Three Outsiders In The Grand National Worth Backing

The most renowned race of the National Hunt season is just over seven days away, as Aintree hosts the 2022 Grand National. Fans will be back in attendance for one of the biggest sporting events in the United Kingdom, and there will be hopes that this year’s event can be as memorable as the one 12 months ago.

Last year, Rachel Blackmore made history onboard Minella Times to become the first female jockey to win the race, but who are some of the outsiders in the Grand National betting worth considering this year?

Santini

Santini is one of the enigmas of National Hunt, as there is little doubt that the ten-year-old is a supremely talented horse when he is at his best. It could be argued that his best days are far behind him, but he presents Polly Gundry with a very commendable chance for the Grand National this season. His form over recent seasons has seen his weight for the National this year come down, and it would be hard to completely ignore him at the current prices.

Personally, I don’t think there’s any doubt that he will make it round the famous course at Aintree, and his runs at Cheltenham over three miles this season at least show that he is staying on. His best run came at the January meeting when he pushed Chantry House to the line, while he finished a distant eighth in the Gold Cup last month.

Anibale Fly

The J. P. McManus colours were the first home 12 months ago when Minella Times made history, and history could repeat itself once again this year. Returning horses to the Grand National tend to have a good record, excluding the ones that actually won the race. Anibale Fly is another that has come right down in the weights over the past couple of years, and the 12-year-old certainly enjoys the challenge that Aintree presents.

She has been well-rested ahead of her target on Merseyside this year, as she was last seen running over the shorter distance of just over two miles. However, the extended trips are when we see the best out of this gelding, and that was evident at the end of last season when she finished third over just under four miles at Punchestown. He was pulled up in the race last year, but his fifth behind Tiger Roll in 2019 shows that he is more that capable of a fight for a place if bringing his A-game.

Fortescue

Henry Daly is yet to train the winner of the Grand National, but I think he has a very solid chance this year with Fortescue. The eight-year-old was recently pulled out of the Scottish Grand National, meaning that all sights for this horse will be set on the Aintree meeting in seven days time. His runs this year have all come over distance greater than three miles, and he has looked comfortable throughout.

His experience in bigger fields could also be a big plus, as he finished seventh of 21 in the Ladbrokes Chase at Newbury in November at a massive 50/1. Fortescue was very impressive on his last start at Ascot, as he won over three miles. Significantly, he battled back well on that showing to see off Fiddlerontheroof, who many consider to be a very good chance for Grand National success this year.

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