The Horse racing thread

[Donnellys Hollow]

Cracking card to kick off the National meet at Aintree tomorrow. The key is as always to find the horses who you think have come out of Cheltenham fresh.

It's hard to oppose the Cheltenham form of Big Bucks in the first but 1/3 for a horse who often hits a flat spot around a speed track like Liverpool - he's too short for me. I'll be having a very small e/w bet on Possol in the hope that a return to hurdles will reignite his enthusiasm. Ran respectably in the 3 mile novice at Cheltenham and he might just run on into a place at a massive price.

The 4yo hurdle looks very competitive. Sanctuaire bolted up in the Fred Winter but that was a handicap and I think he's worth taking on at the likely skinny price. Nicky Henderson won the Triumph Hurdle but he sends Super Kenny here instead of Soldatino. That's a tip in itself and I reckon he could be an e/w price tomorrow. 9/2 in the morning would be nice! I can't see the track suiting staying types like Barizan and Me Voici and Super Kenny showed plenty of speed in his maiden at Stratford.

The Betfair Bowl sees the Gold Cup winner looking to complete the Cheltenham/Liverpool double. He's well worth taking on IMO. His record fresh and at Cheltenham is exceptional but he can run abnormally bad at times too (King George anyone?). The Gold Cup was only 20 days ago and that along with the RSA is always the most gruelling race of the Festival. What can we oppose him with though? What A Friend is the second favourite and should be fresh having last run in the Lexus. I've always had him down as a bridle horse though. I don't like his head carriage at all and I'll gladly pass over him at 3/1. Both Calgary Bay and Carruthers would like a stiffer test than this so that leaves me with Nacarat. He hasn't ran since the Racing Post Chase when he ran a cracker under a big weight so he should be fresh for this. He needs a flat track and he ran very respectably for a long way in the King George and horses who run well on Stephens' Day at Kempton have a great record in this. McCoy back on board and Tom George's yard in good form - he'll do for me e/w at 9/2 (1/4 the odds 1,2).

The 2m4 novice chase is another quality contest. I was against Somersby in the Arkle on the grounds of inexperience but he ran a cracker. This step up in trip will suit and McCoy back on board instead of Chocolate Thornton is another bonus. The fear would be that Cheltenham knocked the edge off him and a fresh horse like The Nightingale will benefit. He hadn't run for four months before the Arkle though and that wouldn't have been as gruelling a race as the RSA. Henrietta Knight's nicey nicey approach with her horses should also pay dividends here.

Haven't had a proper look at Friday's decs yet but I'd be very sweet on Forpadydeplasterer stepping up in trip in the Melling Chase.

[Candyman]

I see Tulachsarain is running in the 3.15....

[Candyman]

I see Tulachsarain is running in the 3.15....

FFS 8/1 Winner and never got on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[youbetterbelieveit]

Jeez candyman, any more tips!

[Candyman]

Jeez candyman, any more tips!

Relative has a share in the donkey and rang up to give word....
Couldnt get away from work to get on!!! Early price would have been about 20/1....

[Catch the high ball]

Right gamble today with that horse Ebadoun. 33-1 to 10-3 then drifted to 4-1 joint favourite. Ended up being pulled. Was at Fairyhouse today and got word on the way down the road. Waited outside a Paddy Power until it opened at 10. Went in and got 33's each way, on the way out looked at the screen and it was 16's. Had myself built up for a big win but it clearly didnt materialise! FFS!!!

[winsamsoon]

probably another case of the owners not getting the price they wanted for it due to a leak . So they most likely pulled it till the next opportunity. Unfortunetly it won't be no 33/1

[maddog]

Does anyone know what the story is about the runners for the aintree grand national ?

Is it today that the list of runners gets confirmed and how is it decided what horses will run etc.  ?

I've a couple of ridiculous ante-post bets waiting to go up in smoke !

Final declaratiions on Thursday. 10:00 a.m., I think. The top 40 declared horses in the handicap get in. There's a list of substitutes that get in in listed order if others drop out.

http://www.grand-national-guide.co.uk/grand-national-form.php

You feed in the data Hardy and let us know. What could be easier.

[A Quinn Martin Production]

John Smith's Grand National entries Saturday 10 April, 1615 BST

1 01-3244 MADISON DU BERLAIS 9-11-10 (David Pipe) Tom Scudamore

2 1-P3463 MON MOME 9-11-10 (Venetia Williams) Aidan Coleman

3 211501 VIC VENTURI 10-11-06 (Dessie Hughes) Paddy Flood

4 151U-02 BLACK APALACHI 11-11-06 (Dessie Hughes) Denis O'Regan

5 5-50030 JOE LIVELY 11-11-06 (Colin Tizzard) Joe Tizzard

6 01-423P DON'T PUSH IT 10-11-05 (Jonjo O'Neill)

