Grand National rule change could ruin Harry Redknapp’s dream of winning £1m race with horse named after West Ham fan

PUNTERS are backing Harry Redknapp to complete a dream double and win the Grand National with a horse named after a West Ham fan.

Shakem Up’Arry gave the football legend his biggest winner ever with victory in the Plate at Cheltenham Festival earlier this month.

Paul Edwards

Cheltenham Race festival 2024 . Day three St Patrick’s Thursday ..Harry Redknapp Chers as his horse wins at Cheltenham[/caption]

But the £67,500 Redknapp bagged for victory there pales in comparison to the cool £500,000 the winner of the world’s most famous race gets.

Legendary jockey Richard Johnson tipped Shakem Up’Arry for National glory last month, before he became a Festival winner.

The Ben pauling-trained ten-year-old was 66-1 then but has been slashed into 33s with some bookies.

However, punters looking to pile in should be aware the horse is currently not guaranteed to run.

Shakem Up’Arry, who was named after a West Ham fan who always used to shout that behind Redknapp in the dugout, was among the 58 remaining entries for the £1m race on April 13.

But he is currently 44th on the list of potential runners.

Under the old rules, Redknapp would have needed just four runners to come out for him to go in as bottom-weight number 40.

But the field has been cut to just 34 runners this year as part of a radical overhaul of the Aintree contest.

With six fewer runners lining up, Redknapp is now banking on ten pulling out between now and April 11, when the final declarations are made.

It will be a nail-biting wait to get in and Redknapp could opt to target the Topham Handicap Chase on April 12 instead, for which the horse is 14-1.

Shakem Up’Arry is not the only horse being backed despite not being sure to run.

Christian Williams’ Kitty Light has attracted plenty of support and is as short as 14-1 but is 38th on the list.

While Martin Brassil’s Panda Boy was cut into 10-1 – but crucially needs just one to drop out to get in.

Monbeg Genius was the biggest name pulled from the race during yesterday’s scratchings.

The Michelle Mone and Doug Barrowman-owned chaser had been ante-post favourite for the National before being pulled up at Cheltenham.

While Shark Hanlon also officially withdrew King George winner Hewick, who will instead be aimed at the Aintree Bowl.

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