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Quiscover Fontaine looks very interesting to me a very decent odds.
A good 4th in last year's Irish National, he has had 3 runs this year, all over hurdles and even won one of these over an inadequate 2 miles.
Trained by Mullins, he is owned by JPMcManus. its pretty obvious he has been laid out for Aintree, with them carefully protecting his handicap mark.
He does, for me, a very useful impersonation of a horse who jumps well, is a very well handicapped improving sort, very reminiscent of Monty's Pass.
Now all this would be so much hog wash if he was available at 16/1. You van damned near get 50/1 on here!!
A good 4th in last year's Irish National, he has had 3 runs this year, all over hurdles and even won one of these over an inadequate 2 miles.
Trained by Mullins, he is owned by JPMcManus. its pretty obvious he has been laid out for Aintree, with them carefully protecting his handicap mark.
He does, for me, a very useful impersonation of a horse who jumps well, is a very well handicapped improving sort, very reminiscent of Monty's Pass.
Now all this would be so much hog wash if he was available at 16/1. You van damned near get 50/1 on here!!
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After Western Charmer not being entered (beyond belief imo) I really like this one
The fact he's entered in the Haydock trial at least suggests to me that this is the plan
The fact he's entered in the Haydock trial at least suggests to me that this is the plan
Im sittin with an average of about 250 on this fella so prayin he turns up 
I have backed Rare Bob for this as I feel he has many positives in his favour. Prominent racing style, course form, Spring horse, hopefully a nice racing weight. 50/1 is over generous imo.
Another I have backed is Cooldine. Was formerly a very promising prospect, but unfortunately he has never progressed from his impressive RSA win. He has however dropped down the weights as a result
I was concerned about this being the target as Mrs V O'Leary has not to my knowledge ever had a runner in the race, but I noticed that he was running in the Mullins colours in his previous race.
He has the look of a Mullins plot horse for me, and I would not be in the least bit surprised if Ruby ended up on this one come the big day.
A general 50/1 with the books and bigger on here
Of those at the head of the market, West End Rocker looks the most interesting to me. Seemed to take to the fences pretty well the last two runs there and I will be surprised if he does not make the frame tbh.
Another I have backed is Cooldine. Was formerly a very promising prospect, but unfortunately he has never progressed from his impressive RSA win. He has however dropped down the weights as a result
I was concerned about this being the target as Mrs V O'Leary has not to my knowledge ever had a runner in the race, but I noticed that he was running in the Mullins colours in his previous race.
He has the look of a Mullins plot horse for me, and I would not be in the least bit surprised if Ruby ended up on this one come the big day.
A general 50/1 with the books and bigger on here
Of those at the head of the market, West End Rocker looks the most interesting to me. Seemed to take to the fences pretty well the last two runs there and I will be surprised if he does not make the frame tbh.
I'm with you on that project APOC.
COT, one caveat re QF- only had 7 chase runs, can't remember a horse winning a National off 8 chases, which is likely what he'll have had come Aintree. If this is the plan they'd have been better tootling around the back in the Paddy Power or the Thyestes than fiddling around over hurdles.
COT, one caveat re QF- only had 7 chase runs, can't remember a horse winning a National off 8 chases, which is likely what he'll have had come Aintree. If this is the plan they'd have been better tootling around the back in the Paddy Power or the Thyestes than fiddling around over hurdles.
I'm very keen on Cappa Blue.
Love the way the horse jumps and travels, and has stamina to burn.
25/1 is tempting, his current mark of 147 would put him around the 10st 11lb mark which is ideal, guaranteed to get in yet not overly burdoned.
Love the way the horse jumps and travels, and has stamina to burn.
25/1 is tempting, his current mark of 147 would put him around the 10st 11lb mark which is ideal, guaranteed to get in yet not overly burdoned.
Cappa Bleu lacks the typical experience that most National winners have had - he has only raced 5 times over fences and all o0f the winners in recent times had raced at least 8 times over fences but other than that he seems a good fit. Jumps OK and seems to stay having won at 3 miles plus
THE 2012 JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL
Class 1, Grade 3, £975,000 total prize fund. 4.15pm, Aintree, Saturday, April 14, 2012. 4m. 4f.
Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer
1) 13-P031 SYNCHRONISED (IRE) 9-11-10 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
2)11/1121- BALLABRIGGS (IRE) 11-11-09 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain
