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Final Grand National in full
Noble Yeats Harry Cobden
Nassalam Caoilin Quinn
Coko Beach TBC
Capodanno Keith Donoghue
I Am Maximus Paul Townend
Minella Indo Rachael Blackmore
Corach Rambler Derek Fox
Janidil Jody McGarvey
Stattler Patrick Mullins
Mahler Mission Ben Harvey
Delta Work TBC
Foxy Jacks TBC
Galvin TBC
Farouk D’Alene TBC
Eldorado Allen Brendan Powell
Ain’t That A Shame David Maxwell
Vanillier Sean Flanagan
Mr Incredible Brian Hayes
Run Wild Fred TBC
Latenightpass Gina Andrews
Minella Crooner TBC
Adamantly Chosen Sean O’Keeffe
Mac Tottie James Bowen
Chemical Energy TBC
Limerick Lace Mark Walsh
Meetingofthewaters Danny Mullins
The Goffer TBC
Roi Mage James Reveley
Glengouly Michael O’Sullivan
Galia Des Liteaux Harry Skelton
Panda Boy TBC
Eklat De Dire Darragh O’Keeffe
Chambard Lucy Turner
Kitty’s Light Jack TudorThe best things in life are free.
But you can give them to the birds and bees.I mentioned when the weights came out that the top 60 usually always got in when there were 40 runners, and that I was confident that the top 54 (adjusted for 34 runners), would get in with a view that I would see how it panned out as it was the first time with 34.
It did happen but it was ever so tight, so the top 50 on weights day may be a safer cutoff point of ones that should get in going forward.
Can understand the race changes, but such a shame Malina Girl and Desertmore House did not get in, they both would have had a fair chance.
Just for Glad’, this is how I saw Malina Girl
:35…7…10-6…MALINA GIRL 1P-01F725 Gavin Cromwell (Ireland) OR 145 Jonathan Burke
Malina Girl had already shown she stays well by winning the Ulster National last season as a novice. (3m4f120yrds Soft). On her first start at extreme distances off an Irish mark of 128. Jumped and travelled well in mid-div, challenged going well 2 out, got the better of a duel with My Design (who received 5 lb) on the run-in.
Won the Jewson Handicap (3m3f71yrds Soft) at the November Cheltenham meeting this season. Held up in rear on the inner, bumped first, jumped slightly right-handed throughout, bit slow 4 out. Battled through a narrow gap between runners after 3 out where six were almost in line, going from in rear to upsides the leader in strides. Touching down together 2 out and taking the lead with a bold jump at the last. Racing quickly clear when put under pressure to win by 10 lengths from Cloudy Glen who gave 7 lbs.
Back to Cheltenham for the December meeting over a furlong shorter (3m2f Soft) off a mark 11 lb higher. Ridden by a 5 lb claimer. Held up, Moved up to be within a length of the leaders 5 out, Had jumped straight and well up until 3 out. Still travelling reasonably well and didn’t seem to make a “mistake” when knuckled on landing. Would probably have been involved in the finish. Race won by Boadway Boy (levels).
Made favourite for the Warwick Classic Chase 3m5f54yrds Soft), Initially in mid-div but slipping back to the rear fully a circuit out. Headway on the outer into midfield by 7 out, Pushed along after 5 out, mistake 3 out, weakened. Finished 39½ lengths behind the winner My Silver Lining trying to give the winner 22 lbs (less claim). The Cheltenham 11 lengths 3rd Guetapan Collonges was 13 lengths 3rd off the same mark. Vet said afterwards Malina Girl had lost her left hind shoe – a possible excuse for a disappointing run. The trainer’s representative thought she had too much weight to carry for such a small mare. Carried 11-9 after the 5 lb jockey claim was taken off. Just 2 lbs more than when successful at Cheltenham. It is often thought small horses are at a disadvantage at Aintree. That might have been true in the past when some fences were very big. Nowadays a small horse who’s a good jumper can do well. She’s quite narrow too which makes her look shorter than she actually is when up against geldings.
