Grand National 2018: Blaklion Listed Early Favorite at Bovada

Grand National Preview and Odds

Leading Bovada's futures list as the early favorite at odds of 10-1 is Blaklion an eight-year-old gelding who most recently won a Grade 1 Chase event at Aintree going three miles and one furlong against 15 others on a course rated as heavy.

After racing near the back of the pack early, he started to make headway at mid-race and then moved steadily forward to take over at the last jump and rolled on from there to win by an easy nine lengths. It was his fourth top-three finish in his last five starts and ninth lifetime win overall. He was fourth in the 2017 Grand National at odds of 8-1.  

Although he only finished seventh of eight in his last outing in early November, the relatively lightly raced Our Duke (25-1) could do little wrong in his previous nine races, with five wins, two seconds and third-place finish in that span. Two starts back he defeated 27 others going 3 miles and five furlongs in the Irish Grand National Chase, a race in which he finished 14 lengths in front of the runner-up at odds of 9-2. Depending on his form leading up to the Grand National, he's a strong candidate to drift down in the odds as race day approaches. 

Other Contenders Have Grand National Experience

Second in the Grand National last year at 16-1, Cause Of Causes has not run since then and is, therefore, a doubtful starter here, but can be bet with Bovada today at odds of 33-1. He had to overcome lots of trouble to make his way through the 40-horse field last March, and once in the clear couldn't make an impression on the leader in the late stages, but that experience should serve him well if he's able to make the start once again in 2018. 

Second choice in the betting at a generous 16-1 is Native River, who put together a string of three consecutive wins to end 2016 and start 2017, before finishing third last March in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He's also on the Bovada futures watch list for that race again this coming March, where he might be better suited to the distance. 

Second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last year and listed here for the Grand National at 20-1 is Minella Rocco. He has struggled lately, failing to finish three of the last five races he started, including his one and only attempt at Aintree, where he fell at the last fence and was placed last of five as the post-time favorite.  

Rounding out the list of some of the more interesting future bet options for the Grand National is another who raced last year at odds of 10-1 but failed to finish the course in the form of Definitely Red, listed today at 22-1. Off for seven months following that effort, he returned this fall to run third two starts ago, and last out won a Grade 2 event going just over three miles at Aintree, albeit against only three other runners. 

The Grand National at Aintree goes Saturday, April 7, 2018. You can make your future bets today, and take advantage of bonus cash back and other daily promotions with an account at Bovada's online racebook.  

Category : Betting Picks

Tag : Bovada , Horse Racing