Sunnyhill Boy was another I was thinking of, but obviosuly if the choice AP will go fo Synchronised so have decided to stick that but he is of some interest!
Not the Grand National but kind of related - looking at the entries for the Foxhunters at Aintree next Thursday I see My Way De Solzen is entered - very interesting indeed. Trounced Takeroc in his only hunter chase to date, in March last year.
My Way won the other week in a P2P, as mentioned on this fine site by yours truly. I was googling something P2P related and came across the story.
7/1 Sunnyhillboy to start favourite with Stan James looks a good bet. If Synchronised doesn't run then his price will collapse and I can see him going off favourite. 1. AP will ride - cue public gamble 2. He actually has a decent chance
Ballabriggs drifted from 11/1 to 14/1, West End Rocker 12's to 16's with PP. I can see why the drift on West End Rocker needs the rain to come down in its gallons but Ballabriggs anyone got any suggestions why?
Rather alarming, as they're the two I've backed. I'm not sure West End Rocker needs it soft, he has form on good and they'll be putting plenty of water on. I think the weight will probably stop Ballabriggs but, barring incidents, he looks nailed on for a place, especially with prices down to 5th (b365 already offer this).
West End Rocker as won on good ground in the past, I don't think the ground is the biggest concern. He's very well weighted for the race. He looked unlucky in last year's race being brought down.. Ballabriggs probably the curse of the returning winner, I've put a line straight through his and Synchronised name. They have absolutely no chance IMO. 11,10 and 11,9 is an almost impossible feat in the National. I would rather back Red Rum's statue
That is a very bold statement! You cannot write any horse imo they all stand a chance, if they can jump and get prove they can egtround which both do, they stand a chance!
No winner of the previous year's National as returned and won the year after since Red Rum in 1974, Make what you want of that. Are we holding Ballabriggs in the same breath as Rummy. Im certainly not. He's a 1lb off top weight. He was out on his feet at the end of last years race off 11,0 He's gone up 9lb this year. Not a chance IMO... Synchronised stays all day but one of the most surprising statistics is that only one horse that won at the Cheltenham Festival meeting has gone on to win the Grand National since 1961. That was Rough Quest who won the National following a fine run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. That says to Me that Synchronised and Sunnyhillboy have it all to do a week on Saturday. Synchronised is racing off top weight aswell, His Cheltenham Gold Cup win may have taken a fair amount out of him and Im not convinced He's an Aintree horse in all honesty, He's never fell in his career but He pulled up in the Irish Grand National last year after a tough race in the Welsh National which he won and the way he jumped around Cheltenham even though he stayed better than anything hardly sets Me alight with enthusiasm about him! Both aren't for Me. But like I say... Just My opinion
I do respect that, and see your point on Ballabriggs but will most definately get placed at the very least! But the National and the gold cup have never been so far apart which can only hold in good stead for the cheltenham runners. As you say he has never fallen, although hes been pulled up before he didnt have AP on him, after all it was him that won the gold cup! but we will have to wait and see and I cant wait for it!!
My major doubt about Synchronised is just whether he will run, and if he does, why the hell he is running. AP has stated (after the Welsh National) that he doubted his suitability for the fences, and Jonjo has stated that time between races is the key to him. Why, therefore, are they considering running a horse that is now a Gold Cup and Lexus winner in the Grand National after such a hard race at Cheltenham? They missed the race with him last year and I cannot see why he is now worth a shot when he has shown that there are other top class races to be won with him. It must be said, if I owned/trained/rode him he wouldn't be going anywhere near Aintree. It just doesn't make sense.
It does look increasingly like they're going to run Sychronised. It seems like utter madness as far as I can see, but connections know a lot more about the horse than I do. I think he needs a much longer break between races (especially one as gruelling as the Gold Cup) and he definitely wants much smaller fences. He'll need to be much much better than 160 to be anywhere near winning because I can see him losing a length (or more) at every fence because he's such an awkward jumper. I just don't see it at all. Jonjo after the Gold Cup (17/03/12): "He’s not big and robust and needs minding and time between races". AP after Welsh National (09/01/11): "“Obviously, people will ask about the Grand National, but I don’t know if he’s got the scope for that". Flies straight in the face of everything they've said in the past. Madness, in my opinion of course!
I agree Zen, Backing up my earlier post. He was pulled up in the Irish Grand National after a long hard slog in the Welsh National. To aim this horse over the National fences and national distances after winning the Blue Riband of jump racing is madness IMO. It smacks a touch of greediness if Im being honest, He deserves a good long summer after this exploits this year. Jonjo and JP McManus have an able horse in Sunnyhillboy. How they can possibly think Synchronised can defy history and top weight is ridiculous! If he does turn up and he jumps how he did at Cheltenham he won't make it to Bechers
The Gold Cup was far enough away from the Gold Cup to suggest that he will be match fit for the race, and the yard know that this is the only chance they have got of running him in a handicap before his mark rockets up to 168. The rationale for running him is a fair one to me, and whilst I can't have him as the winner, I don't doubt the reasoning the connections are probably taking. I don't think its madness and/or greediness.
History says the horse should not win, and probably won't. I don't like the way he jumps, but he's a class act. There isn't a horse in the race who would get with a bull's roar of him on level weights, maybe he deserves a shot. I know that in the eyes on a lot of people the GN is runs a pale second to the Gold Cup, but from a world perspective, it's all Grand National. Most racing folk outside the UK know next to nothing about the Gold Cup, it's almost a non event, not so the GN. It is probably the most famous race in the world. The money is fantastic and the global prestige is amazing. I can't blame connections for giving serious consideration to running Synchronised in the race.
Ballabriggs would beat him off levels in my opinion, but I am probably a bit left field in thinking Synchronised is a very lucky horse to win a Gold Cup with his level of talent.
You may be right Nass. It would be a real gamble to run him in such a grueling race, so if he line up, I'll be cheering him on. Imagine if he actually got away with the race. Sweet Jesus, they'd bring the grandstand down.
Does he look an Aintree horse to you? Even AP as stated in the past he doesnt have the scope to win or run in a Grand National. What if he didn't return after the race? God forbid it does happen is it worth running him in an handicap before his rating does rise, Which is going to happen anyway? I don't see why they need to run Synchronised in the National after winning the Gold Cup. If he gets round I will be certainly suprised, The Gold Cup is a gruelling gruelling race. The liklihood of past champions of the Gold Cup coming back the year after and winning is slim nevermind running in the Grand National and then attempting it. If he was My horse He'd be stuck away. He deserves it, Lets be fair...
