Big Shu to carry Derry’s hopes in today’s Grand Natrional.
Derry bookmakers are expecting “more than a few pound” to be placed on Big Shu as the city gets behind the locally owned runner in this afternoon’s Grand National at Aintree.
Thousands are expected cheer on the Hugh Duffy-owned nine-year-old which its owner has said has a chance of winning the big race.
Mr Duffy, a member of the well-known Derry bookmaking family, decided to enter the gelding he has described as the “Paul McGrath of National Hunt racing” following his third place finish in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at last month’s Cheltenham Festival, a race he had won the previous year.
Big Shu looks set to go off at around 20/1 and is considered a good each way bet, especially if the ground suits him – and that is “good to soft”
Mr Duffy said the horse had a “good chance” and he was convinced he would put in a better performance than that at Cheltenham.
And he stressed he would not have entered Big Shu for the National if he did not think he had a chance of winning.
Mr Duffy will have no regrets about entering the 4m 3f 100yds race if Big Shu emerges the winner – he will get to pick up a cheque for a staggering £561,300!
The Grand National runners are riders are:
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