Aintree Grand National 2024: Five Interesting Outsiders

Spring is the season which keeps on giving for horse racing fans. The Cheltenham Festival may be in the books for another year, but the flat campaign is now underway; Saturday evening sees one of the richest race meetings in the world out in Meydan, whilst, in April, we have the small matter of the biggest jumps race known to man.

Saturday 13th April is the date in the diary for the 2024 edition of the Merseyside marvel that is the Aintree Grand National, and, with several firms now offering Non-Runner No Bet on the big race, the betting bandwagon is beginning to pick up the pace. Defending champion Corrach Rambler, last year’s runner-up Vanillier, and Irish National hero I A Maximus are proving the most popular choices for punters, but here, using analysis presented by NewBettingSites.uk, we take a look at a selection of challengers available to back at more rewarding prices.

Kitty’s to Light the Way for Williams?

Welsh trainer Christian Williams and family have been through the mill in recent times following the news that his young daughter Betsy has been diagnosed with leukaemia – sparking a heartwarming outpouring of love and support from the racing community. During those difficult days, Kitty’s Light did his utmost to keep the Williams spirits up – backing up his win in the Eider Chase with fantastic victories in the Scottish Grand National and bet365 Gold Cup.

Just over a year after the initial diagnosis, Betsy is reportedly responding well to treatment. Kitty’s Light, meanwhile, sets off in pursuit of the biggest prize of them all. A win for the eight-year-old would undoubtedly provide the best story, and he might just do it. Whilst he hasn’t shown much in five outings this season, he showed a little more last time out when seventh in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and has now slipped to a rating 3lbs below his career high.

Kitty’s Light is available to back at 16/1 with BetUK.

Famous Silks to Strike Again?

Few owners targeted Grand National success to the same degree as billionaire businessman Trevor Hemmings. Successful with Hedgehunter (2005), Ballabriggs (2011) and Many Clouds (2015), the housing magnate enjoyed his greatest moments as an owner at Aintree. Having passed away in 2021, Trevor is sadly no longer with us, but his Green and Yellow quartered silks live on and may be doubly represented in this year’s race.

Iron Bridge (66/1 with LiveScoreBet) arguably boasts the stronger credentials of the pair, having finished second in a gruelling edition of the Welsh Grand National in December and stayed on well for third in the Haydock Grand National Trial. However, the suspicion is that we may not have seen the best of Famous Bridge (50/1 with LiveScoreBet). Three times a winner at 3m and beyond, he looked to be going well until unseating his rider in that Grand National Trial and would look dangerous if sneaking in here off a low weight.

Sitting on marks of 140 and 139, respectively, Iron Bridge and Famous Bridge need a few to come out above them, so be sure to opt for a bookmaker offering the Non-Runner No Bet concession if siding with the Hemmings pair.

Classy Mare Well-In at The Weights

Gavin Cromwell is a man to be feared whenever he sets his sights on a major prize and has three among the current entries. Vanillier makes obvious appeal, having finished second in the race twelve months ago, whilst Malinas Girl is a big price but has pieces of form which bring her into contention. However, the most interesting of the trio is the JP McManus-owned mare, Limerick Lace (25/1 with BetUK).

Since being handed a mark of 147 for this, the seven-year-old daughter of Walk In The Park has gone on to post a career-best effort when winning the Grade 2 Paddy Power Mares’ Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. That performance resulted in a new mark of 153, making her 6lb well-in here. The step up to this marathon trip is the big question mark, but she posted an encouraging effort when staying on for second over 3m at Navan in November, and this classy sort looks like an interesting each-way option at 25/1 with BetUK.

Farouk to hand Gordon Win Number Four?

Having saddled Silver Birch and Tiger Roll (twice) to Grand National glory, Gordon Elliott knows what it takes to prevail at Aintree. The Irish trainer looks set to arrive mob-handed in 2024, with 14 of the current entries hailing from his County Meath yard – 10 of whom are amongst the top 34 in the weights.

There are no shortage of intriguing contenders amongst the Elliott team, including the classy Conflated at the head of the weights, Coko Beach, who went well for a long way in the 2022 edition, and Delta Work, who finished third in 2022 and was travelling well until falling late on last year. However, the most interesting of all may be Farouk D’alene, who remains unexposed in this sphere. A dual Grade 2 winner – including when mastering Vanillier at Limerick – he has been up and down of late but is a high-class performer on his day and may just be suited by this test.

Galia to Grab Gold for Skelton

The Irish may have dominated the Cheltenham Festival, but Warwickshire’s Dan Skelton did his bit to ensure the home team weren’t disgraced, with an impressive five wins over the four days. In with a real chance of picking up his first trainers' title this year, a win in this £1 million contest would effectively seal the deal.

Flying the Skelton flag in 2024 is the talented mare Galia Des Liteaux, who, sitting at number 34 on the current list, is guaranteed to make the cut. Having won twice at Listed level and once in Grade 2 company, this daughter of Saddler Maker has the class to go close and suggested that stamina is her forte when producing a relentless late burst to lose out by just ¾l in the 3m5f Classic Chase at Warwick. Set to carry a nice racing weight of 10st6lb, this likeable sort makes plenty of each-way appeal at 50/1 with BetUK.

You might also be interested in: 

• Grand National 2024: The Main Contenders
  
• Grand National 2024 New Betting Sites & Betting Offers
• Who Will Win the Grand National?
• Haydock Grand National Trial: 21st Century Trends
• Aintree Grand National: 21st Century Trends Betting Selections