As the BBC prepares to bring down the curtain on their coverage of the John Smith’s Grand National tomorrow, Irish bookies Paddy Power are offering 25/1 that they go out with a bang by bringing back the “voice of racing” Sir Peter O’Sullevan for one last commentary on the world’s greatest steeplechase.
Paddy Power himself explains: “It will be sad to see the curtain fall on the BBC’s Grand National coverage after 52 years but hopefully they will go out with a bang. We can’t think of a better send off than for them to give us Sir Peter’s golden voice for one last National – and with our bet of 25/1 for it to happen the Beeb could even leave its audience with a nice little earner on us.”
Paddy Power, who are paying out each way bets on the first FIVE horses in contrast to some bookmakers’ four places, are also betting on whether the TV audience goes up on last year’s figure of 8.8million. With this year being their last broadcast of the great race, race favourite Synchronised going for a rare Cheltenham Gold Cup – Grand National double, and with housewives choice AP McCoy on board its not surprising that a bumper audience is expected. Paddy Power offer 4/5 the BBC enjoy an increase in audience figures.
It’s 9/4 for a similar TV audience of between 8.5 and 9 million, 3/1 for between 9 and 9/5 million and 11/2 for a bumper final audience of 10 million or more.
Tears For Balding?
Paddy Power have many other specials on the Nation’s Favourite Race including 9/1 that the BBC’s brilliant Clare Balding sheds a tear during the BBC’s final Grand National broadcast and, on a more jolly note, the colour of John Parrot’s tie with blue a popular 2/1 second favourite on the same day Parrot’s beloved Everton meet rivals Liverpool in their FA Cup semi final showdown.
Latest Paddy Power Grand National Betting:
15-2 Synchronised, 12 Ballabriggs, West End Rocker, On His Own, 14 Junior, Cappa Bleu, Chicago Grey, 16 Giles Cross, Killyglen, 18 Becauseicouldntsee, Shakalakaboomboom, Sunnyhillboy, 20 Seabass, Treacle, 25 Always Right, Organisedconfusion, The Midnight Club, 33 According To Pete, Black Apalachi, Calgary Bay, Planet Of Sound, Neptune Collonges, 40 Alfa Beat, Mon Mome, Quiscover Fontaine, Rare Bob, State Of Play, Weird Al, 66 Midnight Haze, Arbor Supreme, Vic Venturi, Deep Purple, Hello Bud, Swing Bill, Tatenen, Viking Blond, 100 Neptune Equester, In Compliance, Tharawaat, 150 Postmaster
FIVE places each-way, ¼ odds
Paddy Power Specials
TV Specials
5/1 Winning Connections to swear on live BBC coverage
9/1 Clare Balding to cry during BBC’s last Grand National broadcast
25/1 Sir Peter O’Sullevan to be a surprise race commentator for the BBC’s last Grand National
TV Viewers For BBC’s Last Grand National
5/1 Less than 7.5 million
9/2 7.5 million to 8 million
5/2 8 to 8.5 million
9/4 8.5 to 9 million
3/1 9 to 9.5 million
11/2 9.5 to 10 million
11/2 More than 10 million
2012 Viewers on 2011 Viewers
4/5 Up
10/11 Down
Colour of John Parrott’s Tie
7-4 Purple; 2 Blue; 5 Red; 7 Grey/Silver; 8 Green, Brown; 9 Yellow; 16 Orange; 20 White, Black
Race Specials
4/1 Leader at the elbow to lose the race
9/2 Rain to fall on the course during the race
Number Of Finishers
1/3 Under 20
2/1 20 or More
Aintree & Merseyside FA Cup Semi Final Specials
25/1 Liverpool & West End Rocker (in red) to Win
33/1 Everton & Cappa Bleu (in blue) To Win
Ladies Match Bet
5/6 Katie Walsh – Seabass
5/6 Nina Carberry – Organisedconfusion
Previous Winner Special
7/4 Winner to be a previous winner
2/5 Winner never to have won the race before
Best Placed Previous Winner
2/1 AP McCoy – Synchronised
4/1 Jason Maguire – Ballabriggs
11/2 Ruby Walsh – On His Own
11/2 Paul Carberry – Chicago Grey
11/2 Robert Power – Killyglen
6/1 Barry Geraghty – Shakalakaboomboom
12/1 Timmy Murphy – Weird Al