Junior continues to head the pre-post market for the Grand National after being allotted 11st 2lb (71kg) in the initial handicap for the April 14 race.
The David Pipe-trained runner has not been seen in public since last year’s Royal Ascot meeting but is the 12-1 favourite with both Paddy Power and Coral for the Aintree feature.
Last year’s winner Ballabriggs and top weight Synchronised are among the 16-1 co-second favourites with both firms, along with West End Rocker.
The two firms differ over the price of the Willie Mullins-trained Prince De Beauchene though with Coral going 16s from 25-1 while Paddy Power still offer 20s after the horse was handed 10st 6lb (66kg).
“Not many horses win at both Royal Ascot and the Cheltenham Festival but Junior has achieved that feat, and the early betting suggests he could complete an historic treble with victory in the most famous race of all,” Coral’s David Stevens said.
“One of his closest market rivals is Ballabriggs, and having given the first family of Aintree an emotional win last year Donald McCain will be hoping to emulate his late father Ginger once more by sending out the first back-to-back winner since Red Rum, while Prince De Beauchene caught our odds-compilers’ eyes, and is 16-1 (from 25-1) having been allotted a handy looking 10st 6lb.”
PA AAP TURF
