Grand National 2020? Four horses to watch for the Aintree spectacular

Can Tiger Roll become the first horse to win three Grand Nationals in a row? The Grand National is the race that everyone in the United Kingdom and Ireland knows and loves. There’s no bigger event in horse racing and even your nan will most likely have a little punt on the race.

Your mam will pick the horse with the nicest name, while your dad will have some outlandish tip from the bloke down the pub.

You, on the other hand, will have studied the form guides and results over the course of the season and, with our help, we’ll help you narrow down your choices for the winner.

Here are our four early tips for the 2020 Grand National on Saturday, April 4 @ 5.15pm.

Note: The Grand National market is an ante-post market where money is not refunded if your selection does not run and the prices and entries are correct at time of publishing.

Tiger Roll @ 6/1

This incredible horse should run again for the honour of joining Red Rum as the only competitor to win the event three times. He became the first horse since the legendary gelding to win back-to-back Nationals in 2019 when Gordon Elliott’s charge finished two-and-three quarter lengths ahead of his nearest rival to claim the crown. No horse has won the event three times in a row – therefore Tiger Roll will be battling history once again.

However, he’s still a relatively young competitor on the National Hunt scene and will only be nine by the off time on Saturday, April 4. A big indicator of his success will be his form at Cheltenham Festival in the Cross Country Chase. Tiger Roll will be bidding for a third-straight victory in that race as well, putting down dominant runs in his last two appearances.

He’s currently 6/1 favourite for the Aintree showpiece – and is sure to be popular as the big race approaches.

Native River @ 20/1 

The 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner could be in line for his first crack at the National in 2020. He put forward a fine performance in the Gold Cup in 2018, finishing four-and-a-half lengths ahead of favourite Might Bite.

Native River has been a model of consistency during his career. He’s won a Welsh Grand National in his time and was third in the King George VI Chase to Clan Des Obeaux in the 2018 King George at Kempton before returning to Cheltenham to defend his crown, only to be beaten into fourth by Al Boum Photo.

He won at Aintree on his reappearance in 2019 – his second course win at the Liverpool track. His consistency makes Native River a serious contender as an each-way bet at 20/1 in a race where Paddy’s paying the first 5 home. 

Anibale Fly @ 33/1

Tony Martin’s runner finished fourth in 2018 and fifth in the 2019 renewal of the great race and with finishing positions of second and third respectively in the last two Cheltenham Gold Cups, he has been one of the most prominent horses in the National Hunt sphere.

He challenged Al Boum Photo all the way up Cleeve Hill at Cheltenham, but was beaten by two-and-a-half lengths by the Willie Mullins-trained runner.

It was a similar story at the National and seems to have the talent to compete in the major races that he is carefully targeted at.  At 33/1 he’s worth a solid shout if he lines up on the day again.

Walk In The Mill @ 20/1 

Robert Walford’s charge was a 25/1 outsider last season, but performed well to finish fourth behind Tiger Roll. He has good course form at Aintree, winning the Becher Handicap Chase at the end of 2018, beating a talented field that included Blaklion and has won the last two renewals of the Becher Chase at the Liverpool track in December.

He is more than capable of raising his game in this year’s contest and the softer the ground, the better his chance. Whether it’s enough to challenge  His current odds of 20/1 look solid for another Aintree specialist who is sure to give you a good run for your money on the big day. 

Note: The Grand National market is an ante-post market where money is not refunded if your selection does not run and the prices and entries are correct at time of publishing.