3) 115-F31 MIDNIGHT CHASE 10-11-08 Lady Clarke Neil Mulholland
4)1/10P-13 WEIRD AL (IRE) 9-11-08 Brannon, Dennis, ****, Holden Donald McCain
5) 11121/2- BURTONPORT (IRE) 8-11-07 Trevor Hemmings Nicky Henderson
6)FF-B111 QUEL ESPRIT (FR) 8-11-07 Red Barn Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
7) 2F-0511 CALGARYBAY (IRE) 9-11-06 Camilla Radford Henrietta Knight
8)106-P42 NEPTUNECOLLONGES (FR) 11-11-06 John Hales Paul Nicholls
9)F-6041U ALFA BEAT (IRE) 8-11-05 Irvin Naylor John Hanlon IRE
10)F01/35-2 PLANET OF SOUND 10-11-05 Charles Lloyd-Baker Philip Hobbs
11) 143111 BLAZING TEMPO (IRE) 8-11-04 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
12)1U30432 ROBERTO GOLDBACK (IRE) 10-11-04 Seamus Dunne Dessie Hughes IRE
13) 51U/022/- BLACK APALACHI (IRE) 13-11-03 Gerard Burke Dessie Hughes IRE
14)6/3U34-1 DEEP PURPLE 11-11-03 Paul Green Evan Williams
15)131/321- JUNIOR 9-11-02 Middleham Park Racing LI David Pipe
16)112-021 QUANTITATIVEEASING (IRE) 7-11-02 J P McManus Nicky Henderson
17)3631441 SCOTSIRISH (IRE) 11-11-02 Double R Stables Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
18) 04-5060 TARTAK (FR) 9-11-02 Power Panels Electrical Tim Vaughan
19) 2-FU111 APT APPROACH (IRE) 9-11-01 Greenstar Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
20) 6/1155-6 LITTLE JOSH (IRE) 10-11-01 Tony Bloom Nigel Twiston-Davies
21) 0F2224 PSYCHO (IRE) 11-11-00 Exors of the late C McClure Tony Martin IRE
22) 10-U303 CHICAGOGREY (IRE) 9-10-13 John Earls Gordon Elliott IRE
23) 3100-01 TATENEN (FR) 8-10-13 The Stewart Family Richard Rowe
24) 22-3011 ACCORDING TO PETE 11-10-12 Peter Nelson Malcolm Jefferson
25)F11/-111 SEABASS (IRE) 9-10-12 Gunners Syndicate Ted Walsh IRE
26) 000-112 SHAKALAKABOOMBOOM (IRE) 8-10-12 Liam Breslin Nicky Henderson
27) 11PB-P1 WEST END ROCKER (IRE) 10-10-12 Barry Winfield & Tim Leadbeater Alan King
28) 1P-1323 HECTOR'S CHOICE (FR) 8-10-11 James and Jean Potter Richard Lee
29)235/3/1-P MASSINI'S MAGUIRE (IRE) 11-10-11 Alan Peterson David Pipe
30) 14P1-B1 ON HIS OWN (IRE) 8-10-11 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE
31)2113-1P ALWAYS RIGHT (IRE) 10-10-10 John Wade John Wade
32) 3F2P/-13 CAPPA BLEU (IRE) 10-10-10 William & Angela Rucker Evan Williams
33) 5U-P20P CRESCENT ISLAND (IRE) 9-10-09 Sarah Bays Jill Scott Sarah MacEchern Nigel Twiston-Davies
34)PU-3450 RARE BOB (IRE) 10-10-09 D A Syndicate Dessie Hughes IRE
35)63F/-52P MON MOME (FR) 12-10-08 Vida Bingham Venetia Williams
36)12-133F ORGANISEDCONFUSION (IRE) 7-10-08 Grace Dunlop Arthur Moore IRE
37)3/216-B43 THE MIDNIGHT CLUB (IRE) 11-10-08 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
38)P/P-51423 TREACLE (IRE) 11-10-08 Bjorn Nielsen Tom Taaffe IRE
39)0P2F-60 ARBOR SUPREME (IRE) 10-10-07 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
40) 3/5P-2304 COOLDINE (IRE) 10-10-07 Jackie Mullins Willie Mullins IRE
41)PP//1-11 HOLD ON JULIO (IRE) 9-10-07 Mr & Mrs F Bell, N Farrell, A Marsh Alan King
42) 2130-F2 PEARLYSTEPS 9-10-06 The Glazeley Partnership Henry Daly
43)U5351-5 PRINCE DE BEAUCHENE (FR) 9-10-06 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE
44) F505-02 NICHE MARKET (IRE) 11-10-05 Graham Regan Paul Nicholls
45)//U1/2B/1- ROULEZ COOL 9-10-05 Robert Waley-Cohen Robert Waley-Cohen
46)P0-5121 STEWARTS HOUSE (IRE) 10-10-05 Double Trouble Partnership Tim Vaughan
47) 03F-30P SUNNYHILLBOY (IRE) 9-10-05 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
48)140310 UNCLE JUNIOR (IRE) 11-10-05 Mrs M McMahon Willie Mullins IRE
49)4-U2634 FAIR ALONG (GER) 10-10-04 Alan Peterson Philip Hobbs
50) F-03034 KILLYGLEN (IRE) 10-10-04 David McCammon Stuart Crawford IRE
51) 2F-4010 QUISCOVER FONTAINE (FR) 8-10-04 J P McManus Willie Mullins IRE
52)4-P1300 THARAWAAT (IRE) 7-10-04 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
53)041-044 ALWAYS WAINING (IRE) 11-10-03 Mr & Mrs Peter Douglas Peter Bowen
54)42F-63F BECAUSEICOULDNTSEE (IRE) 9-10-03 Noel Glynn Noel Glynn IRE
55)P-0P011 LE BEAU BAI (FR) 9-10-03 Glass Half Full Richard Lee
56)144/P3/4- STATE OF PLAY 12-10-03 William & Angela Rucker Evan Williams
57) 2313P2 SWING BILL (FR) 11-10-03 David Johnson David Pipe
58)FP-2661 POSTMASTER 10-10-02 The Bill & Ben Partnership Tim Vaughan
59) 30/-003P SHAKERVILZ (FR) 9-10-02 Jackie Mullins Willie Mullins IRE
60)312U5/5- THE PACKAGE 9-10-02 David Johnson David Pipe
61)1P-6P60 WYMOTT (IRE) 8-10-02 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain
62) P/5000-P BACKSTAGE (FR) 10-10-01 MPR & Capranny Syndicate Gordon Elliott IRE
63)3/P22-12 GILES CROSS (IRE) 10-10-01 KCMS Partnership Victor Dartnall
64) PP-5U65 HELLO BUD (IRE) 14-10-00 Seamus Murphy Nigel Twiston-Davies
65)431U0-P IN COMPLIANCE (IRE) 12-10-00 Dessie Hughes Dessie Hughes IRE
66) 21/10P-1 MIDNIGHT HAZE 10-10-00 Kim Bailey Racing Partnership Kim Bailey
67) 500423-F NORTHERN ALLIANCE (IRE) 11-10-00 Irish Rover Syndicate Tony Martin IRE
68) 0044B-20 VIC VENTURI (IRE) 12-10-00 Seamus Dunne Dessie Hughes IRE
69) 00-143P VIKING BLOND (FR) 7-10-00 Caroline Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
70)R-120U3 QHILIMAR (FR) 8-9-13 Whites of Coventry & Stephen Dunn Charlie Longsdon
