The Grand National | Robson, Hatton, Derham & Cueto | Morson Sport Panel 2019

MORSON SPORT | 3 MIN READ
Paul Nicholls' assistant Harry Derham talks Grand National predictions and tips.
Bryan Robson and Ricky Hatton on their tactics for picking their winner.
Morson Sport recently hosted a panel event at Hotel Football, Old Trafford, bringing together some of our sporting ambassadors to talk about the Grand National, sport and business.
Harry Derham, assistant trainer to 10 times National Hunt winning horse racing trainer Paul Nicholls, was among the guests and he spoke about how the Grand National has become a bigger deal in the modern era.
“I’d say in terms of picking a winner, the best thing you could do is put a blindfold on and just put your hand down on the list! It’s a very difficult race and I think it’s become a bit more of a high-class race than maybe it was twenty years ago. It’s a million-pound race and you’re not going to ignore it. I’d say it’s a harder race to win now in terms of it’s less about luck. But still, thirty fences, forty runners, four and a half miles, an awful lot can happen and you need a horse that’s going to stay very well.”
Former Manchester United and England captain Bryan Robson was also in attendance on the panel and discussed the famous race:
“I love the event. For me, I usually go for the top six, try and read a bit of the form or maybe watch them in certain races and then I try to phone anybody I know in racing who might know the horse and see if it’s got any chance! I can’t remember the last time I picked a winner…”
Former two-weight world champion Ricky Hatton was the third guest on the panel, and he spoke of his strategy for picking his Grand National bet.
“The obvious, for me, would be try and pick a decent jockey. After that, just if the name impress me really, or if it’s wearing Man City colours! But as a rule, I don’t like watching horse racing that lasts longer than some of my fights! But I think a good jockey who can get out the way and avoid others has got a better chance, I would have thought.”