Horse Racing Tips: The TVBet Guide To Betting On The Grand National 2017

Saturday 8th April. 5:15PM. ITV 1

The historic 170th Grand National is already well underway, but the big one comes on Saturday afternoon as a field of 40 horses take on the most iconic race in the entire racing calendar. Four miles, 30 fences, and a prize fund of £1m. Aintree is already buzzing.

From casual punters to professional gamblers, everyone will be having a flutter on what is the busiest day of the year. Who should you be backing to make history? Let’s take a closer look.

Can Vieux Lion Rouge Follow Trial Win With The Big One?

After winning at Haydock back in February, Vieux Lion Rouge enters the big one as the early favourite. Can the eight-year-old chestnut gelding finally help the Scudamores end a 60-year wait for a Grand National winner?

Jockey Tom Scudamore will certainly hope so as he bids to give David Pipe a first winner since 2008. Despite beating the likes of Blacklion and Vintage Clouds at Haydock, Vieux Lion Rouge will be in for a tough test in this one. Nonetheless, many will fancy it to become the first favourite to taste victory since Don’t Push It in 2010.

Last year’s winning trainer is unlikely to Rule The World in 2017 as he rides the unfancied Stellar Notion. Meanwhile, serial winner Leighton Aspell is truly up it against it aboard Lord Windermere. Having said that, the beauty of the National is that it’s literally anybody’s to win.

Whatever happens, it should be unrivalled drama from start to finish at the atmospheric Aintree.

TVBet’s Grand National 2017 Selections

Before rushing to your nearest bookies to fight through the crowds to put on a bet, we’d suggest that the first tip for any Grand National punter is to look for the best bet. Odds will fluctuate between the different bookmakers whilst many of them are also running promotions. These include paying extra places on e/w bets, refunding half of the stakes, and enhanced odds. So make sure you look around, as it could make a huge difference to any potential winnings.

For the 2017 headline event, we’re backing two horses to perform. Firstly, we’re backing Daryl Jacob to ride Ucello Conti to a great finish. The nine-year-old should be suited to the dry weather and looks stronger than ever over the fences. After finishing 6th 12 months ago, we’re backing it to go a little better this time by backing it to at least place. As an e/w bet, though, it’d be great if it won.

However, we’re backing Blacklion to win to be first to the winning post. Nigel Twiston-Davies hasn’t trained the winner for 15 years, but this could be the one to complete his hat-trick, especially if jockey Noel Fehily puts in a good ride.

It’s certainly one of the most consistent horses in the field. Let’s hope that shines through with a 14/1 winner. Given that Coral are offering half stakes back, it’s worth backing it e/w.