71)PP24U6 SOME TARGET (IRE) 8-9-10 Captain Conflict Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
72) 0-31504 NEPTUNE EQUESTER 9-9-09 Koo's Racing Club Brian Ellison
73)32-3P40 ANY CURRENCY (IRE) 9-9-08 Cash Is King Martin Keighley
74)0-42026 OUR ISLAND (IRE) 7-9-07 David Fox Tim Vaughan
75)11PPP0 SCHINDLER'S GOLD (IRE) 10-9-07 Dr Richard & Laura Newland Dr Richard Newland
76)31P/-FP3 ABBEYBRANEY (IRE) 11-9-05 Sue Johnson George Bewley
77)660-P42 SADDLERS STORM (IRE) 10-9-05 Billy Moffett, R T & J McLoughlin Tony Martin IRE
78)05-34106 SMOKING ACES (IRE) 8-9-05 J P McManus Tom Taaffe IRE
79) 50-PP0F KING FONTAINE (IRE) 9-9-04 Trevor Hemmings Malcolm Jefferson
80)6-12026 ANOTHER PALM (IRE) 7-9-03 M J M Racing Syndicate Noel Meade IRE
81) 12-20P3 BALLYVESEY (IRE) 7-9-02 Roddy Owen & Paul Fullagar Peter Bowen
82)0P3-5U2 MINELLA THEATRE (IRE) 9-9-00 Middleham Park Racing XXIV & Dan Gilbert Lawney Hill
82 entries
31 Irish-trained
John Smith’s Grand National – Betfred bet: 14/1 Junior, 16/1 Ballabriggs, Synchronised, 20/1 Midnight Chase, On His Own, Prince de Beauchene, Quel Esprit, Roberto Goldback, West End Rocker, 25/1 Apt Approach, Burton Port, Calgary Bay, Cappa Bleu, Chicago Grey, Deep Purple, Hold On Julio, Little Josh, Planet Of Sound, Roulez Cool, Seabass, Shakalakaboomboom, The Midnight Club, Treacle, 33/1 According To Pete, Always Right, Alfa Beat, Always Waining, Backstage, Becauseicouldntsee, Cooldine, Giles Cross, Hector's Choice, Killyglen, Le Beau Bai, Neptune Collonges, Niche Market, Organisedconfusion, Pearlysteps, Quantitativeeasing, Quiscover Fontaine, State Of Play, Stewarts House, Sunnyhillboy, Viking Blond, Weird Al, 40/1 Arbor Supreme, Ballyvesey, Blazing Tempo, Fair Along, Massini's Maguire, Mon Mome, Postmaster, Rare Bob, Some Target, Tatenen, The Package, Uncle Junior, Vic Venturi, 50/1 Another Palm, Any Currency, Black Apalachi, Hello Bud, Midnight Haze, Northern Alliance, Our Island, Qhilimar, Scotsirish, Shakervilz, Swing Bill, Tartak, Tharawaat, Wymott, 66/1 Crescent Island, In Compliance, Psycho, Saddlers Storm, Schindler's Gold, 100 Abbeybraney, King Fontaine, Minella Theatre, Neptune Equester, Smoking Aces
Class 1, Grade 3, £975,000 total prize fund. 4.15pm, Aintree, Saturday, April 14, 2012. 4m. 4f.
Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer
1) 13-P031 SYNCHRONISED (IRE) 9-11-10 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
2)11/1121- BALLABRIGGS (IRE) 11-11-09 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain
3) 115-F31 MIDNIGHT CHASE 10-11-08 Lady Clarke Neil Mulholland
4)1/10P-13 WEIRD AL (IRE) 9-11-08 Brannon, Dennis, ****, Holden Donald McCain
5) 11121/2- BURTONPORT (IRE) 8-11-07 Trevor Hemmings Nicky Henderson
6)FF-B111 QUEL ESPRIT (FR) 8-11-07 Red Barn Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
7) 2F-0511 CALGARYBAY (IRE) 9-11-06 Camilla Radford Henrietta Knight
8)106-P42 NEPTUNECOLLONGES (FR) 11-11-06 John Hales Paul Nicholls
9)F-6041U ALFA BEAT (IRE) 8-11-05 Irvin Naylor John Hanlon IRE
10)F01/35-2 PLANET OF SOUND 10-11-05 Charles Lloyd-Baker Philip Hobbs
11) 143111 BLAZING TEMPO (IRE) 8-11-04 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
12)1U30432 ROBERTO GOLDBACK (IRE) 10-11-04 Seamus Dunne Dessie Hughes IRE
13) 51U/022/- BLACK APALACHI (IRE) 13-11-03 Gerard Burke Dessie Hughes IRE
14)6/3U34-1 DEEP PURPLE 11-11-03 Paul Green Evan Williams
15)131/321- JUNIOR 9-11-02 Middleham Park Racing LI David Pipe
16)112-021 QUANTITATIVEEASING (IRE) 7-11-02 J P McManus Nicky Henderson
17)3631441 SCOTSIRISH (IRE) 11-11-02 Double R Stables Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
18) 04-5060 TARTAK (FR) 9-11-02 Power Panels Electrical Tim Vaughan
19) 2-FU111 APT APPROACH (IRE) 9-11-01 Greenstar Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
20) 6/1155-6 LITTLE JOSH (IRE) 10-11-01 Tony Bloom Nigel Twiston-Davies
21) 0F2224 PSYCHO (IRE) 11-11-00 Exors of the late C McClure Tony Martin IRE
22) 10-U303 CHICAGOGREY (IRE) 9-10-13 John Earls Gordon Elliott IRE
23) 3100-01 TATENEN (FR) 8-10-13 The Stewart Family Richard Rowe
24) 22-3011 ACCORDING TO PETE 11-10-12 Peter Nelson Malcolm Jefferson
25)F11/-111 SEABASS (IRE) 9-10-12 Gunners Syndicate Ted Walsh IRE
26) 000-112 SHAKALAKABOOMBOOM (IRE) 8-10-12 Liam Breslin Nicky Henderson
27) 11PB-P1 WEST END ROCKER (IRE) 10-10-12 Barry Winfield & Tim Leadbeater Alan King
28) 1P-1323 HECTOR'S CHOICE (FR) 8-10-11 James and Jean Potter Richard Lee
29)235/3/1-P MASSINI'S MAGUIRE (IRE) 11-10-11 Alan Peterson David Pipe
30) 14P1-B1 ON HIS OWN (IRE) 8-10-11 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE
31)2113-1P ALWAYS RIGHT (IRE) 10-10-10 John Wade John Wade
32) 3F2P/-13 CAPPA BLEU (IRE) 10-10-10 William & Angela Rucker Evan Williams
33) 5U-P20P CRESCENT ISLAND (IRE) 9-10-09 Sarah Bays Jill Scott Sarah MacEchern Nigel Twiston-Davies
34)PU-3450 RARE BOB (IRE) 10-10-09 D A Syndicate Dessie Hughes IRE
35)63F/-52P MON MOME (FR) 12-10-08 Vida Bingham Venetia Williams
36)12-133F ORGANISEDCONFUSION (IRE) 7-10-08 Grace Dunlop Arthur Moore IRE
37)3/216-B43 THE MIDNIGHT CLUB (IRE) 11-10-08 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
