Backed both michel and Alfie contempt for punters on the last named by the trainer

zil,are you ND on twitter ?

27Dec11 Chepstow ( 24 Hy ,RPR134 )
Aflie Spinner is hopefully a horse who will come back for the Welsh National next year. The longer the trip and the wetter the ground the better he is. - Nick Williams, trainer

Another trainer spouting crap

harry - in all honesty my distrust of Michel Le Bon is based on what was a very high expectation when he first returned. PN bigged him up and I fell for it and went in deep and I just dont think he has lived up to expectation. Albeit may have been a false expectation I set and thus I am letting emotion get in the way of logic. Net net if he wins I will have learned another hard lesson in the school of hard knocks. Good luck with your bet. You are happy with MLB and I am happy with my two. Game on.

Too True Turnip, wont be backing another charge of the mans Ante Post again, lesson learned

No,backed him a while ago here,really can't believe he's pulled him out tbh,the race is made for him

horrible year for ante post punting and feel for alfie punters as it was stated this was the aim so to pull him out is disappointing for supporters...a sick game at times

hayling fair enough and I can see why yourself and others have lost the faith...I on the other hand hadn't backed him at all till the hennessy and done me nuts on him being a non runner but the package backed the form up from a much higher mark, the pair pulling clear...and this is not the hennessy the class of field is mediocre in comparison...he was pulled from the hennessy because of tidal bay imo and he wouldn't of won on a line through the package but it shouldn't take away from an excellent comeback (pair pulled a distance clear) and he is still well weighted for me and think he has been crying out for staying distances as is basically a same

for what it is worth universal soldier isn't a bad shout but off of 138 he has it all to do after winning a minor race a towcester...not sure of his temperament either after looking like wanting to run out with a circuit to go at haydock...he has enough weight. I hope monbeg dude doesn't bite me in the bum but am not keen on the race he won until proved otherwise...but respect him down the weights just not sure he will have the class

viking blond isn't overly big but is well weighted he was my pick for this 2 months ago but appears was everyone elses judging by his horrible price...he isn't for me now however although wouldn't surprise me if he ran well

Any acceptors published, please?

Thought it was 48 hour decs this afternoon, turnip.

the sandown race that a few of these have been entered for is 48 hrs,but not this one.

is Across the Bay running or at Sandown?

They seem to have left Alfie Spinner in..........

2nd preference race Rydal


1     Across The Bay (IRE) (Sheepskin C/P) (1st Preference)    Donald McCain    11st 12lb    Jason Maguire
2     Giles Cross (IRE)    Victor Dartnall    11st 3lb    Denis O'Regan
3     Teaforthree (IRE)    Rebecca Curtis    11st 3lb    A. P. McCoy
4     Michel Le Bon (FR)    Paul Nicholls    11st 3lb    R. Walsh
5     Soll    Jo Hughes    10st 12lb    Mark Grant
6     Universal Soldier (IRE) (Blinkers)    Charlie Longsdon    10st 11lb    Wayne Hutchinson
7     Alfie Spinner (IRE) (2nd Preference)    Nick Williams    10st 11lb    Noel Fehily
8     Master Overseer (IRE) (Tongue Strap, Sheepskin C/P)    David Pipe    10st 10lb (4lb ex)    Tom Scudamore
9     Viking Blond (FR) (Blinkers)    Nigel Twiston-Davies    10st 7lb    Sam Twiston-Davies
10     Jadanli (IRE)    Paul John Gilligan, Ireland    10st 5lb    Alain Cawley
11     Mon Mome (FR)    Venetia Williams    10st 5lb    Liam Treadwell
12     Triggerman (Sheepskin C/P)    Philip Hobbs    10st 3lb    Richard Johnson
13     Monbeg Dude (IRE)    Michael Scudamore    10st 1lb    Paul Carberry
14     Harouet (FR) (Sheepskin C/P)    Peter Bowen    10st 1lb    D. J. Casey
15     Sona Sasta (IRE)    David Pipe    10st 0lb (4lb ex)    Mr M. Ennis (7)
16     Our Island (IRE) (Visor)    Tim Vaughan    10st 0lb    Dougie Costello
17     Incentivise (IRE)    Richard Lee    10st 0lb    Killian Moore (7)
18     Arbor Supreme (IRE)    Jonjo O'Neill    10st 0lb (4lb ex)    Maurice Linehan (5)

Think tomorrow the ground could be like a glue pot after a few dryish days - could be even harder work. To that end Master Overseer who will simply carry on is a good option.

Giles Cross 12/1 & Our Island 28/1 look the standout bets to me


Giles Cross has been second in this twice and his mark looks workable , he has great form in these marathon staying races and looks a knocking bet e/w as long as the Dartnall yard is ok now

Dartnall is a brilliant trainer of this type of horse and no doubt this one would not be going if there is any worries

Our Island looks potentially well in here imo and definitely has lots of ability and will stay all day

He looks a real live one at the bottom of the weights here and could run a massive race

GL all

I'm taking a gamble on Arbor Supreme, looks like this was a long term plot and is clearly a much better horse than his mark suggests, If he could run anything like to his best.. which is a BIG if, he would have a massive chance. He's a very frustrating horse having backed him for Nationals gone by. I find it very interesting that he's been moved to Jonjo's yard, he can really ready one for these sort of races. With absolute no weight on testing ground I think this could be perfectly set up for this horse. His latest spin suggests he's in good health and can really see him going close if anywhere near his best, 33/1 is a massive price.

GL all

hes 11lb wrong but if he performs to a mark he's achieved earlier on in his career, he deffo won't be wrong at the weights, that's my gamble anyway. Since his last run in November Jonjo will have got him as fit as possible and if able to work some magic and get the horse back to his form of a couple of years ago I think he could run well above his quoted price. Find it strange JP has nothing else in the race tbh.

I get the feeling they were expecting a little bit more in November to raise his mark, who knows. I have the impression with the success of training the likes of Synchronised, JP moved Arbor over here to be trained for the Welsh, Scottish and Midlands National in mind. He has one handicap left in him and expect him to go at least close in one handicap this year. Perhaps the plot might not unfold in the welsh. But think he's worth a poke at the respective price.

think another one down the bottom maybe worth a second look, incentivise.

The horse I really like is Soll. Has proven heavy ground form. While he's never completed a race like this he has shown glimpses of very smart form and was well matched with teaforthree in the Hennessey and look at their prices. Soll would be a single digit price for sure was he trained by one of the major trainers.

Giles Cross off this mark on his Haydock beating of Neptune Collonges I would be allover him at this price in this ground. However with all the problems at his yard it's sad that he can't be touched because we probably wont ever get such a good price for him in a race like this again with these conditions until he's an old codger! Will certainly be very annoyed if GC does hack up now!

Teaforthree as others have said has a chance, but not a 3/1 chance. Too short, maybe that short on gd/sft ground but not this...

Master Overseer, Sona Sasta and Monbeg Dude could all be in the frame if it turns in to a right slog. Master Overseer was well held in this last year though and the other 2 will have to take a massive step up in form.

The only horse I have touched in this race is Soll so lets hope for a good run for my money!