We are offering Non-Runner No Bet for the Grand National at Aintree next weekend and Racing Post tipster Robbie Wilders has picked out two big-priced wagers in Jumps racing's most coveted prize.

Grand National

Velvet Elvis @ 40/1
1pt each-way with bet365 (NRNB)

Roi Mage @ 40/1
1pt each-way with bet365 (NRNB)

Elvis and Mage look like cracking National value

So much can go wrong in any race, let alone in a 40-runner field, and the modus operandi for punters betting ante-post in the Grand National has to be to target big-priced runners who can shorten on the day. 

I'd seldom consider any horse at under 20/1 for the National at this juncture unless they were completely the wrong price, but the top of bet365's market looks pretty accurate to these eyes, and the two who stand out at the odds are Irish raiders Velvet Elvis and Roi Mage. 

Something punters should also consider is that topweight Any Second Now's presence will force a handful of runners to race from out of the weights, but these two will sneak in just fine from their correct marks.

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Grand National: Longhouse Poet

Recent form demonstrates Elvis' class

More should be made of Velvet Elvis' recent seven-length second to Any Second Now in the Grade 2 Webster Cup at Navan. The trip was wholly inadequate for both, but Velvet Elvis was receiving 3lb from the winner that day and will get 20lb at Aintree. 

Given Any Second Now is 12/1 with bet365 and will need to lug a daunting 11st 12lb as an 11-year-old, I'd much rather side with the lightly raced seven-year-old who carries 10st 6lb at a juicy 40/1. 

The average winning age of National winners has been dropping in recent years and Noble Yeats managed to collect last season's as a seven-year-old, while Velvet Elvis' lack of experience of the National fences is of less of a concern given the modifications made to the obstacles over the last decade. 

Indeed, the only three winners with previous experience of the unique fences before lining up at Aintree in that timeframe were Pineau De Re (2014), One For Arthur (2017) and Tiger Roll for his repeat success in 2019. 

It should be added that there is a chance Tom Gibney's stable star will head to Fairyhouse for the Irish equivalent instead, but the NRNB safety blanket net for Aintree removes that concern.

Roi Mage could soar for Griffin

The other seriously overpriced one is the 11-year-old Roi Mage for trainer Patrick Griffin at 40/1. 

Roi Mage has spent the majority of his career in France and only debuted for Griffin around 13 months ago, but has hinted he could be capable of landing a big prize. 

He ran a fine race for a long way in the Savills New Year's Day Chase at Tramore when fading into third in a sprint behind two Grade 1 horses in Stattler and Minella Indo, while he put a fall on the Cross Country course at Cheltenham in January well behind him with an excellent second to Longhouse Poet in a Down Royal conditions event last month to tee him up for this. 

Longhouse Poet, who was receiving 5lb from Roi Mage that day, must reoppose off 11lb worse terms at Aintree for a length-and-a-quarter victory and I can't understand how one is 14/1 and the other is 40s. 

Roi Mage rallied strongly once headed by Longhouse Poet upon jumping the last and should relish this marathon distance. 

This is Roi Mage's only upcoming entry and he should give his rider an excellent spin granted luck in running off 10st 8lb.

Robbie Wilders

• Aintree Racecourse
• Fairyhouse
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