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Grand National Odds: Betting makes The Midnight Club favourite as Oscar Time shortens

Willie Mullins' The Midnight Club leads the way after being backed into outright favouritism for Saturday's Grand National at Aintree. The Bobbyjo Chase winner is available at odds of 8/1 with Paddy Power bookmakers but the gelding looks to face strong opposition from a high quality field, with Oscar Time being clipped into 12/1 in recent days.

The Midnight Club was an impressive winner of the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse last time out as he showed tremendous staying abilities to hold off the challenge of fellow National contender Arbor Supreme. It was an important win over 3 miles for the 10-year-old and certainly laid weight to his National claims as every National winner since 1970 has had a win over 3 miles to their name prior to the race. It followed a fine second place in the Thyestes Chase in January and with a more than useful handicap of 10st 13lbs he looks very much one to beat on his Aintree debut.

Oscar Time is another leading contender for the Aintree meeting feature race and can be backed at odds of 12/1 with Paddy Power after being clipped in from fourteens. The 10-year-old will need to improve on a third place behind The Midnight Club in the Bobbyjo Chase and was a runner up in the Irish Grand National. The Martin Lynch-trained horse is set to carry 10st 9lbs and has favoured heavy ground in his career so the gruelling National trip could play into his hands. Jockey Sam and owner Robert Waley-Cohen meanwhile are looking to secure a famous double after their win with Long Run in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham Festival last month.

There are a clutch of Grand National Runners available at odds of 12/1, with Gordon Elliot's Backstage an industry best price. The 9-year-old is another that looks to be nicely weighted at 10st 12lbs, particularly as only two horses since 1983 have won the Grand National carrying over 11st. Elliot was a National winner himself with Silver Birch in 2007 and has opted to enter Backstage in a number of point-to-point races as preparation, and despite unseating his rider last year Backstage is well fancied.

The Sir Alex Ferguson-owned What A Friend is priced 14/1 by PaddyPower.com after finishing a narrow fourth behind Kauto Star in the Gold Cup, and was winner of the Totesport Bowl at Aintree last year. A Lexus Chase win at Leopardstown lays further weight to his claims as champion trainer Paul Nicholls continues his search for a first ever National winner, although with a weighty handicap of 11st 6lbs he will have to reverse the trend of no National winner carrying more than 11st 5lbs since 1977.

Another at 14/1 is Lucinda Russell's Haydock Grand National trial winner Silver By Nature, who looks to fit the bill as a real contender. Set to carry 10st 12lbs, the 9-year-old stormed to victory over Ballyfitz by 15 lengths over the 3mile 4 furlong trip off top weight and on heavy ground. The 4 mile 4 furlong trip could be well within his scope.

Elsewhere, Ferdy Murphy's 14/1 shot Big Fella Thanks is back for a third crack at Aintree after finishing a best of fourth, while reigning champion Don't Push It can be backed at odds of 16/1. Jonjo O'Neill's 11-year-old tops the weights at 11st 10lbs and is attempting to emulate the great Red Rum by winning back-to-back titles, although the odds suggest that the title could be relinquished with The Midnight Club outright favourite.

Latest Grand National 2011 Odds

8/1 The Midnight Club
12/1 Backstage*
12/1 What A Friend*
12/1 Oscar Time
14/1 Silver By Nature*
14/1 Ballabriggs*
14/1 Don't Push It
16/1 Big Fella Thanks*
16/1 Niche Market
16/1 Quinz
16/1 Junior
20/1 Arbor Supreme*
20/1 Bluesea Cracker*
20/1 State Of Play
20/1 West End Rocker
25/1 BAR

*Denotes Industry Best Price. Odds supplied by PaddyPower.com, who provide a comprehensive betting service for Saturday's Grand National at Aintree.

Posted: Tuesday, 5th April 2011
Author: Chris James
Tags: grand national, the midnight club, oscar time, what a friend, paddypower,

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