Tuesday's Meetings Exeter N/H 7 Races 12:30-3:40p.m. Newcastle N/H 7 Races 1:45-4:50p.m. Clonmel N/H 7 Races 2:25-5:30p.m. Southwell(E) A/W 7 Races 4:40-7:40p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Place a bet in the Virtual Betting shop here Good Luck
Blaklion runs again. 15:20 Newcastle Carries 29lb more than he is due to be carrying in the GN. Harry rides again. Clearly Harry will ride in the GN if they decide to go for it (and get in) " off 4 months, 16/1, shaped as if retains ability when 33 lengths seventh of 9 to Espoir de Teillee at Warwick last time, inadequate test: should stay 4¼m: acts on heavy going: tried in hood." Currently 66/1 for the GN. After tomorrow he could either be scratched or as short as 33/1. I wonder
He didn't totally convince me Ron in his last race.. obviously was plenty short enough last time and seemed to jump well at times. I think this is a good move to get some further race practice in to him. I wouldn't of thought Blaklion would have any problem getting in the national off a mark of 145. Usually the cut off is 143/144 so he will certainly carry a nice racing weight in it if he takes his chance. Stable have had a very good season and are in rich vein of form going in to Cheltenham. If he finishes in the first 5 at Aintree I would say Skelton has pulled off a master piece of training due to his injury earlier in the season and a number of injuries over previous seasons. Not totally out the question though that he could run well in the national. I really like the horse so it would be nice to see him run well in the big race.
https://www.sportinglife.com/racing...iew/189066?dcmp=sl_social_link_article_bottom In case anyone is interested...
I don't think the intention was to convince anyone Pops. That was no more than an exercise gallop over a distance far too short for him. I was impressed by how happy he looked and how he kept up with the pace for so long. I think I am alone on that but that's nothing new . I will watch with interest today to see how he looks. Again, it is a distance far short of what he needs so this is another public schooling in my eyes. If he comes out of it fine then I expect carrying 29lb less over a more suitable distance will be much more to his liking
Blaklion showed a bit more but for goodness sake they shouldn’t be targeting the old boy at the National. Find him a veterans chase or something because running him in the GN would be very sad given how he isn’t the horse he once was.
Very satisfactory run from Blaklion today lumping 12.3 round just short of 3 miles. Very respectable time too compared to other races. That was a very good prep for the GN. 66/1 best ew shot in the GN carrying 10.2. Very tempted to have a bet
There is nothing old about him Nass. Very lightly raced for a 12yo Career summary 2yo Not raced 3yo Not raced 4yo 3 PTP 5yo 1 PTP, 2 bumpers, 5 novice hurdles (4 graded) 6yo 3 novice hurdles (graded), 3 novice chases 7yo 3 novice chases (graded), 4 chases (graded) 8yo 4 chases (graded) 9yo 4 chases (graded) 10yo 2 minor races 11yo 1 chase (graded) 12yo 2 minor races Aintree chase record 7yo Mildmay Novices' Chase 4th btn 6¾l by Native River 8yo GN (fav) 4th carrying 11.1 btn 8¾l by One For Arthur Becher Handicap Chase won carrying 11.6 9yo GN carrying 11.10 BD first fence Becher Handicap Chase (fav) unplaced carrying 11.10 12yo ????? carrying 10.2
How many 12 year olds are competitive in big handicaps let alone the National? Let alone one who has had injury problems and shown next to no form since returning? He shouldn’t be going to the race, his form is nowhere near the level and he doesn’t deserve that for being such a good horse. Just because his idiotic owner spent a fortune on him to be a National horse doesn’t mean he should be going for that race at this stage of his career. after two poor runs he is even less likely to get in, he would be running off a mark higher than he deserves and it would make me question his trainer if he lines up.
And Perfect Candidate but all three had good runs in the bank and racing in lower quality races than the GN. Seeyouatmidnight was a veterans chase and for me that is what Blaklion should be aimed at. PC is happily retired, saw him last week and glad he’s going to have a retirement.
I just watched Blaklions run today and he definitely jumped a lot better and travelled very well in some parts of the race. I thought his finish was a bit tame though and hard to know if he was tenderly ridden at the end there... The last 12 year old to win the Grand National was Amberleigh House in 2004. Blaklion is currently best priced 66/1 after that run today but unfortunately that's not non runner no bet. Best you can get with that concession is 50/1 with Skybet but only covering 4 places. I would want some assurance as he has been rather injury prone. Its not completely out the question he could go well on the big day. Will be some training performance if he finishes top 5 and that will all lead us to believe it is Mr Dan Skelton who has the magic hands when it comes to training horses and not G&T drinker Lt Nicholas Henderson'.
Several 12/13yos have been placed in the GN over the years, a few in recent years. Also, 11yos who had more racing than Blaklion has at 12 have run well and even won. The age isn't the question, it's whether he is good enough. If he is within 2 stone of when he won the Mildmay or when fav and brought down in the GN he has a good chance at the weights. Dan has brought him back gradually and if he is ready to run he has a very good chance of being placed. I didn't think he would get 2 runs in him before the GN so that is a bonus, assuming he will come on for the runs. I trust Dan to do the right thing. I understand your comment about the owner but if Dan believes Blaklion is thrown in then I can't blame him taking his chance
In 2015 Vics Canvas (13) was third 100/1, I remember him well because I had bet e/w on him, I did it because he had been fifth in the Becher a few months earlier.
