… revealed in this brief interlude to help you make money on the nags

Don’t resort to picking names out of hats or playing a game of pin the tail on the form guide: our friends at chickendinner have come up with a foolproof plan to identify this year’s Grand National winner. They eliminated all the likely losers who don’t fit the profile of a champion until we were left with just one horse standing. Read on to find out who it was:

Step One
14 of the last 17 winners started in the top eight of the betting. Therefore it must be one of these guys (three are joint-eighth):
My Will, Butler’s Cabin, Rambling Minister, State of Play, Hear The Echo, Parsons Legacy, Darkness, Comply or Die, Black Apalachi or Irish Invader

Step Two
10 of the last 13 winners have been aged either 9 or 10. That means we say goodbye to Rambling Minister (11), Hear The Echo (8), Parsons Legacy (11) and Irish Invader (8). Still fighting are:

The Spoiler puts its neck on the line

With the help of our well-informed chums at chickendinner, The Spoiler has compiled a list of our top tips for this weekend’s sports action. Accompanying each bet are some eye-catching odds, a link to a free bet with that bookmaker and a reason why you it’s a good bet:

1) Chelsea to fail to win at Middlesbrough - 1317/1000 with Ladbrokes
Over the last three seasons Boro have lost just two of their twelve home league games against the Big Four. Click here for more information.

2) Manchester United to beat West Brom by a one-goal margin - 3/1 with Paddy Power
Five of the Red Devils’ last six home league victories against the reigning Championship champions have been by a one-goal margin. Click here for more information.

3) Daniel Evans to be eliminated from the X Factor - 4.1 on Betfair
He’s too old to win and the judges don’t like him. Click here for more information.

4) Lewis Hamilton to win the Chinese Grand Prix - 1.84 on Betfair
Hamilton had a nightmare in Shanghai last year but so far this year he has improved drastically at every race he finished off the podium in last season. Click here for more information, including why Robert Kubica might be a good bet for a podium finish.

5) Stoke to beat Spurs - 11/5 on Paddy Power
Tottenham have a terrible record over the last four years away to newly-promoted club and considering they’ve yet to win this season, that record could get worse. Click here for more information.

Gold Cup, today, 3.30pm, bet here

If you’ve just emerged from solitary confinement, a coma or a lengthy spell in a monastery, today’s Cheltenham Gold Cup is only the RACE OF THE CENTURY! The rest of you, if you’re not on it yet, need your heads testing. If you’re still not sure what to do, then just follow these simple steps.

1) Open an account to bet online. You could choose any of this country’s fine turf accountants, but if you open an account with Ladbrokes or Paddy Power, you’ll get a £10 free bet.

2) If you’d rather go with a betting exchange, and bet against other people, open an account with Betfair, and get a £25 free bet.

3) Choose a horse to bet on. To see the best odds, click here.

4) If you still can’t make your mind up, then go with horse of the century KAUTO STAR to win - he’s considered near unbeatable.

5) Don’t like that? Then get on DENMAN. Also considered near unbeatable, except against Kauto Star.

6) Don’t like that? Then get on one of the supporting cast with an each way bet. The Spoiler likes NEPTUNE COLLONGES or KNOWHERE

For more Gold Cup facts, click here. And hurry up - the clock is ticking! GET RIGHT ON IT!

Unless you haven’t noticed, everyone is going absolutely horses bonkers, and Cheltenham is - for the only time in the year - the big place to be. Walking proudly with their groomed manes, the WAGs look amazing (boom, boom!), and some friends of The Spoiler are offering great free bets. Get on it!

GET A FREE GOLD CUP £10 BET WITH LADBROKES HERE!

GET A FREE £10 BET WITH PADDY POWER HERE!

OR GET A FREE £25 BET ON BETFAIR HERE!

The Spoiler’s Cheltenham tip of the Day: My Way De Solzen in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at 3.30. Click the links above to have a punt.