Poor run from duel at Dawn who seemed to struggle with the pace. Crosspark finished 3rd at 9/1. I took 20s this morning..
Finished 8th...I wonder what they are up to with him? Has an entry in the Cheltenham gold cup. I am guessing that will be his prep for the big one at Aintree. Probably have a good spin round and finish 5th or 6th in that ..(wouldnt surprise me if did slightly better as has festival form) unless he really has fallen out of love of the game or something. Weights for the big one will be out by then so no plot necessary. It is quite possible nothing else matters other than the Grand National. Bet365 pushed him out to 50/1 for that. Each way 5 places ante post with them. Don't play ante post myself but that might prove quite attractive to some.
My late Mother used to reckon that a "Bottom drop" just before the was worth a 4 lb claim. Maybe the horses are better fed than in the 70's and it's up to 6 lbs now. I told my pals about her theory at school in the late 70's and the general feeling was scepticism. I counter argued that it was better that a horse had a cack before the race, rather than during it but one of my mates reckoned that it could be a good tactic on a front runner, to deposit a slipping hazard for the chasing pack in behind. Maybe the handicapper did get Darling Maltaix with the rise but he seemed as much as anything to be outpaced on the quicker ground. He plugged on for 5th in a race where 6 places were available, changed days from the 1-2-3 only terms of yester year. Kloud Gate finished lame. In the Warwick race Blaklion turned out not to be well treated on 152 as the Racing Post author had suggested. Bookies could not give him away, out to 12/1. He trailed in 8th, behind two horses who were running from out of the Handicap. I was disappointed with First Assignment, backed from 10/3 in to 2/1 but only 3rd. I really felt this would be his day but it was not to be.
Notwhatiam, i wonder if this is being held up on purpose. The last 2 runs have seen him come from way back to finish 34. Maybe he just cant go with them we shall see.
My notion that Blaklion would be ridden to finish 6th in Saturday’s ‘Pertemps Qualifier’ proved wide of the old mark. Had this been the case you would, ordinarily, have expected him to be put out the back and then steered into that position late on. Instead Blaklion was towards the head of affairs for most of the way and ran like one connections were keen to get a ‘blow’ into and really test a horse who was probably far from being fully fit. The run will unquestionably bring him on but I expect we’ve seen the last of Blaklion over hurdles (although likely to be dropped a fair bit from Saturday’s 152). 50/1 does look huge for a horse with his Aintree form.
