’re looking for the best 2022 Grand National tips then make sure to check back here regularly as the big race approaches for our Grand National best bets.
Here at Profit Squad, our betting experts will fully analyse the race and provide researched Grand National tips with the aim of picking the winner.
Bookmakers are already offering odds on the 2022 Grand National as an ante-post market.
An ante-post bet is placed in advance of the race itself, hoping that you have more favourable odds than you would on the day of the race itself.
The downside is that if your selection does not run, you usually do not receive your money back as the bet is treated as a losing one.
We’ve listed the horses currently at the top of betting odds for the 2022 Grand National below, but please be aware that they will likely change before the race.
Horse | Current Odds |
Any Second Now | 12/1 |
Escaria Ten | 12/1 |
Delta Work | 12/1 |
Enjoy Dallen | 14/1 |
Snow Leopardess | 14/1 |
Run Wild Fred | 22/1 |
Farclas | 22/1 |
Minella Times | 22/1 |
Longhouse Poet | 25/1 |
Burrows Saint | 25/1 |
With 40 horses set to run in the Grand National, it’s helpful to have some key trends to try and help highlight some of the likelier winners of the big race.
And we’ve done the hard work for you by putting together the top five key trends for the 2022 Grand National by looking back at the previous runnings of the race.
And with the Cheltenham Festival still fresh in our minds, an interesting stat to note is that there have been seven Grand National winners who ran at Cheltenham on their previous run.
The Grand National is the most famous race in the UK, so of course, all the leading betting sites offer a massive range of betting options to enjoy, plus some may offer a Grand National welcome bonus.
But what is the best betting site for the Grand National?
The answer to that is it varies depending on the individual and what they are looking for from your betting experience.
Below, we highlight the essential criteria you should be looking for when choosing a bookmaker to bet on the Grand National online.
Everyone would love some Grand National free bets, and the leading bookmakers all offer an incentive to open an account with them, generally in the form of a free bet or bonus.
These are perfect for using on the Grand National or any sport you fancy but always check the full terms and conditions.
Most people now own a smartphone, and placing a bet on your mobile device is as straightforward as placing it on your laptop or desktop computer.All the leading bookmakers
have mobile sites and iOS and Android betting apps, allowing you complete access to your account and Grand National betting markets.
This lets you place your bets quickly and easily whenever you wish from home, work, or when on the move.
The Grand National is free to watch on ITV Racing, but you may miss all the action if you’re out and about.
Fear not, though – if you have a bet on the race online, the majority of the top bookies will also allow you to live-stream the race, ensuring you can keep an eye on how your Grand National bets are doing even if you’re not in front of a television.
Being such a massive betting event, the top betting sites also offer a full range of specific offers on the Grand National.
These vary, but the most popular are extra places on the race for those having an each-way bet, your stake back as a free bet if your horse falls, and your stake back as a free bet if your horse finishes 2nd.
So make sure and shop around when looking to open an account or do as many people do and open an account with more than one bookmaker so you can cherry pick all the best Grand National offers.
And it’s also essential to shop about to make sure you get the best Grand National betting odds on your selections.
Betting odds vary between bookmakers, so always ensure you place your bet with the one offering the highest price on your Grand National fancy.
A slight price increase can significantly affect your profit if you’re lucky enough to pick the winner.
Having highlighted the features you should be looking for when picking an online bookmaker, here at Profit Squad, we’ve compiled our list of the best Grand National bookmakers for this year’s race.
They all fulfil the criteria we’ve mentioned above, including fantastic odds, extra places, and superb mobile apps – offering you the complete Grand National betting experience.
Sky Bet is one of the UK’s leading bookmakers and is well known for their innovative ideas and fantastic customer promotions. They also offer some of the strongest betting odds across all sports, so they are worth checking out for your Grand National bets. They will also offer extra places on the big race and are already offering five places.
bet365 lead the way in the UK for online betting and cover a massive range of many sports and markets. Their horse racing coverage is strong as you would expect, and they are many people’s go-to bookmakers for Grand National betting. They offer an excellent choice of promotions for customers, and they also are already offering five places on this year’s Grand National.
