Neigh Clue: Just 7% Of Brits Predicted That 8 UK-Trained Horses Will Contest Their Most Famous Race
In the upcoming Aintree Grand National, only eight horses from the UK will be competing against a larger group of 26 Irish challengers. Even though many people still believe that the winning horse will come from England, some punters are more focused on the name of the horse rather than its performance history. However, a significant percentage of respondents base their bets solely on the odds given for each horse.
Most people in the UK (24%) hold an incorrect belief that more than half of the horses in the renowned Aintree Grand National race are trained in their own country.
According to a research carried out by Paddy Power, only a small fraction of the UK populace - a mere 7% - accurately predicted that there would be somewhere between five to ten contestants from their country in the race. The study encompassed the views of over 2000 British adults.
Even though there are only a few English-trained horses competing in the race compared to the 26 Irish challengers coming over from across the sea, some Brits are still hopeful that an English horse will come out on top in the steeplechase event, which is expected to attract millions of viewers globally.
This morning it was officially announced that six horses trained in England (Nassalam 16/1, Eldorado Allen 66-1, Latenightpass 25/1, Galia Des Liteaux 25/1, Chambard 66/1, and Kittys Light 11/1) will participate in the major race. In total, there will be 8 competitors from UK trainers, including the favorite horse from Scotland Corach Rambler (5/1) and Mac Tottie (66/1) from Wales.
The Cheltenham Festival has been dominated by Irish-trainers, which has caused a stir in the horse racing industry. Dr Richard Newland, a former Grand National winning trainer, made headlines when he put forward the idea of banning Irish-trainers from running horses in the UK to create a fair competition.
According to a survey carried out by Research Without Barriers on behalf of Paddy Power, a quarter of the British public disagrees with the proposal.
Surprisingly, 12% expressed feeling a sense of shame over the notion of using this strategy to achieve fairness.
On the other hand, the opinion of British racing enthusiasts showcased a different perspective on the matter. It's alarming that 58% of them believe that a ban is necessary.
Although sport rivalry can result in one out of every 10 Britons seeking bragging rights over Ireland, patriotism does not significantly influence betting decisions.
A meager population of 4% individuals in the UK take into account the origin of the Grand National champion when placing their bets.
However, more than 33% of fans of horse racing have a greater area of disagreement on this matter.
Most people tend to base their judgements on several factors, such as the probability of the horse winning (28%), the name of the horse that has a personal significance (24%), or the past performances of the horse (22%).
According to Rachael Kane, who spoke on behalf of Paddy Power, some ideas have been proposed to address the issue of Ireland's overwhelming success in British horse racing. These proposals have been likened to measures related to Brexit. Therefore, Paddy Power conducted a survey to gauge public opinion on the matter. Their aim was to stir up controversy and provoke debate.
