Dark horse and no mentions...

Alverton, Gala's Image, and Tidal Bay all won The Arkle, and ran in the National.

...oh yeah, and Contraband

Thanks Fabulous - that was quick homework - and how did they fare??

Tidal Bay ur 10th, Alveron Fell 2nd bechers, Gala's Image finished 7th and fell 1st, and Contraband fell 11th.

Not great then lol

Alverton was travelling well when trying to follow up his Gold Cup win, and Gala's was there late on, on heavy ground, only fading close home.........but yeah, not great

Nobody mentioned that Alverton in fact died as a result of his fall at Bechers.

Even if you discount the fact that it has little chance of staying and that its nowhere near as good as it was, the thing never won even at its peak.

Jumped brilliantly when second in the Champion Chase and after an interrupted preparation too. Still trying to forget the huge sum on ante post bets Big Zeb cost me by deciding to finally stand up that day!  I think he may well run very well for a long way bit can't imagine him lasting home.

I backed him earlier for the race mainly because I have followed him through the years. Distance is a big problem but is a good jumper and a big horse who at the price could go well.

Have a sneaky feeling for this horse. Comes up nicely on all my stats, trip a concern but you can say that for most of the field. 66/1 worth a punt imo.

If Forpadydeplasterer wins the National I will definitely give the game up.

Gay Trip was a 2m 4f horse and carrying top weight won the National by 20 lengths. He may have run in a Champion chase but not certain.

Anything before Ballabriggs' national is meaningless statswise, its a completely different race now. 2 & 1/2 milers might have been able to win the national previously, although I'm not sure I any that ever did realy was one, but they didnt use to race against Gold Cup winners. I reckon backing anything carrying over 11st is the way forwards these days.

i have backed a few in the race but would gladly lose if i thought forpady would win. gave me one of my most memorable wins ever in the arkle. oh what the hell might just stick a fiver on him for old times sake

4 of the first 5 home last year all below 11 stone

the orse is mental

For paddy has won over 3m this year, and to be fair there was never much evidence he didn't stay when he was younger, he just wasn't asked to try. He'll appreciate some better ground, but I can't really see him in a slog like the National.

The fact that Arkle Arkle had to go back 43 years for some evidence to support the famous 2.5 milers theory speaks volumes. Gay Trip is before even my time, so I can't really comment. There's nothing much about his record online, but you find some very interesting tourism opportunities when you google him:)

You hear all the pi5h about 2m 4f horses being suited to the national every year.
If a 2m 4f horse wins the national its been running at the wrong trip imho

classified running well and getting placed in nationals was the horse that really got the 2 mile 4  debate going, the horse that makes it a load of shoite is big fella thanks

GAY TRIP as a previous poster has pointed out, had
never won beyond 2 1/2 miles, but not sure it had run over
further before it won Grand National very easily, but I don't think
it was top weight.
CRISP had never won over more than 2 1/2 miles and should have
won but for PITMAN panicking instead of coaxing him home, gave
RED RUM 25 lbs and lost by 3/4 length.

Gay Trip won in 1970 having previously seemed an out and out two and a half miler.
The following year Specify won. He had won once over 3m but was considered more of a two and a half miler.

Thus the "you need a two and a half miler" theory was born.

IT'S ONE OF BIGGEST CHESTNUTS IN RACING.

Crisp was the horse that got me into racing. I was 8, my Dad drew him in the office sweep, and it was the most exciting and then heart-breaking thing ever.

But Classified turned out to be a stayer who'd been running over the wrong trip, and anyway never won the race. So the last 2.5 miler to win was 1970 and the last one to nearly win was 1973. It was a different race back then, few top class stayers took part, the fences were bigger and horses tended to be hunted round for a circuit before really racing. If you really wanted to split hairs I suppose you could argue red Maurader was more of a 2.5 miler, but only 2 finished (without remounting) in his year so that doesn't really count.

I have always felt the "theory" has been misinterpreted over the years. It is one thing to have a horse that simply hasn't tried longer distances. But when people talk about horses who clearly don't stay 3 miles and spout the 2.5 milers do well at Aintree theory I just despair. Non-stayers do not do well, they may look good for a while but they cannot, and do not, ever win.

dont push it was an arkle horse that fell in the arkle when cruising. just because u start over 2miles doesnt mean u wont stay.

forpady actually a very good bet anywhere you can get ew top 6 IMO.    He's had 31 runs & been top 6 in 29 of them.

Betvictor are 80/1 so 20/1 the place top 6 altho I doubt many here have an account.