Junior

Ideal candidate on stats.
But not for me. I seriously doubt Junior will survive a circuit, with his "cat like" albeit athletic jumping style.
In a way, I hope I'm wrong, as there is little more gratifying than witnessing horses relish the "National Challenge".

I'm of the same thinking Saxon. I don't think it's jumping style will be suited by the fences. Can see this being a UR prime candidate.

Jumps rated 153. Hurdles is 145.

How many ex flat horses win the grand national

1. Red Rum

11-2. Could have been worse but shouldn't have won by 19l last time out.
Last 3 winners have all carried between 11-0 and 11-5 and the weights shouldn't go uo by more than 1lb with Ballabriggs a certain runner.

Depending on who you listen to will run at Newbury on Friday (Pipe) or at Donny in early March in a 3M h'cap hurdle.

The Package my pick of the weights.

Am I missing something here?  Midnight Chase gave Junior 12LB and a 9L beating last season at Cheltenham in Nov, yet now has to give only 6LB in the National.  Junior 13/1F on here Midnight Chase 100/1.

I appreciate he'll run in the Gold Cup and it sounds like a good prep. He'll also love the probable good ground.

Have posted on the GN Weights thread, but more relevant here.

midnight chase wont run in the grand national and junior will.

alot of water under the bridge since the first run of last nh season.

Junior can look sketchy over the fences but if he takes to Aintree could win by a distance. He just keeps up a gallop when the others cry no more.

Junior is no red rum.
I don't like the fact he has not run,was interested in this horse,but only to back then lay.

Running in a 3 m hurdle at Newbury tomorrow.

couldnt run b4 national weights came out.

Well he could have run but Pipe was wary in case he won and his National weight went up, which means he thinks a lot of the horse. But he's missed a trick as he could have run over hurdles without affecting his chase mark. unusual for a National winner to start his season in Feb!

Could have run run it in chase races that they new he could'nt win, combined with hurdles

That would have been more difficult as shorter races say over 2m4f wouldn't necessarily have inconvenienced.

Decent start to the campaign on Friday. Under top weight, still in contention coming into the home turn then got tired.

Pipe added of Junior, who was eighth on his comeback run over hurdles at Newbury on Friday: "He's fine, he just got a bit tired in the closing stages, but he ran well. I haven't quite decided where he goes next."

Looks like tomorrow for this winner

Scudamore said of Junior: "I'm delighted, but he could do with another mile and a quarter. What a trial for the National he has run. All roads lead to Aintree."

Tim Palin, racing manager for Junior's owners Middleham Park, said: "It was a great run. He had a big weight and we just wanted a solid run. We've just been beaten by a horse with a lower weight than us. He was very adept when the leader fell at the last. It was a very good trial for Aintree and he won't run again before the National."

Still needs to improve his jumping for me.

He's always been a bit of a fiddler at his jumping, never been on the deck though, i wouldnt like a lot of rain, apart from that im happy

Surprised at the price move in by some firms. I considered this run a negative. Jumping was poor over relatively easy jumps. Fences at Aintree are much more difficult and cant see Junior finishing. Not for me. I'm OUT.

^ agree

Jumping was'nt the best,the GN may suit him better.
Get the lead early,and nice jumping rythmn

Nice form boost there by Ikorodu Road.

Generally 8-10's on oddschecker.

Ground appears to be coming right (again) and connections confident.

Needs to be good ground on the day for me to be happy. I've him backed