Blaklion

Took the 40s on the evening the weights came out. Fingers crossed it looks a good bet, after Saturday's trial race.

"A bullish Nigel Twiston-Davies is full of hope Blaklion can turn the tables at Aintree, where his chaser will be 3lb better off with the winner.

"We'll win the National and forget about being second today," the trainer said. "He's had a long time off and that should put him spot on for Aintree.

"He was much more like his old self. His jumping was spot on at almost every fence and even when he was tired he put himself right, and that's what you need for Aintree."

I hope you're right Nige.

Cant say I was overly impressed individually and collectively by horse nor jockey today.

Early on he was a bit sticky and hesitant at his fences, if that happens at Aintree you see them get behind, spit the dummy and the race is as good as over. At times horse and jockey didnt seem as one, see a stride, get in short, there seemed to be little rhythm to the horses running which all so important on the big day.

Willy, at times, looks like a guy who hasnt ridden 10 winners over fences but at 33/1 you pays your money and all that.

It was a bit of a hotch potch performance all round if Im being honest, though playing devils advocate, he did pull 18 lengths clear of the third under top weight. Amazed all the same to see him down to 16/1 in places.

As a neutral i was impressed with Blaklion today and NTD has said all the things i wanted to hear from him post race.
He will have needed the race today, and will come on leaps for the race. His style of jumping will suit and he just looks ideal.

Quite Ramruma and the Gold Cup can be the perfect prep race for these types. He takes his racing really well and is just coming to peak and will hold that peak for a couple of months.

No need to keep this one fresh. I missed the early prices on him but he is the stand out horse for me, still unexposed and NTD has protected his mark. He has it all.

Correct- when I've seen him in person he appears small and has a low jumping style. If the fences were what they used to be he'd struggle but you brush through the top of most of these now.

Team Spirit was tiny and Battleship was not very big.

Thank God - common sense prevails - NTD swerving Gold Cup...

I think that makes this horse a very serious players in this.  I'm gearing towards him being my main national horse... think he will go off favourite if he gets there in one piece.

The horse is way too small to win a national, but when hes beaten he really does keep trying & trying. Never write off a small man with a big heart, this could apply to this horse too.

The horse is way too small to win a national

Doubt he is any smaller than Seagram was.

The Last Samurai is not very big , and he was the best jumper in the field last year.

red rum wasnt exactly big and fences were bigger then.

it was only really the last run where the horse really showed anything at all this season, and still couldn't win

Cant believe no one has made any post race comment about this horse. I almost backed it but thought it was a year too early and to an extent that was right.

However! All of you who backed him must have been wetting your knickers (or y-fronts) when he coasted to the front turning in and counting your wedge. I think he ran a fantastic race and although 4th isnt the same as winning you have to be happy with that run and he must have a brilliant chance of going a few places better next year.

Good shout.

Anyway Well done Somerset !

Good call.

Impressive round of jumping, measured the fences inches clear each one,saving energy. Found himself in front too soon, could have made a difference, but wouldn't have beat One For Arthur way he travelled. May be a case he didn't stay last 2 furlongs, but I couldn't call that.

Blame me.....I backed it too, and Cause Of Causes; I also backed The Last Samurai last year, another one who looked the likeliest winner but did not!

Good run but .......these days very few horses go back to Aintree and progress for their first attempt , like The Last Samurai the year before ,he has already had his best shot.

12/1 fav by a long way now!

Interesting to see how he finishes his race Saturday with doubt about him staying National trip. Probably weighted out of it now, anyway.

im on ew at 20/1 .was unimpressive today.jumped slow, finished very tired..   lets hope its a ground or fitness issue and not what our eyes told us today.

At 161 in the handicap it would take a Gold Cup winning performance to win this.