Home / Horse Racing / Ruby Walsh Confirmed To Take The Ride Of The Bobbyjo Chase Winner

The Midnight Club heads the Grand National betting as his odds continue to shorten

Willie Mullins' The Midnight Club has been well backed into favouritism in the betting for the Grand National at Aintree on April 9th and could well be the one to beat. The Bobbyjo Chase winner has been clipped right in to 8/1 for his debut in the prestigious race by Boylesports bookmakers and those odds could continue to shorten with the news that Ruby Walsh is set to take the ride.

Mullins and Walsh will be looking to relive former National Glories as they teamed up to win the 2005 renewal with Hedgehunter. That was Walsh's second National success after he won in 2000 aboard Papillon for his father Ted Walsh and he will be looking to make it a hat trick with Mullins' impressive Irish stayer. It is quite a coup for Mullins to secure Walsh for the ride as the champion jockey had a number of options, including several challengers from the Paul Nicholls stable, but he opted for The Midnight Club because he felt the ante-post favourite was the most unexposed in the handicap.

The Midnight Club is set to carry 10st 13lbs and is officially rated 149. The 10-year-old has long been thought of as a National contender and Mullins has trained him with a crack at the Grand National very much the main aim and he could well be hitting his peak at the right time for Aintree.

The ante-post favourite's form has been impressive this season and there was plenty of movement in the betting after he won the prestigious National trial, the Bobbyjo Chase, in February. He held off the challenge of fellow National hopeful Arbor Supreme to win by a length at Fairyhouse and justified 11/10 favouritism. The Midnight Club showed brilliant staying ability on heavy ground and what was even more impressive was the fact he was carrying 11st 3lbs. He looks favourably handicapped in the weights for Aintree and the fact he secured his first win over a distance of more than 3 miles suggests he is well equipped to take on the National - all of the National winners since 1970 have won over 3 miles prior to Aintree.

Leading National contender Oscar Time was also part of the field at Fairyhouse and the win for The Midnight Club continued his consistent vain of form. The 10-year-old was second in the Thyestes Handicap at Gowran in January, where he was carrying 11st 7lbs. He again showed a remarkable staying ability and powers of recovery as came back from a bad mistake six out to lose by just three quarters of a length from Siegemaster.

Those performances and his pairing with Ruby Walsh have certainly had plenty of influence on his price as Boylesports.com have clipped him in from 33/1, when the betting opened, to 8/1 in recent days. Mullins' horse has been a consistent performer, finishing third in the Albert Bartlett in 2009 and third in the Jewson Novices last year, and could well be the one to beat on his first appearance at Aintree this year.

Latest Grand National 2011Betting

8/1 The Midnight Club
10/1 Oscar Time
11/1 What A Friend
12/1 Backstage
12/1 Silver By Nature
12/1 Big Fell Thanks
12/1 Don't Push It
14/1 Ballabriggs
14/1 Niche Market
14/1 Quinz
16/1 Bluesea Cracker
16/1 Junior
20/1 BAR

Odds supplied by Boylesports.com, who provide a comprehensive betting service for the 2011 Grand National at Aintree on April 9th.

Posted: Wednesday, 30th March 2011
Author: Chris James
Tags: grand national, the midnight club, ruby walsh, willie mullins, william hill,

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