From races all over the world, one that stands out as the best in the industry is the Grand National. This race pushes horses, jockeys and trainers to their limit. Everything needs to be perfect on the day. But what makes the race so special, and watched by millions in the UK, plus more around the globe?
The setup of the race is unique, and those who win the race need to have something special about them. For this reason, past winners of the race are often strong contenders in future years. In 2021, Minella Times won the race and the latest Grand National betting odds for 2022 show him to be +2800 to repeat that feat. Those odds may sound big, but in a race with 40 runners and huge fences to jump, the betting market is big, and even favorites can have big odds attached to them.
Let’s have a look at what puts this race above all others in the racing calendar.
A Piece of UK Sporting History
Without a doubt, the Grand National is part of UK sporting history. Established in 1895, the race has attracted interest for many years, with strong free-to-air coverage on both TV and radio.
People remember watching the big moments of this iconic race. In 2019, we saw Tiger Roll win his second Grand National. After being backed as favorite, most of the UK was behind him, and he no doubt had many more fans elsewhere in the world.
This is not a race that people watch just to see who will win. This is a race that creates history makers, and horses that live long in the hearts of racing fans who saw their performances.
The Grand National Test
The test that horses undertake in the Grand National is like no other in UK racing. The race spans over four miles, with unique Aintree fences providing a bigger, stiffer jumping test than normal. Combine those jumps with the course’s stamina-testing distance, and you create a race that demands respect.
Racing is a sport where we all pick and choose who we want to bet on, without negativity towards any others in the race. This allows us to appreciate what is being done on the track, even if the winner is not who we picked.
When Minella Times won in 2021, the admiration was equally about the rider as it was the horse. Rachel Blackmore became the first female jockey to win the race, and many appreciated her efforts and what she could do for women in the sport.
Blackmore made history that day by winning the toughest test of them all. Even those who don’t pick out Minella Times this year will cheer her on to do well again, such is the admiration people have for those who have been and done it before.