Known for their social media presence, Paddy Power also bring a robust betting site to the market and a fantastic app. They regularly offer some of the best betting odds on horse racing, so they are a popular choice for Grand National betting. And if you’re looking to place an each-way bet, they should be top of your list currently as they are offering six places on the 2022 Grand National.
Ladbrokes have a rich heritage in horse racing betting in the UK and boast a superb range of betting markets on the Grand National. With a presence on the high street across the country, they are many people’s picks for placing their bets on the big race. And they are bound to be a popular choice with six places on offer for this year’s National.
William Hill are another bookmaker well known throughout the UK, and they are also one of the oldest betting companies in existence. Their horse racing betting side is powerful, offering excellent prices and a vast range of betting markets. With a shop and online presence, they will
also be a popular destination for many people placing a bet on the 2022 Grand National, and they are currently offering five places on the race.
BetVictor are well known for providing some of the best horse racing odds on the market, and the Grand National is no different with them offering the top price on many horses already in their ante-post market. And the good news for each-way backers is that they are already paying six places on the 2022 Grand National.
Traditionally, betting on the Grand National involved placing a win bet or an each-way bet on a horse or horses. However, in recent years, the bookmakers have got creative with the betting markets they offer on the Grand National.
You can now bet on markets such as the winning distance of the race, who will train the winner, and even what age the winning horse will be – indeed something for everyone.
We’ve taken a closer look at the most popular Grand National betting markets below.
The simplest form of having a bet on the Grand National where you place a wager on the horse you think will win the race. If your horse wins, your bet is a winner, but it’s sadly a loser if it doesn’t.
At a basic level, an each-way bet is two bets in one – a win bet and a bet on a horse to place. So if you were to place a £1 each-way bet, the total stake would be £2. If your horse wins the race, you’re paid out on both parts of the bet, but if it only places, you are only paid out on the place part. However, with the Grand National regularly featuring big priced horses running, even a place can see you bank some tasty profit, especially when combined with a bookmaker offering extra each-way places on the race.
The standard number of places is 4, but many bookmakers will offer 5, 6, 7 and even 8 places on the Grand National as they aim to entice you to have an each-way bet.
This betting market allows you to bet on the winning distance between the winner of the Grand National and the horse in 2nd place. In horse racing, this is measured in horse lengths, which is roughly eight feet. Minella Times won last year’s race by six-and-a-half lengths, and the shortest ever winning margin was Neptune Collonges, who won by a nose from Sunnyhillboy in 2012.
For many people, having a bet on the Grand National is a family ritual – many closely study the form while others make their choices based on the horse’s name or the jockey’s silks.
In years gone by, a trip to the bookmakers on the High Street was required to place a bet on the
Grand National – not so now.
Online betting has exploded in recent years, and there are now many betting sites that you can access on your laptop or mobile device.
Placing your Grand National bet with an online bookmaker is a straightforward task and allows you to access the full range of Grand National betting markets easily.
Opening an online betting account may seem daunting, but it’s a quick and straightforward process, allowing you to register and start placing your bets in minutes.
In this section, we’ll guide you through opening an online account with a betting site and for our example, we will be using Paddy Power, though the process is similar across all bookmakers.
Once you have navigated to the Paddy Power sign-up page, click the ‘Join Now’ button and enter your personal and account details as indicated.
When opening an online account, you must verify your email address – click the link in the email you receive to complete this.
You may also be asked to verify your identity, which generally involves sending over a copy of your identification so that the bookmaker can confirm you are who you say you are.
This is an industry legal requirement to ensure there is no underage gambling and cover money laundering regulation.
Once your account has been confirmed, you’re now able to deposit money into your account, and the good news is there are several options for you to add funds. The most popular is by debit card, but the leading betting sites also allow e-wallets, bank transfers, and even cryptocurrency. Please note, that credit cards are NOT accepted as a deposit method.
Once you have selected the option you desire, confirm the amount you wish to deposit and complete the transaction – the funds will become available in your account to bet with immediately.
Now you’re free to browse the full selection of Grand National betting markets. Navigate to the horse racing section of the site and select the Grand National. Add your fancies to your bet slip and place your bets, and then sit back in anticipation of the big race in the hope of landing the winner.
