Housewives Hoping Nina Will Clean Up On Grand National

Housewives Hoping Nina Will Clean Up On Grand National

Girl power is making bookies William Hill quake in their boots with the news that top jockey Nina Carberry will be riding Forest Gunner in this year's Grand National a week on Saturday - and they are predicting a massive housewives gamble on her that is certain to be the worst National result ever if she becomes the first female jockey to win.

Judging by the massive gamble seen when Carrie Ford partnered Forest Gunner to be fifth in the race last year, William Hill reckon support for Nina will rocket by the day of the race and she will cost them more than a pretty packet if she wins. An estimated £250million will be gambled on Grand National day, with over half the adult population having a bet.

William Hill 's spokeswomen Jennie Prest said: "Carrie and Forest Gunner would have cost the bookies millions if they had won last year, we are certain that Nina on the same horse will be this year's housewives' choice and are living in fear of the 'female flutter' factor. What makes it worse is Arsenal are riding high in the Champions League at the moment, so all the Gunners will be on that horse too!"

To add to the spice, it is also brother versus sister as Nina's professional jockey brother Paul, who has already won the Grand National on Bobbyjo in 1999, is also riding in this years race. Although this is her first ride in the National, Nina is a pure thoroughbred of the racing world, she is a top Irish amateur rider, her father is trainer Tommy Carberry and she has ridden a winner at the Cheltenham Festival. Not since before the Second World War have siblings or father/son combinations competed against each other in the Grand National and Paul and Nina are the first brother/sister to do so.

William Hill can't split the chances of Nina and Paul and are offering odds of 5-6 each about who will be placed highest in the race. They are also offering odds of 8/11 that Nina and Forest Gunner complete the Grand National course and Even money that they don't get round. Sir OJ, Paul's mount, is a 33-1 shot to win the race, Forest Gunner is 40-1.