The race is a complete and utter lottery. You could play favourite numbers and have as much chance as if you went with logic.
Personally, I've gone with cheeky each-way flutters on Chicago Grey, Seabass, On His Own, Westend Rocker, Tharawaat and Giles Cross.
(#11, #13, #15, #17, #29, #34)
Sorta fancied Seabass,though put off by the rider.
Chicago Grey for me,though I might put something on Calgary Bay as I got it in the sweepstake.And they rhyme.Commentators nightmare.(Can I say nightmare in this context?)
P.S.I haven't won on the National (ie picked the winner) since the last grey won it in 1703.
Quality. The best Grand National story I've been told was by a manager at Ladbrokes, a few years ago when the Mon Mome won at 100/1 (apologies if I'm confused), she was the only person in the shop at the time who had actually backed it. So she's out on the floor cheering it on furiously whilst all the punters in the shop are cheering on something else. Fantastic atmosphere, but her celebratory jump at the end could have been misconstrued. And apparently was, as many of the punters were never again seen in the shop. Classic.
But yes, you can do 1-2 in this race. 1-2-3, if you're brave. Best to do a combination though. If you have say 3 selections and put them in a combination forecast, it is 6 bets. The formula to work it out is number of selections x next lowest number. So, if you want 10 selections, the formula to work out how much it will cost is 10 x 9. So if you did it for £1, it would cost you £90, but you'd have £1 on ANY of your selections coming 1-2, and if the forecast dividend was more than £90, you would win on the bet.
Swing Bill could run a good race and I'm tempted at around 66/1 each-way. Synchronised will go off as 5/1 favourite I reckon with Tony McCoy on board and the Cheltenham Gold Cup champion.