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Have entered the summer one in recent years, but don’t know enough about the flat (nor have the inclination) that I think I’ll sit this out this summer.
Good luck everyone!
The final two weekends of the NH season (Ayr and Sandown) look very different to last year. With Mullins having stepped back from attacking the trainers’ championship, those two cards offer much better opportunities for local trainers (especially referring to the Scottish event).
What do we think about that?
Take the Whitbread at Sandown on final day. That’s a very different race to last year, where Mullins had ten of the 19 runners in his bid to win the trainers’ championship.
He only has one entered this time, a low ley entrant too compared to last year’s squad that included Grangeclare West, just three weeks after nearly winning the Grand National. (*Interesting to see that Lombron, a 5yo in just his fourth chase, came second and hasn’t been seen since.)
Does it mean the quality of down? Sure. But it makes it competitive and there is a big prize to be won. Obviously Mullins/Casey doesn’t think it is worth trying to win this year.
Thanks for running the competition. It acts as a big motivator for me, as I don’t bet often. This comp challenges me to compete against more very-knowledgable sorts and helps me learn and commit to getting better.
Thanks again.
Bit late to this as I was out on Saturday so caught up with the races yesterday and returned to my laptop this morning.
Not sure why I’m better at this one than the Cheltenham one. Lookaway being nabbed on the line cost me a place on the rostrum, but I’m sure everyone has their own near misses.
Thanks for running the competition. Really enjoy it.
2.07 Newcastle – Long Time Listener NAP
2.30 Aintree – Lookaway NB
2.50 Chepstow – Choice RunnerRes:
1.55 A – Scorpio Rising12.45 – Mighty Bandit (Res: Salvator Mundi)
1.20 – Supremely West (Hold The Serve)
1.55 – Scorpio Rising (Bossman Jack)
2.30 – Lookaway NAP (Leave Of Absence)
3.05 – Strong Leader NB (Hewick)
4.00 – Gerri Colombe & I Am Maximus (Banbridge)
5.00 – Look Me (Ronnie Russet)WELLINGTON: Johnnywho (4.00)
1.45 Trustintimes & Captain Teague (Res: Fingle Bridge)
2.20 Gold Dancer (Salver)
2.55 Sinnatra (Baron Noir)
3.30 Grey Dawning (Saint Segal)
4.05 Pour Les Filles NB (Coming Up Easy)
4.40 Dalston Lad (Zeus Power)
5.15 Laafi NAP (Litleangel Duseuil)1.45 – Selma De Vary (Res: Indian River)
2.20 – Koktail Divin (Blueking D’Oroux)
2.55 – Impaire Et Passe (Protektorat)
3.30 – Thunder Rock NAP & Joker De Mai (Let’s Go Champ)
4.05 – El Fabiolo NB (Potters Charm)
4.40 – Inthepocket (Highlands Legacy)
5.15 – Kiltybo (Nan’s Choice)Wow, thanks for that Tom Bellamy stat pilgaric. That’s even worse that Jonjo (Snr) used to have back in the day! It’s helping put me off Nick Rockett, though I do have the sniff of him being like Al Boum Photo in terms of how he has been campaigned for this. Surely if they are that worried about his prep then they’d not run him??
Other interesting minor details from the decs include:
Jagwar (who I cannot have) – first-time cheekpieces.
I Am Maximus – second-time cheekpieces, first time since December 2022 in a beginners’ chase.
Beauport – first-time tongue-tie!What do we make of that Jagwar headgear switch?
Thanks to peter.h for engaging on his Real Whacker reasoning earlier int he week. Much appreciated and (I hope) the type of respectful and fascinating debate we can get more of in this forum.
Thanks for the post VtC.
I trawled back as I wondered whether people might have discussed this race some weeks and even months back as a target race for a favourite horse, perhaps.
I’m pleased it’s not Willie dominated, makes it more of a puzzle to some extent.
peter.h. Why are you backing against Mullins so far out?
The Real Whacker’s entry reminds me of Silviniaco Conti (PU first circuit) or Holywell (F, 2nd) running in 2016, or Tea For Two running in 2019 (PU 29th).
Screams that they don’t know what to do with him after three pretty poor runs this season, so hope this test brings him back. Could you help me understand why you would bet on that happening? What’s your thinking there, please?
While I would have liked to see L’Homme Presse in the race, think this is a year too late and am relieved that the horse doesn’t go, as I would have foreseen another pulled up at the 28th after being outpaced once they have run three miles, and that would have been an unedifying end to his career.
Willie has only one in the Scottish National – Road To Home.
In 2024 he had six (Macdermott won, Klarc Kent fourth, Ontheropes fifth, Spanish Harlem sixth). Won £131,120. Skelton had one, Ballygriffincottage, finishing seventh for £1,320. Going=Soft.
In 2025 he had five (Captain Cody won, Klarc Kent second, also had the unplaced fav Olympic Man and returning champion Macdermott who was fatally injured). Won £156,260. Skelton had two non-completers. Going=Good To Soft
In 24 and 25 he was chasing the trainers’ title and the money from this race helped him get there.
Can we deduce that he’s not going for the UK trainers’ title so hard this season? Afterall, if he was to repeat last season’s Grand National result (won £860,000) then that would be a huge reduction in Skelton’s lead.