[peter .h]

I first came into flat caps when coming up with a uniform for a morris dancing side I had recently helped form. The person who suggested it was a big peaky blinders fan and I imagine that swayed his judgement. I’d never worn one before, but once I’d got one I found that I quite liked it and crucially so did my (now) wife. I have a ridiculously big head (with lots of hollow space) so for a hat to suit me and for my wife to agree was a bit of a miracle.

My dad bought me another one a couple months later as “an alternative by way of change”… I don’t think he was keen on my original choice.

I’ve worn it to the races ever since.

[peter .h]

Finally added my last two, bringing me up to five…

Panic Attack
The Real Whacker
Haiti Couleurs
Imperial Saint
Twig

Here we go.

[peter .h]

Really excited to see Il Est Francais in this. He could be a proper sight if he’s able to jump out and do his own thing up front.

I fancied both O’Moore Park and Jipcot at Cheltenham last month, so I’ll stick with them too.

They will be my main three, but I can’t let Eldorado Allen go without a small each way play.

I can see 25 of these getting round tomorrow.

[peter .h]

Pied Piper doesn’t go, so Imperial Saint is in. I might have a small go each way if 6 places are offered on the day.

I’ve backed him throughout the season (except at Haydock of course) and he has a real affinity for the Mildmay course. Everything went wrong last time, so you can put a line through that. Worth a small go.

My current lineup is…

Panic Attack
The Real Whacker
Haiti Couleurs

I’ll wait until the morning to see if Imperial Saint and Twig get a little each way interest.

[peter .h]

I usually follow Joe O’Shea blind in this race, but the favourite is plenty short enough and I’m just not drawn to the other two.

I’m going for a ‘famous double’. Famous Clermont won this race in 2023 and while he was nowhere near last year (jockey said he was never travelling), he is still showing plenty of enthusiasm on the point field and his form ties in with my other fancy; Fairy Famous. Another one who is having a good time of it in points and has one of my favourite amateurs on board.

I’ll also throw a dart at Take All who ran a good race at Cheltenham last time out and wasn’t beaten out of sight by Unexpected Party two starts ago.

Three nice big prices to have some each way fun with. The fences aren’t the same, but they still draw me in. Can’t wait.

[peter .h]

I think the word I would use to describe this year’s lineup is “intriguing”. Moreso than in previous years, there seems to be a lot more “experimental” runners, which gives this years renewal a fairly different feel.

Banbridge, Firefox, Champ Kiely, Oscars Brother, Jagwar, Jordans and Panic Attack are not what you might call “typical” National runners, even by modern standards and while I don’t believe all of them should be anywhere near a Grand National field; they certainly give the race a different complexion this year.

While I do believe the data from the last two years has been overblown (the idea that you need to be Grade 1 standard to have a chance), I don’t think you can overstate the significance of Noble Yeats’ win. That result has had a profound effect on the race and the type of horse being aimed at the National.

[peter .h]

He’d be desperately unlucky not to get in, Red Rum. I’m hopeful, but not entirely confident.

I’ve a feeling Firefox is going to go for the Topham instead, but unless one of those entered in the Bowl reroutes (struggling to think which of them will) he might just be missing out. Which is a shame.

[peter .h]

Great lineup. Plenty of old favourites.

Minella Drama is top weight for a reason and hasn’t been disgraced this season.

The Flier Begley has plenty going for him and is only a pound higher than his last winning mark and his rider takes 5 off.

I’m certainly not having three, but I can’t help but look at Neon Moon. He’s probably better over further, but he’s certainly not useless over this trip. Worth a look at the price.

I’ll commit to The Flier Begley and Neon Moon.

[peter .h]

I can barely rationalise my selections to myself, nevermind to others! But I’ll give it a go…

Why am I backing against Mullins? Pig-headedness, in short.

