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Fun thread 
Go to
http://www.grand-national-guide.co.uk/myhorse.php
It will pick a lucky dip for you .....that's your horse no second dips unless you get a non runner ....
Previous biggest priced winner was in 2009
Huggy with Mon Mone
To start the ball rolling mine was ....
Oscar Time 66-1
Oscar Time was well backed for the 2011 Grand National and the market confidence nearly paid off as he finished a gallant second to Ballabriggs. Trained by Martin Lynch in Westmeath, Oscar Time had previously won the Paddy Power Handicap at Leopardstown in 2009 for a whopping 100k+ payday. The bay son of Oscar was purchased by owner Robert Waley-Cohen in 2010 and Long Run’s owner had obviously seen Grand National potential in this horse after it had finished second to Bluesea Cracker in the 2010 Irish National. Oscar Time was aimed at Aintree in 2011 and was ridden by the owner’s son, Sam Waley-Cohen. Sam has a fine record over the National fences and dispelled those who believed that the horse would need a professional jockey to show his best. Oscar Time jumped superbly in the National and challenged Ballabriggs all the way up the run-in, just losing out by two and a quarter lengths. Unfortunately injury intervened in the 11/12 season and Oscar Time could not make it back to Aintree for 2012. All systems are go though for 2013 and even though he is now twelve-years-old he looks sure to go well once again.
Horse Age: 12
Trainer: Martin Lynch
Jockey:
Horse Star Sign: Taurus
Horse Trained at: Ireland
Jockey Silks Colour: Orange
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He has only been run 5 times since that decent effort in the 2011 Grand National and nothing inspiring but you never know .......
Good Luck all runners and riders
Go to
http://www.grand-national-guide.co.uk/myhorse.php
It will pick a lucky dip for you .....that's your horse no second dips unless you get a non runner ....
Previous biggest priced winner was in 2009
Huggy with Mon Mone
To start the ball rolling mine was ....
Oscar Time 66-1
Oscar Time was well backed for the 2011 Grand National and the market confidence nearly paid off as he finished a gallant second to Ballabriggs. Trained by Martin Lynch in Westmeath, Oscar Time had previously won the Paddy Power Handicap at Leopardstown in 2009 for a whopping 100k+ payday. The bay son of Oscar was purchased by owner Robert Waley-Cohen in 2010 and Long Run’s owner had obviously seen Grand National potential in this horse after it had finished second to Bluesea Cracker in the 2010 Irish National. Oscar Time was aimed at Aintree in 2011 and was ridden by the owner’s son, Sam Waley-Cohen. Sam has a fine record over the National fences and dispelled those who believed that the horse would need a professional jockey to show his best. Oscar Time jumped superbly in the National and challenged Ballabriggs all the way up the run-in, just losing out by two and a quarter lengths. Unfortunately injury intervened in the 11/12 season and Oscar Time could not make it back to Aintree for 2012. All systems are go though for 2013 and even though he is now twelve-years-old he looks sure to go well once again.
Horse Age: 12
Trainer: Martin Lynch
Jockey:
Horse Star Sign: Taurus
Horse Trained at: Ireland
Jockey Silks Colour: Orange
_____________________________________
He has only been run 5 times since that decent effort in the 2011 Grand National and nothing inspiring but you never know .......
