IT’S Grand National weekend!
Everyone’s favourite horserace takes place a 5.15pm at Aintree on Saturday, over four and a quarter miles and 30 fences.
It’s one of the few sporting events where the whole country gets involved. Everybody from professional punters, to amateurs with a blindfold and a pin will be trying to pick the winner.
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How do you pick yours?
Everyone has their own way of choosing a horse. Whether you do your own research, have a lucky number or colour, or just like the sound of the name.
Yellow appears to be the colour to go with. Nine of the first 15 home in the last three Nationals have featured predominantly yellow silks.
This bodes well for race favourite Anibale Fly, who finished third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. And the fancied Minella Rocco, who ducked Cheltenham in favour of Aintree.
Likewise the 2016 runner-up The Last Samuri who has placed in three of his four starts over the fearsome National fences.
Following the lucky number seven will lead you to Alpha Des Obeaux, trained by Mouse Morris who won the 2016 National with Rule The World.
But some punters take it much further than that…
What’s in a name?
Cambridge University Master of Mathematics and author of The Book of Numbers William Hartson has studied the names and ages of all previous winners in the Grand National’s 177-year history.
He found that – statistically – the race is most likely to be won by a horse with a one-word name, containing between seven and 11 letters. And be nine or ten years old.
Which is good news if you’re backing Blaklion or Vicente!
But whoever you fancy, your lucky number is five with Coral. Our official bookmaker is paying each-way terms on an extra place. Take advantage here…