Weekend Review: Grand National glory for ante-post favourite Corach Rambler at Aintree

Corach Rambler emerged victorious in the 175th running of the Grand National at Aintree after going off as 8/1 favourite but bookies were still smiling following the conclusion of the world’s most famous steeplechase.

With the showpiece event delayed by 14 minutes after animal rights protestors stormed the course, the tension had built to a crescendo for the penultimate race of the three-day festival.

Ridden by Derek Fox and carrying just 10 stone five pounds, Corach Rambler, who had drifted in the betting last week before a late plunge on the day, managed to avoid trouble before taking the lead at the final fence and hold off the chasing pack to secure the win for trainer Lucinda Russell.

The win marked Fox and Russell’s second as a duo in the Grand National after One For Arthur’s victory in 2017.

Behind the favourite, 20/1 Vanillier finished second while 10/1-shots Gaillard Du Mesnil and Noble Yeats took third and fourth after being heavily-backed on the day.

The race was marred to some extent, though, by the death of Hill Sixteen who was fatally injured in a fall at the first fence. In all, five runners fell, seven pulled up and 11 horses unseated their riders, leaving just 17 to complete the four-mile two-furlong marathon.

Despite the final result looking desperate on paper for the layers, they managed to emerge ahead after plenty of well-backed runners either finished out of the places or didn’t complete the race.

Kindred Group’s Ali Gill said: “At Aintree it was Grand National weekend, to top off what was a fantastic three-day festival. Corach Rambler was very well backed on the day having been put up in a few spots and going off 8/1, but all told it was a positive result in the book.

“Our biggest liability overall was Mister Coffey, so a few hearts in mouths as he lobbed along nicely most the way, and some relief as he tired late on and couldn’t quite hold on for a place,” he added.

Bet365’s Steve Freeth was watching the race through his fingers but revealed the operator managed to “dodge the bogeys”.

He said: “On the face of it, an 8/1 winning favourite, two 10/1s and a 12/1 in the places, you’d have thought we’d have had a shocker, and I certainly did as I watched the race unfold at the bet365 Stadium.

“There was a right old gamble on Back On The Lash, backed from 50/1, who was top of the liabilities by some way with Rachael Blackmore backers also out in force as Ain’t That A Shame attracted plenty of support. The Gordon Elliott pair of Coko Beach and Fury Road also featured prominently but the day once again belonged to Lucinda Russell and Derek Fox.”

Betfred’s Alan Firkins was also pleased with the best-backed runners failing to fulfil their promise.

Firkins said: “Despite the favourite obliging nicely we still had a decent Grand National. Best-backed with us were Ain’t That A Shame, Any Second Now and The Big Dog, with only the latter in fifth costing us courtesy of enhanced place offers.”

Away from the Grand National, there was joy in the Liverpool Hurdle after Sire Du Berlais, the shock winner of the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, came out on top for trainer Elliot.

Gill continued: “Outside of the National, the Liverpool Hurdle went the way of hugely impressive and double completing Sire Du Berlais, fresh from his Stayers Hurdle win at Cheltenham last month. A shorter price this time, but an impressive win, albeit one that left us in profit for that one.”

In Premier League action, Arsenal let yet another 2-0 lead slip after allowing relegation battlers West Ham to claw a 2-2 draw at the London Stadium on Sunday.

Arsenal had roared into a 2-0 lead after just 10 minutes thanks to goals from Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard, leaving Hammers fans fearful and the travelling Gunners contingent confident of stretching their lead atop the Premier League table.

However, a mistake from Thomas Partey allowed Declan Rice to steal in and lay the ball off for Lucas Paqueta to win a penalty, which was duly dispatched by Said Benrahma.

A Michail Antonio handball gave Bukayo Saka the chance to restore Arsenal’s two-goal lead, but he inexplicably placed his penalty wide. It was a costly miss as Jarrod Bowen swept home just moments later to level affairs. The draw pulled West Ham four points clear of the relegation zone while Arsenal’s title aspirations were dealt a bitter blow.

Arsenal’s north London rivals, Spurs, slipped to defeat at home to Bournemouth despite an 88th minute equaliser from Arnaut Danjuma against his former club. Spurs’ soft underside was exposed once again after Dango Ouattara’s cool finish gave Gary O’Neil’s side all three points in the 95th minute.

Kindred Group’s Gill said: “A great weekend for the traders here as the Premier League results really went our way overall. No surprise Arsenal once again letting a two-goal lead slip was the best Premier League result in the book, with north London rival Spurs pulling a similar trick in losing to Bournemouth to leave another great result in the book.”

Manchester City closed the gap to Arsenal to just four points after a 3-1 win over Leicester City in a scoreline that flattered the Citizens. A second-half salvo from the Foxes could have seen the game end all square but Pep Guardiola’s side, aided by the Norwegian goalscoring machine that is Erling Haaland, marched onto victory.

Firkins said: “I was at The Etihad on Saturday to see Manchester City and especially Erling Haaland look imperious for a half at least, but Leicester could definitely have spoiled things late on.

“No hesitancy detected with Arsenal at the London Stadium against West Ham on Sunday, but they still relinquished a cosy-looking two-goal lead for a second week in succession, and missed a pen. West Ham were excellent, after a decidedly sticky start, enhancing their survival prospects and confirming their collective resolve.

“It could now be advantage City in the title race, and our traders certainly agree, going 4/9 about the Blues and 7/4 Arsenal. They meet on Wednesday week in Manchester, but Arsenal have far less fixture clutter and that could still prove decisive, as City battle on multiple fronts,” he added.

For bet365’s Freeth, Arsenal racing into a 2-0 lead only to let it slip was costly thanks to the firm’s two goals ahead payout offer. The Stoke-on-Trent-based bookmaker was able to get some joy out of Italian football, though, as Champions League quarter-finalists Inter, AC Milan and Napoli all failed to win at the weekend.

Inter fell to a 1-0 defeat at home to Monza, while champions-elect Napoli were held to a 0-0 draw against Verona. AC drew 1-1 in Bologna in a positive weekend of calcio for the bookies.