There’s nothing quite like the Grand National. As one of the showpiece occasions on the British sporting calendar, the famous horse race captures the attention of people all over the country, regardless of whether you’re a horse racing fan or not.
This year’s edition of the Grand National promises to provide a real celebratory atmosphere. For the first time in three years, a packed house at Aintree will roar the horses home, and after the difficult times we have endured of late, the 2022 Grand National will be an emotional occasion for many racing enthusiasts.
Of course, the action itself will provide the most entertainment, and you can’t blame everyone for placing their Grand National bets in the lead-up to the race. With that in mind, let’s take a look at a few horses who, although not considered top favourites to triumph, could be worth backing nonetheless.
Minella Times
It may be strange to talk about last year’s Grand National winner as an outsider, but at odds of 16/1, it’s fair to say that not many are tipping Minella Times to repeat the success of 2021, even with Rachael Blackmore in the saddle.
It’s been a torrid season for the Henry de Bromhead-trained horse, with neither of his two outings this campaign ending in a successful finish. Minella Times fell in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown back in December, and was then pulled up in a Handicap Chase at Leopardstown in February.
However, Minella Times knows what it takes to win the Grand National, and last year’s experience might just trigger some inspiration when it comes to starter’s orders at Aintree.
Burrows Saint
A once reliable performer on the biggest stage, it’s fair to say that Burrows Saint has not enjoyed the best results in recent times. However, any horse of Willie Mullins’ can not be underestimated, and after finishing fourth in last year’s Grand National, this could be the year that Burrows Saint steps up to the mark and delivers a barnstorming performance.
Cloth Cap
In the build-up to the 2021 Grand National, many felt that Cloth Cap was something of a shoe-in, as much as any entry can be for a race as unpredictable as the Aintree showpiece. The Jonjo O’Neill-trained horse was the 11/2 favourite going into the race, but didn’t deliver the goods, and was eventually pulled up by jockey Tom Scudamore.
This year, Cloth Cap is a more distant 25/1, but perhaps with less pressure on his shoulders, he’ll excel in the Grand National this time around.
Farclas
Having missed out on the Grand National last year due to his ban from horse racing, Gordon Elliott will be keen to make a big impact at Aintree this weekend, and although Farclas is to be found at odds of 25/1, Elliott will still have hope that the eight-year-old can deliver a memorable performance.
It’s been a while since Farclas won a race, but a purple patch of three successive victories in 2019 demonstrated that this is a horse that can really compete when on top form.
