Grand National 2016: TV Schedule, Sweepstake Info, Odds, Contenders and More
As ever with the Grand National, picking a winner is a hugely challenging task. With 40 horses involved and 30 daunting fences to be negotiated over more than four miles, anything can happen.
It is the most valuable jump race in Europe and the world's greatest steeplechase. Therefore, the quality on show for 2016's Aintree showpiece is high.
Last year's winner, Many Clouds, is the favourite, but Pineau de Re—the horse that triumphed in 2014—will miss out, per BBC Sport's Frank Keogh.
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Read on for full scheduling details—this year's start time is later than usual in an attempt to attract an even bigger audience—television information, odds and a closer look at some of the contenders.
Date: Saturday, April 9
Time: 5:15 p.m. (BST), 12:15 a.m. (ET)
TV Info: Channel 4 (UK)
| Horse | Odds |
| Many Clouds | 8-1 |
| The Last Samuri | 10-1 |
| Silviniaco Conti | 11-1 |
| Holywell | 14-1 |
| The Druids Nephew | 16-1 |
| Saint Are | 16-1 |
| Shutthefrontdoor | 16-1 |
| Goonyella | 20-1 |
| Gallant Oscar | 20-1 |
| Sir Des Champs | 20-1 |
Many Clouds, Leighton Aspell on Brink of History
The first running of the Grand National was in 1839, but never in its storied history has a jockey ever won the race three years running.
Leighton Aspell has a very real chance of banishing that particular record on Saturday having won again last year following his 2014 triumph on Pineau de Re, per the Jockey Club:
Many Clouds will be his mount again for 2016, and the Trevor Hemmings-owned nine-year-old has been well backed to become the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to win back-to-back Nationals.
The 39-year-old Irishman is convinced that Many Clouds is in top form, a significant warning for the rest of the field, per MailOnline's Simon Jones:
"I'm very pleased to be riding him again. He's a horse I'm very familiar with. He's in tip top condition both physically and mentally. We've worked hard making sure he is in the best possible condition and winning is all we have been thinking about."
However, being the favourite will bring its own pressures—both Many Clouds and Pineau de Re were 25-1 shots when Aspell led them to victory.
Many Clouds is deserving of his relatively short odds having looked impressive in the last 12 months, and his win at Kelso in his last race proved the form he is in.
He is the one to beat this year, but the last outright favourite to win the Grand National was Hedgehunter in 2005.
The competition is fierce, and Silviniaco Conti will be fancied by many. The Paul Nicholls-trained horse looked irresistible last time out at Ascot, when his crushing 20-length victory saw his National odds slashed, per the Observer's Chris Cook.
Per GetYourTipsOut, Nicholls is confident that Silviniaco Conti will stay the distance at Aintree:
With regular rider Noel Fehily on board, the classy 10-year-old could be a major threat to Many Clouds as he goes in search of history.
What may put punters off backing Silviniaco Conti are his 11-1 odds. However, there is plenty of value in the 25-1 being offered for Ruby Walsh-ridden Boston Bob.
Trained by Willie Mullins, and with four Grade 1 wins to his name, the 11-year-old is vastly experienced and won the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse back in February.
Walsh is looking to become a three-time winner of the National having triumphed in 2005, aboard Hedgehunter, and on Papillon in 2000.
With such a huge field involved in the Grand National, the experience of both Boston Bob and Walsh could prove vital to coming out on top.
Many Clouds is a deserved favourite and Aspell is undoubtedly capable of claiming a third consecutive win, but given the number of horses involved, the length of the course and the brutality of the obstacles, there are no guarantees for Saturday's race.
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