Grand Sefton 2013

I’d love to see Wishfull Thinking take his chance too, be good to see him going round there. Entered up in The Listed Chase on the same day though, and I think that race may cut up a little, so may prove to be a more tempting alternative to giving loads of weight away to these. Should he run here, certainly couldn’t discount him, ran well for a long way in The Paddy Power, and was running on well again at the end. Looks as if he may need stepping up in trip now anyway.

Think you’re onto something with Dunowen Point, looks, considering connections, as if he’ll be a standing dish round here from now on, and based on his run in The Topham, looks, as you say, a very realistic Grand National candidate of the future. Live Chance on Saturday, and would have to be considered a definite runner.

Seabass

will obviously be of interest to many. Based on his form of 2011/2012, he’ll run away with this, but just thought he looked short of 100% last season, so not sure what to expect from him. One of my favourite horses in training, he’s been very good to me, so I’d love to see him land it. Fingers crossed they’ve got him right again, as he’d has his problems in the past. Just a bit surprised they’re targetting this for him, as should he win, he’d surely be weighted out of The National, certainly considering his trainers view of how he was treated for this years race. Could it just be, that this is the main target, rather than The Big One itself? It’s certainly a nice enough pot, so maybe worth bearing that in mind.

I’d assume a few of these will take up their entry in The Becher, and have already mentioned those in that thread, but one of those,

Midnight Appeal

, has Wayne Hutchison jocked up for this, so may be heading here. Really dug out his win, last time out at Bangor, and if in the same form, could be a real danger to all.

Be gutted if

Swing Bill

, goes here, rather than The Becher, as really fancy him for that. I’d have to have him on my side, should he take up this entry.

Rebel Rebellion

, and

Plein Pouvoir

, both look interesting from the Paul Nicholls, and Venetia Williams stables. Rebel Rebellion has run a couple of nice races in defeat against decent opposition in the past, and he’s gonna pop up one of these days. I really liked the look of Plein Pouvoir last time, and based on that performance, he still looks as if he’s got a bit in hand of the handicapper, and will be running off a light weight, though just out of the handicap proper at the moment.

If Seabass runs, he’d be my main selection, but one I’m definitely keeping an eye on is

Stormin Exit

from the Jim Goldie yard. Goldie’s had 2 winners and a third, from a handful of runners in this, and think any of his entries merit respect. Stormin Exit fell in this when joint favourite a couple of years back, when he looked a very promising horse. He then went on to run a very creditable race in The Paddy Power Handicap at the Leapordstown Christmas meeting, and wasn’t too far way in The Topham behind Always Waining, before keeping up a run of decent performances after that. He then had over a year off, but after a few disappointing comeback runs, he showed a lot more last time, and may just prove that he’s been laid out for this. If any of the top 4 stand their ground he’ll be running out of the handicap, but that’ll not be enough to put me off.

Kinda glad they’ve not priced this up, as I’d probably be having a go already, but that may have been unwise, as best to wait and see who’s going first of all.