Aintree Races - The Randox Grand National
A classic Aintree scene as Corach Rambler jumps the Chair on the way to Grand National glory in 2023 (Picture: Getty Images)
Three Card Brag is the ace up our sleeves for Saturday’s Grand National when he can go all in and scoop the £500,000 winners’ jackpot.
Trained by Gordon Elliott, who has won the famous steeplechase three times with Silver Birch in 2007 and Tiger Roll in 2018 and 2019, Three Card Brag was a close third to Better Days Ahead and Stellar Story, who have both done well since, last time out at Navan.
That was despite a couple of uncharacteristic mistakes and he won at the same course in January, when carrying 11st 12lb.
He is burdened by just 10st 5lb this weekend and should have the stamina to power home at 25/1 with Paddy Power and Betfair, which represents solid each-way value especially in a race which should produce clean passages for the runners.
That’s because the Aintree showpiece reduced its field from 40 to 34 last year for safety reasons, with the fences – including the famous Beecher’s Brook which is notorious for its drop in landing – also made safer in a bid to avoid injuries.
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Nicky Henderson is one of the best trainers this country has ever produced yet he has never won the Grand National. He could put the record straight with Hyland, a 20/1 chance with Bet Victor and Sky Bet, while Paul Nicholls’ Kandoo Kid ticks a lot of the right boxes and is 20/1 with Sky Bet and Bet Victor.
Our final e/w is Perceval Legallois, put through his paces at Gavin Cromwell’s red-hot yard, at 12/1 with the same two firms and others.
Navan Races - Sunday February 9th
Trainer Gordon Elliott is chasing a record fourth Grand National at Aintree on Saturday (Picture: PA Wire)
Henderson’s brilliant Jonbon can gain a fourth win at Aintree by beating old rival El Fabiolo in Friday’s Melling Chase and although a best price of 4/7 with Ladbrokes, Coral and Bet Victor is a bit prohibitive he can be the foundation for Festival accumulators.
Wreckless Eric isn’t the best horse in the Whole Wide World but is definitely worth an e/w shout in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle at 12/1 with Paddy Power and Betfair while Jet Blue is 10/1 with Ladbrokes, Coral and Bet Victor for the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle which is also on day two.
Cheltenham Races
Nicky Henderson is vying to win the Grand National for the first time and has a chance with Hyland (Picture: Getty Images)
The aforementioned Stellar Story is 8/1 with BetMGM for Friday’s Mildmay Novices Chase when Arizona Cardinal appeals at 10/1 with the same firm in the Topham.
Expect goals to flow at the Bridge
Goals, goals, goals will be the order of the day with perhaps a side order of even more goals when Chelsea entertain Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues returned home with all three points after a 4-3 victory in N17 at the beginning of December and won 4-1 there 12 months before that when the wheels fell off the impressive start under Ange Postecoglou’s time in charge, with two Spurs players sent off and others picking up injuries which would sideline them for months.
Chelsea won last season’s corresponding home fixture 2-0 but in the 2022/23 season Tottenham fared better, winning 2-0 at home and drawing 2-2 on their big rivals’ turf.
Tottenham are patchy at the moment and Big Ange will be a dead man walking if his side’s poor Premier League form continues and they fail to win the Europa League. Furious fans will be apoplectic if he doesn’t field the strongest side available against bitter rivals Chelsea and even then it may not be enough.
The hosts are 4/6 to win with Betfair, Betfred and BetMGM to press their chances of Champions League football next season while over 3.5 goals is evens with the latter.
• Most of golf’s big names are resting before next week’s Masters at Augusta – yes, 2025 is flying by – and a relatively weak field at the Texas Open should be headed on Sunday by Canadian Corey Conners, who has finished no worse than eighth in his last three starts.
He’s 12/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral while our other each-ways are former Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama at 16/1 with the same firm, Akhshay Bhatia at 20/1 with William Hill and Paddy Power and Jake Knapp at 60/1 with the last two firms.
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