The Grand National is one of the world’s most popular sporting events. It’s arguably the biggest horse race on the calendar with everyone loving the unpredictability of the event. Ahead of the upcoming race, this article will explore some of the current favourites to win the iconic event, and why it captures the attention of so many people.
A short preview of the 2022 race
Preparations are in full swing for the 2022 Grand National that will take place on the 9th of April. Over 70 horses will be running the race, but many are massive outsiders. Could we see a shock this year? The Grand National tipsters choices list Noble Yeats as one horse that could spring a surprise. At 25/1, this will seem tempting for many bettors.
For those that fancy seeing an even bigger outsider to cross the finish line first, there are several horses with 100/1 odds. Will Scoir Mear, Via Dolorosa or Romain De Senam follow in the footsteps of Mon Mome who was a shock 100/1 winner in 2009.
What makes the Grand National so special?
It’s an event where legends in the horse racing world are made. The course also makes it an unpredictable race to watch. Since 1945, the favourite has only gone to win the race on ten occasions. That is a remarkable statistic and one that plays a part in making sure millions of people are watching when the big day arrives.
Research suggests that in 2019, 12.9 million placed a bet on the race. There will be even more organising sweepstakes in offices and amongst friends. The Gold Cup at Cheltenham is probably the only race on the calendar comparable with the National, and that hasn’t seen the same level of worldwide attention. This is partly down to its long and varied history.
A closer look at the history
Amongst sporting historians, there’s has been a lot of debate regarding the first official running of the National. Most would now agree that the first event took place in 1839.
In the 1900s, it became a prominent part of British sporting culture and developed a following in other countries. This following has been helped by several non-British bred horses winning. There have been five winners bred in France, with the last being Neptune Collonges in 2012.
<iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/YWW36FHMKm0″ title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>
It remains popular across the world
Research has estimated that between five and 600 million people watch the race in 140 countries. That should mean it remains a part of the world’s sporting calendar for the foreseeable future. This popularity will continue to be helped by all the social media content.
A quick search on Twitter for #GrandNational2022 unveils a huge amount of social media discussion already. People are talking about who they think will win the race, and there are also tips from the experts. This social media coverage will only increase as the race gets closer and people start to place their bets. Who do you think can make their own bit of history?