Grand National 2014

‘Bookies Prices’

Never mind that, I cant believe that in this day and age they only pay 4 places, no wonder the once a year punter only punts once a year.

Paddy Powers paid out on 5th Place today Nathan and also gave punters their money back (single bets only) on the Battle Group who refused to run even though he came under Starters Orders.
Couldn’t have been fairer than that.

This was actually in the High St. bookies I’m not sure if the money back offer was extended to online/Android punters.

Great news all the horses came back safe and well, I could hardly watch the first circuit especially when Long Run went down. I did watch the rerun though, sadly didn’t back the winner.

They also did a great little Paddy Special bet of 11/4 if you could named 4 horses that would
FINISH in the National…
I thought mine were home a dry (before the race) the truth was that I chose
Tidal Bay, TeaforThree, Triolo D’Alene and Balthazar King.

Paddy wins again

Paul Moloney was as useless as a chocolate teapot on Alvarado. What was he playing at? After gradually creeping in touch around 10 lengths off the leaders, he let them slip away again and gave the horse an impossible amount of ground to make up.

I was on Alvarado too Rob, and I’ve watched the race a couple of time, but I can’t agree with your reading of it. I think Moloney gave him a cracking ride. I don’t think he let them slip away as you put it, I think what happened is that approaching three out when the prominent horses decided to go for home, Alvarado didn’t have that extra gear to keep with them, what he does do is gallop on at the same pace and towards the end of the race when the pace has been taken out of those in front, he relentlessly gallops on. I don’t think it’s a case of him closing down on them as much as it is those in front coming back to him, which admittedly can look like the same thing.

Prior to three out, Maloney gives him a peach of a ride, always moving him into space and keeping out of bother. He never has to use up energy by getting him out of bother or having his momentum interrupted. I would have loved him to have won it, and so would my bank manager, but I do believe, imo, that he got the very best out of the horse.

Six years on the trot in the first four, if I owned a fancied horse for the National, I don’t think I would look past Maloney for another jock to do the steering.

Prior to three out, Maloney gives him a peach of a ride, always moving him into space and keeping out of bother. He never has to use up energy by getting him out of bother or having his momentum interrupted. I would have loved him to have won it, and so would my bank manager, but I do believe, imo, that he got the very best out of the horse.

Six years on the trot in the first four, if I owned a fancied horse for the National, I don’t think I would look past Maloney for another jock to do the steering.

That’s the thing though … a peach of a ride

prior to three out

.

I think Mr Moloney could’ve ridden Alvarado a bit closer to the pace thereafter and made the most of whatever energy which was conserved earlier on. This is a horse who’s recently beaten Knockara Beau (who later claimed the scalp of At Fishers Cross) so it isn’t as if he lacks another gear or cannot quicken towards the end of a race.

I’ve watched the race several times and after the last fence, Alvarado’s stride rate appears slightly more quicker than any of the other finishers.

Mr Moloney is good at getting horses placed in the National but he’ll never win one in my opinion no matter what horse he’ll sit on. Played it far too safe and lacks edge and grit compared to other jockeys.

If my memory serves me correctly, the general narrative about Algvarado from one of his previous victories was that he was something of an eccentric. The thing about the national is that you can only ride a horse in his natural rhythm and thats Alvarados way of doing things. He is a hold up horse.

"Mr Moloney is good at getting horses placed in the National but he’ll never win one in my opinion no matter what horse he’ll sit on"

Harsh, he has been close enough if good enough on a couple of occasions. I wouldnt have looked at any of his placed efforts and felt they should have won.

I think the starter should be refunding Battle Group bets.

Alvarado is a very tricky horse that has been known to try to run out at fences; perhaps thats why Paul kept him tucked up on the inside at the start of the race, gradually moving him into the centre of the field and the having a perfect position on the outside at the end of the race. It’s also difficult getting horses spot on when they go better fresh, which Alvarado does.

peter; just imagine how I felt at Cheltenham when PDR nearly won the hurdle race Stll, he and Alvarado saved my bacon yesterday and I made all of £5 profit [hurrah]. I had PDR at 50/1 and backed Alvarado twice at 40/1. However I had so many other bets there’s no glory in backing those two, although all bar 1 [and that was a stupid mistake on my part]of my ante post bets ran which is my main aim. I said at the start of the season that I’d follow Dr Newlands horses [he brought a couple up to Kelso when we were there] along with Fergals; the S.O. has always backed Philip Hobbs horses so, without studying the race at all we should have had three of the first four [hindsight and all that]. Think Rocky Creek ran a blinder and Double 7 had a very very hard race under McCoy. What can I say about Beautiful Bill; oh to have a field at the end of my garden with Bill and Balder Success living there; equine beauty at it’s best.

Would Pineau de Re have unseated Leighton Aspell at the end of the first circuit without any modification of the fences? He made a very bad mistake there, and I’m just thinking about the role those modification might play now. What would it have been a few years ago?

Well, plenty of incident and big name fallers, so the racecourse still has some teeth. Early report is that all horses are OK which is the main thing. Well done to those who found the winner, I didn’t fancy him. I was willing Rocky Creek to last it out but my main fear was realised as he didn’t get home, thus saving Steeple Chashing a trip down the street starkers. On second thoughts it’s just as well!

Was about the only thing I got right!

I thought Rocky ran a cracking race under his weight (gave winner the best part of a stone)with inexperience going against him. Considering he had suffered Ringworm

and

Piles during the build up, he looked dangerous for a long way. He was a very early pick for me and he gave me a decent run.

He’s a decent horse all right. What got to me was so many pros – trainers & jocks- saying all season that he was the perfect GN type, when all I’ve ever seen him do is weaken noticeably toward the end of his races. It might be that something else ails him, but he looks for all the world like a non-stayer as far as the National goes and he’s below Gold Cup class imo (though folks might rightly say, ‘Lord Windermere!’