It is the biggest event in the racing calendar and is hugely important for bookmakers. The Grand National is a world famous hunt race held at Aintree each year. Each April the course plays host to what is the most valuable hunt race in the UK and is the centrepiece of one of only four meetings held at Aintree each year.
It is the one race in the betting calendar that inspires not only racing fans but also people who don’t normally watch or bet on horse racing – in fact a number of people who wouldn’t normally bet on any other sporting event will take a flutter on the National. So just what is it about this race that makes it so special?
It has 30 fences and is run over 4 miles and 856 yards (7,242 m) and sees horses and jockeys run over two circuits of Aintree’s National Course, which is triangular in shape and has sixteen fences on it. Therefore, all except the Chair and Water jump are jumped twice in the race.
In fact some of the jumps have been known for their severity most notably Becher’s brook, which is arguably the most famous jump on the course, but in recent year’s the racecourse’s authorities have been working with animal welfare organisations to minimise the danger of the jumps, while still preserving them as formidable obstacles.
One thing that is certain is the fact that the nation loves the National. It inspires people who never bet to have a flutter, from work sweepstakes to putting a bet on at a bookies. There is always the favourites tips for the Grand National, but often the method for choosing which horse to lay a bet on is about as scientific as picking a favourite name, colour or simply sticking a pin in a bit of paper.
But according to experts it is possible to have a formula when picking a horse, with punters looking at trends and form in order to choose which horse they think will go the distance.
However, whoever wins the race it is still a perfect event to get involved in and hopefully pick a winner.
Fri, Apr 1, 2011
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