38)P/P-51423 TREACLE (IRE) 11-10-08 Bjorn Nielsen Tom Taaffe IRE
39)0P2F-60 ARBOR SUPREME (IRE) 10-10-07 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
40) 3/5P-2304 COOLDINE (IRE) 10-10-07 Jackie Mullins Willie Mullins IRE
41)PP//1-11 HOLD ON JULIO (IRE) 9-10-07 Mr & Mrs F Bell, N Farrell, A Marsh Alan King
42) 2130-F2 PEARLYSTEPS 9-10-06 The Glazeley Partnership Henry Daly
43)U5351-5 PRINCE DE BEAUCHENE (FR) 9-10-06 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE
44) F505-02 NICHE MARKET (IRE) 11-10-05 Graham Regan Paul Nicholls
45)//U1/2B/1- ROULEZ COOL 9-10-05 Robert Waley-Cohen Robert Waley-Cohen
46)P0-5121 STEWARTS HOUSE (IRE) 10-10-05 Double Trouble Partnership Tim Vaughan
47) 03F-30P SUNNYHILLBOY (IRE) 9-10-05 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
48)140310 UNCLE JUNIOR (IRE) 11-10-05 Mrs M McMahon Willie Mullins IRE
49)4-U2634 FAIR ALONG (GER) 10-10-04 Alan Peterson Philip Hobbs
50) F-03034 KILLYGLEN (IRE) 10-10-04 David McCammon Stuart Crawford IRE
51) 2F-4010 QUISCOVER FONTAINE (FR) 8-10-04 J P McManus Willie Mullins IRE
52)4-P1300 THARAWAAT (IRE) 7-10-04 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
53)041-044 ALWAYS WAINING (IRE) 11-10-03 Mr & Mrs Peter Douglas Peter Bowen
54)42F-63F BECAUSEICOULDNTSEE (IRE) 9-10-03 Noel Glynn Noel Glynn IRE
55)P-0P011 LE BEAU BAI (FR) 9-10-03 Glass Half Full Richard Lee
56)144/P3/4- STATE OF PLAY 12-10-03 William & Angela Rucker Evan Williams
57) 2313P2 SWING BILL (FR) 11-10-03 David Johnson David Pipe
58)FP-2661 POSTMASTER 10-10-02 The Bill & Ben Partnership Tim Vaughan
59) 30/-003P SHAKERVILZ (FR) 9-10-02 Jackie Mullins Willie Mullins IRE
60)312U5/5- THE PACKAGE 9-10-02 David Johnson David Pipe
61)1P-6P60 WYMOTT (IRE) 8-10-02 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain
62) P/5000-P BACKSTAGE (FR) 10-10-01 MPR & Capranny Syndicate Gordon Elliott IRE
63)3/P22-12 GILES CROSS (IRE) 10-10-01 KCMS Partnership Victor Dartnall
64) PP-5U65 HELLO BUD (IRE) 14-10-00 Seamus Murphy Nigel Twiston-Davies
65)431U0-P IN COMPLIANCE (IRE) 12-10-00 Dessie Hughes Dessie Hughes IRE
66) 21/10P-1 MIDNIGHT HAZE 10-10-00 Kim Bailey Racing Partnership Kim Bailey
67) 500423-F NORTHERN ALLIANCE (IRE) 11-10-00 Irish Rover Syndicate Tony Martin IRE
68) 0044B-20 VIC VENTURI (IRE) 12-10-00 Seamus Dunne Dessie Hughes IRE
69) 00-143P VIKING BLOND (FR) 7-10-00 Caroline Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
70)R-120U3 QHILIMAR (FR) 8-9-13 Whites of Coventry & Stephen Dunn Charlie Longsdon
71)PP24U6 SOME TARGET (IRE) 8-9-10 Captain Conflict Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
72) 0-31504 NEPTUNE EQUESTER 9-9-09 Koo's Racing Club Brian Ellison
73)32-3P40 ANY CURRENCY (IRE) 9-9-08 Cash Is King Martin Keighley
74)0-42026 OUR ISLAND (IRE) 7-9-07 David Fox Tim Vaughan
75)11PPP0 SCHINDLER'S GOLD (IRE) 10-9-07 Dr Richard & Laura Newland Dr Richard Newland
76)31P/-FP3 ABBEYBRANEY (IRE) 11-9-05 Sue Johnson George Bewley
77)660-P42 SADDLERS STORM (IRE) 10-9-05 Billy Moffett, R T & J McLoughlin Tony Martin IRE
78)05-34106 SMOKING ACES (IRE) 8-9-05 J P McManus Tom Taaffe IRE
79) 50-PP0F KING FONTAINE (IRE) 9-9-04 Trevor Hemmings Malcolm Jefferson
80)6-12026 ANOTHER PALM (IRE) 7-9-03 M J M Racing Syndicate Noel Meade IRE
81) 12-20P3 BALLYVESEY (IRE) 7-9-02 Roddy Owen & Paul Fullagar Peter Bowen
82)0P3-5U2 MINELLA THEATRE (IRE) 9-9-00 Middleham Park Racing XXIV & Dan Gilbert Lawney Hill
82 entries
31 Irish-trained
John Smith’s Grand National – Betfred bet: 14/1 Junior, 16/1 Ballabriggs, Synchronised, 20/1 Midnight Chase, On His Own, Prince de Beauchene, Quel Esprit, Roberto Goldback, West End Rocker, 25/1 Apt Approach, Burton Port, Calgary Bay, Cappa Bleu, Chicago Grey, Deep Purple, Hold On Julio, Little Josh, Planet Of Sound, Roulez Cool, Seabass, Shakalakaboomboom, The Midnight Club, Treacle, 33/1 According To Pete, Always Right, Alfa Beat, Always Waining, Backstage, Becauseicouldntsee, Cooldine, Giles Cross, Hector's Choice, Killyglen, Le Beau Bai, Neptune Collonges, Niche Market, Organisedconfusion, Pearlysteps, Quantitativeeasing, Quiscover Fontaine, State Of Play, Stewarts House, Sunnyhillboy, Viking Blond, Weird Al, 40/1 Arbor Supreme, Ballyvesey, Blazing Tempo, Fair Along, Massini's Maguire, Mon Mome, Postmaster, Rare Bob, Some Target, Tatenen, The Package, Uncle Junior, Vic Venturi, 50/1 Another Palm, Any Currency, Black Apalachi, Hello Bud, Midnight Haze, Northern Alliance, Our Island, Qhilimar, Scotsirish, Shakervilz, Swing Bill, Tartak, Tharawaat, Wymott, 66/1 Crescent Island, In Compliance, Psycho, Saddlers Storm, Schindler's Gold, 100 Abbeybraney, King Fontaine, Minella Theatre, Neptune Equester, Smoking Aces
that is nonsense the topweight is rated 168 and a huge number are in the handicap proper - this is a very high quality field for a handicap
i like always right ran a cracker in the scottish last season not going in yet as he emptied very quickly at wetherby something must have been amiss and will hope he runs an adequate race at haydock on saturday to cement my optimism
Quiscover Fontaine allotted the "stopper" of 10 stones 4 lbs. I was expecting him to get at least 4 lbs higher. He is actually running off a pound lower than when he ran such a promising 4th in the Irish National.
