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Decent race this, almost a GN trial with NM and HB in the ranks.
Surely NM is too short at 11/4, considering it’s just a prep before the GN. Has run some good races at Newbury though, namely the sh behind Tricky Trickster a few years ago, but looks a horse with just one race in mind each year, win ratio isn’t very good at all (2 in 26). One to take on for me, but I fancy his chances next month.
Hello Bud is probably my favourite horse of all time. When he won the Scottish National I was nearly in tears, showed incredible guts and bravery, as he did in the Becher a couple of years back. One of the best jumpers I’ve ever seen. His 5th LTO behind HBS proves he still loves the game even at a grand old age of 14. While I don’t think he’ll necessarily win this, he has a good chance of placing on favourite ground and style of running.
My idea of the likely winner is OUZBECK. Good ground is a must, and looks well handicapped on a mark of 140 as his last win was off 142. Has been given a break since his decent 4th at Chepstow, and could prevail here before another tilt at the Scottish National next month. The only concern on that front is if connections want to protect his Mark, but think he’ll run well.
I agree with you that
Ouzbeck
looks solid here, Rich.
In a race where many of them seem to be very sharply on the downgrade (and that is being polite), Ouzbeck is still very consistent when he gets his ground. I just hope he is fit after his recent break. He is on his highest lifetime winning mark, but with so little convincing opposition, that isn’t a huge worry.
I thought that
Niche Market
ran brilliantly in the Becher, though and think he is the most likely winner. He would have hated the ground and all things considered, that run wasn’t far from a career best. Now the Grand National weights are out, there is a good chance that he will be plenty fit enough to take this race seriously. No damage can be done to his National weight, decent pot to be won, Paul Nicholls would be foolish not to have him sharp. I think he is worthy of his short price.
I personally don’t fancy Niche Market for Aintree (don’t think he quite gets home there), but back him now if you do. The bookies are bound to over-react to a win here by slashing him for The National.
Fair Along seems too classy to be 5/1 considering he placed in the Hennessy and himself is National bound.
I’m very keen on Marufo in this one. He had a long lay off, nearly a year and a half, and has had two runs to get him right. His last run at Sandown, 3rd to Midnight Appeal was a decent run and off 10st 4lbs I think he is a cracking bet. I grabbed him at 6-1 but 11-2 is still available.
Good shout BigG!
I thought my lad was going to pull away when Marufo belted the 3rd last (or was it 4th last?) but full credit to the winner.
The finish was a brilliant advert for Veterans’ Chases, but the sight of various others pulling up sharply, emptying after travelling well or looking unwilling was not very edifying.
Thanks Young Fella, your horse ran a good race, and I thought Ruby was taking things so carefully at his fences that he was never going to get there on mine. Even after the last it was touch and go, again I had doubts he would get there. Hats off to Ruby for getting him in the last stride….not so good for my ticker though
Thanks Young Fella, your horse ran a good race, and I thought Ruby was taking things so carefully at his fences that he was never going to get there on mine. Even after the last it was touch and go, again I had doubts he would get there. Hats off to Ruby for getting him in the last stride….not so good for my ticker though
Ruby rode Niche Market
It was Richard Johnson who rode Marufo and won by half a length.
Yes you are of course right Red Rum, it was indeed Richard Johnson, and indebted to him I am. I replied during a busy days racing, and in fact I had just had a bet on Ruby riding Aerial (jumped ship from Dave’s Dream to Aerial when he drifted out to 6-1) and that was what was very much in my mind….it was indeed Ruby that gave my ticker an acute case of tachycardia, but in the race immediately following Marufo’s win.
Maybe I’m just not used to having two winners on the bounce.
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