Is the Grand National a race for the underdogs?

The Grand National is the most famous horse race in the world with a history dating back to 1839. The United Kingdom stands still for an afternoon in the second week of April for the race that makes heroes out of horses and jockeys within ten minutes of action.

History’s Special Horses

There have been a number of special horses that have etched their names into history, none more so than the outstanding Red Rum who still holds the record for most victories with three triumphs.

Tiger Roll is also a darling of Aintree Racecourse, having reeled off back-to-back triumphs in 2018 and 2019, only for the cancellation of the race in 2020 to deny him a chance to equal Red Rum’s achievement.

Red Rum and Tiger Roll are prime examples of top contenders that have flourished in the National, but over the last 10 years, the race has started to become one for the underdogs. Out of the ten races since 2012, only one favorite has triumphed, which was Tiger Roll in 2019.

A Race For The Underdogs

For fans of the Grand National and betting on the meet, it’s worth looking at horses with longer odds before wagering on the favorite. Few looking at the Grand National betting tips for 2022 would have considered Noble Yeats.

The Irish thoroughbred had only won one race in the 2021/22 National Hunt campaign, including a ninth-place finish at Cheltenham Festival in the Ultima Handicap. As a result, Noble Yeats was backed at 50/1 to win the Grand National, well behind defending champion Minella Times among other horses in the field.

However, he was able to blow away the competition with a brilliant performance with jockey Sam Waley-Cohen in the saddle. Noble Yeats had the skill and stamina to complete all 30 fences where others failed before powering down the stretch to beat out race favorite Any Second Now by two-and-a-quarter lengths. It was a huge achievement for Noble Yeats, and Waley-Cohen, who became the first amateur jockey since 1990 to win the race.

The challenge for Noble Yeats will be to contend with his status as a race favorite in a contest that is slowly trending toward the underdogs.

Times Are Changing

Minella Times entered the 2022 race as a strong contender at 9/1 to triumph again after his success in 2021. However, he fell at the ninth fence to end his charge, highlighting the challenge of repeating success at the National.

Even the best horses can be overwhelmed by the difficulty of the Aintree Racecourse, with over four miles and treacherous obstacles to clear. It is why horses with longer odds are winning the National with greater frequency, there are simply more of them in the field.

Out of 40 competitors, you’re going to get a great value on betting odds for the event if you pick an underdog. If you think Noble Yeats offered a good price at 50/1, Auroras Encore delivered in 2013 at 66/1 and further back Mon Mome triumphed at 100/1.

If you can carefully pick your horse out of the field, there are funds to be won. It is just one of the elements that make the Grand National so compelling on a yearly basis.