We all know the Grand National is the official home of big price horse racing winners. It’s the reason the UK stands still on race day and the Aintree spectacle sees seasoned punters rub shoulders with the £1-a-year-backers getting their stake on a runner with a familiar sounding name.
It’s the jewel in the British racing crown but did you know that there have been no less than five previous winners with a 100/1 price tag? Tipperary Tim was the first of them when scoring off treble-figures way back in 1928 and, incredibly, that was followed by Gregalach at the same price just 12 months later. Caughoo (1947), Foinavon (1967) and Mon Mome (2009) complete the list.
What’re the chances of another 100/1 coming good in the Grand National 2018 betting? Well, at this stage of the build-up, there are enough hopefuls carrying the famous price so it may not be as unlikely as first thought.
Here’s the standout of the contenders with 100/1 on their back…..
Source: At The Races via Twitter
Knock House
Knock House is a runner with plenty of miles on the clock, with the Grand National being the nine-year-old’s 22nd start, but Donald McCain has him in good nick. He has been pulled-up in three of his last five going to post – finishing sixth in the other two – but we shouldn’t be so quick to judge. He finished fourth in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival in 2016 over 3m 2f, that race won by Cause Of Causes, and was runner-up at Kempton on Boxing Day in 2014. We’ll need to see him roll back the years but there’s a big race in there somewhere.
Beeves
Jennie Candlish pins her hopes on Beeves who is another experienced sort at 11 years old but one with much better recent form than Knock House to take encouragement from. Was no better than seventh in the Glenfarclas Chase at Cheltenham two months ago off an SP 50/1. That race was won by Tiger Roll but Beeves backers will take heart from the showing and the fact he has claimed three of his last five. Each of those victories came on the bounce in Scotland, the pick of them a 3m 2f handicap hurdle at Musselburgh earlier this year, staying on at the line to suggest there was more to give.
Houblon Des Obeaux
We’re still at the ante-post stage of proceedings but this year’s Grand National would be a better race with Houblon Des Obeaux in it and there’s no doubt he can out-run his price. The experienced 11-year-old gelding has already run in 49 competitive contests, winning eight and placing 12 times. Trained by Julian Blackwell, he ended third in each of the last two races he’s finished, his form reading 3-PU-3. Last seen placing in a Veterans Handicap Chase in March.
Others worth a mention that fall into the 100/1 bracket – if they go – is Alfie Spinner for Kerry Lee who was fourth in the Beecher Chase at this track a few years ago and, out of the same yard, Krackatoa King, who has finished inside the top-four in 12 of his last 14 goes.
