Horse Antepost
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Nicholls should strike while the iron is hot with this one. Ran an absolute blinder today to finish a staying on nose third behind Kauto Star. The hustle and bustle of Aintree should suit his unorthodox style. Daryl Jacob is the right jockey for this horse.
Will Nicholls see sense and run him?
Will Nicholls see sense and run him?
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thought after gold cup they said scottish national
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Smacks of Rough Quest, i'd be interested in this one if it was to be the plan
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What about a fit Cooldine??
Walloped him in the 2009 RSA. |
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his mark will be smahed for the scotish though.........
156 will look like a gift...will be forced to have a crack imo |
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Far From Trouble, you are so right Rough Quest all over again.
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FERGIE KNOWS
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how would they kid it from the last fence up the long run up to the elbow and then on to the winning line
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bag over his head
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app. said on his blog will run on good grnd.
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Took the fancy prices the second I read that, also took 25/1 with PadyP and have some 16/1 nrnb with 365
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What A Friend: As we suspected, better ground and blinkers saw him post a much improved effort in the Gold Cup. Could run in the Totesport Bowl at Aintree but on good ground he is highly likely to run in the Grand National.
p nicholls said today will run in national if going is good ground. |
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WHAT A FRIEND, a nose behind Kauto Star when fourth in the Gold Cup, could be in line for a tilt at the John Smith's Grand National after impressing trainer Paul Nicholls at Cheltenham.
The Sir Alex Ferguson-owned eight-year-old was already 3lb well in on official ratings after BHA head of handicapping Phil Smith unveiled the weights, but after posting a career best Racing Post Rating of 172 in the Gold Cup it is likely he will be considerably better off on official figures. "As we suspected, better ground and blinkers saw him post a much improved effort in the Gold Cup. He could run in the Totesport Bowl [which he won last year] but on good ground he is highly likely to run in the Grand National," said Nicholls on his Betfair blog. As short as 16-1 for the Aintree spectacle, What A Friend could provide Ruby Walsh with an alternative to ante-post favourite The Midnight Club at Aintree. |
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traded out my bets on him to win and place (75 for the place!) as was resigned to the fact he wouldnt run in it!! :( regretting that now as is into 8 for a place and only 23 to win!!
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WAF - has a great chance imo
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Nicholls is no fool
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I've taken everything from 50's down to 16's and will lay back my win stakes on the day at the sp for a free win bet and some nice place bets.
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good that daryl jacob keeps the ride too.
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7-1 favourite on the day. Fill up!
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big fella wins it [;)]
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Is the horsebox carrying Big Fella for the last half mile?
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Surely the race comes too soon after Cheltenham? Check out your stats for Cheltenham runners at Aintree in the last five years...absolutely woeful. This is a bookies benefit/media machine horse. They love cranking up a horse like this and turning it into a favourite. I wouldn't back it with your money.
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I'm pretty sure started cracking up the horse give he was 50+ on here when must of us backed him. The people getting in at 12s 10s and less on the day are getting no value. While if the gold cup takes it's toll it'll be at the end of the race when most lays have matched.
Plus he's only had two runs this season he's hardly had a long campaign. |
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3 runs CV (betfair chase, 2nd to noland and the GC) but agree with your point. I also think he's improving with each run after the breathing op, think he has a live chance tbh
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The horse reminds me of My Will, could easily be prominent in the latter stages but that Gold Cup will take it's toll at the business end. It wouldn't have been so bad if the jock had settled for an easy fourth, but went all out for 3rd in a drive.
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Laid it from 250s down to 47s.Can't have any horse coming from a tough race at Cheltenham . let alone an 8 yr old!
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I was also reminded of the way my will ran on at the end of the Gold cup in 2009 and then ran a very creditable race in the grand national when 3rd to Mon Mome. I could see this horse being 10/1 on the day and it has the class to run well, Jumps well generally and looked to have improved significantly for the good ground. Would be interesting to see what tactics would be applied as would prefer to see it jumping out in front rather than being held up. Often difficult to come from too far back in the nationa.
A very interesting runner though |
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Can you honestly see a Ferguson owned horse going off fav at Liverpool ? Come off it
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Rough quest and minnehoma both ran in the gold cup before winning the national !!!! this horse looks on par if not better than those two so for me there is no reason that this horse cant win the national and will probably be around favourite !!!!
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Wholeheartedly agree with Mully. Do not fall for WAF hype.
WAF is the worst possible value in this years race. That fabulous GC race was a war with no edge given, a gruelling muscle bursting effort up the hill to the line and now just 22 days to recover and repeat over 4.5miles!? Add to the fact he has to hump 11st 6lb and is just 8yrs old, he would defy over 53yrs of GN winners in achieving (bar legend Red Rum) Will the blinkers have the same effect? A potential quirky bridle horse?(hung,cocked jaw at last in Hennessy; maybe breathing opp overcome this?) Will he stay? Is he prone to hitting the odd one? No doubt a proven hold up performer who will need luck in running from a stable enduring poor GN record despite firepower (0/44 runners) and trainer specifying ideal conditions prior to letting him take chance.. with option of easier Totesport, a race he has already conquered as Plan B. Good luck to his fanclub, but as we stand today the above cannot be factored into his price and back to lay for those on at big prices the only option. |
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If What A Friend pulls out do they reassess the weights? Would the rest be brought up?
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no mate dont push it is top weight i think !!!
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with respect to marlonsknob [:(] plenty of gold cup horses have performed very well in the National. The horse has not had a hard season by any means.
The nicholls stat does not mean a fig to me, plenty of those 44 had little chance. I expect Pipe's stat is almost as bad and he has won it twice. 16/1 is more than fair imho |
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the nationals a lottery..we all know that...but was it value @ the 50/60s on here after the race...or the 25s when PN confrirmed runing..yes it was and maybe still @ around 16s.
trends are great..i use them all the time..but you cant use them black & white..you have to look at the whole picture...the h/cap is already compressed giving a far bigger chance to the higher wts.. what did dont push it win off ..11.05 / 153... we have a hennesy 2nd to a peak denman...and a gold cup 4th in the fastest gc ever in off of 11.06...running off a mark of 156..which is now 170/171 i believe. the biggest -ive i can see is the rest period..who knows if the race has left its mark...but i was willing to find out @ the bigger prices. as for the my will comparisons...his mark was then on decline after a 25+ chase career..WAF is an improving horse who looks like he's gonna stay..whos won 5 of his 10 chases....do i want him in my book..of course i fookin do |
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Why dose'nt Ruby ride?
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more than happy to ride TMC..i think..
nice for jacob to keep the ride though.. |
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Evening trev
 Wouldn't mind having a nice trade on WAF, even though don't fancy him  |
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hello mate
values all gone now anyway |
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I've been all over Midnight and Time for a year anyway
 just as it's getting closer there appears to be more dangers coming out the woodwork |
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yeah..me too...think most of purples on them 2[;)]
just needed to have him in the book at those prices...and that mark |