The Real Whacker has always looked a National type in my mind. I wouldn’t read a thing into his runs this season as this has been the plan since probably this time last year. He was entered in this last year after a half decent season, so I don’t really buy into the idea that this is a last roll of the dice with him. They obviously just fancied another go at a grade 1 so went for the Bowl instead. He was due to carry 11-4 off a mark of 159 last year, but now carries 10-9 off a mark of 151; that might be a sign of his decline, but it might also be an opportunity identified by connections. He might not be good enough against “hidden grade 1 horses”, but he’s 100/1 (even bigger if you shop around for bonuses) and I think he’s worth a go.

L’Homme Presse has been running consistently all season, one of which in a staying handicap off a mark of 162 so was clearly capable pf being competetive off a mark of 164 and his staying on fifth in the Gold Cup was a perfectly good performance to set him up for a National tilt. I actually really fancied him to run well.

At the end of the day the Grand National is a race that holds more sentimental value to me than any other race (or most other days/occasions) and there will always be a bit of heart ruling head with some selections. Half of the fun is making cases for anything with four legs.

What’s a tenner between friends anyway?

[peter .h]

L’Homme Presse now ruled out.

It has been a shocker for me this year. Flooring Porter, Resplendent Grey, Handstands and now L’Homme Presse. All losses.

I had a similar run in 2011 when all four of my ante-posts were ruled out in the days leading up to the race. I ended up throwing a random dart at Killyglen who was running a screamer before coming down 4 out. Not my year.

Panic Attack and The Real Whacker are my remaining selections. I’ll probably add Haiti Couleurs and wait for the ground to become apparent before looking at anything else, if I bother.

I should leave well enough alone, but I can’t leave the National alone.

[peter .h]

Not a race I’ve had much success in (I still have nightmares about Golden Chieftain in 2016). Deafening Silence has run well in similar contests this season and Catch Catchfire had everything against him last time, so you can put a line through that run.

They’ll be my two.

[peter .h]

The owner of Spindleberry wanted to go to the Gold Cup, but it was clear Mullins was having none of it, so I’m not reading a thing into her last run as it wouldn’t surprise me if she was well short of fitness just so she could “bomb out” and thus make the argument of running here instead much easier.

Rant aside, I fancy her to bounce back here for all Panic Attack is clearly dangerous and is a big hope of mine for the Grand National.

[peter .h]

1.20 – Minella Study
2.00 – Sinnatra
2.40 – Spindleberry NAP
3.20 – Kripticjim
4.00 – The Jukebox Man and Haiti Couleurs
4.40 – Shearer
5.20 – East India Express

Wellington: 4.00 – Jango Baie

[peter .h]

I tend to follow John O’Shea’s runners at Aintree as he admits to targeting there over Cheltenham, but he has a couple in here worth a second look such as his Aintree Foxhunter hero from last year Gracchus De Balme who is a more likely stayer than his ultra consistent Barton Snow, but it’s hard to ignore all those 1s next to his name.

Linelee King’s form ties in with Gracchus De Balme (through Music Drive) so if I fancy one, I have to fancy the other. I’m surprised he’s as big as he is.

I really don’t want four in this, but I keep going back to Shearer who wasn’t beaten out of site in this last year and has Gina Andrews on board this time (no shade on Olive Nichols who is improving with every ride, but Gina is a different level).

I didn’t anticipate getting quite so stuck into this

[peter .h]

The race is missing the intrigue that Galopin Des Champs and Fact To File would have brought to the party, but it’s a binding, open renewal all the same.

I’ve missed any kind of price on The Jukebox Man, so I’ll just will him home. Similar sentiments to Haiti Couleurs, but I reckon he might just drift so I’ll wait and see on him.

I’ll probably just have some each way fun with old friends L’Homme Presse and Envoi Allen.

[peter .h]

“Good ground is not good enough” has got to be a contender for most ridiculous statement of the season.

[peter .h]

I’m struggling to see past Regents Stroll or Slade Steel. I think the pair of them are just better than the others, so should be good enough to carry the weights.

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