Here are the runners for the 2010 John Smiths Grand National, which will be run at 4:15pm on Saturday 10 April at Aintree. It will be screened live on BBC1 in High Definition (HD) for the first time. The trip is a gruelling four miles and four furlongs and the going will be ‘good to soft’. Last year’s hero Mon Mome bids for a repeat win, but there are plenty of other runners worthy of a punt on Saturday afternoon.

7/1 Big Fella Thanks

Finished sixth last year as a novice, and looked in fine order when winning the Raymond Mould Supporting Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Newbury. After that win he shot up the betting into 10s from 20s, but owner Harry Findlay hasn’t yet backed his runner.

The jockey booking of Ruby Walsh is a massive positive given that he could have chosen stablemate Tricky Trickster. Big Fella Thanks could be well backed on the day, but Paul Nicholls has sent out a shocking total of 44 losers in this race….

12/1 Mon Mome

Last year’s 100/1 shock winner was a dream result for the bookies, but this year he is bound to attract more money. He completed the course in 2008 aswell so clearly loves the place, and was given a great ride by the young Liam Treadwell. The dismal record of French-bred chasers was emphatically reversed by Mon Mome’s heroics.

The last horse to win back-to-back Nationals was Red Rum, but Mon Mome finished a gallant third in Imperial Commander’s Cheltenham Gold Cup. The worry for backers is that he has gone up 7lbs for last year’s success, but there could be more to come.

14/1 Black Apalachi

Won the 2008 Becher Chase at Aintree over the perilous National fences, but ideally needs more rain to fall before the race.

14/1 The Package

Jockey Timmy Murphy has chosen 2008 winner Comply Or Die, but The Package is very well weighted for a big run in the National. He is an improving novice and stays beyond three miles, and ran with credit to finish second to Chief Dan George at the Cheltenham Festival. Seven-year-olds have a poor record in this race though, and he looks a better bet for the Bet365 Gold Cup at 14/1 with Betfred.

14/1 Arbor Supreme

This horse is only 14/1 because of the ‘McCoy factor’, and AP isn’t even riding Arbor! This young Irish runner will be ridden by Paul Townend. Interesting jockey booking if this really is JP McManus’ best chance in the race.

16/1 Snowy Morning

Looked the likely winner in 2008, but finished a decent third on that occasion. Completed the course last year and has yet again been aimed at this race by trainer Willie Mullins. It is eyecatching that he only has to carry 10st13lb this year compared with a whopping 11st8lb last year.

18/1 Niche Market

Won last year’s Irish National, but didn’t run that well at Cheltenham last time out. Stamina is assured.

16/1 Character Building

Sold this week to Mr & Mrs Thompson, who run Cheveley Park Stud. Grey horses have a terrible record in the National but the same connections bought 1992 winner Party Politics just three days before the big race.

20/1 State of Play

Finished fourth in this last year, but his dismal run in the 2009 Hennessy is a bit worrying for me. A fresh horse nonetheless and may by punted on the day.

20/1 Tricky Trickster

Went up 3lbs for winning the Aon Chase at Newbury, but he ran a stinker in the Cheltenham Gold Cup when well-fancied to place at odds of 14/1. Has loads of stamina, but could something be amiss?

20/1 Don’t Push It

AP McCoy rides, so sure to be well-backed on the day by the housewives. Don’t Push It won at this meeting last year…

20/1 Vic Venturi

Won the Becher Chase last November, which has been won by previous National winners Silver Birch, Earth Summit & Amberleigh House over the years. Obvious chance.

25/1 Backstage

Won earlier on in the season at Ffos Las but needs the ground to dry out. Trainer could also have Silver Birch in the race.

20/1 Comply Or Die

Partnered by Timmy Murphy, Comply Or Die has finished first and second in his two Nationals. Something of a course specialist.

25/1 Can’t Buy Time

Doesn’t have much in the way of encouraging form.

28/1 Ballyholland

Trainer Colin McBratney is hopeful that his Irish raider will run well if the ground dries out a bit more.

33/1 Dream Alliance

Won Welsh National in 2009, can he do the double for his Welsh syndicate?

40/1 Cloudy Lane

The 2008 favourite has missed his best chance of winning this race.

40/1 Hello Bud

Has plenty of stamina but will be ridden by an inexperienced jockey. Sam Twiston-Davies is currently studying for his A-levels!

40/1 Irish Raptor

Won the Topham Chase last year at 8/1 for Nigel Twiston-Davies.

40/1 Maljimar

Horses that have won over three miles or further are at a great disadvantage, but Maljimar has had an interesting prep this season with this race in mind. Connections were devastated to miss out on last year’s race by just one place. He is guaranteed to travel strongly through the race if he jumps round, but stamina may find him out in the closing stages. One to back.

