Grand National 2017: TV Schedule, Sweepstake Info, Odds, Top Contenders and More
Vieux Lion Rouge and Definitly Red lead the betting ahead of the 2017 Grand National, with the 40 runners for the annual Aintree showpiece having been confirmed on Thursday.
Per BBC Sport's Frank Keogh,ย Doctor Harper was the final horse to make the lineup after a withdrawal fromย Pendra, whileย Bless The Wings, Knock House, Sambremont and Viva Steve remain in reserve.
As always, it is a difficult task to pick a winner forย theย world's greatest steeplechase, with theย horses set to take on 30 fences over more than four miles on Saturday.
TOP NEWS
Ranking Top NFL Edge-Rushers ๐
.jpg?w=2560 "Rams 49ers Football")
Donald Works Out For Rams ๐ซจ
Ranking Top NFL Cornerbacks ๐
Read on for full schedulingย details and a preview of this year's Grand National, along with viewing details.
Date: Saturday, April 8
Time: 5:15 p.m. BST, 2:15 p.m. ET
TV Info: Live on ITV and available to stream on the ITV Hubย (UK only)
| Definitly Red | 10-1 |
| Vieux Lion Rouge | 10-1 |
| Blaklion | 12-1 |
| More of That | 12-1 |
| One For Arthur | 14-1 |
| The Last Samuri | 14-1 |
| Cause Of Causes | 14-1 |
| Pleasant Company | 14-1 |
| Ucello Conti | 14-1 |
| Saphir du Rheu | 16-1 |
For full odds, courtesy of Oddschecker.com, clickย here.ย Clickย hereย for a fullย sweepstakeย kit, via Sky Sports.ย
Previewย
The Last Samuri heads the field of 40 for this year's National having finished as runner-up to 33-1 shot Rule The World in 2016.
The nine-year-old will hope to go one better this year, and trainerย Kim Bailey is confident he can deal with carrying the top weight, per Marcus Armytage in theย Telegraph:
"Iโm very happy with him.ย At least David Bass [the jockey] wonโt have to waste this year. Heโs not the biggest but people who have ridden him tell me he's like Docklands Express [fourth in 1992]โhe rides bigger and, if the ground remains pretty good, it will be much easier for him to carry it. Last year he was the focus of everyoneโs attention, this year he has been forgotten.
"
No top weight has won the Grand National since Red Rum in 1974, though, and there is some serious competition in the field, not leastย Definitly Red.
Under jockey Danny Cook, the eight-year old cruisedย to victory at last month'sย Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster, beating The Last Samuri into second by a massive 14 lengths.
Cause Of Causes also goes into Saturday's race in fine form having claimed a third consecutive win at the Cheltenham Festival last month.
Andย Vieux Lion Rouge, who could well go off favourite come the race, won over Grand National fences in December so has the course form to be deserving of backing.
Blaklion is another likely to be well backed. Trained byย Nigel Twiston-Davies, he won the RSA Chase at Cheltenham in 2016 and was second toย Vieux Lion Rouge in February's Grand National Trial at Haydock.
Meanwhile, jockeyย Noel Fehily said he would not swapย Blaklion for any other horse, per Jon Lees in theย Racing Post:
"Itโs the Grand National, so you canโt exactly be over-confident, but I wouldnโt swap Blaklion forย anything. Heโs got a nice bit of form and a bit of class about him, and Iโm hoping for a big run.ย There are plenty of other things I could worry about other than the trip, and I donโt think that will be an issue. He was very accurate around Haydock last timeย too, and heโs been around Cheltenham a few times, and jumps fine.
"
A heartwarming story to go among the many other lines surrounding the buildup to the 2017 Grand National is the news that a 41st place has been put on the National card this year, for terminally illย Sunderland fanย Bradley Lowery, per BBC Sport's Richard Conway:
He has been given a five-star rating and perfect form, while the red and white silks match the Black Cats' home colours.ย
