Wednesday 5 April 2017

Grand National 2017: Tips From Karl ''The National Man'' Wales


Karl ''The National Man'' Wales has forwarded his tips for the 2017 Grand National. 

The Last Samuri is currently favourite for the Grand National. 

This nine-year-old chestnut gelding is trained by Kim Bailey in the ownership of Paul & Clare Rooney. He is a lightly raced horse for his age and finished second last year, six lengths behind Rule The World. 

Our National Man said: ''I seldom pick favourites for the National but this horse ticks so many boxes he's hard to ignore at 16-1.'' 

Highland Lodge loves these fences having gone well on his two most recent outings at Aintree. This eleven-year-old gelding is trained by Jimmy Moffatt for owner Bowes Lodge Stables. 


Our pundit said: ''I'm worried about his stamina but 50-1 is tempting.'' (Now 25/1) 

Paul Nicholls is no stranger to success in this race - Neptunes Collonges proved something of a shock winner in 2012 at odds of 33-1. 

Nicholls is likely to have a number of horses heading to Aintree. 

Just A Par may hold claims at 66-1. This ten-year-old gelding is an Irish-bred son of Island House in the ownership of Paul Barber and The Late C G Roach. Just A Par has stamina in abundance and ''my typical National horse''. (Now 50/1)

''He didn't have the best of races last year when finishing fifteenth and heavily eased. However, on his day he is a decent prospect.''    

Every few years the National delivers a huge priced winner. Go back to 2009 - Mon Mome 100-1. 

It is one of few races where punters can bet and have a chance of winning big! Did you know that 5 horses have won at odds of 100/1? The first being Tipperary Tim in 1928.   

What does our man in the know have up his sleeve? 

Wonderful Charm, trained by Paul Nicholls.

''If this nine-year-old bay gelding takes to the fences he could well hit the frame at 100-1.'' (Now 40/1)