I've only looked at Fairyhouse briefly as I know there's two i want to back when the markets form. Veddetariat in the bumper at 4.10 is supposed to be decent. Goonyella is a big fancy at 14/1 in the National albeit with all the dangers attached of backing in these contests. Good luck lads.
1,40 Huntingdon BEN CEE PEE M 9-1 back off the right mark and ready to regain the winning thread again!
3.10 Huntingdon The Musical Guy 5/1 This looks a tricky little contest but I think Nigel Twiston-Davies's 7 year old looks on a very workable mark of 120 on handicap debut over fences and I think its going to take a very well handicapped to beat him if the application of first time blinkers have the desired effect. Pretty average over hurdles, The Musical Guy is clearly an out and out stayer but he has achieved a great deal more in his brief chasing career than he did over hurdles. The Musical Guy made his chasing debut back in December with a superb effort over 3m1f at Folkestone when going down by 0.5L to the very talented Godsmejudge. Held up at the rear of the field, The Musical Guy's jumping was pretty sound for the most part barring 3 or 4 slow jumps. At 3 out (still a fair way from the finish) The Musical Guy got caught slightly for pace and was about 10L back in 5th but he stayed on resolutely and looked to hold every chance when 2L down but a slow jump put paid to his winning chance as he stayed on again up the finish to always just be held. The winner has since been narrowly beaten in the Betfair Classic Chase off a mark of 128, won a Novice Chase and finish an excellent 3rd in the 4 Miler at Cheltenham. Additionally, the 3rd Barlow finished a narrowly beaten 2nd off a mark of 123 subsequently to solidify the form. Given that The Musical Guy was the only one in the first 4 making his chasing debut it was an absolutely superb effort. The Musical Guy's 2nd start over fences at Leicester wasn't fantastic but I certainly don't think he enjoyed the heavy ground and I'm definitely putting a line through that effort. The Musical Guy's final start came over the same 3m C+D where his disappointment came at Leicester last month but the better ground allowed him to put in a much better performance. Given that the pace was slow, Sam Twiston-Davies decided to make the running with his mount which I don't think suited that much. On occasions, he jumped a little bold and slow and he was driven from quite a bit out given that the eventual winner Howard's Legacy loomed large on his outside. He eventually fell back to 4th but he looked as if he was staying on again at the finish as he was only beaten a little over 5L at the finish. Again, the form of that race looks strong and it was another excellent effort. Although the winner Howards Legacy (who conceded The Musical Guy 7lb) was pulled up at Cheltenham, he had since put in an excellent effort when finishing 2nd to subsequent Racing Plus Chase winner Opening Batsman on his previous start whilst the 3rd Top Smart looked to be running a blinder in the 4 Miler at Cheltenham before falling at 4 out. Given that I feel he was slightly inconvenienced by making the running, I think it was another very nice effort. After those 3 runs, I definitely think he's on a nice mark of 120 and feel he can definitely win races off this mark. His jumping has been a little sticky on occasion but I think the blinkers can definitely help him concentrate and bring about a little bit more improvement. Looking at tomorrow's 3m contest, there seems to be quite a bit of pace in the field and I will be very surprised if the race isn't run at a good clip. I'm hoping Sam Twiston-Davies just drops him out the rear of the field. Although he definitely seems like he'd be better over further, a strongly run race over 3m should suit him down to the ground and the current going conditions shouldn't pose an issue either. Nigel Twiston-Davies has his horses in fantastic form at the moment and I'm quite confident that The Musical Guy can make a successful handicap debut over fences.
I have two fancies for the Irish National with those being Blazing Beacon 33/1and Rich Revival 8/1. Blazing Beacon looks to be fairly well treated and has being going very well of late, his jumping is usuaully exceptional and at 33/1 i think we can see him in the shake of things providing he get's the trip which his jumping and the way he travels suggest he will. I live near by Liz Doyle who trains Rich Revival and i know they really fancy this horse to win this race tomorrow, the horse has been in very good form recently winning 3 on the spin beating the reopposing Panther Claw in one of those races. He is obviously an exciting novice and the only doubt they seem to have is again the trip. As in all these races there is always a few unknowns and a bit of luck is needed. Will have two small e/w single bets as it is a bit of a trappy affair after all.
Anyone backing the new one for the aintree hurdle on thursday? currently 3rd fav at 7/2. Decent price or wait until the day? Fancy Rich Revival in the national as the worthy fav. Unbeaten over fences and carrying a fair weight on perfect ground he looks to be very heard to beat. As normal with such a large field he'll have to avoid getting caught up around other horses near the jumps so Ill be backing each way and with some bookies offering 6 places, I cant see him outside the money.
