2010 GRAND NATIONAL ODDS AND TOP CONTENDERS TIPS

We’re just about to start the 2010 Grand National Festival at Aintree and most of the early attention has been paid towards the big race kicking off on Saturday. Some of the best jumpers in Britain are set to contest this massive Grade 3 clash and, after last year’s incredible 100/1 victory by Venetia Williams’ Mon Mome, this year’s edition has a lot to live up to.

The aforementioned Mon Mome is listed at 10/1 for the big race- making him a clear second favourite behind Paul Nicholls’ Big Fella Thanks. Mon Mome ran a very respectable 3rd in the Cheltenham Gold Cup- a race his connections were really just using as a high-profile prep race for the National. He hasn’t won since his incredible victory at Aintree last year, but he still delivered a very solid return on the place bets. He was 50/1 in the Gold Cup and he finished really well that day. It bodes well for a run against more unpredictable opposition and if Mon Mome can stay up until the end (something Kauto Star couldn’t do at Cheltenham) then he’s got every chance here.
Big Fella Thanks brings some solid form into this one, having captured the Grade 3 Raymond Mauld Handicap at Newbury in early march. He is short-priced at 7/1 and has a few too many URs in his record for me to back him at that price with a huge amount of confidence. He ran sixth last year, showing that he can navigate the oversized obstacles at Aintree, and he has a tendency to be there-or-thereabouts in the reckoning. In fact, his sixth place finish at last year’s National was his worst performance ever if you discount his two previous URs. On paper- he’s the one to beat, but too much can happen here and the price is far too short.
Black Apalachi skipped Cheltenham and he is quickly becoming the punters favourite here for this edition of the Grand National. He finished second in the Grade 2 BobbyJo Chase at Fairyhouse to Vic Venturi when sent off at 5/1. His only other effort this season was a disappointing 17th from 19 in the qualifier for the Pertemps Handicap. He had a solid outing last year in the National and unseated Denis O’Regan when he blundered on the 22nd. He took a handicap chase over the Aintree surface in November of 2008, but aside from that has not had much success over the course. He can do it, but it will take a near-perfect performance to get the job done here. He’s listed at 14/1.
Paul Nicholls’ Tricky Trickster was a disappointment in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, finishing ninth, but he has had some very solid results over the past few months and only finished outside of the top 2 twice in his lifetime- in his second race during a novice hurdle when he ran 4th from 14 and in the aforementioned Gold Cup. He’s beaten some very solid opposition and has likely been pointed at the National all year. He’s priced at 14/1 and was one of my totetentofollow selections this year. Not exactly the year I was hoping for, but he has delivered victories. I think he’s one of the higher-quality jumpers available and may make a big statement for Paul Nicholls’ yard.