The 3rd day of the Grand National meeting features 3 Grade 1 races before the big race itself kicks off at 4.15, and a Grade 2 Bumper. Some decent racing then. The one I like is Victor Hewgo in the 3.25. By that grand sire Old Vic he's bound to find the slightly longer trip no problem. In Feb he was beaten just ¾l by today's impressive winner Holywell and he has since chalked up a very easy win. I think I'll be daring and go: 20 points ew Victor Hewgo. Good luck all and let's hope all the horses are able to travel back to their stables safe and sound. See also the dedicated Grand National Thread. Supporting meetings are: National Hunt - Chepstow and Newcastle Flat (AW) - Lingfield and Wolverhampton Flat (Turf) - Gowran Park (IRE) I see Teofilo has a couple of nice unraced 3yos at Gowran Park. In the first J Bolger runs Plamas who is out of a mare by Danehill out of that lovely filly Circus Ring. Purely on breeding she looks the pick of the two. The other one is Theophilus, with Danzig and Kahyasi both appearing on the dam side. In the first at Chester Dubawi Island looks a banker despite having to concede plenty of weight all round
B365 giving EW place money back up to £125 total stake. So back a horse and they return the EW within 12 hours as a free bet money. Very good work.
With you on Victor Hewgo Ron. My SIX against the field for The National... Hunt Ball 40/1 The Rainbow Hunter 28/1 Battle Group 40/1 Pineau De Re 25/1 Balthazar King 18/1 Chance Du Roy 33/1 All eway and done combination FC on them. My reason for backing them? Birthday numbers
My 6 against the field would be: Teaforthree Big Shu Burton Port Mountainous plus: The Package and Long Run
Tomorrow's bets to small stakes: WIN Patent: 1.30 Wilde Blue Yonder 2.05 Balder Succes 2.50 At Fishers Cross E/W Grand National - The Package Life Changer e/w Lucky 15: 3.25 Wiesentraum 4.15 The Package 5.10 Vasco Du Ronceray 5.45 Puisque Tu Pars After that I'm self-excluding from my betting account for 6 months
Two horses I like a lot run tomorrow and both have been aimed at these targets for some time. In racecard order only; BALDER SUCCES 2.05 Aintree 4-1 would have been a warm order if lining up at Cheltenham but the shrewd Alan King was having none of it. The horse lost his rep last season when disappointing badly in big field handicap hurdles but he has bounced back this season in novice chases in style. The bookies always seem to want to lay him and for the most part has gone off at prices bigger than he should have. Paddy Power want to lay him tomorrow and at 4-1 I am happy to play the game! The other horse is the former Scottish Champion Hurdle winner COURT MINSTREL 16-1 Aintree 5.10. He really is a class act and has run in some very good races. He has been eased a couple of pounds for tomorrow and having been laid out for this I think he can put the youngsters in their place.
" Walkon with hope in your heart, and you'll never walk alone you'll never walk alone ,walk on walk on with hope in your heart etc,etc,etc that's coming from a yid and believe me we've had it bad this year.
Didnt actually realise how good tomorrows racing is(excluding the GN) 1.30 - Lac Fontana - Ran 1 bad race all season and has certainly come on for that race. Winning 2 hot handicaps since, the County hurdle being the biggest. The biggest danger appears to be Wilde Blue Yonder but he has only finished 1 of his hurdle races out of 3 and brings the Supreme form to this race. Lac Fontana has been doing his best work at the end of his races and step up in trip should suit him more than others. Has done me well this year and sticking with him back in novice company. 2.05 - Trifolium - For some reason i just cant warm to Hinterland, beating Grandeaut by a neck over fences at levels doesnt scream to me grade 1 winning form. Balder Success was behind him that day although yard were going through a tough time over the winter so he is sure to be a lot closer now. The selection however ran a big race in the Arkle and had every chance over the last but just didnt get up the hill as well as the first 2. This track should suit more and any further rain also. Looks a big price to me. 2.50 - Melodic Rendezvous - Cracking renewal and very puzzling to solve. Im certain AFC will hold the form with Zarkandar however its the huge step up in trip from Melodic Rendezvous that is in my mind. The trainer stated previously that they thought he preferred good ground, although hes been doing his best work on heavy. That was at 2miles however. Good-ish ground and a step up to 3miles might just be what hes asking for. He finds plenty for pressure and aslong as he can stay the trip i think stands a great chance. Grand National - I was lucky enough to pick out the winner last year at 100/1 so a repeat would be more than welcome! Big Shu loves these marathon trips, ground wont be a problem and being a cross country horse should handle the obstacles a lot better than most, huge chance i reckon. Rose of The Moon was running a nice race in the NH chase at Cheltenham last year before being hampered badly that led to him being pulled up, ran in the Becher over a trip too short but jumped them well enough. One In A Milan is more of a dart but ran a good race in 3rd in the Midlands National on horrible ground and should at least stay the trip, is 4 lb better off with Mountanious for that run and had a decent blow up last month that should have him spot on for this. 5.10 - Kashmir Peak - Looked to be a big contender for the Triumph last year before tipping over at Musselbrough and then didnt really fire at Cheltenham the month after, however plenty of winners have came out of that race and it looks very hot. Has been running on the polytrack lately, perhaps to save his current mark and can run a big race tomorrow. 5.45 - Battle Born - The ease at which he won last time out was very impressive
Nice bumper that tomorrow wardy and I hope that you are right and BATTLE BORN is up to step up in grade. He has done nothing wrong so far and really is one to look out for in novice hurdles next season! There is also a nice bumper at Chepstow. A couple that catch the eye are Pip Hobbs' Rock The Kasbah who was a very expensive purchase and Simon Squirrel who is closely related to Rock On Ruby. It will take a fair effort one of those with a penalty to win this but SIDBURY HILL's Ascot bumper second to Josses Hill reads extremely well. The third, fourth and fifth home that day are all winners since so the form of the race looks outstanding. Josses Hill won it by a cosy four lengths but I think it puts the runner up in a decent light all the same!
