It’s our right to enjoy a Grand National flutter – here’s my shortlist of contenders

1 month ago 13

A NEW type of ‘rising’ could face Aintree a week today – and one far more dangerous to horse racing than those who tried to wreck the Grand National this time last year.

It appears the activist movement Animal Rising has decided to suspend direct action against Liverpool’s historic race.

There’s a lot on the line at Aintree – and not just for all the runners and riders[/caption]

But ‘Punter Rising’, a discontented mob made up of people struggling to get a bet on, could well prove even more troublesome for those in charge.

The simple question many people who punt online will be asking is whether they will be able to get a decent bet on without being asked for intrusive affordability checks which are currently rocking the game.

And if they can’t, the chances are once-a-year-punters will just turn their back on the Grand National.

That would be desperate for all concerned with horse racing.

Up to £250million should be riding on the result of the great race. One in three adults usually have a wager on the event.

In one hit, the event generates in the region of £3m in tax revenues for the Treasury — and £2m in horse racing levy to support the sport.

You lose that kind of cash and you are in big trouble.

As I have written before, the odd thing about affordability checks is the Minister for Sport, Gambling and Civil Society, Stuart Andrew, has insisted they should be frictionless and not necessary for the vast majority.

Yet the Gambling Commission, which claims to licence, regulate — advise and provide guidance to individuals and businesses that offer gambling — is insisting on stricter rules on a daily basis.

And it’s not just affordability checks. Bookmakers on social media are coming under daily fire for changing the goal posts on betting terms and, on occasions, making it difficult for punters to get winnings.

All in all, it’s a mess.

And Grand National is a day — live on ITV Racing — this sport doesn’t need trouble.

It needs a clean race, where all the runners come back safe and punters can have some fun.

That last word is the key one for me. The fun is being sapped out of everything in life.

At least in this paper we will bring you the best Grand National coverage in newspaper land, and there’s nothing more satisfying than finding the Aintree winner.

The race has changed over the years, with the fences smaller and the field now just 34 runners.

I’ll be posting my top four a week today, and I’ll have to do better than last year when the first horse I ruled out was the winner Corach Rambler!

Lucinda Russell’s stable star is back for more having finished third in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham and, while up 13lb in the weights, he could easily take all the beating once again. He dotted up.

Vanillier was second in 2023, but I’m not sure his jumping is good enough and he’s been out of form.

So he might be the one for you to lump on — provided you can get on!

I Am Maximus is fascinating. He looked like a horse who loathed winning once upon a time but has been sensational for Willie Mullins and hacked up in the Bobbyjo and landed the Irish National as a novice.

Former hero Noble Yeats has brilliant Harry Cobden up, and what about the Welsh National romper Nassalam?

He was outclassed in the Gold Cup but it looks like being a muddy National — and he loves the mud.

My daughter Coco went to see him the other day and, as you can see from the photo, Nassalam is currently a very happy horse at home at Gary Moore’s Cisswood Stables.

Coco now has to choose between Nassalam and, of course, Coko Beach!

Don’t worry, I’ll be putting her 50p each-way on, folks.

It’s all part of our annual traditional fun family flutter on the world’s most famous race.

I just hope it is allowed to stay that way for years to come.