15 April 2023 , 13:00
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A gambler who has used his mathematical knowledge to win £14 million pounds for his racing followers has picked a 50-1 outsider to win the Randox Grand National.
Richard Brocklebank, 56, has hit the jackpot multiple times for his syndicates, netting sums of more than £1 million four times.
Brocklebank, nicknamed ‘The Squirrel’, landed his biggest win in 2009 when Russian Trigger's Midlands Grand National victory at Uttoxeter netted him a record-breaking £3.1m from the Tote Scoop6 bonus.
His exploits are detailed in his book £3 Million In 3 Weeks: The Squirrel Syndicate – A Gambler’s Tale - which is set to be made into a TV series.
Brocklebank, who graduated from Nottingham University with a degree in physics, has repeatedly found long shot winners of the Grand National after placing his first ever bet as a schoolboy on 1972 winner Well To Do.
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He has picked nine others including Mon Mome who romped home in 2009 at 100-1 and 2013 champ Aurora's Encore (66-1). This time he has singled out Eva's Oskar, who is 50-1..
The father of two from Hyde, Cheshire, said: "I would certainly never put anyone off backing a long shot in the Grand National.
"This year I spotted a long shot at 100-1 when the weights came out but was unsure if the horse would get in due to the maximum field size of 40.
Last year's winner Noble Yeats has been heavily backed to win the race again. But Brocklebank reckons the 15lb in extra weight he will have to carry will be too heavy a burden.
"That extra lead in the saddle will make it tough to repeat," he said. However he does also fancy the chances of 28-1 shot Coko Beach.
"It was eighth last year after losing a left hind shoe and could go several places better barring any further issues with his hooves," he added.
"Everyone loves Aintree as a great sporting spectacle. But you love it a little bit more if you win."