If BJG is till sitting on odds of 250 I would advise hang on to your nerve. This has the makings of a really good old fashioned gamble and a quite likely contender for winning it too.
If BJG is till sitting on odds of 250 I would advise hang on to your nerve. This has the makings of a really good old fashioned gamble and a quite likely contender for winning it too.
nothing wrong with getting on at 250 but doubtful stayer for me yetn to win past 2m 4
Cooldine 17lbs lower than his peak rating and appears to have been dropped another 3lbs after his public schooling session. Definitely interesting :)
Just my opinion Judo - it is a forum after all :)
To my eyes, there seems a lot of 'old rogues' there:
Cooldine, Neptune Collonges, Deep Purple, Scotsirish etc.
Personally im not very excited by it at this stage!
To my eyes, there seems a lot of 'old rogues' there:
Cooldine, Neptune Collonges, Deep Purple, Scotsirish etc.
Personally im not very excited by it at this stage!
you were talking about quality which has nothing to do with whether you are excited or not
I will bet you that the BHA talk about this being the highest quality running ever with the highest ratings blah blah
certainly not the "poorest renewal in years" which is plainly nonsense. You are welcome to your opinion but when it is plainly wrong by measurable factors then I will point that out
You watch the interviews which are bound to come out - this is a very high quality race and that is supported by the facts
I will bet you that the BHA talk about this being the highest quality running ever with the highest ratings blah blah
certainly not the "poorest renewal in years" which is plainly nonsense. You are welcome to your opinion but when it is plainly wrong by measurable factors then I will point that out
You watch the interviews which are bound to come out - this is a very high quality race and that is supported by the facts
Im not getting into tittle tattle. In my opinion, which I am fully entitled too, from previous yrs entries, at this stage I feel The GN is poor. Synchronised, Rare Bob, Little Josh or any other horses I have previously mentioned do not excite me very much and I certainly feel there have been previous recent renewals with more quality in them than the top weights. Just my opinion however :)
WHAT THEY SAID............
Phil Smith, BHA Handicapper
"I was really impressed with Synchronised and Quel Esprit but when you analyse what they beat you've got to ask a few questions so I haven't gone overboard in putting them highly up the ratings. It's very important those horses at the top of the handicap have an equal chance as those on 10 stone. I think on the overall balance of his form Synchronised is a better horse than Ballabriggs."
Jonjo O'Neill (Synchronised 11st 10lb, Arbor Supreme 10st 7lb, Sunnyhillboy 10st 5lbs)
"If it was a normal handicap he's (Synchronised) not too badly in really, he's given a bit of a chance. He stays really well and we now know he goes on better ground. We'll definitely look at the Gold Cup first and see then. I can see him running a very big race. Arbor Supreme I don't know a lot about but we hope for the best. Sunnyhillboy's a decent little horse and he's an attractive weight."
Paul Nicholls (Neptune Collonges 11st 6lb, Niche Market 10st 4lb)
"Both have got weights I half expected. Neptune is too consistent for his own good and he would seem to have plenty to me, but he did run well in a Scottish National with a big weight so he is used to it.
"Niche Market will get in and would appear to have a lovely weight."
David Pipe (Junior 11st 2lbs, Massini's Maguire 10st 11lbs, Swing Bill 10st 3lbs, The Package 10st 2lbs)
"We are right where we thought we would be - Junior has enough weight with 11-2 but the handicapper always compresses the weights to encourage the best possible field. That means that all of our entries are badly off with several of the topweights but that is not a new scenario and the handicapper faces a very difficult task in trying to make the race as competitive as possible without alienating those further down the handicap. Massini's Maguire has been a very high class horse throughout his entire career and a weight of 10-11 looks reasonable enough, while Swing Bill (10-3) and The Package (10-2) look to have nice racing weights, although they will need plenty above them to come out to get a run."
Donald McCain (Ballabriggs 11st9lbs, Wymott10st 2lbs, Weird Al 11st8lbs)
"Although Ballabriggs has been given a big weight (11-9), I am not surprised and I certainly haven't got a problem with it. He's won the race before, he's a big strong horse who can carry the weight and I am hoping to give him a racecourse gallop at Haydock at the weekend and then it's hopefully on to Kelso in early March for his reappearance. Weird Al has been given a fair weight (11-8) but, to be honest, I am not thinking any further than the Cheltenham Gold Cup with him. Wymott (10-2) would have a nice racing weight if he was able to get in but I would think it was unlikely that he would get a run."
