Synchronised

yes, gone in hard at 14/1.
main worry is whether he runs or not.
good price especially when the hard core punters
who know what they are talking about
make extreme judgements like
"hasn't a chance of getting round "
and then qualify it as an opinion
...just in case.

have also gone in hard at around 17.5 average ,i actually think the fences will suit him he seems to paddle or scramble over them he has his own way of getting over them but i would rather this than a bold exhuberant jumper over these fences to be honest ,that said anything can happen in this race they all need a bit of luck .just hope he runs !

Would have to race close up,and i dont think that will suit
He's just ran the race of his life,why send him 2 aintree.

Agree why risk Gold Cup winner with top weight,nothing to gain? Apart from piece of history imo wont go. Punchestown maybe?

Good luck to those who have bet Synchronised for the National, but he's not for me.

He was given a brilliant ride by thr champ in the Gold Cup and was being pushed along most of the way round.

I would worry about  whether the horse has got the tactical spped to be in with a chance on the second circuit at Aintree on good ground.

And carrying top weight...

I think it would be great if he did run and he is a bit of a handicap snip but of course top weight is tough for anyone and he is not the biggest. Anything which adds a bit of spice to the race should be welcomed.

If he didn't run in the GC he would have a chance, but there is no doubt his win at Cheltenham would have taken a lot out of him. He was trained for that race since his Leopardstwon win. Cant have him at all personally and dont think he should even be running here.

Yes, Sintonian, I was dismayed when it was decided he should run.

I saw his Gold Cup win coming way before the race, but if he manages to win the Grand National I will eat my laptop!

Lads he is a racehorse you should welcome him running. Enough GC horses recover in time to run well in the GN.

He has only had the 2 chases this season, yes obviously including a GC but he has had a month off and is a guaranteed stayer of the distance. Plenty of horses run well in the GC and run equally as well in the GN. You should rejoice in the sporting choice to let him go for the race.

If he'd finished a running on 3rd or 4th in the GC Behind say Long Run, Kauto then everyone would have been coming out with great prep run for the National. He won it and won it well much to my dismay. Horse stays all day. Trainer will know well being of the Horse and won't "Risk" unless the horse is bang on form which the vibes suggest he is. 8/1 NRNB looks excellent value. If he lines up on the day won't be 8's thats for sure. Worthy Fav and the one to beat if they can. Luck in National obv a big factor but im happy to have a fair bit of the 8's NRNB :)

"I would worry about  whether the horse has got the tactical spped to be in with a chance on the second circuit at Aintree on good ground."

Are we talking about the horse who won the top chasing race -Gold Cup - on good ground? Who has also won over 4 and quarter miles on heavy ground, has never fallen over chases and would be ridden by one of the top jockeys. If Jonjo thinks he is fine to run, this horse would be a very worthy favourite imho.

Gold cup winner 2-1 to start jolly with WH   massive imo.

Hi Brian

"Are we talking about the horse who won the top chasing race -Gold Cup - on good ground?"

Yes we are indeed talking about the same horse.

The Grand National is usually won by horses who race prominently and I just feel that Synchronise will struggle.

Watch the Gold Cup again and you will see that Synchronised was losing ground at almost every fence.

In terms of form this years renewal was pretty average - we have been spoilt in recent years with Kauto Star, Denman, and Long Run.

Can Synchronised win a National off 11-10? Sorry, just cannot even begin to enrtain it.

But this is all about opinions, isn't it? And as I said in my previous post, good luk to anyone who has backed the horse.

Synchronised has no chance what so ever of winning the national. Simple as that really.

As Melottie says it's all about opinions. I actually doubt I'll be backing Synchronised in the race as I don't think he will be value but they don't go that fast in he National (compared to a Gold Cup) and that will enable him to stay in touch. I agree his jumping is a question mark over Nationalfences but if I had to choose the horse most likely to win (or to be favourite to win) it would have to be Synchronised.

I am sure that if he runs into a place connections will be pleased. The prize money is fantastic. This horse is a dour stayer. You have to take some risks with these horses. Imagine every connection choosing not to run in the race because they have top weight or can get low or over jump. We would have no race

I`m on Syncronised BIG time. Has been tipped up for the past few weeks on the following website: www.grandnationalrecords.co.uk

My biggest worry is that he doesn`t run, yet having said that I have a funny feeling he will and attempt history, so I`m tempted to take the 2/1 with WH for him to start jolly, as theistabraqyears kindly informed me about, thanks for that mate.

It`s all about opinions I suppose. I don`t know much about jump racing, but I must admit that the negative comments above by some shrewdies on here, worries me.

However, In for a penny, in for a pound and all that!!!!!

I`m on Syncronised BIG time. Has been tipped up for the past few weeks on the following website: www.grandnationalrecords.co.uk

My biggest worry is that he doesn`t run, yet having said that I have a funny feeling he will and attempt history, so I`m tempted to take the 2/1 with WH for him to start jolly, as theistabraqyears kindly informed me about, thanks for that mate.

It`s all about opinions I suppose. I don`t know much about jump racing, but I must admit that the negative comments above by some shrewdies on here, worries me.

However, In for a penny, in for a pound and all that!!!!!