If lady luck is on your side and you bank yourself some profit from the Grand National, it is a straightforward process to withdraw your winnings.
Once your balance has been updated, navigate to the banking section of the site and select withdrawal.
Then simply enter how much you want to withdraw and confirm – please note that withdrawals have to go back to the same source as they were deposited from. So if you deposited with a debit card, the withdrawal would be via the same card.
There have been many famous winners of the Grand National over the years, but the two that stand out are the legendary Red Rum and Tiger Roll.
Red Rum won the race in 1973 and 1974 before making history by landing it for the third time in 1977 at the age of 12.
And in recent years, the enigmatic Tiger Roll won back-to-back Grand Nationals in 2018 and 2019 before being denied a chance at history in 2020 with the race’s cancellation due to COVID.
It’s a race that has also thrown up some memorable stories, including Devon Loch in 1956, who fell on the flat in the shadow of the post when five-lengths clear and Aldiniti won the 1981 race under jockey Bob Champion who had overcome cancer to take the ride.
And no one can forget the race that never was – the 1993 Grand National that saw Esha Ness win for Jenny Pitman only for the race to be voided after 30 of the runners continued despite a false start being called.
And of course, last year, Rachael Blackmore steered Minella Times to victory to become the first-ever female jockey to win the historic race and the third straight winner of the Grand National for Ireland.
We’ve listed all the Grand National winners since 2010 below with the winning jockey, winning trainer and the betting odds that they went off at.
Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
2021 | Minella Times | Rachael Blackmore | Henry de Bromhead | 11/1 |
2020 | NO RACE | – | – | – |
2019 | Tiger Roll | Davy Russell | Gordon Elliott | 4/1F |
2018 | Tiger Roll | Davy Russell | Gordon Elliott | 10/1 |
2017 | One For Arthur | Derek Fox | Lucinda Russell | 14/1 |
2016 | Rule The World | David Mullins | Mouse Morris | 33/1 |
2015 | Many Clouds | Leighton Aspell | Oliver Sherwood | 25/1 |
2014 | Pineau De Re | Leighton Aspell | Richard Newland | 25/1 |
2013 | Auroras Encore | Ryan Mania | Sue Smith | 66/1 |
2012 | Neptune Collonges | Daryl Jacob | Paul Nicholls | 33/1 |
2011 | Ballabriggs | Jason Maguire | Donald McCain | 14/1 |
2010 | Don’t Push It | Tony McCoy | Jonjo O’Neill | 10/1 JF |
The Grand National is the feature race of Aintree’s three-day Grand National Festival, with the action getting underway on Thursday 7, April and building up to the main event on Saturday evening.
The Grand National Festival is not all about the big race itself, though, as it boasts a stunning supporting card of races, including 10 Grade 1 contests and a colossal prize pool.
Make sure you’re ready for this year’s Grand National Festival by checking out the entire race schedule below.
Time | Race | Distance | Type |
13:45 | Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) | 2m 4f | Chase |
14:20 | Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m 1f | Hurdle |
14:55 | Betway Bowl (Grade 1) | 3m 1f | Chase |
15:30 | Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m 4f | Hurdle |
16:05 | Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase | 2m 5f | Chase |
16:40 | Red Rum Handicap Chase (Grade 3) | 2m | Chase |
17:15 | Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race (Grade 2) | 2m 1f | Bumper |
Time | Race | Distance | Type |
13:45 | Orrell Park Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) | 2m 4f | Hurdle |
14:20 | Top Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m ½f | Hurdle |
14:55 | Mildmay Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) | 3m 1f | Chase |
15:30 | Melling Chase (Grade 1) | 2m 4f | Chase |
16:05 | Topham Handicap Chase (Grade 3) | 2m 5f | Chase |
16:40 | Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 3m ½f | Hurdle |
17:15 | Lydiate Handicap | 2m 1f | Hurdle |
Time | Race | Distance | Type |
13:45 | EFT Construction Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) | 3m ½f | Hurdle |
14:25 | Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m 4f | Hurdle |
15:00 | Maghull Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) | 2m | Chase |
15:35 | Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) | 3m ½f | Hurdle |
16:15 | Betway Handicap Chase (Grade 3) | 3m 1f | Chase |
17:15 | Grand National Handicap Chase (Grade 3) | 4m 2f | Chase |
18:20 | Standard Open NH Flat Race (Grade 2) | 2m 1f | Bumper |
For those who don’t regularly follow horse racing or place a bet, the sport can seem full of confusing jargon, so in this section, we explain some of the popular horse racing and gambling terms.