Gordon Elliott (Chicago Grey 10st 13lb, Tharawaat 10st 4lb, Backstage 10st 1lb)
"Chicago Grey's got 10-13, which looks a great weight. I said if he got anything under 11 stone I'd be delighted, so I'm certainly not complaining. It's been the plan for him for a long time and his prep is coming along well. Tharawaat got 10-4, which is a weight he could get in off, but I wouldn't want to run him on fast ground. Backstage's been given 10-1 and he'll probably struggle to get into the race off that weight."
Henrietta Knight (Calgary Bay 11st 6lb)
"I'd like to run him. The horse is very well and the weight is okay as he's a big, big horse. He didn't get any further than fence four last year but that's not because he disregarded the fence he just jumped it too well. I'd be happy to run him on that weight. My inclination would be to go straight to Aintree with a fresh horse."
Neil Mulholland (Midnight Chase 11st 8lb)
"He probably is a good type for the National. It would be nice to have a lighter weight but he's got it for a reason. Aintree is Plan B - Cheltenham is Plan A so we'll go for the Gold Cup and see what happens there first."
Evan Williams (Deep Purple 11st 3lb, State Of Play 10st 3lb)
"I don't think we can complain on some of his (Deep Purple's) form. He's entered in the trial at Haydock, at Ascot and in the Racing Plus Chase and he'll run in one of those before the National. He's being trained for the Grand National. We've either done things very right or very wrong with State Of Play. Perhaps we should've won a Grand National with him or we've done well to be placed in three. Experience counts for a lot."
Tim Vaughan (Tartak 11st 2lb, Stewarts House 10st 5lb, Postmaster 10st 2lb, Our Island 9st 7lb)
"Stewarts House won over the National fences in the Grand Sefton and he loves the track. We'll take stock with Tartak and see how he gets on at Cheltenham. Stewarts House is definitely an intended runner and he has his prep run in the Byrne Group Plate at Cheltenham - I say a prep, I'd love to win that too!"
Dessie Hughes (Roberto Goldback 11st 4lb, Black Apalachi 11st 3lb, Rare Bob 10st 9lb, In Compliance 10st, Vic Venturi 10st)
"Roberto Goldback is probably entitled to have that sort of weight on his level of form, but I think Black Apalachi's weight is a disgrace.
"He hasn't run in almost two years, he's a 13-year-old now and they haven't dropped him a pound.
"He's been round Aintree four times and has been unlucky a couple of times, but he can't be as good a horse as he was two years ago.
"The owners will be very disappointed and we'll have to have a think about whether we run him now.
"Rare Bob will probably run, along with Roberto Goldback. The other two are going to struggle to get in."
Tony Martin (Psycho 11st, Northern Alliance 10st, Saddlers Storm 9st 5lb)
"They would all be intended runners if they get in, but I'll we'll just have to see where we are nearer the day.
"Psycho would be running off a mark of 153. He's rated 148 in Ireland, so it's not all that different and a few pounds isn't going to make a lot of difference in a National."
Tom Taaffe (Treacle 10st 8lb)
"Treacle has come out of the Hennessy well and the Grand National is absolutely the plan.
"He has gone up a stone in Ireland due to that run and otherwise he wouldn't have got into the National and that's why he ran at Leopardstown. He actually needed to run a good race and thank God, he's run his best race ever.
"He was bought as a three-year-old for the owner Mr Nielsen with the intention to being a National horse some day but we didn't think that it would take eight years!,
"He jumps and stays which is what you've got to do to have a chance in the National.
"At this stage we're just trying to get there but it's still a lottery and you've got to look out for fallers and be lucky enough not to fall yourself. Everything has to fall into place and he'll go straight there now."
Henry Daly (Pearlysteps 10st 6lb)
"He should get in at least. It's an entry we've made but at this stage it's too early to say whether he's a definite runner or not.
"He's not certain to run, it's just an entry at this stage but the race is in our mind."
Stuart Crawford (Killyglen 10st 4lb)
"Off that weight you'd be fairly hopeful he'd get in the race, and that is the main thing.
"The horse is in good form and he'll probably have a run somewhere during the first weekend in March.
"He could go the same route as last year and run in the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster, or he could go to the Premier Chase at Kelso or a handicap chase in Leopardstown.
"Doncaster would probably be the favourite option at this stage, but it would be ground dependant.
"He nearly made it round Aintree in the Grand National last year and he's a good jumper. With that bit more experience under his belt, I'd be hopeful he would get round this time and run a big race."
Noel Glynn (Becauseicouldntsee 10st 3lb)
"He's going to have a run over hurdles tomorrow just to get his confidence back. He had a heavy fall in the National last year and in the Paddy Power.
"He had 10st 8lb in the National last year so he's a few pounds lower but that means he's not certain to get in.
"The National is his target and he'll run in the Kim Muir at at Cheltenham first. It's a nice weight."
John Hanlon (Alfa Beat 11st 5lb)
"I'm very happy with his weight but I wanted 11st!
"He was unlucky at Leopardstown the last day when he just clipped heels and went down on the flat. He's in great form at the moment and he'll have a run in Down Royal in about three weeks.
"Barry Geraghty was very happy with him the last day until he was brought down and I'm hoping he'll ride but obviously it depends on what his boss (Nicky Henderson) runs.
"Good ground is vital to him and he should get it over there. The National has been his aim all year."
John Wade (Always Right 10st 10lb):
"It looks a nice racing weight and at least he's guaranteed to get a run.
"I suppose he is quite hard to assess as he didn't run well at Wetherby last time for some reason and we don't really know why.
"He seems in good form at the moment and the plan is for him to run in the Grand National Trial at Haydock on Saturday, so hopefully he can bounce back there."
Malcom Jefferson (According To Pete 10st 12lb)
"He'll have one run somewhere before the National and he'll only run there if I'm happy with his weight. Nobody knows if the horse will stay but you don't train them any different."
