Each year 40 horses present themselves to run the four and a half mile race consisting of 30 fences and a week prior all odds are made available. Even those who do not claim to be seasoned bettors will have a go at picking out a winner in the hope of backing the winning horse. Because the Grand National is such an open race the winning place is as good as anyone’s.

Although there are always favourites in the race there is always the hope that an outsider will claim the victory with outstanding long shot odds. 2009 saw this very hope become a reality as 100/1 horse Mon Mome came in to take the Grand National title. The most popular way of betting is to place a stake each-way on a horse which means that you can make a return for you money if your chosen horse comes in first, second, third of even fourth.

The Grand National 2010 will take place at Aintree on Saturday April 10^th and already looks set to be another exciting event. All eyes will be clearly on reigning champion Mon Mome and second place winner Comply or Die, who won the race in 2008. Despite much anticipation to discover which horses will be running, many racing fanatics are already making their assumptions. The runners List will be made available complete with odds on April 3^rd 2010.

Each year 40 horses set out to race the famous course of four and a half miles with 30 fence jumps and after successful completion the winner is revealed. The nature of the Grand National race is a difficult one and any horse is prone to fall at one of the fences. Backing a favourite does not guarantee a win but backing a long shot that comes in first has much greater dividends.

Last year 100/1 horse Mon Mome came in to take the winners title beating several favourites who managed to stay in the race for the duration of its course. Because there is no sure way to back a winner serious gamblers never place large stacks but the average better will participate in the minimum of a pound each way. Perhaps it is the name of the horse that appeals or the colours of the shirt worn by the jockey, either way the Grand National sparks off an enormous amount of fun.

2010 is expected to be yet another exciting race and several known favourites are sure to be running. Will 2010 see another long shot win the Grand National or will all eyes be focused on a clear favourite? Whatever the outcome you can be sure the Grand National will remain one of the most open races in the sport.

The victorious horse was trained by Venetia Williams who became the second female trainer to win a Grand National. Previous winning horses trained by Williams include winners of the 1998 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup and King George Chase, the 1999 Murphy’s Gold Cup and the Grand Annual Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Regarding the Grand National Venetia Williams trained 13 runners and her best finish as trainer prior to her 2009 win with Mon Mome was tenth place in 2008 with the very same horse.

The 2009 Grand National had an exciting finish as with just two fences left before the finish Mon Mome was battling it out with former Grand National winner Comply Or Die. Fortunately carrying a good six pounds less in weight Mon Mome was in good stead to take the lead to the finishing post. Should lady luck not have favoured long shot horse Mon Mome, then rival Comply or Die would have made his second win and become the first horse to do so in the Grand National since the famous three times champion Red Rum. Mon Mome was well positioned from the start and was the surprise winner of the 2009 Grand National by far.

However even now some horses are already being considered to run and amongst them or some well known faces such as last year’s winner Mon Mome, State of Play, Big Fella Thanks, Black Apalachi, Comply Or Die, My Will and Butlers Cabin.

All tips for the 2010 Grand National will be made available as soon as all the running horses are declared. Until then, despite some bookmakers already taking ante-post bets, it is highly recommended that punters hold off placing any kind of bets until it is certain their chosen horses are even racing. If it turns out the horse you staked your cash on does not run then you immediately lose it all.

The safest way is to wait nearer the time of the event, which is set for Saturday April 10^th. Once a list of the 40 running horse becomes available better odds will be put together. The best chance of getting back some kind of return for your Grand National flutters is to place your money ‘each-way’ on a horse. This means that you will be guaranteed a payout should you horse come in first, second third or even fourth.