Ante-Post – Bookmakers offer ante-post betting months in advance of the Grand National, allowing you to back a horse in the hope it will be a shorter price on the day of the race. However, if your selection doesn’t run come Grand National Day, your bet is a loser.
Best Odds Guaranteed – All the leading bookmakers offer Best Odds Guaranteed on the Grand National. If you place a bet on the day of the race and take the price on a horse, and it goes off at a higher price, you will be paid out at the higher price.
Co-Favourite – This is when three or more horses have an equal chance of winning, according to the bookmakers, and they are all offered at the shortest (identical) price to win – currently, there are ante-post co-favourites for the Grand National – Any Second Now, Escaria Ten, and Delta Work, who are all 12/1.
Dead Heat – A dead heat is when two or more horses cross the line together and cannot be separated by the judge. It’s never happened before in the Grand National, but if it did and you’d backed one of the horses involved, your stake would be evenly split over the number of horses in the dead heat – for example, a £10 win bet on a two-horse dead heat would see your stake split two ways so your bet would be settled as a £5 win.
Extra Places – For standard betting on the Grand National, bookmakers pay 4 places, but they regularly pay extra places on the big race as an incentive. As a result, many leading bookmakers will offer 5, 6, 7 and even 8 places on this year’s Grand National.
Favourite – The favourite is the horse that the bookmakers think has the best chance of winning the race, so they offer the lowest odds on. Tiger Roll was the last favourite to win the Grand National – he won the race for the second consecutive year in 2019 at odds of just 4/1.
Going – The going describes the specific ground conditions that the horses will race on. For turf meetings, this ranges from Firm to Heavy. The Grand National is usually run on Good to Soft ground – perfect for jumps racing.
Joint-Favourite – This is similar to co-favourites but is used when only two horses that the bookmakers feel have an equal chance of winning. The last joint-favourite to win the Grand National was Don’t Push It in 2010, ridden by Tony McCoy.
Longshot – A longshot is a horse that the bookmakers don’t think has a good chance of winning, so they offer considerable odds. However, plenty of long shots have won the Grand National, including famously Foinavon at 100/1 in 1967, Last Suspect at 50/1 in 1985 and Auroras Encore at 66/1 in 2013.
Market Mover – There are always several market movers on Grand National day, and this refers to a horse whose odds have lengthened or shortened in price. The odds may increase at the bookmakers as perhaps the ground conditions have gone against the horse, while they may be shortened due to the amount of cash placed on the horse.
Odds – Betting odds are numerical expressions used in gambling to reflect a specific outcome’s likelihood. They are traditionally displayed as fractional (4/1) in the UK, but decimal odds have become more prevalent (5.00).
Place – Your horse may not win the Grand National but could well grab place, meaning it has finished in a position that the bookmaker has offered as part of an each-way bet. If your horse places, you will receive a payout for the place part of your each-way bet.
Rule 4 – A rule 4 is a deduction taken by bookmakers if there is a non-runner in the race. If you have taken a price on a horse and there is a non-runner, you will see a reduction on any winnings to take into account that your horse had an improved chance of winning due to the non-runner.
Stake – Your stake is the amount of money you put on a bet.
Starting Price – Every horse that runs in the Grand National will be given a starting price (SP). If you have not taken a price on your selections, your bet will be settled at the starting price and any winnings calculated at the SP.
Tip – A tip is a selection from a tipster detailing a bet they believe will win and return a profit.
Tipster – A tipster is someone with knowledge of a specific sport which provides tips based on that knowledge.
The Grand National is a thrilling spectacle that sees the runners and riders make two circuits of Aintree, jumping 30 fences.
We’ve highlighted the famous fences and areas that form the Grand National course below.
