The 175th Grand National takes place at 5:15 pm this Saturday and it's shaping up to be an absolute cracker. As horse racing enthusiasts, this is undoubtedly one of our favourite weekends of the year. To get you in the mood, we're dishing out the lowdown on potential headline-grabbers, top tips, and the runners you should keep an eye on at Aintree.
Links Hospitality are at the course this weekend offering the finest Grand National 2023 packages and hospitality experiences. Gear up for the big race and read on for our top Grand National tips 2023. Oh, and we're already taking bookings for the Grand National Festival 2024, so get ahead of the game — call 0141 357 2712 and let's create an amazing experience for you and your guests.
The Headline Makers
These stories are attracting plenty of attention in the build-up to Saturday's big race…
- Davy Russell's fairytale farewell: Davy Russell could end his career on a high note by riding in the National for trainer Gordon Elliott.
- A heartwarming win for Harrington: Jessica Harrington, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, could complete her big race collection with a win in the Grand National.
- Welsh trainers seeking long-awaited victory: Welsh-trained horses like Eva's Oskar, Francky Du Berlais, and Our Power are strong contenders to end the country's 118-year wait for a National win.
- Rachael Blackmore seeking victory No.2: Blackmore — who became the first female jockey to win the National in 2021 when she triumphed with Minella Times — goes again on the Henry de Bromhead-trained Ain’t That A Shame.
5 Potential Winners
The Grand National's 14 fences present a fierce challenge for the runners and riders, making it one of the most unpredictable races in the calendar. But these five horses have the qualities it takes to make it first past the finishing post — keep an eye on them as potential contenders for the win:
Noble Yeats - 12/1 (approximate odds)
Last year's winner, trained by Emmet Mullins, is seeking to become a multiple champion like Red Rum and Tiger Roll. And his form is good — he finished fourth in star-studded field at the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month
Delta Work - 10-1
Last year's third-placed finisher made it back-to-back victories in the Cross Country race at Cheltenham last month. Trained by Gordon Elliott, Delta Work will be hoping to emulate his former stablemate Tiger Roll by winning big at Aintree.
Gaillard du Mesnil - 16/1
Paul Townend has never won the big one at Aintree, but after finishing top jockey at Cheltenham and emerging victorious on board I Am Maximus at last week's Irish National, could 2023 be his year on board the grey gelding?
Ain’t That A Shame - 16/1
The lightly-raced nine-year-old has shown potential in big-field handicaps. Despite potential stamina concerns, the gelding's room for improvement, along with the winning De Bromhead-Blackmore combo, makes it a promising early bet.
Vanillier - 18/1
The French horse, trained by Gavin Cromwell and ridden by Sean Flanagan, has plenty of stamina and could prove to be a shrewd gamble.
5 British-trained Contenders
After Irish-trained horses dominated Cheltenham, there'll be a few British contenders hoping to break their stranglehold at Aintree. Here are 5 of them...
Corach Rambler - 13/2
Trained by Lucinda Russell and ridden by Derek Fox, Corach Rambler is the favourite for this year’s race after his impressive win in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month.
Le Milos - 14-1
The eight-year-old is trained by Dan Skelton and his performances have been trending in the right direction — he won the Coral Gold Cup in Newbury last November.
Our Power - 20-1
Trained by Sam Thomas and ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies, Our Power is on a hot streak having won on recent outings at the London Gold Cup at Ascot and the Coral Trophy at Kempton.
The Big Breakaway - 25/1
Trained by Joe Tizzard, this horse — appropriately named given his massive stature— finished runner-up at the Welsh National and has the potential to handle the Aintree test. A good shout for an each-way bet.
Eva's Oskar - 33-1
Finished fourth in the Eider Chase at Newcastle, which is run over four miles — so distance shouldn’t be a problem. The Tim Vaughan-trained horse is aiming to become the fifth grey winner of the race.
Links Hospitality has offered fantastic Grand National 2023 packages and hospitality options to make our guests' experience at the famous race unforgettable. We're excited to announce that we're now booking for the Grand National Festival 2024 — to avoid disappointment, book now by calling 0141 357 2712.
