S.P.Read Esq: The Grand National

Our daily columnist and pundit S.P. Read Esq. looks ahead to the GRAND NATIONAL A(AINTREE 4.15) and finds the best opportunities available on Star Spreads, the home of sports spread betting.

The great day has arrived and I’ve two selections for you on the Star Spreads 100/70/50/30/20/10/5 performance index.

First things first, this is a ridiculously wide open Grand National – even by wide open Grand National standards.

Secondly, the market is so skewed in favour of AP McCoy’s final National ride Shutthefrontdoor that you are getting unique value on the rest of the field – but the advice on the Grand National always has to be TAKE A PRICE if you are playing fixed odds. Those Liverpool bookie chappies are not the most charitable and history proves you are better off taking early prices rather that rely on the SP market that gets more and more over-round as race time approaches.

Many, so called, experts argue the National is ‘not the race it was’ and a lot of the lottery has gone out of it. I’m not sure – the race has been made safer and it had to in my view. The racing authorities recognised that the safety of the race was becoming unpalatable to an increasing audience and have moved towards easier fences and a better class of horse and rider taking part.

Whether it makes it an easier task for punters though is highly debatable.

Just look at the last three winners:

2014 Pineau Du Re 25/1
2013 Auroras Encore 66/1
2012 Neptune Collonges 33/1

So on that basis don’t let me put you off ANYTHING – no matter how you make your selections whether it’s pin or formbook.

My two against the field are:

CAUSE OF CAUSES

Quirky kind of horse that might be the type to do well around the unique test that is Aintree. Comes here on the back of a win over four miles at the Cheltenham Festival and his trainer Gordon Elliott was the last Irish trainer to win the race with Silver Birch in 2007.

NIGHT IN MILAN

The ground has come in his favour, he loves the better ground. He is a solid jumper and appears to have stamina in abundance. Sound chance of keeping the prize in the north for the Keith and James Reveley combo.

I’m buying both on the Star Spreads 100/70/50/30/20/10/5 index.

CLICK FOR GRAND NATIONAL 100/70/50/30/20/10/5 INDEX ON STAR SPREADS

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale 1-100 points)

BUY CAUSE OF CAUSES (4.15 Aintree) for 20 points at around 15 with Star Spreads
BUY NIGHT IN MILAN (4.15 Aintree) for 20 points at around 10 with Star Spreads

(APRIL RETURN: -686 points)

• Any spread prices quoted are indicative and as always prices are subject to fluctuation.
• Please note the opinion, views and forecasts above are of the author and not of Star Spreads.