Blaklion

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

His profile looks better suited to a weak Gold Cup rather than the National imo.

"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.

Happy with that. Black lion was bumped early, mid-flight at a fence, and misjudged the next one, before settling into a good jumping rhythm. After that I was impressed with his run, and pleased to have him as my each way bet. Hope he misses Chelters, and goes straight to the National.

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.

Hope he misses Chelters, and goes straight to the National.

In the past, Blaklion has not gone too well off a break. It is seven weeks to the Grand National; three weeks between the Gold Cup and the National.

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.

Apparently he's quite small and I think that's always a negative with the GN.

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.

I'd be a bit worried about "most of these". You can't get away with brushing through any really. Having said that if he does sail over them then his chance is obvious.I bet Holywell last year and didn't realize he was small until after and he only got as far as the second and was even lucky to get over the first.

Team Spirit was tiny and Battleship was not very big.

I make that 2 in 79 years !!! Think they were more robust back then. He may well jump like the proverbial stag but I am a bit wary when a trainer says they aren't 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.

I agree Iris. Had a go at 20's this week and could also see him being fav.

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.

Have him backed at 30s on here hope ground stay good top jockey on him 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.

Always Waining was tiny and won the Topham for three years straight.

red rum wasnt exactly big and fences were bigger then.

I have backed the horse a couple of times this year and he doesn't seem to be finishing his races off strongly this year after travelling well. For that reason I am against him in the National.

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

Suspiscion he wasn't cherry ripe last time. Solid jumper, should imagine he'll want a good sight of The Chair. On the shortlist.

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.

Yeah - when he went for it... and cruising... you sort of think yeah go on... then it dawns there are 2 fences left and its the national...

That penny drops pretty quickly...

Anyway Well done Somerset !

Good call.

had it £125 e/w 14/1 bet365 offer

here's a great pic of blaklion


https://mobile.twitter.com/GlosLiveOnline/status/850378985053855744/photo/1

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.

Apr 8, 2017 -- 5:30PM, IrisDeBalme wrote:

Anyway Well done Somerset ! Good call.

Cheers IDB.

I couldnt believe how well he was travelling when taking it up, very similar to the ride Fehily got on Rocky Creek in 2014, the horse pulling its way into the lead a fair way out.

I dont think he would've beaten the winner regardless of whether his challenge had been timed later but he's ran a great race as a second season chaser.

In saying all of that I wouldnt be rushing to back him for next years race given the expected hike in the weights he's likely to get. Onwards to look at the Irish and Scottish Nationals!

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!

ran well saturday for a first race  of the year.. lets hope he gets to aintree in one piece..

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.

id be thinking after the brain dead ride he got last year,if ridden with more restraint he will give a good performance?

12/1 fav by a long way now!

With Def red who cant run much worse this Year ,would be the two on My shortlist at this stage ....

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

struggled with the weight today
slowing at the jumps and legs like jelly at the last
write off for ms

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.

blaklion had a wind op since the haydock run.

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

i hope theres a jockey change from haydock..

I've always been a Blaklion fan but I think that Haydock race bottomed every runner that took part in it. Can't have him now.

i thought he looked bottomed at Haydock surprised twiston ran him on that ground YALA Enki looked done for the season when he re-appeared at Cheltenham, don't think Twiston-Davies ideal jockey either Sheehan rode him superbly in trial.

I'm thinking the same way as you lockup.

sheehan needs to be on board

Sheehan made him win to cosily in the Beecher and as a result ruined its handicap mark.

think you could be right with his mark meat loaf but still feel Sheehan much better option than Twiston, think the best ride he has been given was by Fehily last year never touched a twig, just kicked a bit early but I think they thought stamina was his forte.

Had his chance last year. Fehily had a rush of blood to his head. Too much weight this season & STD on board!

Had op to help his breathing, might help his non-staying problem.

Gutting for Blaklion backers - we didnt get a run. Fell at first.

Hopefully will turn up to scottish if Ok

without std only he could manage to fall off that at the first get sheehan or fehily on it.

Reported as brought down, i couldnt get a clear view of the replays ?

Desperate bad luck

The one horse you'd think was sure to get round.

Indeed.Looked like he was brought down to me.