Bookies fear Irish dominance in Grand National as top three worst results trained there

THREE Irish runners in this weekend's Grand National are the ‘top three worst results for bookmakers'.

The world's biggest jumps race takes place this Saturday with 34 runners and riders lining up to scoop the huge prize.

Like Cheltenham last month, it's a race which those from the Emerald Isle having dominated in recent seasons.

In fact, Irish trainers have won six of the last eight runnings of Aintree's spectacle – with Scotland's Lucinda Russell winning the other two.

Last year, Willie Mullins ended a long, long wait for a second National winner when I Am Maximus stormed to victory under Paul Townend.

He lines up again this year but it's another of the yard's stars attracting the support in the betting.

At a bigger price, Meetingofthewaters was a huge plunge horse in last year’s race and he's a big loser for William Hill as a 20/1 shot.

Gavin Cromwell's Stumptown was sublime in winning the Cross Country at Cheltenham and he's the current favourite for this one at the time of writing.

And the third horse which will hurt Hills is former King George hero, Hewick who is pushing for favouritism.

Shark Hanlon recently received his license back after a ban but has his eyes set on a sensational double for his runner on Saturday.

He's the one the bookies ‘need to get beat' after William Hill say he's by far the ‘biggest antepost gamble'.

Spokesperson, Lee Phelps said: “It’s Grand National week and our eyes are firmly fixed on the main race on Saturday afternoon, with our Grand National book looking dominated by the Irish.

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“Joint 8/1 favourite Stumptown is our worst result and he’s been very popular ever since romping to Cheltenham glory in the Cross Country for William Hill Ambassador, Gavin Cromwell.

“We’re also very wary of a Mullins horse, but interestingly it’s not defending champion I Am Maximus. Meetingofthewaters was a huge plunge horse in last year’s National, and although he looks to be coming to this year’s race more under the radar, he is a big loser for us and one we’re taking seriously at 20/1, Non-Runner Money Back.

“Hewick has definitely been this year’s big ante-post gamble in the National, and he’s one we’re going to need to get beat.

“He’s very much a punters’ favourite with his plucky underdog backstory, and there’s even a chance he goes off favourite if the sun continues to shine and the ground dries out to his liking.”;

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