Would you send Unioniste to the Grand National or the Gold Cup?

I thought it a strange race to go for so close to the weights coming out for the big one. I'd imagine he'll go up a good few pounds for that easy win and it will hellishly difficult for him to win the national off a mark in the high 150's. If he were mine I'd have him primed for The Gold Cup and let him take his chance. He clearly stays well and will be running on when others have cried enough and the jckey would have instructions to ride the race to win it but that if he begins to struggle not to be hard on him. Could be a good prep for Aintree.

Yes it was strange that Nicholls ran him before the weights came out. Neptune Collonges ran in the same race the year he won the National.

Connections have said they will not run in both races and now Unioniste has been entered for The Irish Hennessey.

I'm not surprised if they choose the Gold Cup route as Unioniste went off favourite for the RSA and Lexus as a 5yo and was one of Nicholls horses that had ulcers, so he may have under performed last year. Throw into the mix he is now 7 years old, also is a winner at Cheltenham and he has more than a decent chance in an open year.

I seem to recall the owner was n't a great fan of the Grand National before he won it with Neptune Collonges. Neptune ran in 4 Gold Cups before winning the Grand National as 11 yo at his only attempt.

Neptune Collonges would n't be as precocious as Unioniste but he did win a novice chase in France when he was only 4.

The owner likes a big say in the campaigning of the horse (and why should n't he?) and there is a pattern of behaviour which suggests they might skip the Grand National this year (I accept the point about NC winning the same race but he then ran in the Grand National trial at Haydock before taking the National). I'm not saying they'll wait with Unioniste until he is 11 though!

He's in the worst possible place rating wise to go for the National. Horses rated over 158-160 tend to get a bit of a favour from the handicapper, but for some reason if you're on 156 you run off 156. Hard to fancy him for either race but if Siviano flops again like the last twice, the Gold Cup is then very open. It might not take any better effort to win the GC than to win the national off 156. And if he gets tonked he might get a few lbs back - the rise for his last win was very harsh imho. So if he were mine, I'd go to Cheltenham. But he's not mine, sadly.

It is really tricky to call what Nicholls has planned for Unioniste, I see he is now entered in the Haydock National trial(topweight), which is one day before the weights are set for the National, this is after he said Unioiste would run in either the Lexus, or another Gold Cup trial. . I think the Lexus is the right race. He will get soft conditions and would have a decent chance of winning it imo. That would tell Nichols if he is in with a chance of the Gold Cup. A bad run would see him drop a couple of pounds and the National would be worth taking on. Personally I think the Gold Cup route is still the most likely as the owner has Mon Parrain for the national. Time will tell!!

It is very plausible that Unioniste could win the Lexus and go off around 8-10/1 for the Gold Cup. He is still available at 75s+ on Betfair!! He is very interesting now he is the right age....

^^^^ you mean going for the Hennessey????


Personally I think the Gold Cup route is still the most likely as the owner has Mon Parrain for the national. Time will tell!!


john hales doesn't own mon parrain

Oops! Thanks Alleged! Not my finest post!
Looks like Unioniste is heading for the Denman Chase now. So its loo. king more like the Gold Cup now. I hope so as I had s cheeky £5 at 900/1 before Xmas.

right choice imo

He has so much time on his hands, I'm sure the National will be on the agenda at some point in his career. Hopefully  in 3 years time, after he wins this years Gold Cup (££££!!) and then gradually drops his rating back down as they did with Neptune.

Well, it's the Denman Chase tomorrow, Unioniste is running, with newly applied checkpieces (good sign). I was originally thinking if he won this race he would, and should, take his place in the Gold Cup, however if he does win/run well then he would go up to mid 160's and the National handicapper will probably then compress his mark back to high 150's. Connections might then say he is too well handicapped not to go for the National!! I'm still thinking Gold Cup due to his age, but it really is a hard one to call.
Be interested in what people now think....