The Grand National is a race where outsiders have a habit of getting involved, a 33/1 winner last year and a 50/1 success in 2022 make that clear.
With that in mind, this is a look at five horses that could outrun their odds in the Grand National, and why they might be worth a second glance.
Nobody is expecting any of these five to win. But with Betfred paying six places each-way, finishing in the top six is a very different task to finishing first, and each of these horses has something genuine to offer at a price the market has largely overlooked.
Beauport (100/1)
Beauport ran in this race last year and had a great time of it for a long way. He travelled up to second after the twelfth fence and led the field at the second Valentines.
He was still in contention at the third last before the effort began to tell, and he eventually finished 12th.
With a slightly more restrained ride and a few pounds less on his back this year, with the handicapper easing him slightly, sneaking into the places looks a far more realistic prospect.
The Twiston-Davies yard has won this race twice, and they know exactly what it takes around Aintree. At 100/1 with six places paid, he fits the profile of a horse who could outrun his odds, and one that makes plenty of each-way appeal.
Mr Vango (66/1)
The caveat with Mr Vango is the ground, and it is a big one.
He is a horse who has been doing his best work on soft and heavy going, with three big wins last season, including the London National at Sandown, the Peter Marsh at Haydock, and the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter, where he became the first horse in 36 years to carry top weight to victory.
This season has been frustrating. Two pulls up at Sandown and Newcastle on ground that was quicker than he wanted.
Trainer Sara Bradstock has been direct about the situation: get him soft ground and he is a live player. His Becher Chase run in December, where he finished a short-head second to Twig over these fences, confirms he handles the course.
Watch the going report on Saturday morning. If it says soft anywhere, Mr Vango becomes more interesting.
Final Orders (28/1)
This is the horse in the list with the most compelling recent form, and he deserves more attention than he is getting.
Final Orders, trained by Gavin Cromwell, won the cross-country race at the Cheltenham Festival last month. That sounds like a niche achievement, but consider what it actually means: he has won twice around Cheltenham’s cross-country course this season, he finished third at Punchestown’s in November, and he has fallen just once in 51 career jumps races.
That is the record of a horse who knows his way around an obstacle, who stays well, and who arrives here in peak condition off a Festival win.
He carries just 10st 5lb, which should give him an edge over many of his higher-weighted rivals in a race like this. At 28/1, he looks like one of the better value options in this list.
Favori De Champdou (28/1)
There are very few horses in this field who can genuinely claim the Tiger Roll comparison, but Favori De Champdou can. He is trained by Gordon Elliott, owned by Gigginstown House Stud, and has built his reputation as one of the most complete cross-country horses in training.
Has been in excellent form this season, with wins and second places at Cheltenham’s cross-country course and a big win in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown in December.
The question is whether cross-country form translates to the Grand National fences, which are a different technical challenge.
But Elliott knows this race inside out, and a horse who jumps and stays all day is exactly what the National rewards. At 28/1, he is a generous price.
Champ Kiely (28/1)
The dark horse of this group whose odds have dropped from 80/1 earlier in the week to 28/1 today.
Champ Kiely is trained by Willie Mullins and has arguably the most impressive single performance of any horse in this list.
He won a Grade One at Punchestown last season at 22/1. He carries 11st 1lb, which fits the historical weight profile well, he is nine years old, and Mullins has him primed for this.
The reservation is that his season has been patchy, and he has not reproduced that Punchestown form consistently. But in a race where one good jumping round can carry you into the places, a horse with that quality in reserve is worth a second look. At 28/1, punters may well be getting a horse capable of running at 12/1.
Five horses, five reasons to look beyond the market leaders. The Grand National has a long tradition of making fools of the form book, and with six places paid by Betfred this year, you do not need to find the winner to make it worthwhile.
BETFRED