7 P002-00 COMPLY OR DIE 11-11-05 (David Pipe) Timmy Murphy

8 121-210 TRICKY TRICKSTER 7-11-04 (Paul Nicholls) Barry Geraghty

9 1-03520 NICHE MARKET 9-11-04 (Bob Buckler) Harry Skelton

10 2404P2 MADE IN TAIPAN 8-11-04 (Tom Mullins) Niall Madden

11 UPP/-21P DREAM ALLIANCE 9-11-03 (Philip Hobbs) Tom O'Brien

12 FU-3644 CLOUDY LANE 10-11-03 (Donald McCain) Jason Maguire

13 1P00-60 NOZIC 9-11-03 (Paul Nicholls) Liam Treadwell

14 53-2057 MY WILL 10-11-02 (Paul Nicholls) Nick Scholfield

15 3606-4F PABLO DU CHARMIL 9-11-02 (David Pipe) Danny Cook

16 P6-51110 BALLYHOLLAND 9-11-00 (Colin McBratney IRE) Andrew McNamara

17 0112313 BACKSTAGE 8-11-00 (Gordon Elliott IRE) Davy Condon

18 FP-1P1PP BEAT THE BOYS 9-11-00 (Nigel Twiston-Davies) Brian Hughes

19 100-000U0 PREISTS LEAP 10-11-00 (Tom O'Leary IRE) Philip Enright

20 1103223 SNOWY MORNING 10-10-13 (Willie Mullins IRE) Paul Townend

21 314F-016 CAN'T BUY TIME 8-10-13 (Jonjo O'Neill)

22 2U136-2U1 BIG FELLA THANKS 8-10-12 (Paul Nicholls) Ruby Walsh

23 60/144-P STATE OF PLAY 10-10-11 (Evan Williams) Paul Moloney

24 143301-00 CHARACTER BUILDING 10-10-11 (John Quinn) Nina Carberry

25 00-12100 ELLERSLIE GEORGE (IRE) 10-10-10 (Nick Mitchell) Christian Williams

26 02P5-011 ERIC'S CHARM 12-10-09 (Oliver Sherwood) Wayne Hutchinson

27 212/0-0000 KING JOHNS CASTLE 11-10-09 (Arthur Moore IRE) Paul Carberry

28 043545U CONNA CASTLE (IRE) 11-10-09 (Jimmy Mangan IRE)

29 2P-4P1540 BALLYFITZ 10-10-09 (Nigel Twiston-Davies) David England

30 F2-305467 OLLIE MAGERN 12-10-09 (Nigel Twiston-Davies) Tom Molloy

31 330-30U2 ARBOR SUPREME (IRE) 8-10-08 (Willie Mullins IRE) Paul Townend

32 02P-253 MALJIMAR (IRE) 10-10-08 (Nick Williams) Daryl Jacob

33 03-02312 THE PACKAGE 7-10-07 (David Pipe) Graham Lee

34 000-33010 PIRAYA 7-10-07 (David Pipe) Johnny Farrelly

35 U01-4U5 IRISH RAPTOR 11-10-07 (Nigel Twiston-Davies) Paddy Brennan

36 6P/6220-0 MR POINTMENT 11-10-07 (Paul Murphy) 

37 1P6-1420 PALYPSO DE CREEK 7-10-06 (Charlie Longsdon) Tom Siddall

38 11-035U00 HELLO BUD 12-10-06 (Nigel Twiston-Davies) Sam Twiston-Davies

39 P63/52-P FLINTOFF 9-10-05 (Venetia Williams) Andrew Tinkler

40 23/32-31P ABBEYBRANEY (IRE) 9-10-05 (Howard Johnson) Wilson Renwick

RESERVES

41 0F-26r20 SILVER BIRCH 13-10-05 (Gordon Elliott IRE) Robbie Power

42 50PP/05-0 CERIUM (FR) 9-10-05 (Paul Murphy)

43 56/-33P5 ROYAL ROSA (FR) 11-10-05 (Howard Johnson)

44 -3PP462F KNOWHERE 12-10-04 (Nigel Twiston-Davies) Brian Harding


  The talk during the week was that if Cerium was first reserve then Mr Pointment would be withdrawn to give Cerium (5th last year) a run.  EDIT:  The BBC has switched the order of the reserves os Cerium may not make it.

[Mickey Linden]

Im thinking of putting a big bet on Imperial Commander today. Its not often a GOld Cup winner will go off at even money in his next race at level weights. I know there is always question marks about horses who win at Cheltenham following up at Aintree. However, I think he was hugely impressive at Cheltneham and hasnt much to beat today.

[illdecide]

I like the look of "Chief Dan George", it's a tasty 25/1 is only carrying 10.2 and has a bit of form about it. What do you proper Horsie men think of it's chances for Sat

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

Im thinking of putting a big bet on Imperial Commander today. Its not often a GOld Cup winner will go off at even money in his next race at level weights. I know there is always question marks about horses who win at Cheltenham following up at Aintree. However, I think he was hugely impressive at Cheltneham and hasnt much to beat today.

2 years ago Kauto was beaten at 5/6, albeit only after a second to Denman. Master Minded also lost at odds of around 1/3.

[sammymaguire]

SOMERSBY looks like the bet of the day for me, will love the going at Aintree today

[beer baron]

I like the look of "Chief Dan George", it's a tasty 25/1 is only carrying 10.2 and has a bit of form about it. What do you proper Horsie men think of it's chances for Sat

Don't think he's in yet,ill be chancing him myself if he does get in.

[beer baron]

Notus de a tour worth small each way punt in 2.35 at aintree.Anyone hear the horse ted walsh mentioned on rte the other day-think he said it avoided cheltenham to run today...