New joint-fav for the Grand National as bookies reveal ‘worst result’ for £1million Aintree race

THERE are now joint-favourites for the Grand National – as defending champion Corach Rambler continues to drift in the markets.

Instead the cash has been for genius Irish trainer Willie Mullins’ I Am Maximus.

Legendary owner JP McManus is being backed to win the Grand National having already been among the winners at Aintree this weekSportsfile

The former Irish Grand National winner is 7-1 joint-favourite with Corach Rambler among some firms for Saturday’s big £1million race.

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Corach Rambler had been hugely popular with punters on the back of his Cheltenham Gold Cup third last month.

But a mixture of the soft going and whispers about the strength of Mullins’ squad has seen him weaken.

The Lucinda Russell-trained ten-year-old has gone from as short as 9-2 to 7-1 – the same price as Mullins’ I Am Maximus.

While another runner in the famous green and gold hoops of billionaire owner JP McManus has proved popular too.

McManus’ No1 jockey Mark Walsh has opted to ride recent Cheltenham Festival winner Limerick Lace, trained by Gavin Cromwell.

She’s been smashed into 12-1 from 16-1 after Walsh was confirmed on the ride.

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While Mullins’ Meetingofthewaters has been incredibly popular as well, and is another who could go off favourite.

Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: “I Am Maximus has been popular in the last 24 hours and is now vying for favouritism for the Grand National.

“It’s a really open market and at this stage it’s very hard to know who is going to go off favourite.

“Corach Rambler has been a touch weak since declarations but I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if the money came back in for him given his profile.

“We expect the bigger gambles to materialise tomorrow and Lucinda Russell’s runner is still 15-8 favourite to be sent off at the top of the betting come 4pm, ahead of Meetingofthewaters and I Am Maximus, both at 3-1.

“At this stage, Limerick Lace is the biggest gamble.”

Incredibly, though, it’s another outsider who bookies are fearing the most.

Amateur jockey David Maxwell splits opinion but you cannot question his determination and punters have latched onto his horse Ain’t That A Shame for the ultimate fairytale.

Phelps added: “Our worst result at this stage would be Ain’t That A Shame.”

Grand National odds via William Hill

7-1 Corach Rambler, I Am Maximus
11-1 Vanillier, Meetingofthewaters
12-1 Panda Boy, Kitty’s Light, Limerick Lace, Mr Incredible, Mahler Mission
16-1 Minella Indo, Delta Work
20-1 Noble Yeats
22-1 Coko Beach
28-1 Galia Des Liteaux
33-1 Bar

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