What are some ‘dark’ horses for the 2021 Grand National?

By definition, if we’re looking for ‘dark’ horses for the 2021 Grand National, we need to consider those with favourable characteristics that have been largely, or completely, overlooked by the bookmakers.

One such horse is Minellacelebration, who has form figures of 1211 on the Mildmay Course at Aintree and experience over the National fences yet, at the time of writing, can be backed at 100/1 for the 2021 Grand National. He has his stamina to prove, having yet to win beyond 3 miles 2 furlongs, but seemingly acts on any going and is attractively weighted, on 10st 5lb, as the weights stand. He coped well enough with the National fences when tenth in the Becher Chase in 2019 and, rather unluckily, unseated jockey Ben Poste on the flat in the same race last year.

Also available at 100/1 is another 11-year-old, Fagan, who was pulled up, when favourite, in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr in 2018 on his only attempt beyond 3 miles 1½ furlongs. However, he was transferred to Northamptonshire trainer Alex Hales from Gordon Elliott in 2020 and returned to winning form, on just his second start over fences for his new trainer, at Newbury in January. Even with a 10lb rise in the weights, he may struggle to get into the National but, if he does, he could prove to be a ‘lively’ outsider for all that he, too, has yet to win beyond 3 miles.