Can Cloudy Glen Defy the Odds?

With the Grand National on Saturday many once a year punters will be looking for a horse to back, luckily we know exactly who to turn to for a bit of Manx spirit.

The world’s greatest horse race will set off at 5.15pm on Saturday.

In the history of the race, few owners have one it once, let alone twice, but two owners have won it three times, one is Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, who won back to back races with the iconic Tiger Roll, the other, the late great Sir Trevor Hemmings.

Now some of you may be looking at Mr O’Leary and fancying a go, but we’re going to stick with Sir Trev.

Aways a favourite of Manx punters who followed his horses up and down the country, Sir Trev died in 2021, having owned three winners Hedgehunter (2005), Ballabriggs (2011) and Many Clouds (2015).

Despite being favourite in 2021, Cloth Cap was unable to deliver a record fourth win for Sir Trev, but since his death at the age of 86, his estate has carried on his winning tradition.

This year, his famous green and yellow colours will be carried, along with the hopes of many a Manx punter, by Cloudy Glen, who will set off at 66/1, big odds yes, but then trainer Venetta Williams pulled off the shock of the century when Mon Mome won from odds of 100/1 in 2009.

The 10-year-old also likes a long break between races and picked up an impressive third at Haydock Mack back in February. He likes a big occasion too, having won at Newbury from 33/1 back in 2021 and who knows, if the sun is shining, maybe we could see another ‘Manx’ winner on the grandest stage of them all.

If, for whatever reason you aren’t a patriot or fancy a horse that might have a better chance at a less romantic win, take a look at Noble Yeats, Any Second Now or Delta Work.