TEMPLEGATE tackles the three big upcoming Nationals looking to smash the bookies with a monster treble.
April is a massive month for jumps fans with the Aintree, Scottish and Irish Nationals all taking place over two-and-a-bit glorious weeks.
Sunday TimesNo other race on the planet has the thrills and spills of the Grand National – but there are two more versions of it to enjoy in April as well[/caption]
The ante-post markets are live and kicking for all of them now so you can get stuck in.
And some bookies are non-runner no bet on the £1million Aintree feature, meaning you get your money back if your horse doesn’t make it in.
Here’s who our man fancies for each of them and his recommended bet at the bottom, too. Good luck!
GRAND NATIONAL – Aintree, April 5
HYLAND 20-1
Nicky Henderson has a chance of ending his Grand National hoodoo with HYLAND who looks a solid each-way bet at 20-1.
This eight-year-old has got Grade 1 class as he showed when second in the Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day.
He ran another cracker there in a hot handicap last time when he was asked to make up far too much ground behind the useful winner Katate Dori.
He stayed on really strongly under Nico De Boinville and, while something Irish is likely to lead them home, he has a real place chance at a fair price.
SCOTTISH NATIONAL – Ayr, April 12
GIT MAKER 20-1
If it comes up soft at Ayr on April 12, Mr Vango is a worthy favourite and it’s pure fantasy to say the ground was the official good to soft when he won the Midlands National last time.
It was bordering on heavy and that’s what he needs because he flopped in this race on good ground 12 months ago.
So he can’t be backed at this stage.
GIT MAKER was a good third in this race 12 months ago and is a fair price at 20-1 to be on the premises again.
He is off the same mark of 133 and he was actually jumping nicely when midfield in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham last time.
He sadly went lame during the race so did well to box on.
He’s versatile when it comes to ground having won on quick and slow going.
He wasn’t stopping last season so the trip is fine and he’ll be right there again for Jamie Snowden.
IRISH NATIONAL – Fairyhouse, April 21
NOW IS THE HOUR 12-1
It’s pretty early days over fences for Gavin Cromwell’s hope even at the age of eight.
Despite taking a tumble at Cheltenham last time, he was running very much his best race so far in the National Hunt Chase.
And the fall was far from his fault as the eventual winner Haiti Couleurs jumped right across him.
That was at the second-last and there was every chance he would have come out on top as he was staying on nicely and looked to have plenty left in the tank.
He is not entered at Aintree and hopefully he won’t have a massive weight at Fairyhouse, where he was a winner over hurdles.
Current odds of 12-1 look fair enough.
£1 each-way Trixie costs £6:
Three win returns £6,948.
Three placed returns £228.
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