Grand National day is here and while millions will tune in for the most famous race in the world, there’s no better way to enjoy the mouth watering undercard than with a Placepot.
If you’re playing the Placepot the night before you’ll get Early Bird Placepot Insurance. So, if your bet goes down in Leg 1, you’ll get money back up to £10! Available throughout the Festival. T&Cs apply.
The Big Trend:
With 40 runners in the main event, it’s no easy task picking one to place, let alone finding the winner. It’s always worth casting your eye over the key trends in order to narrow the field and identify horses with the right profile to go well in the race. Take a look at our Grand National trends for all the key stats in more detail, but in short you’re looking for proven stamina, a touch of class without being too high in the weights and a horse between the ages of eight and ten.
It’s certainly worth keeping a few on side here and while CLOTH CAP (Leg 6, 17:15) is probably not a bet for Tote Win purposes, he’s certainly an obvious candidate for your Placepot slip. An impressive winner of the Ladbrokes Trophy and placed in a Scottish National, he could be thrown in here off his current mark. LORD DU MESNIL has stamina in bags too. He probably wants it a bit softer but his win in the Grand National Trial at Haydock reads very well and he can put up a good performance. KIMBERLITE CANDY has a likeable profile and has run well over the fences before.
Placepot Banker:
Quite simply, SHISHKIN (Leg 3, 15:00) is a superstar and should win this race at a canter. He’s been ridiculously good this season and looks like the 2022 Champion Chaser in waiting.
MY DROGO (Leg 2, 14:25) has looked like a beast so far and his handler has said that he’s a future Gold Cup contender. This is a hot race, with a couple of Irish raiders in there including supreme second Ballyadam, but we can see Dan Skelton’s charge improving for a step up in trip and will be spot on for this having missed Cheltenham. It would be some surprise if he finished outside the places.
THYME HILL (Leg 4, 15:35) missed Cheltenham which may well play into his hands here. He always runs his race and while he’ll have to turn the tables on Paisley Park, he has youth and both freshness on his side.
Outsiders to Consider:
In a 22 runner handicap hurdle, it would be rude not to put up a couple of outsiders. There have been seven handicap hurdles across the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals so far and all of them have been won by Irish horses. That could continue here with the very interesting WHIRLING DERVISH (13:45, Leg 1). He’s got a touch of class about him, having been rated 100 on the Flat and finished 7th in a big handicap at Newmarket. He scored on his first attempt up at 3m last time, so is unexposed over these distances and could well be anything.
UNOWHATIMEANHARRY scored here earlier in the year and the old favourite is only 1lb higher for this. His best days are obviously behind him but he could well run into a place here and won’t be on too many slips.
Torpedo Leg:
With winners in recent years returning three figure dividends the main event, the Grand National (Leg 6, 17:15), is our obvious torpedo leg. Anything can happen in the race and it’s certainly worth picking out a few you like. Try and find one or two who are huge prices in the win pools and don’t let anyone put you off!
Tote racing's recommended Placepot Perm:
Leg 1: Whirling Dervish, Unowhatimeanharry
Leg 2: My Drogo
Leg 3: Shishkin
Leg 4: Thyme Hill
Leg 5: Happygolucky, Sam Brown
Leg 6: Cloth Cap, Lord Du Mesnil, Kimberlite Candy
2 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 2 x 3 = 12 lines
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