Gordon Elliott said that he would be protecting his mark with a view to going for the English National. This horse is currently rated 129 meaning if he protects his mark he won't have a prayer of even getting into this race. He couldn't get in to the Irish or English National last year because his rating was so low.
Which has me thinking how is Elliott going to get his mark high enough to get into the English National this year as that is what Gigginstown stud had in plan for him for a few years now.
He has to put up a big performance in the Welsh National to get his mark up if he runs there. He doesn't really have a lot of other options if he ducks out of that. Maybe he will train him to be placed in the welsh national so as to increase his mark but not totally blow it. Or maybe he will simply try and win this outright off 10st if he is even 80% fit he could easily win this.
This horse is better handicapped then Carlito Briganti when he won the Coral Hurdle at the festival last year if memory serves me right. This horses mark has been protected so much over the last few years that it is getting a bit beyond a joke. Wonder when and where he will be fully wound up because he could make a lot of people very happy.
Is there any reason to think he won't be going to Leopardstown again on the 27th? (5/1 fav last year and didn't look to be crying out for an extra 6 furlongs to me).
Is there any reason to think he won't be going to Leopardstown again on the 27th? (5/1 fav last year and didn't look to be crying out for an extra 6 furlongs to me).
I just seen his name down for the Welsh National and he is at 8/1 second fav but a lot of the irish firms are not taking bets on him so leopardstown is the likely target. I see you can get 8s about him in that two. He has a mark of 134 for that which is 5lbs out off the lowest mark last year mark in the National last year.
I seen him in cheltenham last year seemed to be only be starting going when the race was over was finishing like a train over 2mile 5f. By Presenting which gives you a serious hint for the fact that this horse needs good ground. Elliott has said fair enough that this is a national horse all over who would doubt him after silver birch.
I suggest start putting your pocket money towards him for the English National surely he can't be balloted out again.
I just seen his name down for the Welsh National and he is at 8/1 second fav but a lot of the irish firms are not taking bets on him so leopardstown is the likely target. I see you can get 8s about him in that two. He has a mark of 134 for that which
STS - no-one can deny his trainer's ability but looking at the recording of last years PP when he travelled well and moved into 3rd place after the last only to be overtaken by no less than 6 horses on the run-in it would take a serious act of faith to back him over a marathon trip even allowing for better ground (which he is most unlikely to get at either Chepstow or Leopardstown next week).
Other than the fact that they share the same trainer comparisons with Silver Birch are wide of the mark IMO. That horse had already won over 27f on soft (twice) and a Welsh National on heavy. Very little doubt about him being suited by the Aintree trip.
All about opinions, good luck if you play.
STS - no-one can deny his trainer's ability but looking at the recording of last years PP when he travelled well and moved into 3rd place after the last only to be overtaken by no less than 6 horses on the run-in it would take a serious act of faith
Only raced 6 times but now rising ten at the turn of the year. Was rated 107 before it won in Punchestown last November 2010 so has already gone up 22 lbs since then. If this horse is well in, it would want to be improving at a rate of knots . Maybe might improve for a step up in trip as clearly couldn't go the early pace in the Byrne Bros. over 2m 5f.
Only raced 6 times but now rising ten at the turn of the year.Was rated 107 before it won in Punchestown last November 2010 so has already gone up 22 lbs since then. If this horse is well in, it would want to be improving at a rate of knots .Maybe mi
From 2007-2011 he has ran 6 times, He has won 3 of those 6 races at distances of 3m 1f on Good to Firm, 2m 5f on Soft to Heavy, and 3m 1f on Heavy. His other 3 runs read 2nd to Shakalakaboomboom at Punchestown festival on good ground, 3rd to the Holmwood Legend at the cheltenham festival and 8th 14,1/2l off Majestic Concorde at Lepardstown at Christmas.
He is very lightly raced by anyones standard and I think he has a lot in hand on the handicapper. Currently 33s for the National expect him to be half at least on the day. Only big proviso will he get in!
From 2007-2011 he has ran 6 times, He has won 3 of those 6 races at distances of 3m 1f on Good to Firm, 2m 5f on Soft to Heavy, and 3m 1f on Heavy.His other 3 runs read 2nd to Shakalakaboomboom at Punchestown festival on good ground, 3rd to the Holmw
I have three horses still entered in the Welsh National at Chepstow on the 27th but Chicago Grey is likely to be my only runner in that race. He has had the race as his target for some time now and is being trained towards it.
As I said previously, he was given a break after his last run at Cheltenham but has been back in full work for a while now. He's in good form at home and we'll finalise plans for him after he works next week but, all going well, he'll travel and we're looking forward to it.
Welsh National & Paddy Power ChaseI have three horses still entered in the Welsh National at Chepstow on the 27th but Chicago Grey is likely to be my only runner in that race. He has had the race as his target for some time now and is being trained t
Beautiful Sound and Tharawaat are also entered at Chepstow but they're both likely to stay at home, where the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown on the same day is the target for both. Beautiful Sound hasn't run since being touched off by Shakalakaboomboom at Punchestown in May. He has a lovely weight in the Leopardstown race but he's not a definite runner yet. We'll have to see how he is in the next week or so before making a final decision. It's a similar situation with Tharawaat, who came out of the Troytown fine and seems to be in good form at home. He'll be near the top of the handicap if he runs, but he'll probably take his chance.
Beautiful Sound and Tharawaat are also entered at Chepstow but they're both likely to stay at home, where the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown on the same day is the target for both.Beautiful Sound hasn't run since being touched off by Shakalakaboom