The favourites for the 2023 Grand National

As we approach this year’s edition of the Grand National, horse racing fans will surely be assessing their list of potential candidates to make history at Aintree. One of the biggest days on the horse racing calendar, the National is a race with years of prestige and history, and to come out of it victorious is a mark of an exceptionally talented horse. Indeed, those assessing the horse racing betting odds will have a tough time predicting a winner, simply down to the unpredictability the National provides. 

Last year saw 50/1 outsider Noble Yeats reign supreme in a massive shock to the bookies and while the Emmet Mullins-trained eight-year-old made history for the Waley-Cohens, his fourth-place finish in the Cheltenham Gold Cup suggested it might be hard to win consecutive races. While he’s far from a Red Rum or Tiger Roll though, it’s impossible to rule out anyone when it comes to the Grand National. However, there are still some horses that are predicted to get the job done as favourites so let’s assess who has the best odds for those making a Grand National bet. Read on to find out more.   

Corach Rambler

Let’s start with Lucinda Russell’s star of Cheltenham — Corach Rambler. The nine-year-old was imperious when winning the Handicap Chase on the Festival’s opening day and his ability to switch and stay in touch with the leaders before performing a last-minute run which could stand him in good stead when it comes to winning the National. Coming back off a 108-day break in emphatic fashion, you wonder if Derek Fox has what it takes to become a winning jockey at Aintree, with Corach Rambler needing to deal with the plethora of tough hurdles on the course. 

Gaillard Du Mesnil

Winner of the National Hunt Chase, Willie Mullins will be hoping for his first Grand National win since Hedgehunter in 2019 with the talented and extremely fast Gaillard Du Mesnil. It was Patrick Mullins who was aboard the seven-year-old, and the Irishman admitted there were unconvincing moments before getting the job done, now ultimately, the goal is to turn in another good performance at Aintree. 

“It was a tough three miles and six furlongs,” Mullins said. “While we were behind, Patrick thought they’d gone fast enough. I’m very happy.”

“He jumped a bit high. I think it was the white fences. We had the put in at home and he jumped them high there, too. Over that distance you just want them to pop, not expand energy, but after the first circuit he was better.”

Delta Work 

Gordon Elliott is no stranger to success in the National, having trained the legendary Tiger Roll, and the Irishman will be relying on Delta Work for his best bet to win this year’s event. Alongside stablemate Galvin, the two are some of the finest National Hunt horses about and the pride of Elliot’s stable, and their impressive one-two finish in the Cross Country Chase only reaffirmed that. Keith Donoghue looks to be the difference maker at Aintree, with the jockey in a successful run of form heading into the National.