One of the most exciting events of the racing calendar jumps today with the running of the Grand National at Aintree. Forty horses will run two laps of the 2m2f course and if previous years are anything to go by, only half of them will see the finish line. Last year’s winner, Don’t Push It, has been backed heavily over the last 24 hours and will most likely start as favourite.

Don’t Push It was around 12/1 earlier this week but is now in to 9/1 with leading online bookmakers predicting a starting price of around 7/1, or at worst, 6/1. The Midnight Club has been steady at 10/1 while Oscar Time has firmed slightly to 11/1. What A Friend, Ballabriggs, and Backstage round out the top six at 12/1.

It has been an interesting betting plunge for a number of reasons. First, it has been 37 years since any horse won back-to-back Grand National (Red Rum in 1973-74). The second statistic is equally damning – favourites have a very poor record in the Grand National. Formwise, Don’t Push It has nothing to crow about either with hardly a decent showing since last year’s Grand National.

The Midnight Club does look attractive now that the focus is on another horse. He races well over the obstacles and should handle Aintree with little difficulty. He has a champion rider in Ruby Walsh on his back and is prepared by the very capable Willie Mullins. With most Grand National bookmakers paying out on the first four or five this year, 10/1 each way looks to be good value.

Ballabriggs comes into this race with even more impressive form although there may be doubts over his stamina. If he handles the obstacles and the trip and is handy after the last, then he could be hard to hold out, at 12/1, another good each way contender – and you can afford to back them both at those odds. The Grand National comes but once a year – and that coming is today!