Big Fella Thanks New Favourite
Following his triumphant run at Newbury on March 6th in the Raymond Mould Supporting Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase, Paul Nicholls' Big Fella Thanks has now pipped Tricky Trickster in the ante-post odds with the bookies with odds cut from an average of 16/1 to as low as 8/1 with Paddy Power Bookmakers.
With Barry Geraghty on board, Big Fella Thanks beat better-fancied stablemate Pasco to surprise everybody including Nicholls himself who admitted that he had fully expected Pasco to do the deed on the day. Ruby Walsh looked confident on Pasco but pecked on landing after the third last. He tried hard to pass Big Fella Thanks but could not haul back the imposing eight-year-old, who went clear over the last.
Geraghty still had some work to do as Big Fella Thanks needed a final push before crossing the winning post by a length and a half and in doing so put himself in serious contention for the 2010 Grand National as bookmakers around the counrty slashed their odds on him becoming Paul Nicholls first National winner, the prize that has always alluded him.
Barry Geraghty is tipped to be the most successful Cheltenham jockey on the 'excluding Ruby Walsh' markets and if all goes to plan he could also be paired with Big Fella Thanks for the Grand National. No stranger to Aintree, Geraghty previously won the National on Monty's Pass in 2003 and has ridden in it a total of 10 times so if anybody can get last years sixth place around the course and home in first place it's going to be Geraghty!
For a full list of all the runners check out the Grand National Runners page.
