The 2021 Grand National is only days away, and already, we know who won’t be featuring this year. The two-time winner Tiger Roll won’t be making it a hat-trick, following the ‘weight debate’ and more recently, the 33/1 chance Easysland was ruled out, with an early holiday beckoning, after his run-out at the Cheltenham Festival.
If you’re familiar with the Grand National 2021 odds, you’ll know who the favourites are already. But with a bumper field of 40 and the treacherous fences at Aintree, there can often be surprises. To find out more, read on, as we take a look at some of the contenders for success.
Cloth Cap (4/1)
After an exceptional round of jumping in the Trophy Chase at Newbury last November, Cloth Cap with Tom Scudamore in the saddle followed that up sensationally at Kelso last month. Storming to victory in the listed Premier Chase, beating Aso by seven-and-a-half lengths, the nine-year-old gelding’s stock has raised, and his odds slashed ahead of the National. Trainer Jonjo O’Neill last won the Aintree centrepiece in 2000, but with a decent chase record, can anyone catch Cloth Cap?
Any Second Now (10/1)
Another horse to have seen their odds shortened ahead of April 10th, Any Second Now returned to winning ways at Navan, winning the Grade 2 Webster Cup Chase, 10 lengths ahead of Castlegrace Paddy. It was the nine-year-old’s first victory in over a year, after a couple of ninth-placed finishes, and pulling up at Gowran Park, back in January. And trainer Ted Walsh is feeling confident ahead of the race, telling reporters after that win at Navan: “I’d say that was a career best and he’s going to the National in a good frame of mind.”
Kimberlite Candy (12/1)
A two-time runner-up in the Becher Chase, over the Aintree fences, Kimberlite Candy hasn’t raced since that outing last December. He was due to get a run-out at Kelso last month, but at the time, trainer Tom Lacey suggested that the ground would confirm the decision. But it’s straight to the National, where Lacey fancies his chances. He said: “A host of recent winners have carried between 10-10 and 11-06, and he’s in that range, so statistically he’s got a chance. He’s the right age and has got proven form around there, so he goes there with a big chance.”
Minella Times (12/1)
The odds for Minella Times have been slashed since the Cheltenham Festival, where Rachael Blackmore was named leading jockey, with six winners – becoming the first female jockey to win the accolade. Blackmore has ridden Minella Times in his last three races, picking up a win and two second-place finishes – and it’s likely she would be best-placed to ride the Henry de Bromhead eight-year-old at Aintree. De Bromhead has never trained a Grand National winner, nor has there ever been a female jockey win the blue riband event, but given her form this season, Blackmore will relish the chance to make history.
Elsewhere, Burrows Saint, Santini and Secret Reprieve can be found at a price of 14/1, and last year’s virtual winner Potters Corner is a 25/1 outside chance.
*Odds correct at the time of writing.