Grand National: YEP tipster’s verdict

0 Comments | Yorkshire Evening Post (Leeds, England), April 9, 2010

> There, that’s your Grand National bet sorted.

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Seriously, the race is the hardest contest of the year to pick the winner of and while I may have napped Hedgehunter, Numbersixvalverde and Comply Or Die to win in recent years, one major factor was on our side a luck.

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Still, will that stop us from having a punt again this year? Of course not and favourite Big Fella Thanks is the number one tip with Black Apalachi as our back-up (4.15pm Aintree, tomorrow).

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Tipping the favourite in the National will win no awards for originality but give me a free A[pounds sterling]50 to go on anything tomorrow and it would go on the Big Fella at around the 7-1 mark.

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Actually, in truth it would go on anything BUT the National but you see what I am saying!

The main worry with Big Fella Thanks is that he was beaten by 23 lengths in this race into sixth last year.

However, the horse has clearly improved bundles since and has just about everything else in his favour.

He is trained by the champion trainer in Paul Nicholls and has probably the best jockey for the National in Ruby Walsh, who had the choice to ride many others.

His form is amongst the best and he also comes into the race on a sharp upward curve having slammed stablemate Pasco with ease last time over a trip that would have been well short of his best.

Officially, that run, which came after the National weights were published, has left him 5lbs well-in, meaning if the handicapper could do this race again he would carry 5lbs more weight.

He is also a young horse at eight years old and if there is a class act in the race, he is it though, of course, he will need all the luck in the world.

Luck has certainly not been on the other fancy Black Apalachi’s side the last two years.