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Somerset Sam
16 Feb 17 12:35
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Date Joined: 11 Mar 02
| Topic/replies: 10,572 | Blogger: Somerset Sam's blog
Cant help but come back to this one with 33/1 still available.

He's still relatively lightly raced with hopefully more improvement to come over the longer trip. He's contested some top races throughout his career and is an RSA winner running off152.
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Report deepingfox February 16, 2017 8:36 PM GMT
Took the 40s on the evening the weights came out. Fingers crossed it looks a good bet, after Saturday's trial race.
Report Ramruma February 18, 2017 3:03 PM GMT
His profile looks better suited to a weak Gold Cup rather than the National imo.
Report Somerset Sam February 18, 2017 6:26 PM GMT
"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.
Report deepingfox February 18, 2017 7:40 PM GMT
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.
Report ZenMaster February 18, 2017 8:04 PM GMT
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.
Report Ramruma February 18, 2017 9:29 PM GMT
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.
Report ZenMaster February 19, 2017 9:09 PM GMT
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.
Report Bindaree February 20, 2017 1:59 PM GMT
Apparently he's quite small and I think that's always a negative with the GN.
Report Mully March 1, 2017 10:05 AM GMT
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.
Report Bindaree March 2, 2017 1:13 PM GMT
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.
Report dunlaying March 2, 2017 8:39 PM GMT
Team Spirit was tiny and Battleship was not very big.
Report Bindaree March 2, 2017 9:20 PM GMT
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.
Report IrisDeBalme March 4, 2017 9:23 PM GMT
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.
Report Can't Catch Me March 7, 2017 10:18 PM GMT
I agree Iris. Had a go at 20's this week and could also see him being fav.
Report Mooono March 22, 2017 7:47 PM GMT
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.
Report patsyhall March 31, 2017 6:53 PM BST
Have him backed at 30s on here hope ground stay good top jockey on him too
Report sixtwosix March 31, 2017 7:43 PM BST
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.
Report PJay April 1, 2017 10:38 PM BST
Always Waining was tiny and won the Topham for three years straight.
Report morpteh mackem April 2, 2017 10:28 AM BST
red rum wasnt exactly big and fences were bigger then.
Report GoldCupWinner April 2, 2017 12:37 PM BST
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.
Report the bloob April 2, 2017 2:52 PM BST
it was only really the last run where the horse really showed anything at all this season, and still couldn't win
Report SOULDANCER April 2, 2017 3:10 PM BST
Suspiscion he wasn't cherry ripe last time. Solid jumper, should imagine he'll want a good sight of The Chair. On the shortlist.
Report betilyerded April 8, 2017 7:56 PM BST
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.
Report IrisDeBalme April 8, 2017 11:30 PM BST
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...
Report IrisDeBalme April 8, 2017 11:30 PM BST
Anyway Well done Somerset !

Good call.
Report xmoneyx April 9, 2017 2:28 AM BST
had it £125 e/w 14/1 bet365 offer Love

here's a great pic of blaklion


https://mobile.twitter.com/GlosLiveOnline/status/850378985053855744/photo/1
Report SOULDANCER April 9, 2017 11:29 AM BST
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.
Report Somerset Sam April 10, 2017 1:00 PM BST

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!

Report impossible123 April 11, 2017 10:15 AM BST
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!
Report kavvie November 6, 2017 10:32 AM GMT
ran well saturday for a first race  of the year.. lets hope he gets to aintree in one piece..
Report sixtwosix November 12, 2017 2:52 PM GMT
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.
Report kavvie November 23, 2017 6:54 PM GMT
id be thinking after the brain dead ride he got last year,if ridden with more restraint he will give a good performance?
Report The Dragon January 4, 2018 7:04 PM GMT
12/1 fav by a long way now!
Report casemoney January 9, 2018 9:09 PM GMT
With Def red who cant run much worse this Year ,would be the two on My shortlist at this stage ....
Report SOULDANCER February 16, 2018 8:46 AM GMT
Interesting to see how he finishes his race Saturday with doubt about him staying National trip. Probably weighted out of it now, anyway.
Report irishone February 17, 2018 3:35 PM GMT
struggled with the weight today
slowing at the jumps and legs like jelly at the last
write off for ms
Report kavvie February 17, 2018 3:37 PM GMT
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.
Report ashleigh March 24, 2018 7:51 AM GMT
blaklion had a wind op since the haydock run.
Report Meat Loaf March 24, 2018 8:47 AM GMT
At 161 in the handicap it would take a Gold Cup winning performance to win this.
Report kavvie March 25, 2018 1:41 PM BST
i hope theres a jockey change from haydock..
Report Mully March 27, 2018 7:28 PM BST
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.
Report lockup March 28, 2018 4:24 PM BST
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.
Report Mully March 28, 2018 6:17 PM BST
I'm thinking the same way as you lockup.
Report kavvie March 31, 2018 1:51 PM BST
sheehan needs to be on board
Report Meat Loaf March 31, 2018 2:50 PM BST
Sheehan made him win to cosily in the Beecher and as a result ruined its handicap mark.
Report lockup April 3, 2018 10:13 AM BST
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.
Report kelami April 3, 2018 10:59 PM BST
Had his chance last year. Fehily had a rush of blood to his head. Too much weight this season & STD on board!
Report SOULDANCER April 4, 2018 3:42 PM BST
Had op to help his breathing, might help his non-staying problem.
Report IrisDeBalme April 14, 2018 7:19 PM BST
Gutting for Blaklion backers - we didnt get a run. Fell at first.

Hopefully will turn up to scottish if Ok
Report lockup April 14, 2018 7:48 PM BST
without std only he could manage to fall off that at the first get sheehan or fehily on it.
Report Ibrahima Sonko April 14, 2018 10:04 PM BST
Reported as brought down, i couldnt get a clear view of the replays ?
Report irishone April 14, 2018 10:12 PM BST
Desperate bad luck
Report SOULDANCER April 15, 2018 7:16 AM BST
The one horse you'd think was sure to get round.
Report iamajambo April 15, 2018 10:47 PM BST
Indeed.Looked like he was brought down to me.
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