2019 Grand National
The Grand National 2019 was this weekend and it was a record-breaking one at that!
The 172nd Grand National was run at the weekend. Between 500-600 million people tune in to watch the biggest race of the year. 40 horses entered the race but only 19 of them finished.
The Grand National has been going since 1839 and is ran every year at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool. It is a 4 miles and 2 furlongs long race with 30 jumps along the way. The purse for the race is £1,000,000 with just over half of that going to the winner.
Horse trainer Gordon Elliott came under some criticism before the race. He had 11 horses entered for the race and many punters felt this was too many. He set a new record that was previously set at 10 horses from one trainer set by Norman Mason in 2001. Elliott hit back saying all the horse’s owner had paid their entree fee so had every right to be in the race.
The favourite for the race was the formidable Tiger Roll. He had won last years Grand National by a nose as well as winning the 2018 and 2019 Glenfarclass Chase at Cheltenham. He started the race at 4/1. was at an extremely low price for a grand national.
The race
The race started and unfortunately, two horses were out of the race after the first jump. Tiger Roll kept in the middle of the field for the majority of the race. The second favourite Rathvinden at 10/1 kept the pace for a lot of the race.
As the race progressed Tiger Roll moved up the pack ensuring he wouldn’t be brought down or blocked by any straggling horses.
Magic Of Light was the surprise package at 66/1, they managed to take the lead off of Rathvinden and looked very good throughout.
As they reached the last two jumps it became a two horse race between last years winner and the 66/1 outsider.
Jumping the last though this was when Tiger Roll really performed. He jumped himself into the lead and from that point onwards never looked back. Davy Russel rode the horse to a two-length win and Tiger Roll became the first horse since Red Rum to win back to back Grand Nationals.
He was the shortest-priced winner since Peothlyn 100 years ago at 11/4.
Bet365 already have odds on next years Grand National with Tiger Roll to make three in a row at 5/1.
