Bookmakers are feeling apprehensive about the possibility of a repeat of the ‘Tiger Roll’ outcome in the upcoming Randox Grand National as a significant gamble has caused a shift in the favorite for the £1 million race scheduled for Saturday.
Tiger Roll made history by winning consecutively at Aintree in 2018 and 2019, becoming the first horse since Red Rum to achieve this feat. Unfortunately, the race was canceled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, denying Tiger Roll a shot at a hat-trick. Last year at Aintree, I Am Maximus, trained by Willie Mullins and owned by JP McManus, emerged victorious at 7-1 odds.
I Am Maximus has been a popular choice among bettors for a repeat victory, but attention has also been on Intense Raffles, the previous year’s Irish Grand National winner, Stumptown, who won the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, and Iroko, another contender owned by billionaire McManus.
Just before the Grand National Festival kicks off, there has been a change in the top favorite as punters have backed I Am Maximus, one of Mullins’ six challengers, pushing him to the forefront of the betting market with William Hill for the renowned race.
Lee Phelps, the spokesperson for William Hill, mentioned, “Our Grand National market has seen significant fluctuations, with I Am Maximus now emerging as the favorite in the last 12 hours.”
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“The defending champion, I Am Maximus, has attracted substantial bets, making him the new standalone favorite at 8-1 from 11-1,” added Phelps. “This surge in bets has made him the top liability for us, surpassing Stumptown, Meetingofthewaters, and Beauport.”
With more time remaining for further betting activities, the focus is on whether I Am Maximus can replicate Tiger Roll’s success by securing back-to-back Grand National victories.