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One of the early highlights of the season and is personally my second favourite race in the World, behind the National of course.
After reading all the stable tours that Racing Post have produced my mouth has been watering with the names being thrown about for this race and if they all take their chances; we are up for a very, very open renewal. Here’s a list of names that have been put forward for the race…
Mad Max
Always Waining
Ballyvesey
Sun Tzu
West End Rocker
Gullible Gordon
Meanus Dandy
Niche Market
Gentle Ranger
Fabalu
Big Fella Thanks
Another Palm
ShakalakaboomboomIt is looking like a really exciting race this year and with the race being moved to December; there is now room for horses who maybe didn’t get a decent run in the Hennessy to go to Aintree the following week seeking compensation.
Tom George is also wanting to send Nacarat over the big fences, but seems to want to go for the Sefton over the Becher.
Really hope Notre Pere runs in this, as he looked something like his old self here last year, finishing fifth despite nearly being brought down at Bechers. He jumped the fences superbly.
He really did come to life last year, but he had zero luck in running. He got hampered no less than 3 times and it was really a nightmare for him. He’s been a favourite of mine forever and a win in the Becher will be great compensation for him not getting his chance in the National. I know he’s still got a couple years left in him, but with the National being pushed later and later into April to guarantee good ground; it just seems like he will never get the ground to warrant his entry.
Decs are out
Mad Max, Notre Pere, Always Waining, Niche Market, West End Rocker, Meanus Dandy, Swing Bill, Hello Bud, Nicto De Beauchene plus plenty more. Rare Bob and Uncle Junior plus a few more from Ireland.
Abbeybraney has an entry. Hasn’t run for over 600 days.
Nick Williams has entered hid 5yo, Shalimar Fromentro, who has been running in France recently.
Some have double entries in this and the Sefton – Fine Parchment, Ballyvesey, Sun Tzu, Pak Jack, Checkerboard, Max Bygraves
Nacarat has been entered in the Sefton – as you can imagine, he’ll be giving away plenty of weight if he runs. Frankie Figg also in the Sefton.
The mind boggles as to the number of races around Aintree Pak Jack must have had now.
Here’s the full card as it appears in the racing post website from 28/11/11
2 Rare Bob (OR 151/TS 137/RPR 161) Age 9, Weight 11-10, DLR 28
3 Niche Market (OR 146/TS 150/RPR 153) Age 10, Weight 11-5, DLR 35
4 Swing Bill (OR 141/TS 156/RPR 168) Age 10, Weight 11-0, DLR 15
5 Always Waining (OR 140/TS 157/RPR 164) Age 10, Weight 10-13, DLR 12
6 West End Rocker (OR 137/TS 155/RPR 164) age 9, Weight 10-10, DLR 21
7 Merchent Paddy (OR 136 /TS NA/RPR 105) Age 10, Weight 10-9, DLR 62
8 Hello Bud (OR 136/TS 87/RPR 140) age 13, Weight 10-9, DLR 28
9 Nicto De Beauchene (OR 134/TS 140/RPR 161) Age 10, Weight 10-7, DLR 24
10 Abbeybraney (OR 134/TS NA/RPR NA) Age 10, Weight 10-7, DLR 626
11 Max Bygraves (OR 133/TS 143/RPR 160) Age 8, Weight 10-6, DLR 62
12 Shalimar Fromentro (OR 130/TS 130/RPR 158) Age 5, Weight 10-3, DLR 20
13 Another Palm (OR 127/TS 128/RPR 158) Age 6, Weight 10-0, DLR 27
14 Pak Jack (OR 125/TS 151/RPR 161) Age 11, Weight 9-13, DLR 28
15 Ballyvesey (OR 125/TS 120/RPR 158) Age 6, Weight 9-13, DLR 14Really disappointed at Notre Pere’s withdrawal. Done my homework and this is what i make of the field…
Mad Max – As if having top weight around Aintree isn’t hard enough, this one has it all against him. 2, 4 is his longest winning race and he shows no real indication of staying. Can’t have him.
Rare Bob – Nothing to suggest he won’t win, but with an indifferent record at races around 3, 2 and on good to soft ground i’ll be looking elsewhere.
Niche Market – Has most of the right credentials. We all know he’ll stay and he loves it round there, i’m just wondering if he’ll be outpaced in the end.
Swing Bill – Ticks in all the right boxes with distance form and fence experience. Shortlisted.
Always Waining – The only thing keeping me off this one is his lack of form over this sort of distance. Granted he has won over 3 miles before, it just seems his best form is over 2, 5.
West End Rocker – Ticks every right box; distance, ground and fence experience. Another for the shortlist.
Merchant Paddy. Probably one i’ll avoid. No real form at this kind of distance so i can’t trust.
Hello Bud – His age doesn’t bother me, his fifth at Ascot showed he still has spirit. Every reason to run another big race. Fancied.
Nicto De Beuchene – Another one who has one key thing keeping me off him. He’ll stay well enough, he just doesn’t have the right form on the ground expected on Saturday.
Max Bygraves – Don’t expect him to stay. Avoiding.
Shalimar Fromentro – Has won over 3 miles, but doesn’t have the right form over 3, 2 and on good to soft ground. Can’t have this one either.
Pak Jack – Is finally starting to stay further having now won at 3, 1 and we all know he loves the fences and the ground will be perfect for him. One to watch.
Another Palm – He will stay forever and ever, but with his lack of form on the right ground and lack of Aintree experience, i might take a back step to this one.
Ballyvesey – The real dark horse of the race. He’ll stay, he’ll enjoy the ground and he really took to the fences last year. His odds are way over inflated. Certainly a contender.
