Rince Ri bets puts bookies on defensive

Bookmakers will be running scared of Rince Ri when the weights for the Martell Grand National are unveiled today.

Ted Walsh's gelding has been the subject of a major ante-post gamble for the Aintree showpiece and did nothing to detract from his prospects when chasing home Jair du Cochet in the Pillar Chase at Cheltenham.

Walsh knows just what is required at Aintree having sent out Papillon to win the 2000 National, and Ladbroke spokesman Balthazar Fabricius will be scanning the weights closely when the wraps come off the handicapper's figures at London's Landmark Hotel.

"Having laid the horse at all prices from 40-1 to 12s in the last two months we've already got a sweat on," he said.

"We've laid him to lose ?250,000 via telephone and internet betting and the same again in the shops, which equates to a liability of around a couple of million quid across the industry as a whole."

Cork trainer Jimmy Mangan is optimistic that last year's runaway National hero Monty's Pass is coming to the boil at the right time.