Double post, apologies, computer is ******

If anyone does fancy it don't bet at 9/1 or 10/1 ..bizarrely badcrooks are going 12/1 J J Oneill's stable to win at 12/1

gone

RIP to Synchronised. Having watched him come into the winners enclosure to a great reception less than a month ago, I never imagined for a moment he would be gone so soon. Gold Cup winners deserve their season in the sun.
Not forgetting Pete, a grand servant enjoying his best season at the twilight of his career. A shame for very sporting connections.

love the game have for years struggling with the national at the moment.

love the game have for years struggling with the national at the moment.

Ditto Howdi

What to do though, make no mistake, a lot of people want ALL NH racing banned!!

You lower the fences more and they are hardly going to go any slower, i think a major problem in racing is that modern drainage systems are probably TOO good and overwatering is being done to compensate. Henry cecil in the weekender made a point about his opinion on the Breed being weaker.

In todays media driven world i dont think the race can live much longer in its present form, im old enough to remember Alverton and Davy Lad being destroyed but things are different now, maybe we're all getting a bit too precious??

To save NH Racing we may need to lose the race though, personally id rip up the National course, make it 25 Max and build a x Country race(that can be watered!!) so there is some novelty there and rebrrand it the "New" National

Id rather sacrifice the race than lose the Cheltenham Festival

yesterday after the Topham some posters said the risk had gone from the track. I replied that I thought the Topham was a great race. I got a fair bit of stick. I loved this race as a kid but last years was bad enough yet today on safe ground with changes made we lose 2 more horses. This race will kill the sport, to me it is as clear as day that there are too many runners, and the drops need to be taken away. We will never have that mystique that the race brought when we were growing up but so what we also wont have to justify racing horses full stop.

Same here Howdi and Roger.

It's an extremely unpleasant and difficult situation. The Grand National has become an anachronism, almost a freak show. It's longer than any other race with more runners over bigger fences. It's clear that no "quality" requirement for the horses can sort this out. Dropping the field size to 30 seems to be sensible. Perhaps moving the start (much) closer to the first fence as well to try to slow them down. Most of the serious injuries seem to occur early in the race - i.e. before stamina concerns apply.

It may be time to forget the National course. If this race is banned or forced out of existence for negative reasons - and it is the prime target - it spells the beginning of the end for all NH racing. Racing might be advised to voluntarily give this one up. The Scottish/Irish/Welsh Nationals are run on park courses - the Grand National could survive on the Mildmay course, in name at least.

thought they would have withdrawn him after running loose ,so wish they had ! another few good horses gone !

It has got worse as the fences have been lowered

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_equine_fatalities_in_the_Grand_National

i for one could live without the national ,

Interesting link Zilzal - just under one fatality per year for the last 20 years. That's very hard to defend for a single "showpiece" race. I love jump racing but I feel sick to the pit of my stomach today.

So sad that the winner of the countries grestest race loses his life just one month later.

Posted on a different thread that as much as I love jump racing the National is doing more damage than good. I agree that the only way forward now is to reduce the field to 30 maybe even 25 to give the runners more space and daylight. Lowering the fences just seems to make everyone go quicker and I fear its getting more dangerous not safer.

www.horsedeathwatch.com

check this site out i was shocked

so sad these beautiful beasts have to pay with their lifes, if only we could have heeded some earlier posts in this thread and turn back the clock but things are never that easy only in an ideal world which it definately isnt. There was an awful lot of concern about synchronised even completing the op for 1 add me to that list as well, didnt have the right make up to tackle this course and fences imho,sadly he paid the ultimate price. im no horsey person in the slightest but even i could see him struggling here, surely his connection could too, even the slightest doubt was enough too not even enter him , he had nothing to prove here he had already proved to be the warrior that he was in his last victory

r i p to pete too another warrior

lcfkev

Before you get too emotional, try these out as well:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srebrenica_massacre

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_deaths_on_eight-thousanders

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Genocide

If we want to stop creatures living a life likely to end in pain, indignity, and distress, we should probably not have kids.

It's not an arguement to say it's alright to do immoral things because other people do things that are worse.

I'm looking for a sense of proportion. Obviously, we have to take responsibility for - and take care of - these animals. They wouldn't exist without racing and - generally - live a challenging and fit life. It's a shame that sometimes it ends badly and we must do all we reasonably can to reduce the risk, but events like this are small in relation to the kinds of wasteful and avoidable loss of life (animal and human) which takes place in our world.

I remember both Srebrenica and Ruanda massacres taking place, being aware that they were happening, as they happened. There was less fuss in the press than there is about Synchronised.

OK, I understand. There is one more factor though - we nearly all support/watch/bet on/pay for horse racing, so we can potentially influence it, if only a little. I suspect most of us here could do absolutely nothing about the terrible (and far worse) things you mention.

Strontium

I think we can agree on this.

This is one area where we can help influence change. There is a good thread on the Antepost Forum exchanging ideas on how things can be improved. I was embarrassed by some of the stupid cosmetic changes that have been introduced over the last few years (e.g. changing the minimum OR rating from 110 to 120). I think we should debate these things fully. Reducing the field size would have an obvious immediate benefit.

I am sure this debate will go on for a long time. If we start from the aim of improving the welfare of the horse, while keeping racing going, we may be able to help arrive at a result.

Rydal, I agree entirely and it's something I'm trying to do (including in the tread you mention or another on that forum) - no sensible, constructive debate can hurt here.