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Early big-price Aintree Grand National tips

Who will win the Grand National? The Randox Aintree Grand National is less than a week away and Planet Sport have some early tips for anyone wanting a bet on the big one on Saturday, April 9.

They call the Melbourne Cup "the race that stops the nation" but the Aintree Grand National is much more than that, a global phenomenon with people tuning in from all over the world.

The four mile, two and a half furlong marathon over huge jumps is woven into the psyche of British racing, with betting shops packed and families huddled round TV's to see if they can pick a winner from the 40 expected runners.

But never fear, Planet Sport have sorted the wheat from the chaff or should that be the class horses from the no-hopers to give you some pointers for an early bet on the Grand National.

Then just sit back and watch the drama unfold for the greatest test of a racehorse in the world.

Fiddlerontheroof - Colin Tizzard (16/1)

West Country trainer Colin Tizzard has been pretty open about what he thinks of eight-year-old Fiddlerontheroof, calling him a "class horse" and suggesting he has the requisite staying ability of a National winner.

A second last year to the mighty Monkfish, in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham, Fiddlerontheroof then showed what he could do with a Listed win at Carlisle before a solid second in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury.

Delta Work - Gordon Elliott (8/1)

Ok it's pretty cheeky to include the favourite for the National in a piece about big prices but the 8/1 available on Delta Work could prove good value if he shows his class at Aintree.

On the receiving end of some wry booing after beating the legendary Tiger Roll in the Cross Country at Cheltenham, the Irish Gold Cup winner showed that he was a Grade 1 horse in a Class 2 event.

That game win at Cheltenham suggests that Delta Work can jump and stay for fun and although never running at Aintree before, it would be no surprise to see the white star on maroon silks in front come the winning post on Saturday.

Minella Times - Henry De Bromhead (16/1)

It seems everyone is writing off the reigning Grand National champ Minella Times with the nine-year-old carrying top weight for the long distance race.
Yet, conversely, Minella Times can be seen as the best horse in the race and probably with the best jockey if Rachael Blackmore stays loyal as is expected.

We all know the Grand National is a unique test so ignore Minella Times' recent form (he didn't win in the two races before Aintree last year either) and believe in the supreme horsewoman that is the tiny warrior Blackmore.

Longhouse Poet - Martin Brassil (20/1)

The big jumps racing guns always commandeer the column inches for the Grand National but that won't bother Martin Brassil one bit, already a jumbo-odds winner of the Grand National with Numbersixvalverde in 2006.
Famously ridden to victory by Niall "Slippers" Madden Numbersixvalverde prevailed in the National at 11/1 and Longhouse Poet isn't creating a huge amount of noise in the buildup to this year's contest.

Yet, Longhouse Poet won the Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase in fine style in January, the same race that Numbersixvalverde took before claiming the Aintree big one.

Last but not least, keep an eye out for Eclair Surf, a close second to runaway Scottish Grand National winner Win My Wings in the Eider Chase. Currently at number 43 in the rankings and aiming to get that magic 40th position with any defections, if Emma Lavelle's stayer gets in, it could be one of shrewdest placings of a horse in recent years, off a feather-light weight.

Read More: Grand National Festival 2022 guide: When is it, times, big races, top horses, trainers and jockeys.

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