Bookies wary of Carberry first

Having won over the famous fences once already this week, Nina Carberry has the bookies running scared with First Lieutenant ahead of today's Crabbie's Grand National.

The price for Mouse Morris's veteran has been steadily shortening all week and a legion of Carberry fans are due to unload in shops up and down the country.

With her dad Tommy and brother Paul already having won the race, she is seeking to continue her family's association with the world-famous event.

Just a few days ago none other than Tony McCoy stated it would only be a matter of time before a lady rider won the Aintree spectacular, and Carberry is currently heading the queue.

At the start of the week, Katie Walsh won the Irish Grand National and currently holds the distinction of a best finish for a female rider at Liverpool, when third on Seabass in 2012.

Coral expect a victory for Carberry to cost the industry millions.

Spokesman Simon Clare said: "Usually you would focus on the racehorse's breeding but in this case Nina Carberry is well bred to win the Grand National, as her father won the race on L'Escargot in 1975 and her brother rode the winner Bobbyjo in 1999.

"She is also in red-hot form having won over the National fences on Thursday on On The Fringe in the Fox Hunters' Chase.

"Nearly half the women in Britain will bet on the Grand National and many of them, and plenty of men, too, will be backing Nina to make history and be crowned first lady of Aintree.

"If Nina Carberry and First Lieutenant come home in front the nation's bookmakers will be well behind to the tune of over £25million worth of losses."

First Lieutenant was a top-class chaser not that long ago and while not the force of old, his handler thinks he is coming back to his best.

Morris said: "This has been his aim all year and I'm more confident now than I was around Christmas time. He's always preferred the sun on his back and he's really come to himself in the last few weeks. We could maybe have just done with a few less pounds on his back."

The worst result for the bookies, though, would be a victory for McCoy and Shutthefrontdoor, with a win set to produce a record loss for the industry.

Betfair spokesman Barry Orr said: ''We have never witnessed the level of support for one individual in any race, not least the most competitive race in the calendar. It looks like punters from all over the world are putting their faith in AP and Shutthefrontdoor, almost to the exclusion of everything else.

''Earlier this week a conservative figure of a £50m industry loss has now grown to an unprecedented £75m with the McCoy story snowballing into a global gamble, and a win will see bookmakers take a wallop that will go down in betting folklore."

Labrokes are more conservative in their estimated losses if McCoy wins, but it would still hit them hard.

Spokesman David Williams said: "A win for McCoy is our nightmare scenario. Shutthefrontdoor could easily be the best-backed horse we've ever known in the Grand National. We're scared even to think about it.

"More often than not Aintree throws up a host of stories but this year there's only show in town. The entire race revolves around one man and one horse.

"We reckon it will cost the industry £30 million if McCoy wins but that could be conservative. If the nationwide gamble unfolds the liabilities could go through the roof. The total cost could be disastrous."