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I’ll end up with a list of about 30 fancies no doubt by the times the entries come out, but a few I’m seriously looking at at the moment.
Ned Stark
Not totally disgraced at Cheltenham, and looks as if they’re being very careful with him, a very nice prospect.The Job Is Right
Didn’t get a chance to see him in The Irish Equivalent, with him exiting at the first, but a good few of his runs, including his great effort in the 4 miler at Cheltenham, put him on my radar for this.Guess Again
Cruising at Cheltenham when he was brought down, and then ran a nice race in “The Whitbread”. Looks sure to take a hand in one of the other big staying chases this season, if not here.Shanpallas
I love this horse, and reckon he could be very useful indeed, possibly even swerving handicaps as the season goes on, but in the meantime, can’t leave him out the reckoning for this. He’d probably be my #1 hope if it were not for……Our Father
Broke my heart in The Becher last year, when the jockey kicked for home too soon. I suppose you could argue he didn’t stay, but I’m sure, ridden with more restraint, he’d have won ok. A bit concerning that he didn’t get an entry last season, and I do much prefer a horse with no previous runs in the race, but he’s on a great mark, and I’ve had to have a few quid on at 100’s.No doubt add to this list in the near future, and there’s the likes of If In Doubt, and Bears Affair to consider, and I’m hoping that Golden Wonder, and my old friend Double Seven can return from injury to add to the list.
I think it’s too early for give up on Shutthefrontdoor, who had such an interrupted prep last year. He is usually such a strong finisher, so I think the iffy build-up cost him in the end.
I wonder if Sausalito Sunrise is worth considering too. He is screamingly well-handicapped and sidestepped engagements at Cheltenham and in the Coral Scottish Grand National to be saved for this season. He might blow any chance by winning the Hennessy or Welsh National, but he’s on my shortlist for now.
Hoping to go to Limerick on Sunday Bobby so will try get a few pics for you if I do go. Was at Gowran on Saturday and the appetite is well and truly whet now.
You know I like those two as well, particularly The Job Is Right,and another of last year’s novices who could be one for a staying handicap chase, though maybe not the National, is Wounded Warrior. He’s a classy sort who could defy a hefty weight in something like the Troytown if they want to go that way. A staying handicap hurdle off 130 might be on their radar for him too.
In another year he’d be the type I’d consider a dark one for the Gold Cup, but it’s such a strong looking division at the moment.
Many Clouds for me. Already backed him at 25s.This is reported as his target, though I wonder if they’ll aim for something early (Hennessy?), then give him a steady build up.
With National winners, there’s always the caveat that they might not recover fully from the race, but if MC has, he’ll be nothing like 25s come the day.
Excellent Tommy, hopefully you can nab pic of Shanpallas, and The Job Is Right, fighting it out at the finish. I’m off to York at the weekend for the 2 day fixture, I think your chances of seeing potential Grand National horses will be better than mine.
I’m all over the places with the Giggs horses this season, and trying to dig out some potential targets for them, WW certainly has a big prize in him, and in another season I’d probably have started chipping away at him for Cheltenham, but as you say, such a strong division all of a sudden.
Always ahead of the game, Coral are first up with Sausalito Sunrise for the National with an opening quote of 33/1.
He’s declared to run at Chepstow on Saturday.
He looks on a nice mark just now John, are you hoping for a win on Saturday, or a nice respectable seasonal debut. Best of luck either way
I’m hoping for a respectable debut, nothing more. I’ll be mad if he destroys that mark of 144 by hacking up at Chepstow.
A lot better from The Job Is Right at Galway today, albeit over hurdles. I’d all but written him off after The Munster National, but that was a lot more encouraging.
Ned Stark entered for Ascot on Saturday, and looking forward to seeing how he gets on.
Sherwood seems convinced now that Many Clouds had an off day in the Gold Cup. If he’s right, he could be tempted into another crack, which would probably weaken the horse’s chances of a repeat GN.
This will be the hottest Gold Cup in my living memory, if all the quality horses turn up, so I hope he resists. Then again, I too would like to think he had an off day in March, as I lost a few quid on him!
Tomorrow sees the return of one of my big Grand National hopes from last season, Operating, who unfortunately never made it to the racecourse. Formerly with Jessica Harrington, he was last seen easily taking care of Road To Riches, amongst others, in a very competitive race at the 2014 Punchestown Festival. Owned by Michael Buckley, he was then bought by the Rooneys, and became one of their many flops at the Donald McCain yard. The closest he got to running for McCain, was being declared at Bangor, before eventually being a non-runner, and he then sat the rest of the season out. Now moved to Gordon Elliots yard, as part of the Rooneys clearout from the McCain stable, I’m hoping he can bounce back this season, though how he’s going to fare is anybodys guess, god knows what went on with him last year???
He starts off today in The BMW Chase at Gowran Park, and maybe asking him to give weight, over an inadequate trip, to the very decent Smashing, who’s a worthy favourite. Not about winning today, just hoping for a decent comeback, to keep the Aintree dream alive.
I think Houblon Des Obeaux has Grand National written all over him. Has class, running style suits Aintree and should stay. Just a tad concerned most of his spring runs result in an F in the formbook. He’s my primary selection.
Others of interest are…
Long Run – If he runs, and jumps round i can’t see him not going close
Roi Du Mee – Stunned he didn’t run last year
Soll – Might need to drop a pound or two
Sant Are – See above
Monbeg Dude – Needs to actually get there, but fingers crossed
Benvolio – His Welsh National second was a terrific effort, can see him going close
Double Ross – Is slowly winning me over for this race. His Ascot run suggests he might see out furtherAnd finally, he’s got to get a mention… Silviniaco Conti. Nichols says he’s likely to get an entry and even with top weight; there’s nothing i’d love to see more than this one go on from the front. Mouth watering stuff!
I hope Houblon gets weighted out of it Peter, after Hennessy glory on Saturday, and I think Conti will end up a “will he/won’t he” in the build up, before eventually ending up in The Bowl, but it’d be great to see him here.
Will be gutted if Roi Du Mee goes this year after the prices I got last season, but I think it’ll suit him. Benvolio is on a handy mark, and he ran well for a long way at Wincanton, and can see a big run from him at Aintree or Chepstow in the next few weeks. I think the 4 mile plus will just stretch Double Ross, but as I added him to The Grand National market on Betfair, I couldn’t not have a few quid on at big prices after that Ascot run, but I think it’ll just be beyond him.
The ante post bets I’ve had on the Grand National in the past have been few and far between, but I couldn’t resist backing Holywell at 90’s and 85’s today. Jonjo commented that a drop in grade was in order for the horse after two disappointing efforts this season. How low can Jonjo get him by the time the weights come out? A completely different animal in the springtime and while he’s not the most fluent jumper you’ll see he’s safe enough. His form at the Aintree Festival reads a 3L second to Solwhit in the Liverpool Hurdle, a 10L winner of the Mildmay Novices Chase, and a 2.5L third in the Betfred Bowl. If he can get in here off a mark in the mid 150’s he’ll be a big player.
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