The five most backed horses this year for next week’s Grand National at Aintree.
There is a clear favourite for the 2024 Grand National, both with the bookmakers and the oddschecker community since the start of the year.
Corach Rambler - 11/2
The most backed horse for the 2024 Grand National at Aintree is last year’s winner CORACH RAMBLER (11/2 on Betfred at the time of writing), who has taken almost 15% of the bets through oddschecker since the start of the year.
Trained by Lucinda Russell and ridden by Derek Fox, the two-time Cheltenham Festival winner provided his Scotland-based team with a second win in the world’s greatest race 12 months ago after his trainer and jockey won the 2017 edition of the race with One For Arthur.
The son of Jeremy, who has been marked up 13lbs to 159 for his Grand National defence, made a disappointing return at Kelso but followed up with a sound run in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.
He gained the most amount of lengths jumping on the field that day and 4th placed Protektorat has since won the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham whilst 2nd placed Bravemansgame filled the same position in the King George.
Like last season he was given the winter off before returning again at Cheltenham, where he produced a strong performance to finish 3rd in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
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Vanillier - 10/1
It is the runner-up 12 months ago who comes in as the second most backed horse through oddschecker for this year’s renewal. Gavin Cromwell’s VANILLIER (10/1 on Sky Bet) has taken more than 8% of bets for the race so far this year.
This season, preparations for Vanillier mirror those of 12 months ago. Inadequate performances at both Punchestown and Leopardstown were once again followed by a second placed finish at Fairyhouse, although his performance this time was arguably worse.
Even in receipt of 12lbs, he was left 14 lengths behind eventual winner I Am Maximus. However, it must be said he has shown a preference for sounder ground and so the soft to heavy going description wasn’t in his favour.
I Am Maximus - 8/1
Vanillier's Fairyhouse conqueror I AM MAXIMUS (8/1 on bet365) is the third most backed through oddschecker so far this year with 6.6% of the bets in the race winner market.
Last year's Irish National winner I Am Maximus opened his account with a Grade 1 Novice chase win, making use of a technicality regarding novice status in Ireland.
He has since finished 4th and 3rd behind Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs in Grade 1's before a thumping win at Fairyhouse in the Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase off a top weight of 11st 12lb. He runs off a mark of 146 (11st 5lb) in next week's big race at Aintree.
Meetingofthewaters - 14/1
A horse at the forefront of the papers recently comes in fourth on our most backed list for next week's Grand National with a 5% share of the bets.
After his facile win at Leopardstown over Christmas, and a talking up in the Cheltenham preview circuit, the son of Court Cave MEETINGOFTHEWATERS (14/1 on William Hill) was one of two pre-Festival purchases by owner J.P. McManus.
Sent off a short priced 6/1 in the Ultima, he only managed third that day but that was on heavy ground on the tighter old course and he rallied well up the run-in (pulling 16 lengths clear of 4th).
The step up to a marathon trip looks in his favour and he can go well from a mark of which he is 2lb well in. The Ultima has produced the last two Grand National winners; Corach Rambler won the race in 2021 and 2022, while Noble Yeats finished 9th in 2022 before his Aintree triumph.
Panda Boy - 14/1
Rounding off the top five with a 4.8% share of the bets is PANDA BOY, an ante-post fancy for oddschecker racing expert Andy Holding.
Having landed a major handicap hurdle as a five year old, it has long been thought that Panda Boy can win a big pot over fences.
He came home 2nd in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival behind Meetingofthewaters, before catching the eye with the way he finished in a competitive but slowly run handicap hurdle at the Dublin venue last time.
That race would have protected his handicap mark over fences but he will run off a mark of 146, 6lb higher than his 5th in last year's Irish Grand National.
