Reluctantly, I will post up my selection for the day.
Howerver the disucssion for the Grand National should not be swept under the carpet and the other thread should continue.
There are some nice races in Ireland today, inc 1000 & 2000 Guineas trials, but it is elsehwere that I have a flutter.
4.35 Leopardstown: ATHENS 14/1
I am astonished at this price. He is a really nice looking Dylan Thomas 3 Y 0, and he looked to have plenty of scope about him last year and I hope when we see him today that he has filled out and grown a little bit more. For me, last seasons tests over 7f and 1m were inadequate. Every single start suggested a step up in trip was needed and I think that is why he can surprise everybody over 10f today. The pedigree points to this as the dam stayed 10f and we know Dylan Thomas stayed 12f. He ran an excellent race first time up last year in a hot York maiden, running on late to finish in front of the likes of CRUSADE and THOMAS CHIPPENDALE, both of whom seem well regarded and the former a Group 1 winner. He then chased home Akeed Mofeed who is very well regarded by Oxx and again was doing his best work late, stretching clear from the pack. He was a little disappointing at Leopardstown when beaten by David Livinsgton 10L, but that was heavy ground that day and he also looked a bit outpaced. He finished ahead of FURNERS GREEN that day, rated 113, therefore Timeforms rating of 98 looks a big underestimate in my book, especially with a=the promise of improvement as a 3 Y 0 and also a step up in trip. Really interested in how has trained from 2 to 3 and think we might see O'Brien 2nd string cause an upset.