Horse Racing Picks: Grand National Stakes Prediction, Preview, and Odds (Oct 21)

• Biggest jumps race of the season in North America takes place at Far Hills on Saturday
• The Grand National Stakes is run over 2 5/8 miles with 14 hurdles set to be jumped by the field

Grade 1 jumps action headlines the horse racing schedule in North America this weekend, with a field of eight set to go to post for the Grand National Stakes at Far Hills. The race was won by Hewick for trainer John Hanlon 12 months ago, before the runner ran a solid race in defeat in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

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Schedule and How To Watch

• When: Saturday, October 21, 2023 from 3:32 p.m. ET
• Where: Far Hills, New Jersey
• How To Watch: FanDuel TV

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Grand National Stakes Odds

Horse	Odds
Salvador Ziggy	+200
Seddon	+300
Snap Decision	+400
Scorpian’s Revenge	+600
Merry Maker	+800
Jimmy P	+1000
Noah And The Ark	+1500
Mortlach	+2000

Latest odds taken from an offshore sportsbook

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Race Preview

The biggest jumps race on the North American calendar takes place at Far Hills this weekend, as the G1 Grand National Stakes is staged. This race boasts a purse of $250,000, and notable previous winners include Hewick, Flatterer, Zaccio, and Battleship.

Hewick (IRE) wins The Grade 1 American Grand National Hurdle Stakes @FarHillsRace for @jhanlonracing & Jordan Gainford 🦈🏆 pic.twitter.com/4KsTZB2bIi

— Brian Arnold (@heyarnoldb) October 15, 2022

There will be extra intrigue centered around the European raiders this weekend, as three of the previous four renewals have been won by trainers from either Ireland or the United Kingdom. Salvador Ziggy for trainer Gordon Elliott looks the obvious place to start. The seven-year-old will be the ride of Jack Kennedy.

READ MORE: F1 Picks: United States Grand Prix Prediction, Preview, and Odds (Oct 22)

Salvador Ziggy has been raced regularly over the summer, most recently finishing second behind Desertmore House in the Kerry National Handicap Chase on soft ground. The seven-year-old boasts the best form in the book, having won four from nine starts over hurdles, and three from four over fences. The strongest form line in the book appears to be his second behind Good Time Jonny in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

John McConnell discusses Irish invader 🇮🇪Seddon's chances in next Saturday's American Grand National.

"Seddon has proved a shrewd acquisition for McConnell and owners the Galaxy Horse Racing Syndicate winning four times last season, including providing his handler with a first… pic.twitter.com/oaZeItY4Ld

— USASteeplechase (@USASteeplechase) October 15, 2023

John McConnell enjoyed a coming-of-age season in the United Kingdom and Ireland last year, and Seddon looks a sound contender to land a first U.S. Grade 1 for the Irishman this weekend. The ten-year-old comes to Far Hills after a decent second behind Winter Fog at Galway last month, and was a two-length winner at the Cheltenham Festival in the Magners Plate Handicap Chase in March.

Jimmy P looks the most interesting American contender this weekend for Keri Brion. The five-year-old has won twice from six starts under rules, and was a very solid second at Saratoga in the G1 Jonathan Shepherd Steeplechase. Danny Mullins is a jockey who is always hard to write off.  

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American Grand National Stakes Prediction

Salvador Ziggy is extremely hard to overlook this weekend, and his chances are certainly enhanced based on recent runs in Ireland. At a price, Noah And The Ark could be a runner of interest after finishing second in the race 12 months ago. However, a place finish is likely his best possible result in this hot renewal of the race.

Free Pick