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I wonder if Authorized Art will get an entry. Would need to place over 3 miles to qualify, presumably in the Bobbyjo after the weights come out – it’s a nice small field so the Grand National hopefuls can tip round gently and race each other for 3rd or 4th if need be.
Only 85 entered and not the most vintage bunch either. Nevertheless it has a wide open feel to it and there are a few that catch the eye at the prices.
Corach Rambler is my only antepost that holds an entry and 20’s are still available, so might go in again. Can’t get that Coral Gold Cup run out of my head and that Cheltenham win last year just screamed Aintree 2023.
The Big Dog has been doing everything right this season and that run in the Irish Gold Cup was a real standout before the fall. Granted the race might not have been much of a speed test; the fact is he was still there swinging at the business end of things. 25’s is big.
Le Milos might not have very much hiding space from the handicapper, but he’s clearly a quality animal. Again looks big at 25’s.
Happygolucky looked like a National horse through and through two seasons back, but hasn’t looked quite as convincing this season. Not overthinking it though as Aintree is clearly the target and his mark is begining to slip once more. 40’s is pretty mad.
Fiddlerontheroof is a similar sentiment with this campaign not sparkling quite as bright as last season, however like Happygolucky this is almost certainly the main aim and another whose mark is slipping. Last year’s run was encouraging enough to go in once more at 50’s.
I had an early shortlist of 3 but somehow never had a bet. One of those is not entered so feels like a bullet dodged already.
Just had a look on the exchanges because they were not listed before, so had a little dabble
Happygolucky @ 80.0
Mister Coffey @ 90.0
Since I swapped Cloudy Glen out of my 10 to Follow last week, he’s got to be worth a bet if he has a chance of getting in!
I’ve bet the novice Frontal Assault 100-1 ew, although he would be a doubt to get in the field at this moment
I done a quick study of the runners, first of all I’m a bit disappointed by the lack of runners at this stage but I think they all should be considered likely runners even though only 40 can line up. Gordon Elliot has 21 of them runners so what price a Gordon Elliot 1-2-3? Some will be pacemakers in my opinion.
My early fancy is IWILLDOIT needed to qualify by having six chase runs by this Saturday, I see that he’s in the Betfair DENMAN CHASE at Newbury.Plus this quote from his trainer when they won the 2023 Warwick Chase (A race won by One For Arthur on route to his victory at Aintree)
“We didn’t get Iwilldoit in till a bit later unfortunately and he missed the Welsh National. I’m just delighted for everyone. He doesn’t need these conditions, but the speed he was going at the start was the same speed that he was going at the finish. He’s very one-paced and it’s nice that he’s given us a few options going forward ? but the softer the better. I don’t know about Aintree, he needs another run over fences as he’s still not qualified to run in the Grand National. He needs six runs over fences and he’s only had five starts, so we’d need to run him again before the weights come out. It’s been a whirlwind season so far so we’ll enjoy this today. We could look at something like the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris” – Sam Thomas, trainer
Means that in my opinion they’re going for it. So splashed a little on him.
The best things in life are free.
But you can give them to the birds and bees.If it had just been British entries (31) that wouldn’t have even been enough to reach the maximum field size of 40.
Apparently, in three of the last five years it has required an official rating of 142 to get into the race (the other two years it was higher). Of this year’s 31, just 19 meet or exceed that level.
This really should set more than a few alarm bells ringing with the powers that be.
I reckon we’ll have fewer than 40 declared. Either that, or only 10 of the 40 will be UK based.
Which are the horses that we’re surprised not to see listed? Only one from Hendo and Nicholls, for example.
Big disappointing that The Galloping Bear isn’t entered, for example. Jonjo must be disillusioned with Time To Get Up not to get that one entered, though McManus has loads already.
A steady chaser like Annsam (winner at 3m at Newbury, Ascot and Kempton in the last 15 months) doesnt bother entering off 143. Clearly connections just feel the Irish have it sewn up, as must Chrtistian Williams as Cap Du Nord and Kitty’s Light are not there either (they would surely have been the types to be in this five years ago?)
There’s only four from ‘The North’ (incl Scotland), FOUR!
I suspect the Irish dominance and high handicap rating required (145+) has put many off bothering to waste money entering when you know you have no chance of getting in. I wonder if many UK trainers noticed Secret Reprieve not getting in the other year and realised they were wasting their time even thinking about it in their race planning.
The Two Amigos won the Welsh off 127, is up to 132, and connections probably thought they’d have little hope to get in.
Can’t wait to see 25 with Elliott or Mullins after their name on the day. That will be thrilling…
So, Iwilldoit has to have six chase runs by Sunday! Do letters count in that, or do they have to be completed runs? The ground at Newbury this weekend won’t be to his liking. Are they allowed to run him, pull up after two fences and count that as the sixth run, explaining the poor run down to the ground?* Or do they have to complete the race for it to count?
(*That’s what the shrewd Irish trainers would do
)My sentiments exactly, Quelle Farce. Connections aren’t going to waste their time or money on a race stuffed with plot jobs and high rated runners there to dilute the field for stablemates. Until something is done or at least said; this is what we can expect from the Grand National for the foreseeable future.
Another one I’ll be looking at once it becomes more apparent he’ll be coming here is Royale Pagaille. Bundles of class, is more than capable of carrying big weights as demonstrated in the Peter Marsh last year and is back to his last winning mark. I don’t believe he is as ground dependent as it seems fashionable to say when it comes to Venetia Williams runners. He’s 50/1 which is massive, but I’d want NRNB or confirmation that this is the plan before committing.
Iwilldoit will not run in this year’s race now. He had been due to run at Newbury weekend to qualify. But due to ground they don’t want risk him and put his welfare first, so he won’t be running Newbury nor this year’s national
VF x
Anyone know of backonthelash defo being aimed at this. I know he loves Cheltenham glenfarclas cross country chase
VF x
Although current BHA ORs broadly give an indication what weights will be allotted the Irish inflationary factor and the Aintree factor make it less than 100% clear regarding this great race.
So I like to see the actual weights and marks they will be running off before getting involved.
Btw, I couldn’t care less how many British-trained horses are entered – so long as I back the winner I don’t care if it’s trained in the heart of the Romulan Empire (what do you mean, that’s a fictional place? It’s real – I’ve seen it on the telly!)
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