Bookmakers are breaking out in a cold sweat over the prospect of the JP McManus-owned Any Second Now landing the Randox Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.
On Easter Monday McManus landed the Irish Grand National for the fourth time when I Am Maximus powered to victory at Fairyhouse.
He has won the Grand National twice with Don’t Push It, ridden by Sir A P McCoy, ending 28 years of trying in 2010 and Minella Times in 2021 when Rachael Blackmore became the first female jockey to win the world famous race.
Horses owned by billionaire McManus rarely go off unbacked and Any Second Now, trained by Ted Walsh, is the worst result in the book, according to William Hill.
Walsh won the Grand National in 2000 with Papillon, who was ridden by his legendary jockey son Ruby Walsh.
Any Second Now, a 14-1 chance with Hills, was sent off 15-2 favourite 12 months ago when he finished two and a quarter lengths behind Noble Yeats. He won his latest start at Navan in March but has to carry top weight of 11st 12lb this time around.
Mark Walsh, McManus’s retained jockey, is set to ride Any Second Now again with new jockeys on Noble Yeats [Sean Bowen] and last year’s third Delta Work [Keith Donoghue]. Longhouse Poet, who finished sixth, is also in the field again.
William Hill spokesperson, Lee Phelps, said: “We’ve been non-runner money back on the Grand National for a couple of months now and business has been strong since.
“Corach Rambler has naturally been popular, particularly since his Ultima success at Cheltenham, though the money has dried up in recent days.
“He might be off top-weight, but Any Second Now would be the worst result in the book for us, while two of the horses that finished behind him in last year’s National – Longhouse Poet and Delta Work – would also be very costly.”
