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

Big Fella Thanks is the 7/1 favourite for the 2010 renewal of the John Smiths Grand National, but considering that champion trainer Paul Nicholls has yet to win the world’s greatest steeplechase in his illustrious training career, perhaps there are better bets out there. Let’s take a look at the brilliant range of GRAND NATIONAL SPECIALS.

Before the great race has even started, punters have the chance to win or lose money with Paddy Power. They offer odds of 5/6 that there is at least one false start, which could get you cheering whilst others are moaning incessantly. If you fancy that the race will get off to a good start, you can take 5/6 that there are no false starts and monkey business at the beginning.

40 runners can be daunting to sort out, but Paddy Power have a special six-runner National between six of the top jockeys. Supporters can put their money where their mouth is, and cheer ‘Ruby, Ruby, Ruby’ instead of the unwieldy ‘Big Fella Thanks,Big Fella Thanks, Big Fella Thanks!’ Ruby Walsh is the 6/4 favourite in the market to beat off fellow jockeys Timmy Murphy, AP McCoy, Choc Thornton, Barry Geraghty and Davy Russell in the big one. 

Stan James go 20/1 that AP McCoy finally wins the Grand National this year, but you’d do better simply by backing his mount Can’t Buy Time each-way at 25s with Sporting Bet.

The Irish have done well in recent years with the likes of Hedgehunter, Silver Birch and Numbersixvalverde – and are 9/4 to provide the winner in 2010. 16/1 Snowy Morning and 16/1 Arbor Supreme are two of the leading hopes for Willie Mullins this year.

You can also take 3/1 that all 40 horses clear the first fence safely or even 8/1 with Hills that JP McManus owns the winner.

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

Plenty of stories to take out of today’s 4m4f Grand National, but the bookies will be celebrating Mon Mome‘s incredible win at 100/1.

Venetia Williams has been in brilliant form and has become only the 2nd female trainer of a National winner. Mon Mome was matched at 999/1 in running on the exchanges, and was sent off at 142/1 on Betfair.

Apologies are due from Bookies Blog, because we are always looking towards the rank outsiders, but Mon Mome escaped under the radar…

50/1 Mon Mome

Venetia Williams is in form and Mon Mome gets the trip. 10th last year, but never in contention.

Would we have been tempted at 100/1? No.

At least we told you to oppose the 2 hot favourites, My Will and Butler’s Cabin. The punters will never learn, and Paul Nicholls will continue to be over-bet in the National, although Big Fella Thanks ran well in 6th, and looks a decent bet at 25s for next year.

Of our 4 selections, 16/1 State Of Play finished best of all in 4th for Evan Williams.

The form book has been thrown out the window. Mon Mome is the first French-bred winner of the National since Lutteur III in 1909. I’m sure punters would’ve preferred My Will to break the trend!

The race is a Grade 3 steeplechase run over 3m5 1/2f that features the true stayers, many of whom have lofty ambitions for the Grand National at Aintree. With 20 forecast runners, I’m looking for a plodder who’ll revel in the soft ground and will hopefully fill in one of the 4 places offered by the UK bookmakers. Let’s have a look at the top of the betting to see if any of them are worthy of our hard-earned cash.

11/2 Nenuphar Collonges

Is in great form and has been ‘crying out’ for a test of stamina. Won a Grade 1 at the Festival and I have made no secret before on this blog that I am happy for Choc Thornton to carry my money to victory. He’ll carry 10-6 which may be too much.

6/1 Mon Mome

I’m really interested in this one for Venetia Williams as he is well in the weights according to the figures after his recent win at the Boylesports Cheltenham meeting. He battled on well to beat Star de Mohaison that day and came 10th in the 2008 National behind Comply or Die. The jockey claims 3lb, so this looks like a decent bet going by the form.

9/1 High Chimes

Kept on well in the Hennessy, which should see him in good nick for this test. The current mark is a bit of a concern, but I was at Ascot last Friday to see Deep Purple win a promising chase for the same trainer-jockey combo. Will love the ground and should be considered.

10/1 Officier de Reserve

The Pricewise antepost selection is one for the Nicholls-Walsh team. I told you how there were doubts emerging about the recent performance of the Paul Nicholls yard, but Kauto Star and Nozic both hosed up on Boxing Day. This horse looks unexposed, but I don’t think it’s up to this test.

10/1 Notre Pere

Stays well on the ground but isn’t on an ideal mark, meaning that I’m looking elsewhere. Was a creditable 3rd in the Irish National this year.

10/1 Halcon Genelardais

2006 winner will be partnered again by Wayne Hutchinson. Top weight is a huge burden but he didn’t seem to mind too much when losing the 2007 edition by a head, when he arguably would’ve won had it not been for a mistake at the last fence. 10/1 is a great price for a horse that was 4th in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

13/1 Miko De Beauchene

Won it last year but to be honest I’d rather be on Halcon because Miko will be 17lb worse off this time. Could grab a place at best.

Of those running at big prices I like Cornish Sett at 33/1 – partnered by the capable Nick Scholfield who claims 5lb. The horse ran well in the National this year until the final few fences and won a decent race at Wincanton last time out.

Recommendation:

1pt win 6/1 Mon Mome

1pt each way 33/1 Cornish Sett

Welsh National Betting

Lexus Chase (Sunday)