The Grand National is one of the biggest events in the horse racing betting calendar, attracting millions in wagers from casual punters and seasoned bettors alike. Inothewayurthinkin was as short as 5/2 after winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but his withdrawal has caused a significant shake-up in the market. With this latest development, how has the ante-post betting reacted? Which runners have seen their odds slashed, and where does the value now lie? As we approach the Aintree Grand National, let’s take a closer look at how the betting landscape has changed.
Intense Raffles
Intense Raffles has emerged as the new front-runner, with some operators pricing the Irish Grand National winner as short as 5/1 to prevail in Merseyside.
The seven-year-old French recruit hit the ground running after joining Thomas Gibney in November 2023, winning three races in a row at Fairyhouse—including the aforementioned Irish Grand National by a length and a half from Any Second Now.
He was campaigned back over hurdles at the start of this season, but he made little impression in two outings at Navan.
However, he returned to form for the switch back to fences last time when finishing a close second to Nick Rocket in the Grade 3 Bobbjo Chase at his beloved Fairyhouse.
Intense Raffles looks nicely handicapped at 10-10, and it’s all systems go for Aintree in just a matter of weeks.
Iroko
Britain’s leading hopes of regaining the Grand National from the Irish, Iroko has a big chance for joint-trainers Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero.
Second to Inothewayurthinkin in last year’s Mildmay Novices’ Chase, that form now looks even better now his rivals won the Gold Cup.
The seven-year-old hasn’t reached the same heights as his fellow JP McManus-owned horse this season but has been consistent enough, with notable seconds in two of his four starts.
His most recent start saw him step back up in trip to almost three miles, finishing runner-up to Grade 1 winner Grey Dawning in a Listed contest at Kelso.
Iroko has been campaigned with the Grand National in the minds of his trainers all year, and he should have a very big chance based on his handicap mark.
I Am Maximus
As last year’s defending champion, I Am Maximus is likely to be a popular choice with bettors as the Grand National approaches.
The nine-year-old was an impressive winner of the race last year when beating the late Delta Work by over seven lengths, ending Willie Mullins’ near 20-year wait for a second in the race.
However, it will be an almighty task for I Am Maximus to defend his crown this year, as he’s set to carry the top weight of 11-12.
The last horse to achieve that feat was the legendary Red Rum in the 1970s, highlighting just how hard it is.
Cromwell’s charges
With Inothewayurthinkin scratched, it’s no surprise that support flooded in for two of the in-form Cromwell’s other runners—Stumptown and Vanillier.
The former was Cromwell’s other winner at the recent Cheltenham Festival, justifying favouritism in the Cross Country Chase and extending his unbeaten record for the season to three.
Stumptown will carry 11-2 and is hoping to emulate the great Tiger Roll by following up on his Cross Country success with a Grand National triumph.
This will be Vanillier’s third outing in this race, as the grey finished runner-up to Corach Rambler in 2023 before dropping back to 14th last year.
Despite now being 10, the grey has had a remarkable return to form in his last couple of outings—winning Punchestown in February and finishing third to Stumptown in the Cross Country.
Vanillier is back down to the mark he was when second a couple of years ago and can’t be ruled out on that basis.