The best bets for the Grand National

It’s Grand National day at Aintree, and the biggest handicap chase in the world has brought Tipstrr’s each-way specialists out in droves, no doubt encouraged by the fact that six places are widely available with most bookmakers.

Unsurprisingly in this betting minefield, there’s some support for many of the 34 scheduled starters, but the main consensus of tipster opinion appears to be leaning towards three picks from various areas of the betting market.

First up is one of the strongly-fancied market leaders, Iroko, who won over hurdles at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival and came runner-up behind Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinking in the Mildmay Chase at this meeting 12 months ago.

The seven-year-old should stay the distance and ticks all the right boxes here. Connections have been targeting this race throughout a decent winter campaign, and Iroko looks nicely weighted under Jonjo O’Neill, who has won on two of his last four rides, including 14/1 shot Wellington Arch here on Friday. 

Further down the betting, Beauport is the most widely-tipped horse in the Tipstrr camp, and at 22/1 the nine-year-old looks attractively priced to put in a good performance for the Twiston-Davies team.

This capable stayer proved his stamina when landing last year’s Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter, and he romped home by more than 30 lengths on season debut in another stayers’ handicap at Ascot in November.

Beauport has since held his own with frame finishes in two graded races, including a close-up third in the Long Walk Hurdle, and his improved jumping over larger obstacles bodes well for the 30 fences ahead of him in this Aintree marathon.

For those looking for even tastier odds, Harry Skelton, whose brother Dan has no runners in this race, looks an astute booking to bring the best out of one of Paul Nicholls’ five representatives, Threeunderthrufive, who could well outrun his 33/1 price tag.

Fourth in the 2023 Scottish Grand National, this 10-year-old won the Swinley Handicap Chase at Ascot last year and only missed out by a nose in the same event when last seen seven weeks ago.

In a race of this nature, Threeunderthrufive and the other two selections will need a little luck to enjoy a clear round and put themselves in the mix, but the feeling in the Tipstrr camp is that they should give a good account, and we hope they and the other 31 starters all get round safely.

Enjoy the racing, good luck with your bets and please gamble responsibly