All about the big race tomorrow for me where the nation becomes horse racing mad for a day and I have backed:- Teaforthree 10/1 BPG E/W 5 places Runs of a lower weight than in last years National and trained for the race all season and has had a better preparation than last season. All this talk of the Gold Cup run affecting this fellow is nonsense as this horse needs racing to get him in peak condition. Quietly confident and I urge you all to back him. I have a feeling its the turn of a fancied runner to win the National after a couple of long shots winning.... Big Shu 33/1 E/W 6 places Horse has a bit of class and stays Marathon trips. He wasn't 100% for the Cross Country and had a head cold a month before. Trainer says he's always runs best on 3rd race of the season. Some further rain tomorrow would be ideal but Im expecting a big run from him. They are my 2 bets.. if I pick up a paper tomorrow with a free bet in I'll back Raz de Maree. Has already won 2 Nationals and at present you can get 40/1 or 50/1. Gotta be worth a free bet for a laugh and has a squeek. Trainer has a good record in the race of late too Good luck all..
6 against the field chaps? Crikey that reminds me of my dear ol gran. Always had the winner of the national but backed most of the field. . My 2 against the field are Quito De La Roque and Chance du Roy. The former has a touch of class and the latter has a low weight and course form. Bugger it may even do the forecast! Good luck all having a punt and hopefully all the horses and jockeys return home in one piece.
1.30 Wilde Blue Yonder to add another feather to the cap of the Supremes which was franked in impressive fashion today. I said before it that I felt the race was better than it may have looked and it'll look even better when this fellow dots up over an ideal trip tomorrow. 4.15 Prince de Beauchene 20/1. WP Mullins hasn't had that many runners but Diakali and Boston Bob today showed why he's the trainer supreme. No doubt if R Walsh was booked he'd be attracting more interest but he's slipped under the radar nicely and I think he'll be bang on the premises given normal luck in running. Paul Townend is a fantastic jockey and I'd love to see him get his name up in lights tomorrow. GWANNN THE PRINCE! Most important thing for me is that we see all horses return home safe and sound
Two I like the look of for the National in the shape of: Chance Du Roy 33/1 - has won over the obstacles when landing the Becher Chase from Baby Run in December which is a plus, is 10 years old which fits the trends of 8-11 y-o's winning and I'm hopeful Hobbs has got him in good nick as I think he can run a big race. Perhaps not the best handicapped horse you're likely to see but with him stepping up to the marathon distance for the first time I think we may see more improvement from Roy here and if he can hunt around the middle safely on the first circuit I would be hopeful of him placing at least. Alvarado 40/1 - I was very taken with his early season Cheltenham win over 27f where his feather weight saw him fly up the hill and looking as if the further he went the better he would be. He's only 7lb worse off for the win that day and as I think this horse will be suited by the trip, I think his racing weight is perfect. Paul Moloney is the pilot and suits this horse pretty well and if he can give it one of his creep creep rides I reckon this lad might take some serious stopping here today, if he can navigate his way around safely of course. Moloney would love to repay the Rucker family with a win in their colours after all his brave efforts aboard the warrior State Of Play here previously. That's my two cents worth on the National, hopefully they can go well and come back safely whatever happens. Small stakes also as it is a minefield after all Elsewhere on the card I will be on Hinterland 3/1 @ 2.05 - Can gain compensation for his unlucky Cheltenham fall. Next Sensation should set it up a treat for him, I think this lad will take a lot of beating in this after posting some good times this season on similar ground. Best of luck to everyone and let's hope they all come home in one piece.
a ****ing a hole at m place of work organised a sweep stake for 1st horse to fall, what a **** and i told him so. Balt King and BigShu for me and a shed load on Victor Hewgo, stay frosty
Victor Hewgo @ 7/2 (GP) 15:25 HANDICAP CHASE 3m 1f Whisper @ 5/1 (GP) 14:50 LIVERPOOL HURDLE 3m 110y Balder Succes @ 4/1 (GP) 14:05 NOVICES CHASE (GRADE 1) Oscar Hoof @ 5/1 (GP) 13:30 MERSEY NOVICES HURDLE (GRADE 1) Done these in a lucky and acca b4 the natinal for a bit of interest
