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I like the look of Italy, the way they celebrated that 2nd goal last night says to me that they have a good team spirit and that they are up for this big time, not that the others arent of course, but I think you tell a lot about how happy a team is by how they celebrate.
Frances problem at the moment seems to be inhouse bickering, Giuly isnt in the squad because the manager has fallen out with him, he even preferred Govou above Giuly as a replacement for Cisse.<br>The manager has his old favourites, like Barthez, and a lot of the youngsters are put out by this. He also persists in playing Vieira at the right side of a diamond, which Vieira hates, and his making his displeasure known.<br>All in all the French camp is not a happy place, but who knows, the shock of Cisse breaking his leg may bring them together and strengthen their resolve.
Maybe not lay of the year, but she will definitely be backed in judging by the comments on here, and I just cannot see her winning, the race is not going to be run to suit her at all.
Ouija Board is a hold up horse who needs to come off a fast pace, and this wont be happening on Friday. <br>This race is shaping exactly like the Newmarket one that Shirocco won last time, small field with no front runners.<br>Perfect circumstances for the French raider.<br>Ouija Board is the lay of the year, the drying ground makes it even better because her price will shorten.
I want to make an observation about the last 2 nationals which I think has a bearing on this years.<br>2 years ago I had a strong fancy for Hedgehunter and half way round he was lobbing along at the head of the field, jumping for fun and I was pretty much counting my money, what happened next will be forever etched in my soul. All of a sudden what was looking like a leisurely stroll the the winning line suddenly developed into a 3 horse war when Hedgehunter was joined by Lord Atterbury and Clan Royal and the 3 of them proceeded to commit National suicide, as far as I could see, by getting involved in a 3 horse battle for the lead the likes of which I have never seen before in the National, and probably never would again. I would estimate that for a full 2 miles the three of them raced each other for the lead, and in doing so basically surrendered any chance of winning the race. As the battle went on and on it became obvious that the race was being set up for some stamina laden plodder to come through and pick off the exhausted threesome. And so it proved, Hedgehunter fell and Lord Atterbury faded badly, and Amberleigh House came through to pick off Clan Royal at the Elbow.<br>If my analysis was correct then this would mean that this was a freakish result caused by a being freakishly run. As far as I was concerned, in a normally run race, any of the suicidal 3 would have either won or gone very close. Anybody that remembers the pathetic sight of an exhausted Hedgehunter trying to jump the fence he fell at and only managing to land on top will be able to testify to how damaging the battle had been. So bearing all this in mind I considered Clan Royals effort in finishing second one of the finest performances in a National I have ever seen. I considered him a winner without a penalty and a banker for last years races.
The rest is history, Clan Royal is carried out and Hedgehunter is able to stamp his class in a ‘normal’ National. HH’s performance says to me that my analyses was correct, and again enhances my view of how good Clan Royals run that day really was.
If I am right then Clan Royal should win tomorrow, simple as that.
But am I right? Does anybody have any differing views which will stop me doing my dough again.
