Grand National? How about punting on a $32m Stubbs artwork instead

George Stubbs' 18th century painting of star racehorse Gimcrack has investors all of a flutter

Saturday's Grand National is as open a race as ever, with little consensus among the racing fraternity on the likely winner.

Although Don't Push It returns to attempt to become the first back-to-back winner since Red Rum in 1974, the 11-year-old has been given top weight in the handicap and many punters are looking elsewhere for the victor.

An item that is sure to interest racing fans and investors alike is coming to auction at Christie's in the summer.

A 1765 painting by George Stubbs, Gimcrack on Newmarket Heath, with a Trainer, a Stable-Lad, and a Jockey, is expected to achieve £20m on July 5.

Gimcrack is shown in both the foreground and background of the work

Gimcrack was the racing star of his day. Known for his combative temperament and small size, the horse won 28 of 36 races.

The picture was commissioned by Gimcrack's owner, Lord Bolingbroke, and bought for £12,600 in 1951 by its present owner the Woolavington Collection, established by the racehorse owner Lord Woolavington.

John Stainton of Christie's told the Guardian: "It is unquestionably one of Stubbs's most important paintings and one of the greatest racing pictures ever painted."

But back to the big question - who's our money on for the Grand National? Here at Paul Fraser Collectibles we generally like our investments to be of a more predictable nature, but Niche Market sounds like our kind of horse.