Getting extremely way ahead myself but I'm going to be following a horse for the next year who I think could be aimed at The Grand National. The horse in question is Francis Flood's In Great Form and he is a 121 rated 7 year old. Clearly he's going to have to do a fair bit of winning between now and then to get his mark up to get into the GN but I definitely believe he's capable of this. He was last seen in the 3m4f Punchestown Grand National Trial on heavy ground when a staying on 11L beaten 3rd as he shaped as if he's an out and out stayer. The form of that race looks very strong with the winner Potrait King winning the Eider off an 18lb higher mark on his next start whilst the 2nd Up The Beat ran a good 4th in the Kim Muir off a 13lb higher mark.This JP McManus gelding was quite progressive in his 2 starts before this winning both impressively and I certainly don't think his progression has stopped yet. There isn't even a price listed for him on Betfair given how much of a left field horse this is but I'm definitely going to be following this fella for the forthcoming jumps season.
Finally get to see him return! Probably a watching brief for tomorrow as I've no clue if he''ll be fully wound up or not and this is probably his minimum. He's entered into Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown on the 27th and he'll probably need a penalty to get into it so thats a tick in the plus column. I wont be backing him tomorrow although a bold show wouldn't surprise me in the slightest but I have backed him for the PP Chase at 20/1
Very happy with that reappearance run over a trip on the short side as he plugged on under tender handling to take 3rd.
Will he get into the PP chase ROTO, or will he still need a penalty (and therefore presumably another run before the 27th)?
Last year the lowest rated horse to get in was 123 and he was 121 before yesterday (may drop a couple of lbs) so I'd assume that he would need to come out again and win if he were to get into it.
In Great Form has gotten into the PP chase today as 2nd reserve and is available at 16/1. I strongly fancy him for this today
Cheers ROTO I've had a little e/w dabble. For some reason my bookie offered me 40/1 fixed odds so I've done some of that Edit: Still going 40/1 my bookie so have had a very decent e/w play. Fingers crossed ROTO
Unfortunately not ROTO, although he deserves a bit of luck - I've taken him to the cleaners in December
