Grand National: early betting

We check how things are sizing-up at Aintree

The 2017 Grand National is fast approaching and you can jump the gun and secure your share of the early betting value by making your selections at Coral now. Click here to check-in on how the prices are shaping ahead of the 170^th running of the Aintree spectacular.

Going on Saturday 8^th April, we are now just a fortnight away from highlight of the year for horse racing followers, and it’s time for punters to get their affairs in order. Coral traders want to keep Vieux Lion Rouge close at the minute, and David Pipe’s eye-catching eight-year-old brings a record of 11 wins and two places from 21 career starts.

Vieux Lion Rouge and Blaklion fancied

He was an impressive winner of the grade three Becher Handicap Chase over three-miles one-furlong at Aintree in December, grinding out Highland Lodge by a short-head in a bunch-finish. His jumping was a bit iffy that day though, which raises questions marks, although he followed that success with a win in a Grand National Trial Handicap Chase at Haydock in February. Beating race favourite Blaklion in convincing fashion, and did much to settle any nerves. Currently a 10/1 shot.

The Grand National winner will certainly come out of that race, if the odds are to be believed, with Team Twiston-Davies’ rep Blaklion leading the chasing pack at 14/1. The eight-year-old will travel to Liverpool in great form, having finished in the top-five in each of his last nine starts.

In fact, the only time he has finished outside of the first five in his career to date is when pulling up at Cheltenham in the Albert Bartlett in 2015, and falling at the same course later that year. He looked to have every chance of winning when coming down three from home. We can certainly forgive those, but jumping will be all-important on 8^th April.