So of the 15; the ones i like the most are…
Swing Bill
West End Rocker
Hello Bud
Pak Jack
BallyveseyOf those 5 West End Rocker is the quickest to dismiss with his recent form not being up to scratch. If nit picking i would also take out Hello Bud with his age perhaps bringing him down a smidge. Pak Jack might just struggle at this trip…
So in the end my two picks have to be…
Swing Bill
BallyveseyThis race has cut up, and quite a few will be wanting to know if their horse has a chance come April.
Swing Bill
jumped these big fences for fun in the Topham last season and will appreciate the extra distance. He appears on good terms with himself at present and who better to guide him round this course again than Timmy Murphy?
Shalimar Fromentro
is very inexperienced, but has kept decent company since his debut on these shores and ran the talented Wymott (gave 14lb) close at Exeter last season, He has been kept busy in his native country recently and landed a chase at Auteuil, only to be demoted by the stewards.
His trainer considered a return to France with his charge at the beginning of this month, so it speaks volumes that they are tackling such a competitive event with such an inexperienced horse instead.
Tactically versatile, this 5YO is open to improvement off a low weight and stayed on strongly when denied by Wymott over three miles last year, giving every indication that this trip should suit. James Reveley, who is no stranger to success over these fences, takes the ride.
Another Palm is the stand out bet tomorrow for me. This is a poorish race full of the usual suspects.
Another Palm is in good form and unless he takes fright at the fences (blinkered for just the 2nd time) I think he’ll have an excellent chance with Shalimar Fromentro and Rare Bob to follow him home
Mad Max moved from Henderson to one of the best young trainers around. However, has history of breathing problems and massive stamina doubts.
Rare Bob is interesting, but didn’t run well enough last time for me. This is at the far end of his stamina limitations. Can see him taking to the course though.
Niche Market I’ve backed every time he’s tackled these fences. Normally races up with pace which suits this course. Ran well in the Grand National and is fully effective at this trip given a truly run race and prominent position. Problem is the ground, is it too soft? I’ve just saved on him this time.
Swing Bill has been running well this season at 3 miles on good ground. Does act on a softer surface, but will he stay another couple of furlongs on it?
Always Waining has been waiting for this race, ran in hurdle races this term. Has a fine record around here, jumps these fences with much more enthusiasm than any other course. However, there’s a big doubt about whether he’ll stay this trip on softer going.
West End Rocker ran a couple of good races last year. Looked a staying with a future. Got injured again before brought down at Bechers in National. Seemed to be remembering that experience on reappearance with a bad round of jumping resulting in being pulled up.
Merchant Paddy hasn’t shown any form for a long time.
Hello Bud won this last year and now a teenager. Ran reasonably for fifth in Badger Beer at Wincanton which suggests might still be capable of good form. Reserves his best for Aintree. Around 10/1 is worth finding out.
Nicto De Beauchene’s trainer Victor Dartnel is having a much better season. Second at Bangor suggests Nicto De Beauchene might be able to improve himself if taking to the course. Usually races prominently. Taken 11/1.
Abbeybraney looked the type to do well in this type of race a couple of years ago, but not seen since March 2010.
Max Bygraves probably won’t stay, but is one who could improve. Worth a saver given the big price.
Shalimar Fromento has been running in France and comes from an in form yard. Danger to all if staying this trip.
Another Palm has run really well when his stamina has been tested. As an improver he must be backed at around 8/1.
Pak Jack has gone well around here before, but doesn’t seem in the same form.
Balleyvesey comes from an in form stable with a good record around here. However, as a horse he seems unlikely to take to it, seeming temperamental.
Value Is EverythingMad Max spent his entire season last year playing second fiddle to one or another of his own stable companions. Whether that played a part in why he was moved or not who knows.
During his time with Nicky Henderson he was plaqued by breathing problems but was praised to the high heavens by him saying he was a future Gold Cup horse etc etc but he never once ran the horse beyond 2m5f
Don’t know what they are feeding them down on Devon but Neil Mullholland has got some balls on him and has thrown Mad Max straight in at the deep end.
He’s either going to look really stupid or a genius by the end of the day.
II doubt if he’s either so just to be on the safe side and not wanting to miss the horse if he wind I’m having a couple of quid ew.
Hello Bud only need to stay out of trouble to be placed here. His course experience is worth a stone alone and could easily do the double. Looks the obvious one but this is Aintree.
Swing Bill was giving away enough weight to stop a tank last time if it hasn’t taken too much out of himself should run well.
Some say Richard Philips couldn’t train a pig to be dirty and it’s hard to believe he could win anything with the ex Paul Nichols inmate Pak Jack, but he was going really well in this last year and hadn’t put a foot wrong before falling.
Mattie (Carruthers) Batchelor take the mount so there will be no lack of enthusiasm in the saddle. He could be placed at a very big price.
Pack Jack ew
Just been reading Paul Nichols on Betfair. He says about Niche Market "Were working from April backwards" Translated that means this horse is nowhere near fit yet, won’t be off a yard, but should have a nice gallop round.
Hope he has a nice day out nice day and it gives him a chance to say hello to all the nice people
By the sounds of it he could win but only if everything else falls and the last time I looked he was hovering between 8-10/1.
Where’s that lay button?
Really very sweet on Nicto De Beauchene, yard is flying, the horse looked good when second on reappearance, and can see him really suiting Aintree, although never ran over the fences their before. Niche Market will be a danger if he jumps as well as he did in last year’s National.
Conflicting views on Niche Market. Didn’t watch it myself, but understand ruby was quite scathing about the horse this morning, trainer says it’s just a prep run for the National, but the owner is expecting a big race today. Interesting to see who’s right! One of my favourite horses, and hoping for a big run today.
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