Becher’s Brook – Becher’s is jumped twice during the Grand National, as fence 6 and 22 has been altered in recent years due to safety reasons. Due to its size and angle of the 6 ft 9in drop on the landing side, some jockeys have compared it to ‘jumping off the edge of the world’.
Canal Turn – Jumped as fence 8 and 24 during the Grand National, the Canal Turn is unique in jumps racing due to the 90 degree left turn the horses and jockeys have to take following it.
Foinavon – Named after the 100/1 winner of the Grand National, Foinavon is jumped as fence seven and 23 and is located in between Becher’s and the Canal Turn. It was named after the 1967 winner who negotiated a melee at the fence to go well clear and land the race at massive odds.
Melling Road – Melling Road dissects the Grand National course and is the barrier between the normal racecourse and the Grand National course. On the second circuit, the race for home begins when they cross the road, which on Grand National Day is covered with Fibresand to allow the horses to cross safely.
The Chair – The Chair is unique in that it is one of just two fences jumped only once during the Grand National, and it is also the highest fence that needs to be negotiated. Located in front of the grandstand, it stands at 5ft 3in tall.
The Elbow – Having jumped the final fence in the Grand National, the runners then head for home, but the run-in at Aintree is not perfectly straight but angled slightly to the right – known as the Elbow. Once past the Elbow, they still have to face one of the longest run-ins in the UK at over 450 metres, where many potential winners have had victory snatched away from them.
Valentines – Valentines is fence 9 and 25 and is positioned after the Canal Turn and is named after the horse Valentine who jumped the fence in spectacular style in the 1840 Grand National.
With just a couple of days to go before the big race, there have been a number of changes to the final field for the Grand National at Aintree on Saturday. Caribean Boy and Farclas have dropped out and that has laid the way clear for much fancied Eclair Surf and Fortescue to join the runners and riders.
Emma Lavelle’s Eclair Surf has been in great form of late and is sure to be a horse that will get a lot of betting action. The eight-year-old won the Classic Chase at Warwick and came in second at the Eider Handicap Chase.
Farclas, who finished last year’s Grand National in fifth place, was withdrawn, allowing Fortescue into the running. On that withdrawal Eddie O’Leary expanded;
“He’s very well, he’s in really good form but we’re just wanting to go for the Irish National with him.”
“The Irish National is a race very close to our hearts so that’s where he’ll go instead of Aintree. He’s perfectly well within himself, we’re just going to save him for Fairyhouse.”
Footballing legend Sir Alex Ferguson, who has a rich history in the horse racing field, is looking to secure Grand National glory this year.
Last year Fergie saw three of his horses win races at the Grand National meeting and the same three horses, Protektorat, Monmiral, and Clan Des Obeaux, will all be on display although he won’t be able to secure three winners as both Protektorat and Clan Des Obeaux are gunning for the Betway Bowl.
Those winners romped home at a combined 108/1 but sadly weren’t watched by spectators on the course due to coronavirus restrictions. Nonetheless, it’s a day that a day the former Manchester United manager remembers fondly;
“That’s the best day I’ve had in my time in racing, which is about 20 years or so,” he said. “It is different to when I was managing my football teams – I was in control of what was going to happen on the pitch, but I’m not in control of that (on the racecourse) as the trainer does all of that and as an owner, you hope it goes well.”
“You do get the same excitement when you win big races like that as it does get you very excited.”
Popular horse Eclair Surf is still some way from being included in the Grand National line-up and will need several runners to pull out before he can take part. The horse, from Emma Lavelle’s stable, is attracting a lot of attention and now sits in the 43rd spot on the National list.
A total of 40 horses can take part in Randox Grand National, which takes place on Saturday, so Eclair Surf will have to hope a few more horses drop out before the big race hones into view.
Lavelle has stated that Eclair Surf is ready to race and is in brilliant form, adding;
“He’s got a very good profile but the only concern is the fact he can miss the odd fence. Clearly, in the National, you don’t get that chance,”
“He’s got better and better as the season has progressed though. He’s jumped beautifully over National fences at home too.”
The BGC (Betting and Gaming Council) has called upon government ministers to recognize the importance of the Grand National as a heritage event and one that supports many livelihoods, from those who work in horse racing and the sports betting industries.
