S.P.Read Esq: Aintree Day Three

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

As a pundit, it is of course the hardest job in the world to pick the winner of the Grand National – but to the once a year punters who turn to you for advice not only is the winner expected it is positively demanded.

After all, it’s what you do all year round, right? So picking the winner should be as routine as a plumber fixing a leak or a dentist filling a filling?

It was actually vividly demonstrated to me a few years ago when I tipped my barber the 20/1 winner of the National. Next time in he thanked me – not overtly – not even with a free grade 5 (all over) for my efforts – just a polite ‘thank you’ as if he expected nothing less.

I’m approaching this year’s renewal like a fairground attraction. You know the sort of end of pier shows where they have three shelves of prizes – the cheap tat on the bottom shelf, the designer pack of cards on the middle shelf and the gigantic teddy bear on the top shelf that retails for no more than £30 but you’ll need to ‘invest’ north of £300 to get anywhere near winning it.

In other words, I’m having three bites of the cherry – well there are 40 runners for goodness sake so hopefully we’ll hook the right duck:

THE BOTTOM SHELF – SILVINIACO CONTI

This is where the favourites lurk and plenty of punters will go no further than number one on the racecard and last year’s winner Many Clouds who attempts to go ‘back to back’ off a 5lb higher mark than in 2015. He was a 25/1 chance when winning last year and has been prepared very much with this in mind, warming up with an easy win at Kelso last time out. He looks a solid favourite but it’s such a tough ask to expect another win. So many things need to right and whilst the race has got easier there was plenty of carnage in the Topham Chase yesterday to suggest the course hasn’t completely given up the challenge to horse and rider.

Of the other shorter priced runners Silviniaco Conti appeals a lot. He bounced back to form when winning at Ascot and as a seven time Grade 1 winner (including two King Georges) he really does bring class into the race. He’s quite a small horse but that didn’t stop a certain Mr R Rum around here.

THE MIDDLE SHELF – THE DRUIDS NEPHEW

At the mid-range prices I’m adding The Druids Nephew to my punting portfolio. He wouldn’t be the first horse to return to the Grand National after failing to complete the previous year and he was in the process of running a huge race 12 months ago when still leading before falling five out. He is 9lb higher than last year and has form to find with The Last Samuri but we found out last year he loves this course and just needs a little more luck this year.

THE TOP SHELF – BUYWISE

This is where I am looking for the ‘cuddly toy’ of a winner and at around 33/1 I’m hopeful of a good run from Buywise. His stamina for this extremity of distance has to be taken on trust but he has been staying on well in the closing stages of shorter distance races including at Doncaster last time out in the Great Yorkshire Chase when third to Ziga Boy. He’s a horse that often finds a way to be placed and could easily be plugging on for a place when many of the others have cried enough.

So there it is – my three ‘ducks’ against the field: SILVINIACO CONTI, THE DRUIDS NEPHEW and BUYWISE.

I’m buying all three on the Star Spreads 100/60/30/20/10/5 market and as extra reason to do so Star Spreads have a BUYERS BONUS – you get the SP added to the 100 points if your horse wins the great race!

CHECK OUT THE FULL RANGE OF AINTREE MARKETS ON STAR SPREADS INCLUDING SPECIALS AND DAILY INDICES ON ALL SEVEN RACES

CLICK FOR GRAND NATIONAL 100/60/30/20/10/5 MARKET ON STAR SPREADS

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale 1-100 points)

BUY SILVINIACO CONTI on the Star Spreads 100/60/30/20/10/5 Grand National market for 10 points at 11 with Star Spreads
BUY THE DRUIDS NEPHEW on the Star Spreads 100/60/30/20/10/5 Grand National market for 10 points at 14 with Star Spreads
BUY BUYWISE on the Star Spreads 100/60/30/20/10/5 Grand National market for 10 points at 6 with Star Spreads

BETS RECORD FROM FEBRUARY
2 Feb -275.00 (SELL 1st WEST HAM MATCH GOAL 25 points at 47)
3 Feb +116.25 (SELL CHELSEA SUPREMACY 75 points at 0.55)
6 Feb -100.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 25 points at 44)
7 Feb -735.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 35 points at 51)
8 Feb -1260.00 (BUY 1st MATCH GOAL 35 points at 41)
9 Feb +245.00 (SELL 1st WEST HAM MATCH GOAL 35 points at 52)
9 Feb -455.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 77)
10 Feb -490.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 76)
13 Feb -1295.00 (SELL 1st MATCH GOAL 35 points at 40)
14 Feb +315.00 (BUY 1st MATCH GOAL 35 points at 36)
15 Feb -350.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 80)
16 Feb +175.00 (SELL 1st PSG MATCH GOAL 25 points at 46)
17 Feb -1050.00 (SELL 1st ROMA MATCH GOAL 30 points at 55)
18 Feb +0.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 50 points at 77)
19 Feb -150.00 (SELL 1st EVERTON MATCH GOAL 25 points at 49)
19 Feb -750.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 50 points at 75)
20 Feb +275.00 (SELL 1st CHELSEA MATCH GOAL 25 points at 46)
20 Feb +1400.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 50 points at 76)
21 Feb +0.00 (SELL 1st MAN U MATCH GOAL 45 points at 37)
21 Feb +840.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 70 points at 73)
23 Feb -1270.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 70 points at 72)
25 Feb +210.00 (SELL 1st MAN U MATCH GOAL 70 points at 32)
27 Feb -1500.00 (BUY 1st MATCH GOAL 50 points at 42)
28 Feb +1200.00 (BUY 3rd MATCH GOAL 80 points at 75)
28 Feb -68.00 (BUY TOTAL MATCH GOALS 80 points at 2.85)
29 Feb +4000.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 80 points at 78)
3 Mar NO BET
4 Mar -108.00 (BUY CORNERS 40 points at 10.7)
5 Mar +570.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 30 points at 56)
6 Mar -1200 (SELL 1st MAN U MATCH GOAL 30 points at 50)
8 Mar +90.00 (SELL 1st ARSENAL MATCH GOAL 30 points at 44)
9 Mar -240.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 30 points at 68)
10 Mar +150.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 30 points at 55)
12 Mar -470.00 (BUY CORNERS 100 points at 11.7)
13 Mar -320.00 (SELL 1st WEST HAM MATCH GOAL 40 points at 60)
15 Mar +840.00 (assorted Cheltenham Festival trades)
16 Mar -65.00 (assorted Cheltenham Festival trades)
17 Mar +148.00 (assorted Cheltenham Festival trades)
18 Mar -250.00 (assorted Cheltenham Festival trades)
19 Mar -420.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 78)
20 Mar +446.25 (BUY CORNERS 85 points at 10.75)
24 Mar -35.00 (BUY NORTHERN IRELAND 35 points at 11)
26 Mar +175.00 (BUY CORNERS 100 points at 10.25)
29 Mar +0.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 25 points at 77)
30 Mar -450.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 25 points at 38)
2 Apr -840.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 35 points at 44)
3 Apr -37.50 (BUY CORNERS 75 points at 10.5)
5 Apr +2805.00 (BUY BOOKINGS TWO MATCHES)
6 Feb +720.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 45 points at 75)
7 Feb +1665.00 (BUY AINTREE DISTANCES 45 points at 37)
8 Feb -775.25 (BUY AINTREE DISTANCES 35 points at 38)

• 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.