I'll be backing The New One SMP can't see his price changing too much so wouldn't worry about waitin a few day's.
4.50 Fairyhouse Blazing Beacon 40/1 The Irish National looks a minefield as per usual and I'm hoping Frank McGuinness's Blazing Beacon will be a lively outsider in this and I'm hoping he can land this very lucrative prize. Although now in his veteran years at the age of 11, he's very lightly raced for one of his age with only 19 races to date. Furthermore, he's still very lightly raced over fences winning 3 of his 5 starts and I still feel he's on a workable mark of 130. An impressive winner of a Point To Point on his only completed start, Blazing Beacon was only moderate in his 12 starts in Bumpers and over hurdles but he really took off when he was sent chasing. After a good 2nd on chase debut behind the talented De Valira in September 2011, he showed the benefit of experience when routing a small field by 30L later that month before running a fine 4th in a Grade 3 Chase over 18f behind some very useful sorts in October that year. Blazing Beacon had only one more start that year when winning impressively over 22f at Wexford in a Novice event but it transpired that he injured a tendon which saw him sidelined for a long time. After 505 days off the track, Blazing Beacon made a successful handicap debut off a mark of 122 when landing a gamble over 19f at Wexford last month and he definitely showed he still held his enthusiasm for the game. Under Bryan Cooper, Blazing Beacon jumped phenomenally well for the most part and was taking lengths out his rivals at every fence in the heavy ground as he led from the front. With a reduced advantage approaching the final flight, Blazing Beacon wasn't at his usual fluent best and was headed after the last. However, he regained the advantage with authority late on to score by half a length but he clearly had a lot more left in the tank than the margin suggests. He's been upped 8lbs for that effort on what will be just his 2nd start in a handicap and he's clearly unexposed over fences despite his veteran status. Given that it was his first start in a very long time, he's entitled to come on an awful lot for the run (although he could bounce) and he certainly seems to retain his ability. Given that the furthest he has raced over Under Rules has been 2m6f, his ability to stay 3m5f is a complete unknown but he looks a horse who is full of heart and he will certainly give it his all. I do, however, think he looks a strong stayer and definitely have hope that he can last home over the mammoth distance. Although McGuinness has maintained he is a better horse on good ground (which results would support), he won on heavy ground LTO and he can act on it. With Junior in the field, Blazing Beacon is allowed to race off a lovely racing weight of 9-9 with the extremely talented Mark Enright taking a very useful 3lb off. Although I can't advise anything other than a small bet in such a competitive event, it would be a wonderful story if Blazing Beacon could win this given that he hails from Frank McGuinness's very small yard and I'm hopeful for a big run from this lightly raced veteran whose wonderful jumping is a huge asset in a race of this nature.
Fairyhouse 3.10 Black Benny 8/1 4.50 Away We Go 28/1 6.25 Eight Chimes 7/2 NAP Been on Rich Revival for his last two wins but I think the handicapper might just have done enough to stop him at this trip. Was kicking myself for not backing Home Farm last time, I thought he looked a nice horse the day he won his maiden and always look a chaser, ive got a saver on him tomorrow but 137 looks high enough. Another worth a mention is Paddy Pub, ran well in this last year, looks to have been laid out for it this time, im not sure if he really gets the trip but this is the lightest weight he will have carried and he might be worth a couple of quid e/w at a price. Really like the Mullins horse tho
A fun each way in the Irish National on RAPIDOLYTE DE LADALKO. Ahead of the handicapper and will relish the trip. 25-1.
not to bad down here mate, overcast but not cold, next time you are down let me know and i can sort tickets, they have gone today but keep it in mind im on call so wont be there
I like the look of Away We Go in the Irish National so have just backed it at 28/1 e.w 5 places. Seems to really like it round Fairyhouse with his record their of 5th, 1st and 1st. Mullins has said the plan has been to mix it with hurdles and jumps and im anticipating Mullins will have him right for his first fences run for him. Drying ground will also help his cause .
My arrow is Cootamundra 33/1 in the Irish National Quite like the new one for Thursday, hoping for a bigger price on the day.
Peter Bowen is one of those NH trainers who lacks the ammo to make headlines during the height of the season, but punches above his weight the rest of the year. With spring threatening to arrive, so do the winners for this yard. Big Time Billy, 4.15 Fakenham, showed last time at Ludlow that she should be capable of winning a hurdles race off her mark of 102. 10/3 with most bookies, slightly longer on Betfair. Oscar Whisky will win the Aintree Hurdle. Cheltenham was never the aim.
