McCoy sends shivers down spines of bookies, while Walsh eyes lady luck

BOOKMAKERS fear a nationwide gamble on favourite Synchronised – ridden by champion jockey Tony McCoy – that could result in their biggest Grand National payout today.

Synchronised, who won the Gold Cup at Cheltenham last month, is expected to attract three times as many bets as any other horse in the 40-strong field in the world famous steeplechase at Aintree.

The 7-1 favourite is trained by Jonjo O’Neill and partnered by McCoy – the same duo who won the 2010 Grand National with Don’t Push It and cost bookmakers a fortune as “AP” finally landed his first win in the race.

“The colour will drain out of every bookmaker’s face, followed by all the money in their satchels if Synchronised wins the Grand National,” said Coral spokesman Simon Clare as he weighed up the impact of a win for the favourite.

“Everything points to Synchronised being one of the best backed horses in Grand National history and, if Tony McCoy brings him home in front, bookmakers will face a record multi-million pound payout.”

A woman jockey has yet to win the Grand National but Irish amateurs Nina Carberry, who rides Organised Confusion (16-1), and Katie Walsh, who partners 20-1 shot Seabass, have decent chances to end the drought. Carberry has completed on all her three rides in the race, with a best of seventh in 2010. Walsh makes her debut and bids to add to the family’s roll of honour on a horse trained by her father Ted. He trained Papillon to National glory in 2000 with son Ruby securing a first success which he followed five years later aboard Hedgehunter.

Ruby will ride On His Own (16-1) for trainer Willie Mullins in the National, leaving the way clear for Katie to take the ride on Seabass.

“Unless something happened there was always going to be a Walsh on his back. I just hope that this young lady comes back with a smile on her face wherever they finish,” said Ted Walsh.

Katie added: “Ruby gave me a few pointers on the way round, but what he said is between Ruby and me only – that’s part of my competitive streak. I wouldn’t swap Seabass for anything else. I’d like to have a bit of daylight over the first three fences and hope to be in the first six or eight horses – after that anything can happen.”

David Williams of Ladbrokes thinks Seabass will be the “housewives’ favourite today and said: “With half the adult population looking to have a flutter, Katie will have an army of fans.”