'He'll be about 60% of the bets we take': Grand National comes close to home as racehorse 'Banbridge' sends punters fluttering
Punters across the province will be cheering on their favourites tomorrow in the Grand National – but for one Co Down town, the race is coming especially close to home.
That’s because a horse called Banbridge is among the 34 set to pound their way across Aintree during the biggest event in the sport’s calendar.
It’s a tough field, but jockey JJ Slevin has form steering Banbridge to victory – two years ago the pair scooped the William Hill Champion Steeplechase trophy at Punchestown, and in 2023 won a novices’ event at the Grand National.
The horse isn’t the favourite tomorrow; that’s a previous Aintree champion, I Am Maximus, and as of this afternoon Banbridge was getting odds of around 33-1 from most bookies.
In the Northern Ireland place that shares his name, however, punters are eager to take a flutter on who they regard as a de facto hometown hero.
As one local bookmaker told the News Letter: “He’ll be about 50% to 60% of the bets we take on the day.
“He’s been racing for a few years now, and every time he does the town cheers him on. It’s the local connotations; you see it in shops all over, if there’s a horse with a name that references the town or street in the area, they’ll always get a lot of support.
"He should do well, he prefers strong ground and puts in a good performance in springtime. He needs a bit of luck, but everyone does; at this level, skill often isn’t enough by itself, you need luck on your side too.”
And if Banbridge passes the post in first place, the bookmaker expects the Co Down town to erupt in joy.
“Elation, I think that would be the word,” he said. “People will be elated – particularly as he’s 33-1 on, that’s a good return on 10 or 20 pounds. A lot of drinks will be flowing in Banbridge if he wins.”
The horse is owned by wealthy Scottish tycoon Ronnie Bartlett, who has Northern Irish connections.
Head of a family-owned firm, enormously successful potato supply company Arthur Bartlett, his grandfather was an Ulsterman who moved to Scotland after the Second World War and started the business.
Although he’s known as someone who rarely gives interviews, while speaking to racing press he revealed he bought his first horse from his cousins in Northern Ireland during the 1980s.
Last week, trainer Joseph O’Brien said he’s increasingly warming to Banbridge’s chances in the Aintree showpiece.
He said: “Three miles at Kempton is perfect for him. He ran well in the Ryanair, but was just flat out all the way. Personally I think he’d be interesting in the National. I’m not saying he’d win it, but he’d be a great ride in the race.
“If he got in a nice rhythm over the first three miles you see what happens from there. He’d probably be better off in an old-style National when they didn’t go as hard as they do now, but he’s good at Aintree and I think it will suit him.”
He added: “I think he’ll run well. He does want top of the ground.”