Arthur Moore (Organisedconfusion 10st 8lbs)
"Very happy with that it's a nice racing weight. Hopefully we'll get a run. We hope to run at Leopardstown on Sunday fortnight or the following week at Naas and if all goes well we'll head on to Aintree."
Phil Smith, BHA Handicapper
"I was really impressed with Synchronised and Quel Esprit but when you analyse what they beat you've got to ask a few questions so I haven't gone overboard in putting them highly up the ratings. It's very important those horses at the top of the handicap have an equal chance as those on 10 stone. I think on the overall balance of his form Synchronised is a better horse than Ballabriggs."
Jonjo O'Neill (Synchronised 11st 10lb, Arbor Supreme 10st 7lb, Sunnyhillboy 10st 5lbs)
"If it was a normal handicap he's (Synchronised) not too badly in really, he's given a bit of a chance. He stays really well and we now know he goes on better ground. We'll definitely look at the Gold Cup first and see then. I can see him running a very big race. Arbor Supreme I don't know a lot about but we hope for the best. Sunnyhillboy's a decent little horse and he's an attractive weight."
Paul Nicholls (Neptune Collonges 11st 6lb, Niche Market 10st 4lb)
"Both have got weights I half expected. Neptune is too consistent for his own good and he would seem to have plenty to me, but he did run well in a Scottish National with a big weight so he is used to it.
"Niche Market will get in and would appear to have a lovely weight."
David Pipe (Junior 11st 2lbs, Massini's Maguire 10st 11lbs, Swing Bill 10st 3lbs, The Package 10st 2lbs)
"We are right where we thought we would be - Junior has enough weight with 11-2 but the handicapper always compresses the weights to encourage the best possible field. That means that all of our entries are badly off with several of the topweights but that is not a new scenario and the handicapper faces a very difficult task in trying to make the race as competitive as possible without alienating those further down the handicap. Massini's Maguire has been a very high class horse throughout his entire career and a weight of 10-11 looks reasonable enough, while Swing Bill (10-3) and The Package (10-2) look to have nice racing weights, although they will need plenty above them to come out to get a run."
Donald McCain (Ballabriggs 11st9lbs, Wymott10st 2lbs, Weird Al 11st8lbs)
"Although Ballabriggs has been given a big weight (11-9), I am not surprised and I certainly haven't got a problem with it. He's won the race before, he's a big strong horse who can carry the weight and I am hoping to give him a racecourse gallop at Haydock at the weekend and then it's hopefully on to Kelso in early March for his reappearance. Weird Al has been given a fair weight (11-8) but, to be honest, I am not thinking any further than the Cheltenham Gold Cup with him. Wymott (10-2) would have a nice racing weight if he was able to get in but I would think it was unlikely that he would get a run."
Gordon Elliott (Chicago Grey 10st 13lb, Tharawaat 10st 4lb, Backstage 10st 1lb)
"Chicago Grey's got 10-13, which looks a great weight. I said if he got anything under 11 stone I'd be delighted, so I'm certainly not complaining. It's been the plan for him for a long time and his prep is coming along well. Tharawaat got 10-4, which is a weight he could get in off, but I wouldn't want to run him on fast ground. Backstage's been given 10-1 and he'll probably struggle to get into the race off that weight."
Henrietta Knight (Calgary Bay 11st 6lb)
"I'd like to run him. The horse is very well and the weight is okay as he's a big, big horse. He didn't get any further than fence four last year but that's not because he disregarded the fence he just jumped it too well. I'd be happy to run him on that weight. My inclination would be to go straight to Aintree with a fresh horse."
Neil Mulholland (Midnight Chase 11st 8lb)
"He probably is a good type for the National. It would be nice to have a lighter weight but he's got it for a reason. Aintree is Plan B - Cheltenham is Plan A so we'll go for the Gold Cup and see what happens there first."
Evan Williams (Deep Purple 11st 3lb, State Of Play 10st 3lb)
"I don't think we can complain on some of his (Deep Purple's) form. He's entered in the trial at Haydock, at Ascot and in the Racing Plus Chase and he'll run in one of those before the National. He's being trained for the Grand National. We've either done things very right or very wrong with State Of Play. Perhaps we should've won a Grand National with him or we've done well to be placed in three. Experience counts for a lot."
Tim Vaughan (Tartak 11st 2lb, Stewarts House 10st 5lb, Postmaster 10st 2lb, Our Island 9st 7lb)
"Stewarts House won over the National fences in the Grand Sefton and he loves the track. We'll take stock with Tartak and see how he gets on at Cheltenham. Stewarts House is definitely an intended runner and he has his prep run in the Byrne Group Plate at Cheltenham - I say a prep, I'd love to win that too!"
Dessie Hughes (Roberto Goldback 11st 4lb, Black Apalachi 11st 3lb, Rare Bob 10st 9lb, In Compliance 10st, Vic Venturi 10st)
"Roberto Goldback is probably entitled to have that sort of weight on his level of form, but I think Black Apalachi's weight is a disgrace.
"He hasn't run in almost two years, he's a 13-year-old now and they haven't dropped him a pound.
"He's been round Aintree four times and has been unlucky a couple of times, but he can't be as good a horse as he was two years ago.
"The owners will be very disappointed and we'll have to have a think about whether we run him now.
"Rare Bob will probably run, along with Roberto Goldback. The other two are going to struggle to get in."
Tony Martin (Psycho 11st, Northern Alliance 10st, Saddlers Storm 9st 5lb)
"They would all be intended runners if they get in, but I'll we'll just have to see where we are nearer the day.
"Psycho would be running off a mark of 153. He's rated 148 in Ireland, so it's not all that different and a few pounds isn't going to make a lot of difference in a National."
Tom Taaffe (Treacle 10st 8lb)
"Treacle has come out of the Hennessy well and the Grand National is absolutely the plan.
"He has gone up a stone in Ireland due to that run and otherwise he wouldn't have got into the National and that's why he ran at Leopardstown. He actually needed to run a good race and thank God, he's run his best race ever.
