Grand National Who to Bet on: A magnificent seven against the field

One of the world's great sporting events takes place on Saturday, April 13, at 16:00. It's up there with any of them; Super Bowl, the Melbourne Cup, the Betfred Derby, the World Cup; it's the Randox Grand National Handicap Chase.

34 runners, 30 fences, a cool half a million pounds to the winner, and a place in history. A treasured spot alongside the likes of Red Rum, Aldaniti, Hedgehunter, Tiger Roll. How about Foinavon? The 100/1 hero from 1967 even has a fence named after him. So who's in the frame for immortality in 2024? We're paying seven places each-way from lunchtime on Thursday April 11, which is an important factor in our deliberations. So - here's a few that I'm going to support on the big day - our very own magnificent seven. I offer them up as some food for thought, to complement your own deliberations. Won't be long now!

As we're going seven places each-way from lunchtime on Thursday April 11, that rather invites the selection of seven against the field that I hope might, just might, do us proud. The going is thought likely to be heavy, so therefore very testing. Great reserves of stamina will be essential.

Here goes.

16:00 Aintree - Vanillier each-way @ 9/1

I'm hoping for a miracle in that the ground might just dry out a touch. He's performed ok on heavy in the past but last year, when a brilliant second in this race, the ground was good-to-soft.

Gavin Cromwell trains - he's had a cracking year - and at nine he should be absolutely at his peak. This will have been his target since five minutes after last year's contest and he demands the utmost respect in my book. Up 4lb from 2023, which doesn't look too harsh.

16:00 Aintree - Meetingofthewaters each-way @ 8/1

One of Willie Mullins' very strong team, and owned by JP McManus. The gelding is just seven years old, and that age doesn't have a great record in the race in recent years (bar Noble Yeats, in 2022).

However, his chance is undeniable. An excellent third in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival, and a winner of a huge Listed contest at Leopardstown over Xmas. Chasing is this one's game all right - he's a far better fencer than he was a hurdler. Powerful connections, mighty prospect.

16:00 Aintree - Mr Incredible each-way @ 11/1

Another Willie Mullins inmate, and this one has a cast-iron piece of very recent form that puts him bang in the mix. At Uttoxeter last month he was a terrific, close-up second in the Midlands National over virtually this trip bar 110 yards or so - and on heavy ground.

Ticks plenty of boxes then if it's the attritional battle it promises to be.

16:00 Aintree - Ain't That A Shame each-way @ 50/1

Trained by the superb Henry De Bromhead, and a winner of a Grade 3 at Gowran in January, on heavy ground. Not seen since, and doubtless is another tucked away with this unique challenge in mind.

Another runner, like Corach Rambler, sired by Jersey Stakes (7f) and Betfred Mile winner Jeremy. Don't think Jeremy would fancy going 4m+!

16:00 Aintree - Galia Des Liteaux each-way @ 22/1

It's not hard to get interested in a horse from Team Skelton. 'Galia' is an eight-year-old mare carrying an undeniably attractive weight of 10st 7lb. She ran in a Grade 1 novices' here last year on the Mildmay course, respectably, but threw in a poor run when last seen in February, at Exeter.

On her previous spin at Warwick giving lumps of weight to the winner My Silver Lining, who was subsequently third in the Midlands National, she'd have a definite squeak for me.

16:00 Aintree -  Mahler Mission each-way @ 14/1

Irish trainer John McConnell sends this eight-year-old gelded son of the mighty flat stayer Mahler across the Irish Sea with high hopes. Last seen at Newbury in December in the Coral Gold Cup, where he was an excellent second.

Could have won the National Hunt Chase at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival but for falling two out when ahead, so this one has persuasive staying chase credentials. I can see him being very popular indeed.

16:00 Aintree - Noble Yeats each-way @ 20/1

The 2022 hero, scoring as a seven-year-old, which is extremely rare indeed. A respectable fourth last year when looking to repeat, which is the position Corach Rambler finds himself in this time.

With Conflated out of the race Noble Yeats now carries topweight of 11st 12lb and the other runners will have been shuffled up by a pound, too.

Noble Yeats won it off a mark of 147, and he's on 165 now, just a pound lower than last year. It's an indicator of how incredibly difficult it is to follow-up after winning the great race, as after reassessment the difference is sizeable. The task, therefore, immense.

However - in a race where the number of finishers could be on the smaller side (tiring ground), he could power around using his class and experience, and while I don't in all candour expect him to win, could I see him nicking a place, under these circumstances? You bet.

Enjoy this wonderful event, the very best of luck if you're playing, and as always, take care.

Grand National betting tips from Betfred Insights.