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2001 wasn’t exactly a typical National was it?  Red Marauder needs to be regarded (for trends) with the same scepticism as Foinavon.
Simply Gifted was placed last year and is/was a 2½miler. Other so-called ‘thorough’ stayers ended up running out of stamina in the last half mile (Forest Gunner, Just In Debt, etc.) Perhaps it was SG’s class that enabled him to cruise through the race and appear to stay on better than the others.
Fondmort is classier than SG (by some way). Mick Fitz apparently said after the race last year that Fondmort gave him the ride of a lifetime for the first circuit (this from a previous winning jockey) before fading but all the stable’s horses faded that week and it was traced to a batch of infected hay.
In the circumstances, I reckon Fondmort should be allowed to take his chance as he’s very well handicapped these days but I couldn’t fancy him to win this under 11-8.
The yard already has the best handicapped horse in the race (on old form) and I wouldn’t be surprised if Mick Fitz ended up on it instead.
Thankfully connections have seen the light (or more likely NH has talked the owner out of it) and the horse runs in either the Betfair or the Melling chase, followed possibly by a run back at headquarters in April.
With Calling Brave reportedly also a doubt and NH wanting to persuade TH to keep Juveigneur for Ayr, it looks like Mick Fitz will be on board the best handicapped horse in the race after all! And it’s still 100/1 in a place (much bigger on the exchanges). Needless to say, I’m already on.
Why isn’t Red Marauder a valid answer ?
Because the 3rd and 4th horses that day had both previously fell :o
unless that was stella rather than carling i was drinking earlier
Fondmort is, IMO, just about the best jumper around at the moment (not exuberent but as near perfect as you can get) and I agree NH’s horses weren’t in the best of form last year but he will not stay the trip, especially lumping eleven and half stone plus around.
It might make it a more competetive race but I’m gutted you get so many horses running from their true mark nowadays – makes it a damn sight harder to sort the winner.
Lee
[…and despite being a 2m 4f horse, Red Marauder saw out the 4m 4f in grueling conditions better than a confirmed stayer in Smarty.
Rob <br>]
Yeah but smarty wasnt much good was he and it was a two horse race. As for simply gifted, I backed him so there must have been somthing about him that suggested a trip might suit him.
(Edited by SirHarryLewis at 4:00 pm on Mar. 31, 2006)
SHL
Yes. If you go back a couple of years and check out Iris Royal’s form you’ll see what I mean. He had last season off and has been brought along steadily this season. His run at Wincanton was very similar to those of the yard who’d disappointed this season prior to running out of their skin at Cheltenham. I’d presumed he was put away for the Wm Hill but the stable targeted Juveigneur and Irish Hussar at that instead.
Quote: from davidbrady on 8:54 am on Mar. 28, 2006[br]Couldn’t agree more. Native Upmanship is another still in the race who deserves better. <br>
<br>A little further down the ability scale, perhaps, but Whispered Secret is another 2m 4f horse who really doesn’t want much further.
Looks like common sense has prevailed re: Fondmort, Nicky Henderson asserting in the Sportsman this morning that the "2m 4f chaser for the National" theory no longers counts now the field are racing from the get go rather than hunting around for the first circuit or more.
gc<br>
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
Quote: from davidbrady on 8:54 am on Mar. 28, 2006[br]Couldn’t agree more. Native Upmanship is another still in the race who deserves better. <br>
<br>A little further down the ability scale, perhaps, but Whispered Secret is another 2m 4f horse who really doesn’t want campaigning over much further.
Looks like common sense has prevailed re: Fondmort, Nicky Henderson asserting in the Sportsman this morning that the "2m 4f chaser for the National" theory no longers counts now the field are racing from the get go rather than hunting around for the first circuit or more.
gc<br>
(Edited by graysonscolumn at 6:19 pm on Mar. 31, 2006)
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
Remember Vikingflagship had a dream the night before the World Hurdle that My way de Solsen would win. Funnily enough i had a dream that night that MWDS would win too !<br> I havent yet had a dream about this years national but if i do have one i will let you all know before the race to avoid aftertiming !  Anyway now that Fondmort is out it will be interesting to see who Mick Fitz rides. Juveigner will definety be on my national shortlist if Fitzy rides. Have you been on betfair Vikingflagship ?? Iris Royal currently 220/1 ! <br>
(Edited by CHETNOLE at 12:03 am on April 1, 2006)
Juveigneur didn’t take to the fences in last years Topham and unseated at the first in the Becher. Surely they are better off saving him for the Whitbread.
The talk earlier in the week was that Henderson was trying to persuade Hemmings to send him to Ayr instead of Aintree. It looks like Hemmings has stood his ground. Maybe he (Hemmings) doesn’t believe Hedgehunter ahs a second National in him.
I’m still hopeful Mick Fitz chooses Iris Royal.
I reckon anyone who does fancy Iris Royal should be hotfooting over to Betfair to hoover up the fancy odds on offer. I’m already as committed as I want to be but there’s plenty left.
It looks like Fondmort is off to Aintree this week:
(from today’s RP)
Henderson said: “Fondmort gave Mick (Fitzgerald) a thrilling seven and a half minutes in last year’s National, but we’re not sure the horse can continue that for a full 10 minutes over four and a half miles.
“Accordingly, he’ll run in either the Betfair Bowl on the opening day, or the John Smith’s Melling Chase the next day, provided the ground is not too testing.â€ÂÂ
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