Took the Warwick 2nd Galia Des Liteaux on again, but this time it was the odds-on bigger mare who badly disappointed. In a 5 runner mares Listed race at Exeter (3m54yrds Heavy). Malina Girl was held up, jumped soundly enough, going well around the home turn, challenged and immediately pushed along after jumping 4 out, Winner Carole’s Pass (who received 4 lbs) went away for a 7½ lengths win. Malina Girl being closed on for second at the line. So didn’t show the staying power of Cheltenham. Like Galia Des Liteaux, it may be that she hadn’t fully recovered from Warwick. It was a step back in the right direction though.
Had her Aintree prep over hurdles in her native Ireland. Doing as well as could be expected at an inadequate 2½ miles (heavy).
Has won on Good ground, but her improvement has come on soft and heavy. Her two extreme trip victories came with Keith Donoghue on board, but was running well under a claimer when falling. Had Malina Girl come here on the up after her improved Cheltenham victory she’d be a lot shorter in the market. Not the same since her fall, but that’s probably a coincidence as her jumping has been ok since. If believing her Warwick run was due to a lost shoe and at Exeter was not over the Warwick exertions – then she’d be an outsider with a chance. Is after all in the good hands of Gavin Cromwell and has bounced back before.Value Is EverythingHuge amount of dead wood being sent over by elliot and mullins to make the race less competitive for their fancied ones
Shame really
Going to have to limit the number of horses a trainer can run, FF.
Value Is EverythingReally hope those doubtful a few days ago, don’t pull out now on ground issues.
The best things in life are free.
But you can give them to the birds and bees.Those dodgy jumpers according to Timeform are :
CAPODANNO
IAM MAXIMUS
STATTLER
FOXY JACKS
FAROUK D’ALENE
RUN WILD FRED
CHEMICAL ENERGYThe best things in life are free.
But you can give them to the birds and bees.tbh RR, I do, as they’ve got much less chance now.
Don’t know if they’re even entered, but if I were the owner I’d wait for the Scottish National or the Bet365 with Galvin and Stattler.Value Is EverythingHave Timeform been reading my Preview, RR?
Agree with all of those bar Stattler. He was awful last time out over X Country fences in Ireland but that was mainly to do with the banks. No banks here and jumped well on his previous two starts. His only other poor jumping round was in last year’s Gold Cup, when surrounded. Possibly best on the outside of the field. Other than that jumped well I thought.
Foxy is pretty bad if headed or with horses around him, but jumps better if out on his own. Asking a lot to make all here, but possible.
How the xxxx I Am Maximus is second favourite is beyond me.Value Is EverythingSome have said that it doesnt look a great GN, but by xxxx it looks super competitive from a betting angle
About as uninspiring a renewal of this race as I can remember. Elliott and Mullins darts heading at the board from all directions doesn’t help. Would love to see my local hero Corach Rambler double up, but he has a lot weight and comes off the back of a gruelling race to record a career best at Cheltenham.
Vanillier has been running with the handbrake on for most of this season, with a hint that it was eased a little last time. A very good second last year and is favoured by the weights if at his best.
Panda Boy is a fair stayer down the bottom of the weights, relatively lightly raced compared to many and has a fairly light campaign behind him. His Leopardstown second reads well, the step up in trip will help and ground shouldn’t be a problem.
“Just for Glad’, this is how I saw Malina Girl”
Thanks for posting that, Ginge. 👍
I’m not going to be a happy camper if something gets taken out before the race, seeing she was 35th on the list.
It’s so wide open this year, and all the right horses are at the head of the market.
G, apparently you dodged a bullet. She wasn’t going to get confirmed, she was only declared as connections knew she wasn’t getting in, and connections then got their money back
Wilts.
I’d say its one of the highest quality renewals of all time. The field is full of Graded winners.
In recent years 7 to 9 years, who have carried up to 11 stone 6 as a maximum (11 stone 5 has won), and who have had 3 preps with last prep race this calendar year have had the upper hand. This year it leaves one of these horses to win it.
I Am Maximus
Meetingofthewaters
Vanillier
Panda Boy
Limerick Lace
Galia Des Liteaux
Kitty’s Light
Stattler
Adamantly Chosen
The Goffer
Glengouly
Minella Crooner
Farouk D’aleneAs i have backed the first 6 on that list i am looking for the trends to continue
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