"He was bought as a three-year-old for the owner Mr Nielsen with the intention to being a National horse some day but we didn't think that it would take eight years!,
"He jumps and stays which is what you've got to do to have a chance in the National.
"At this stage we're just trying to get there but it's still a lottery and you've got to look out for fallers and be lucky enough not to fall yourself. Everything has to fall into place and he'll go straight there now."
Henry Daly (Pearlysteps 10st 6lb)
"He should get in at least. It's an entry we've made but at this stage it's too early to say whether he's a definite runner or not.
"He's not certain to run, it's just an entry at this stage but the race is in our mind."
Stuart Crawford (Killyglen 10st 4lb)
"Off that weight you'd be fairly hopeful he'd get in the race, and that is the main thing.
"The horse is in good form and he'll probably have a run somewhere during the first weekend in March.
"He could go the same route as last year and run in the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster, or he could go to the Premier Chase at Kelso or a handicap chase in Leopardstown.
"Doncaster would probably be the favourite option at this stage, but it would be ground dependant.
"He nearly made it round Aintree in the Grand National last year and he's a good jumper. With that bit more experience under his belt, I'd be hopeful he would get round this time and run a big race."
Noel Glynn (Becauseicouldntsee 10st 3lb)
"He's going to have a run over hurdles tomorrow just to get his confidence back. He had a heavy fall in the National last year and in the Paddy Power.
"He had 10st 8lb in the National last year so he's a few pounds lower but that means he's not certain to get in.
"The National is his target and he'll run in the Kim Muir at at Cheltenham first. It's a nice weight."
John Hanlon (Alfa Beat 11st 5lb)
"I'm very happy with his weight but I wanted 11st!
"He was unlucky at Leopardstown the last day when he just clipped heels and went down on the flat. He's in great form at the moment and he'll have a run in Down Royal in about three weeks.
"Barry Geraghty was very happy with him the last day until he was brought down and I'm hoping he'll ride but obviously it depends on what his boss (Nicky Henderson) runs.
"Good ground is vital to him and he should get it over there. The National has been his aim all year."
John Wade (Always Right 10st 10lb):
"It looks a nice racing weight and at least he's guaranteed to get a run.
"I suppose he is quite hard to assess as he didn't run well at Wetherby last time for some reason and we don't really know why.
"He seems in good form at the moment and the plan is for him to run in the Grand National Trial at Haydock on Saturday, so hopefully he can bounce back there."
Malcom Jefferson (According To Pete 10st 12lb)
"He'll have one run somewhere before the National and he'll only run there if I'm happy with his weight. Nobody knows if the horse will stay but you don't train them any different."
Arthur Moore (Organisedconfusion 10st 8lbs)
"Very happy with that it's a nice racing weight. Hopefully we'll get a run. We hope to run at Leopardstown on Sunday fortnight or the following week at Naas and if all goes well we'll head on to Aintree."
Like the look of PLanet of Sound. Know there will be questions about stamina but certainly got the class.
Cranedo do you think that the reason you are not excited is that beyond LR and KS the staying chasers seem average. I agree that it looks odd to see Synchronised top weeight but then again he is 3rd fav for the Gold Cup. Also in the field are 2 previous winners, RSA winner,2 Irish Nat winners, Irish Hennesy, 2 Charlie Hall winners,Paddy Power winner, Beecher winner, Topham winner,Argento winner.Plus many other improving horses. I don't know what you need to have a goodentry stage but this looks as good as it gets to me.
Anyone recall rules for deciding priority order for horses on the same weight hoping to get into the race? Race numbers 53-57 are all on 10-03 and I'd love to see Always Waining get a run. Question is...according to the rules is he 53 or could he be as low as 57?
Phil Smith decides the order just before the race (at the 5 day confirmation stage, I think), if the situation arises. Last year, Skippers Brig and Golden Kite were put in ahead of Always Waining, which upset Peter Bowen mightily.
Yeah, it's basically the highest rated at the time of the horses who are tied in the National weights.
It is also the most recent form, winner or nearest the winner in it's prep.
Hence SKIPPERS BRIG given the nod last year.
Hence SKIPPERS BRIG given the nod last year.
Many thanks Guys. On basis of bazzar's point that means that AW would slip down to closer to 57, unless he does better in a prep run.
Many thanks Guys. On basis of bazzar's point that means that AW would slip down to closer to 57, unless he does better in a prep run.
I expect 10-3 is where the cut off will be. But of course you get your money back if the horse is declared and then ballotted out. There are also 4(?) reserves for the National nowadays after the final declarations.
cryoftruth
05 Feb 12 11:50
Joined:
22 Mar 04
| Topic/replies: 1,905 | Blogger: cryoftruth's blog
Quiscover Fontaine looks very interesting to me a very decent odds.
A good 4th in last year's Irish National, he has had 3 runs this year, all over hurdles and even won one of these over an inadequate 2 miles.
Trained by Mullins, he is owned by JPMcManus. its pretty obvious he has been laid out for Aintree, with them carefully protecting his handicap mark.
He does, for me, a very useful impersonation of a horse who jumps well, is a very well handicapped improving sort, very reminiscent of Monty's Pass.
Now all this would be so much hog wash if he was available at 16/1. You van damned near get 50/1 on here!!
No expert on the horses but like to get a bit of early interest on the national. Is this a likely runner? Out to 55 since original post.
Thanks.
05 Feb 12 11:50
Joined:
22 Mar 04
| Topic/replies: 1,905 | Blogger: cryoftruth's blog
Quiscover Fontaine looks very interesting to me a very decent odds.
A good 4th in last year's Irish National, he has had 3 runs this year, all over hurdles and even won one of these over an inadequate 2 miles.
Trained by Mullins, he is owned by JPMcManus. its pretty obvious he has been laid out for Aintree, with them carefully protecting his handicap mark.
He does, for me, a very useful impersonation of a horse who jumps well, is a very well handicapped improving sort, very reminiscent of Monty's Pass.
Now all this would be so much hog wash if he was available at 16/1. You van damned near get 50/1 on here!!
No expert on the horses but like to get a bit of early interest on the national. Is this a likely runner? Out to 55 since original post.
Thanks.
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