The Grand National betting market is huge, accounting for as much as 2.5% of all annual horse racing bets, and most of this action still takes place in betting shops.
13 million people in the United Kingdom are set to bet on the race and it’s a pastime that attracts those who wouldn’t usually indulge in such action, such is the popularity of the showpiece event at Aintree.
BGC CEO Michael Dugher has moved to impress upon MPs the importance of the betting industry and is, understandably, concerned about upcoming UK gambling laws that could have an impact on the sport of horse racing as a whole, stating;
“Millions of us are going to come together this weekend, from all walks of life, to have a bet on the Grand National,”
“It is the nation’s punt, the one time many go and place a bet in their local bookies and enjoy the thrill of horse racing with friends and family.”
“Its fantastic bookies are once again open on high streets, but there could be a sting in the tail next year if anti-gambling prohibitionists get their way.”
Trainer Colin Tizzard is set to send both Lostintranslation and Fiddlerontheroof to take part at the Grand National this year. This comes after speculation that the latter of those two horses may be set to be retired.
Both horses were put through their paces over National fences on Wednesday and the pair will most likely arrive in Aintree with differing aspirations in mind. Eight-year-old Fiddlerontheroof has been in strong form while ten-year-old Lostintranslation has been fairly poor in recent weeks and months.
Lostintranslation will be ridden by Harry Cobden while Fiddlerontheroof will be ridden by Brendan Powell.
Though there is no dress code at this year’s Grand National The Jockey Club has issued what they term a ‘Style Code’ and insists on visitors wearing smart clothing. Most racegoers will be wearing suits though hats are entirely optional.
For Ladies Day the order of the day is Coco Chanel and visitors for the three-day event have been encouraged to “dress to impress”. Often Aintree is the scene of some fairly debauched behaviour and one wonders if the improved dress code will in any way avert such incidents this time around?
A four-year-old girl named Betty has been made the honorary 41st runner in the 2022 Grand National. Betty weighed just 1lb 7oz (650g) when she was born four months premature back in June 2017 and spent more than a year at the Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
The Jockey Club named Betty the honorary 41st runner to help raise funds for the Alder Hey Children’s hospital, which is just a short distance from the Aintree racecourse.
Snow Leopardess will look to become the first mare to win the Grand National since 1951 as she takes on the famous Aintree racecourse. The ten-year-old, owned by the Fox-Pitt family and trained by Charlie Longsdon, is something of a longshot but a popular with the punters ahead of the April 9th event.
On her prospects Longsdon commented:
“I’m delighted she will get in and the National has been the plan. She’s been great since Exeter, she’ll do a piece of work in Lambourn at the end of this week and jump the National-style fences then she’ll be ready to go.”
“She’s a special mare and although it will be nerve-racking, it will also be very exciting. There’s been plenty of attention in her as her career has gone on and let’s hope she gives her followers something to cheer about.”
“We’d like a little bit of juice in the ground and hope she has an each-way chance. It’s a big day for the yard and we’re very much looking forward to it.”
Snow Leopardess is currently placed at around 11/1 and sits behind Any Second Now and Delta Work in the betting.
The 2022 Grand National is at Aintree racecourse on Saturday, 9 April.
The 2022 Grand National is due to start at 17:15.
2021 saw history made as Rachael Blackmore became the first-ever female jockey to win the Grand National when she partnered Minella Times to victory at odds of 11/1
The full result was;
1st – Minella Times (Rachael Blackmore) 11/1
2nd -Balko Des Flos (Aidan Coleman) 100/1
3rd – Any Second Now (Mark Walsh) 15/2
4th – Burrows Saint (Mr P W Mullins) 9/1
The current ante-post favourite is Any Second Now, who finished 3rd in last year’s race.
The Grand National is the wealthiest jumps race in the UK and Ireland, and 2022 will see £1 million in prize money set aside for the race.
The winning horse is set to collect £561,300, with 2nd place awarded £211,100 and prize money awarded down to 10th place.
The winning jockey will receive their regular fees plus a percentage of the prize money which could see them pick up over £45,000 for riding the winner.
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