Welcome all to the first National Nibble.
We will be bringing you an exclusive interview each day and have some crackers lined up. We start with Stephen Harris, a former greyhound bookmaker at Oxford and Reading turned professional horseracing trader. Stephen provides tips for the excellent and very profitable free service at Betting Expert. Follow him on Twitter @stephenh61 for daily tips
So without further ado here are Stephen's 5 minute question and answers :
What are your earliest National memories?
The amateur Marcus Armytage winning on Mr Frisk ... it left me amazed as they went 5f pace from the off and sustained it the whole way round. The ground was on the hard side of firm and they went round on roller skates the whole way ... we will never see that again for sure
Which has been your favourite National so far?
Red Rum and Crisp. Although I didn't see it live it is still the most amazing turnaround and the riding styles never cease to amuse and amaze!
Which 2 horses would you put up against the field in this years renewal and why?
Cappa Bleu looks rock solid with proven course form and must go well. He travels really strongly and will hopefully get a more positive ride this time around from Paul Moloney. Ballabriggs looks over the odds aswell, although the number crunchers can't have him at all at the weights, he will give his running and won't mind the ground if it comes up very testing.
What effect do you think the new modifications to the start and the fences will have ?
Very little. All the talk is that the jocks will be told to "calm down and slow down", but the Grand National is such a huge race in their year that I can see the usual tear up happening at the tape. A shorter run to the first might even mean the field is less spaced out than usual...lets hope it passes without incident!
Bearing in mind the new changes, how many finishers do you predict this year ( given good to soft ground) ?
18
Grand National or Gold Cup?
The Grand National is an amazing spectacle...The Gold Cup is the blue riband to decide the best. The Grand National is virtually the only race that still gives me butterflies and real nervousness. For those of us who watch every jumps race all season and have done for about 20 years I guess that makes it very special!
Who would you consider to be a lively outsider in this years field?
Ballabriggs...been there and done it...although the McCain stable is struggling a bit since the latest cold snap.
What instructions would you give to a jockey riding in the National?
Be patient, stay up the inside and pray.
Who would you most like to spend a day at the Grand National with and why?
Obviously apart from the wife...I won't say Boris Johnson as I gather he is not too popular in Liverpool! Geoff Banks the on-course bookmaker is opinionated and good company at the races so I would choose him!
Where will you be watching the big race?
On the TV with all the family. The phone starts ringing at 8am with every relation asking for tips...so hopefully we can find them all a winner!
If you owned a horse that had just won the National how would you celebrate?
It would be a dream come true for sure....I guess it would involve a lot of drinking and eating and all the family/friends partying. Also I would probably expand my string with the million quid in prizemoney!!
Thanks for your insight Stephen and keep an eye out for tomorrows column and an upcoming exclusive as we interview the owner, trainer AND jockey of a National runner.
If like Stephen you fancy Cappa Bleu or Ballabriggs then BetVictor are paying an amazing 6 (SIX) places each way on the Grand National. To open an account AND get a free bet click here www.freeaintreebets.com
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