2012 Grand National betting tips
http://ping.fm/AucIo
The Midnight Club is clear favourite to win the Grand National, with What A Friend and Backstage also among the market leaders
 
What a difference a jockey appointment makes. Ever since Ruby Walsh was confirmed as the rider for The Midnight Club, punters have been flocking to back The Midnight Club and the Willie Mullins-trained horse is now 8/1 with Blue Square to win the big race.
 
"It's good news," said Mullins after Walsh’s appointment was confirmed. "The Midnight Club is in good form. He worked twice during the week and we're very pleased with him. Everything I have that is in the race at the moment is going, if they get in."
 
Mullins teamed up with Walsh to great effect at the Cheltenham Festival, with Hurricane Fly winning the Champion Hurdle before Quevega hacked up in the Mares’ Hurdle.
 
Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson is unlikely to be at Aintree on Saturday although he has a strong contender in the form of What A Friend, a horse whose odds have been tumbling for the 2011 Grand National ever since a 4th-place finish in the 2011 Gold Cup.
 
Ladbrokes offer 12/1 about a horse that will be ridden by Daryl Jacob, although the jockey claims that he won’t worry too much about the famous owner that will have high expectations.
 
"It's a big thrill to have such a good ride this year and it's very kind of Sir Alex and Ged Mason to keep me on the horse," Jacob explained.
 
"I don't really think about who owns the horses before I ride them. It doesn't matter if it's Sir Alex Ferguson, the Queen or someone from Dorset - I want to do the best I can on them all."
 
Plenty of money has been coming for Backstage in recent days, with the horse shortening on betfair and now a best price 12/1 with Blue Square to beat the other 39 runners in the 4 mile slog on Saturday.
 
The Gordon Elliott horses are in excellent nick at the moment and this trainer saddled Silver Birch to victory in 2007.
 
Last year’s winner was Don’t Push It and AP McCoy will once again be hoping to land the spoils with the JP McManus-owned horse, although the 2010 victor will be carrying a lot more weight this time around. Even so, you can get 16/1 with Blue Square about a horse who has proven to have what it takes.
 
Oscar Time (12/1 Blue Square), Silver By Nature (14/1 Blue Square), Ballabriggs (16/1 Blue Square), Big Fella Thanks (14/1 Blue Square) are other horses that have been well backed in recent weeks.

Find the latest Grand national tips here.