Grand National 2023 Tips – Which of the top 5 Favourites Should you Bet On?

The Grand National takes place this Saturday and we have asked OB to look through the top 5 horses in the current Grand National betting odds and assess their chances ahead of the Aintree showpiece.

Last year, Noble Yeats won the race at odds of 50/1 and he’s back to defend his crown at odds of 8/1 for the 2023 race. Corach Rambler is the favourite after his win at the Cheltenham Festival.

Which of the favourites should you bet on to win the Grand National? Read OB’s thoughts below and two recommended bets.

 

Corach Rambler (13/2 with William Hill)

He arrives here on the back of winning the 3m1f Ultima Handicap chase at Cheltenham for the 2^nd time in as many years. That impressive defence of his crown has seen him go up 10lbs but as he doesn’t have to run from that new rating,  hes affectively 10lb ‘well in’ and that is probably why bookies have him as the clear fav at the time of writing.

Trainer Lucinda Russell won this in 2017 with One For Arthur and this horse has similar characteristics and profile to that winner.

He seems a perfect candidate for the National and although he has only gone over 3m1f once, that run saw him be an eye catching staying on 4^th in the 3m5f Warwick Classic Chase.

My only worry is that he takes the phrase ‘A hold up horse’ to the extreme and can often be found out of the back of the Tele for most of the race. He will need to have a lot of luck in running to ensure he isn’t brought down or interfered with. His running style can be a positive in big field handicaps but it’s 7 years (Rule the World 2016) since a horse jumped the last with a deficit and went past horse(s) at the elbow to win the Grand National.

He is probably the right fav and has every chance but at the price I would probably swerve him now and back something at slightly bigger prices.

 

Noble Yeats (8/1 with bet365)

Last year’s 50/1 winner will now attempt to add his name into history and win back-to-back nationals like the greats Red Rum and Tiger Roll have achieved. His task will be significantly more difficult this time around though, as with a rating of 166 comes the extra weight he will have to lug around for over 4 miles.

His season this time around has been aimed at Grade 2s with his main target being the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He finished a staying on 4^th in that and just like he did on trials day (when a staying on 3^rd), showed that he would appreciate any step up in trip. As a previous winner of the race, stamina is far from the issue and it’s no surprise to know that the further he goes, the better he becomes.

He’s been to Aintree twice and won twice after he followed up last year’s win with a Grade 2 win here in December where he showed a turn of foot none of us thought he had. He’s still only 8 and sure to be improving still and ticks so many boxes but it won’t be easy to carry the weight he has and for that reason he’s another 1 near the top of the market I’m going to leave alone.

 

Delta Work (10/1 with BetUK)

Delta Work returns for his 2^nd stab at landing The Randox Health Grand National after finishing a well-beaten 3^rd (20 lengths) 12 months ago. Still only 10 and with plenty of experience and wins behind him, I think he has a massive chance here. He will be getting 7lb off Noble Yeats which equates to a 20lb swing from when he had to give 13lb to last year’s winner.

Delta Work arrives here after defending his Cross Country Chase crown at Cheltenham last month. He beat Tiger Roll in that race last year and this year saw him fight off a gutsy challenge from fellow stablemate Galvin. That race has been a good trial over the years and with Tiger Roll winning both Nationals off the back of a Cross Country spin, I don’t see why the same connections can’t be celebrating more success in this race. He is a graded horse and even though he has dropped down to the Cross Country circuit he’s still a very classy animal and one I want to be on side with this year.

 

Mr Incredible (14/1 with bet365)

Switched stables to the master Willie Mullins this season and I would say this has been the target ever since. He was pitched in at the deep end on stable debut in the competitive Paddy Power Chase at Xmas where he was unluckily brought down at the 4^th. He has since run 2 cracking races in other competitive handicaps where he finished 2^nd in the Classic Chase at Warwick and 3^rd in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham (form of that race will be tested in the Irish National).

The eye-catching to take out of those races was that the horse was doing his best work in the final stages of the race and looked certain to relish a step up in trip. I don’t believe he will have a problem with the marathon trip here. A bit like Corach Rambler, he will be held up near the rear and will need a bit of luck in running to win this. It will be interesting to see who rides as the bookies can’t seem to split the Closutton pair. Patrick Mullins rode last time (Paul Hayes the twice before) and has done a lot of work with this horse so I would expect him to take the mount.

The horse can be a bit quirky though and you have to factor that into the decision to back him. He has refused to start before and apparently even refused on the gallops in the lead up to Cheltenham. If he can get around and finish the race, I believe he has a huge chance but with he comes with risk and that slight doubt would be enough to put me off from backing him in a National.

 

Gaillard Du Mesnil (14/1 with William Hill)

The other well-fancied horse out of Closutton brings us on to this year’s National Hunt Chase winner Gaillard Du Mesnil. As mentioned with Mr Incredible, I expect Patrick to ride him and as a result, this horse is surely the mount of stable jockey Paul Townend. He is a 2^nd season novice having not won over fences last season and he has taken advantage of that by winning a Grade 1 at Xmas and the amateur riders race at Cheltenham mentioned previously. Those races were over 3m and 3m6f and there’s been no sign of stamina issues in those runs. He was also 3^rd in last year’s Irish National.

His other 2 runs this season came in Grade 1s over 2m4 and 2m5 where he was 2^nd and 3^rd to the impressive and ill-fated Mighty Potter. Those runs were over a trip significantly shorter than he would like so I believe we didn’t see the best of him on either of those starts. That being said, he still ran his race and the tactical speed needed in a National will come into play and his running over those shorter distances may aid his chances.

Only a 7-year-old (same as last year’s winner) with plenty of improvement still to come, I believe he has a huge chance and is the one that’s overpriced. I would be amazed if he were to go off anywhere near 14/1. He has shown to be versatile on any ground and with a mixed forecast ahead, he won’t be losing any sleep on what conditions may or may not be. I’ve been a big fan of this horse since his novice hurdle days and he has a huge chance. Many boxes are ticked and I firmly believe he can have the winner boxed ticked too come 17:30 on Saturday.

 

Grand National 2023 Betting Tips

Delta Work – 10/1 with BetUK (EW)

Gaillard Du Mesnil 14/1 with William Hill (EW)

 

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