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Grand National 2021 tips – Three to back and one to avoid

The Grand National at Aintree takes place this Saturday and, despite Tiger Roll’s absence this year, the race is shaping up to be yet a cracker. Cloth Cap currently heads the ante-post market at 4/1, a surprisingly short price for a horse that’s never faced the National fences before. Here are our Grand National tips for the 2021 race, including a huge 100/1 selection, as well as one to avoid.

 

Grand National 2021 tips

 

Burrows Saint (12/1)

Burrows Saint already has one National under his belt, having won the Irish Grand National in 2019, and he looks set to go close in the big one at Aintree.

He’s run three times so far this season, twice over hurdles and then put in an excellent performance to finish 2nd to stablemate Acapella Bourgeois in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse.

Trainer Willie Mullins has previous for using that race as a stepping stone to Aintree, with Hedgehunter winning the Bobbyjo Chase before winning the Grand National in 2005 and Rathvinden winning it before placing 3rd in the 2019 National.

To win a Grand National you want a horse that’s a strong stayer and a solid jumper, and Burrows Saint ticks both those boxes. His best form has also come on better ground and having raced on deep ground all winter, he’ll relish conditions at Aintree in the big one and goes into our 2021 Grand National tips.

 

Discorama (20/1)

Discorama is a strong staying horse with some classy form that has got into this year’s National off a light weight – what’s not to like?

He was 2nd in the National Hunt Chase over its 4 mile trip at Cheltenham in 2019 and then ran 2nd at the Punchestown Festival in the Grade 1 Novice Chase where he had A Plus Tard in behind.

Trained by Paul Nolan, he hasn’t been seen since a disappointing run at Cheltenham in November but his form figures after a significant break read 1-1-2-2 so he’s a horse that goes well fresh and enjoys good ground. He’s on a competitive handicap mark and looks primed for a bold showing come Grand National day.

 

The Hollow Ginge – 100/1

The third and final inclusion in our 2021 Grand National tips is The Hollow Ginge, who arrive at Aintree with some not-so-impressive form figures of U-4-U-P. However, the form of that 4th placed finish in the Ladbrokes Chase at Newbury is working out well.

The winner that day was Cloth Cap, who is currently the short-priced favourite for the National, and the 2nd placed horse Aye Right went on to place 3rd in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival last month.

The Hollow Ginge was held up in rear that day and stayed on well to take 4th, looking like there was plenty left in the tank.

He’s raced around Aintree twice in his career, placing 2nd of nine runners on the Mildmay course and 4th of 16 over hurdles, both times over 3 miles. The marathon trip of the Grand National may just suit him and he looks overpriced at 100/1 to provide a massive shock or at least provide value into the Aintree Place 6.

 

And one to avoid – Cloth Cap(4/1)

Cloth Cap exploded to the head of the ante-post betting market for the Grand National on the back of victory in the Premier Chase at Kelso at the start of March.

Yes, he’s officially well in at the weights but, from a punting point of view, a price of 4/1 makes him one to swerve. Even trainer Jonjo O’Neill has been quoted as saying “it’s crackers for the Grand National, there’s no value in it.”

He should stay the National trip having placed 3rd in the Scottish National over 4 miles in 2019 but the Grand National is a different beast and Cloth Cap has zero experience of the Aintree fences. An improving horse, Cloth Cap will have conditions to suit but there are far better options to get some betting value in the Grand National than backing the current 4/1 favourite.

 


 

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