40/1 Kings John’s Castle

Finished second in 2008 and jockey Paul Carberry thinks he’s in good form.

40/1 My Will

Third last year at 8/1 for Ruby Walsh and Paul Nicholls but has had a poor season. Is 40/1 a big price? Didn’t excel in his Gold Cup prep as he did last year.

50/1 Eric’s Charm

Trainer hopeful of a ‘good show’ but Eric’s won’t be entirely suited by the track.

66/1 Madison Du Berlais

66/1 also in the 2008 National, but fell at the canal turn on that occasion. Has been a revelation since winning the 2008 Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury for the David Pipe team, but unlikely to get involved under the burden of top weight.

66/1 Royal Rosa

66/1 Joe Lively

Has had a poor season by his standards.

66/1 Ballyfitz

My favourite of the long shots. Has had a mixed season of chasing and hurdling, but I can see him getting involved here at a big price.

66/1 Ellerslie George

Don’t think so.

66/1 Palypso De Creek

Another seven year old. Discount.

66/1 Flintoff

Part-owned by the cricketer Andrew Flintoff. Go with Mon Mome instead for the same trainer.

66/1 Cerium

Ran a blinder to finish fifth with a cracked skull at 100/1 last year.

66/1 Nozic

Likes really soft ground. Only positive is that he is partnered by last year’s winning jockey Liam Treadwell. Owned by Coral bookmakers and The Sun newspaper.

100/1 Beat The Boys

Dreadful form. Would be 1000/1 if a different trainer.

100/1 Preists Leap

Would only have a chance if this race was transferred to Gowran Park at the last minute!

100/1 Piraya

Light weight but David Pipe has better chances with Madison Du Berlais, The Package and finally Comply Or Die.

125/1 Made In Taipan

Doubtful stayer.

125/1 Ollie Magern

High class on his day, but prefers Wetherby as a track.

125/1 Conna Castle

Don’t bother wasting your money on this one.

150/1 Pablo Du Charmil

No hoper.

150/1 Knowhere

First reserve now.

Recommended Bets (both each way, 5 places):

1. Maljimar 40/1 (William Hill)

2. Snowy Morning 16/1 (Totesport, Corals, Canbet)

bookies.com is your best bet for checking out the odds on the 2010 Grand National:

Aintree Grand National 2010 Betting Odds

Number of false starts betting odds

Jockey Specials

JP McManus Special

Winning Trainer Specials

The Cheltenham Festival is over, and how sad that the 2010 Gold Cup didn’t materialise into the two horse race we were all hoping for. It means that jumps fans can now turn their attentions towards Aintree and Punchestown, whilst flat fans know that their season begins this Saturday with the William Hill Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster.

Irish flat racing began yesterday at The Curragh, as trainer Tommy Stack racked up a 3,387/1 four-timer from just four runners! Several of Aidan O’Brien’s string were given a racecourse gallop after racing finished yesterday.

All eyes were on St Nicholas Abbey, last year’s sensational winner of the Racing Post Trophy. The 3 year old son of Montjeu is already exceptionally short in the antepost lists for the 2000 Guineas at 9/4, and isn’t even guaranteed to run in the classic.

St Nicholas Abbey pulled clear of his field in the gallop, but he was still beaten by the useful Mikhail Glinka. It would be unwise to read too much into that gallop, as work rider Sam Curling never pressed his mount to lengthen his stride.

St Nicholas Abbey is generally a 2/1 shot for the Investec Derby, but I feel that many punters are getting carried away on the back of Sea The Stars’ exploits last season. If St Nicholas Abbey is indeed the next star, then we are in for a terrific flat season.

Let’s find the winner of the 2010 Grand National first, before getting immersed into the Derby betting!

bookies.com is the best place to compare odds on St Nicholas Abbey:

2000 Guineas Betting Odds

2010 Investec Derby Betting

Grand National Betting Odds

Lincoln Handicap Betting

The American insurance giant (or should that be pygmy?) has had to be rescued by the US Treasury in a $80 billion bail out and it seems unlikely that the American taxpayer will want to meet the Old Trafford shirt bill in future seasons.

Ladbrokes make Vodafone the 4/1 second favourites, followed by Saudi Telecom at 5/1. Spurs sponsor Mansion are offererd at a silly price of 6/1 (they’ve learned the lesson that shirt sponsorship does not work well for online bookies) and Budweiser are offered at 8/1.

Here at Bookies Blog Towers, we reckon Nike is a solid price at 3/1 but we think it might be worth enquiring about odds on Puma or Adidas taking over. Both are engaged in a huge global growth programme and could be genuinely interested in getting their names on the Red Devil’s shirts.