2016 Grand National

Venture to Cognac wrote:

Long Run has been retired.

Hope you missed backing him Peter, but I know you’ll have a few others up your sleeve.

Just read the news. Thank God for NRNB!

It’s a great shame really I’d have loved to have seen him go over those big fencex again, but alas it wasn’t to be. Glad he’s retiring in one piece. He’ll no doubt be making his presence felt on the hunting scene from now on!

I’ve already mentioned BUYWISE, who I’ve kind of followed over a cliff so far,
but now as Cheltenham is by I’ve spent a good bit of time going through the field and hope I have
added one with what I think is a very good chance at decent odds.

Philip Hobb’s MENDIP EXPRESS looks like the right kind for this, and if he gets in,
he needs 9 to pull out, he won’t be anywhere near his current odds of 66/1.

His seasons reappearance was at Warwick in January, in an egg and spoon race over 3m, which
he could do no more than win it easily at 1/2. A month later, in another Open Hunters’ Chase
at Fontwell over 3m 1 1/2f , he won again, getting up in the final 50 yards after having been
headed, and finishing strongly.

I was there and saw him run in the Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham this month, where he finished
8th. I thought that he ran a very decent race and looked coming to the last three that he could
well be in the mix. He didn’t manage to close them down but kept on well for 8th, beaten less
than 10 lengths. I think he needs a little cut in the ground, all his wins have been on G/S or
soft and hopefully he would get his ground at Aintree if he gets there.

The most important piece of form in my book, is just over a year back (Dec 2014) where he ran a
cracker of a race in the Becher H’cap Chase over the National fences, over 3m 2f, going down 3/4
length to Oscar Time. He was keeping on really well and had Saint Are a further 3 lengths behind.
On that day he gave Saint Are 14lbs, and if they both get into the race this time, they both run
off the same mark and yet Saint Are is best priced 25/1.

A stone better with SA, in decent form, and more than double the odds of that one makes him very
decent value in my book. In case he doesn’t head there, take the 66s NRNB with Bet355 or Stan James,
you could do worse in my opinion.

After the scratchings, can’t look any further than the classiest horse in the race Siviniaco Conti.
No reason to believe he won’t get the trip, is one of the most accurate jumpers around, and with the weights as they are, Many Clouds can’t give him 2lb and beat him. If both horses were at their best Conti would be giving him 7lb or more….if the blinkers work again….well…
He looks a cracking bet at 12/1.

Everything crossed he gets in Bobby!! Come on COC !!!!

Venture to Cognac wrote:

G, You can’t go wrong with NRNB

http://www.thecrabbiesgrandnational.co.uk/news/crabbies-grand-national-entries-going-forward/

Confirmed out in latest Forfeit Stage

Rathlin
Mon Parrain
Our Father
Sam Winner
Long Run
Lord Windermere
Broadway Buffalo
Bears Affair
Valseur Lido
Foxrock
Mendip Express
Shotgun Paddy
Benbens
Grey Hession
Operating
Competitive Edge
Don Poli

Picked him out last night Bobby, when still down south. Just arrived back home ten mins ago
and I see from your post he is out. I did notice a slight drift on the exchanges when I was
typing it out, which is why I emphasized taking the NRNB.

Bugger, I wish I’d waited a day later to trawl through them. I was having a look at O’Faolains
Boy too. I had backed Don Cossack in the GC, but also OB e/w before the off. He jumped for fun,
and looked for a long way that he might just get a place. He tired near the end, but with a slightly
less aggressive race he might be of interest.

For the time being, it’s back to the drawing board