Good Luck all runners and riders
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Replies: 76
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Balthazar King
Balthazar King seems to have been around for ages but is still only nine years old. Most cross country horses would struggle in a race as tough as the Grand National but there is a case for suggesting that Balthazar King could still be feasibly handicapped to run a big race at Aintree. Despite being campaigned primarily in cross country races since late 2011, Balthazar King won an extremely competitive class two handicap at the October meeting at Cheltenham in October 2012. Philip Hobbs' gelding beat the likes of Bradley, Hold On Julio and Galaxy Rock from a mark of 139 where his jumping was faultless. The official handicapper has Balthazar King on a seven pound higher mark than that win for the 2013 Grand National but that seems a perfectly acceptable rating given the quality of his last victory. Balthazar King has since been beaten when favourite for the November cross country race at Cheltenham but the ground would not have been ideal for him that day as he prefers genuinely good ground. Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson do not have the greatest of records in the National but this sound jumping gelding could go some way to improving their record. Horse Age: 9 Trainer: Philip Hobbs Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Aquarius Horse Trained at: England - South West Jockey Silks Colour: Red |
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Beshabar
Beshabar created a huge impression when winning the 2011 Scottish National as a novice. Jumped boldly and well that day and attacked the field from the front, seeing out the 4m 2f trip well to hold of the challenge of the previous year's Scottish National winner, Merigo. Beshabar's lack of experience would appear to be one of the drawbacks to his winning an Aintree Grand National. With only twelve races under NH Rules and only six of those over fences, this son of Flemensfirth would usually need more experience over the larger obstacles but we do need to consider that he has had enough raw talent to win a Scottish National with such relative inexperience. Another sticking point with a view to this winning a Grand National is the horse's fragility. Off the track for nearly twenty-one months after his novice hurdle career and now a further season break following just one run in 2011/12 it remains to be seen if the horse can return to his previous level of form. If so he remains a horse with immense promise and was included in many ante-post portfolios for the Grand National in 2012. Trainer Tim Vaughan has indicated that Beshabar may go straight to the Grand National in 2013 without a run and it is a huge ask to win a Grand National with just one run since April 2011. Horse Age: 11 Trainer: Tim Vaughan Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Aries Horse Trained at: Wales Jockey Silks Colour: White |
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Seabass
View Profile The official handicapper has put Ted Walsh’s charge up another five pounds for his performance at Aintree in 2012 to a mark of 154 which could be too steep a rise for a horse that appeared to just not last home last year. Ted Walsh has done a great job improving this son of Turtle Island over sixty pounds and the improvement may not yet be finished but it must be remembered that Seabass has yet to win over further than 22 furlongs under Rules (he has won a three mile point-to-point). His stamina did seem to ebb away in the final stages of the Grand National but with an extra year of experience and perhaps a less prominent early race ride, could he repeat the stables success of Papillon in 2000? Horse Age: 10 Trainer: Ted Walsh Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Pisces Horse Trained at: Ireland Jockey Silks Colour: White |
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Harry The Viking
View Profile Lightly raced gelding owned in partnership by the likes of Alex Ferguson and Ronnie Wood. Paul Nicholls steered Harry The Viking to four wins and two runner-up spots from his first six outings including a near miss in the four mile National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. He finished runner-up to Grand National prospect Teaforthree that day and the Cheltanham race looked full of good quality staying prospects for the future. Harry The Viking ended the 2011/12 season by being pulled up in the Scottish National after being sent off the 6/1 favourite but punters should not take too much notice of that reverse as he was probably just feeling the effects of his hard race at Cheltenham. He is certainly a stayer to watch out for and his early season performances in 2012/13 should be most illuminating regarding his chance for Aintree. Horse Age: 8 Trainer: Paul Nicholls Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Taurus Horse Trained at: England - South West Jockey Silks Colour: Red |
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Tofino Bay for me, i haven't worked out how to cut and paste yet
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Good, it will make a tidier fred imo.
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Roberto Goldback was recently purchased by new owner Simon Munir with a view to running in the Grand National but the horse rather surprised new connections by winning on his first start for new trainer, Nicky Henderson. Whilst winning a £56,000 handicap at Ascot has gone some way to paying back his purchase price, it has rather scuppered the horses chances in the Grand national as the handicapper has now raised the horse twelve pounds to a mark of 162. This new mark would have given Roberto Goldback top weight of 11st 12lb last year so it may well be that connections will revise their plans regarding aiming at Aintree.
Horse Age: 11 Trainer: Nicky Henderson Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Aries Horse Trained at: England - South East Jockey Silks Colour: Green |
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Imperial Commander
View Profile One of the most impressive performers of the season so far with his wins in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and Ryanair Chase suggesting he is a horse of the highest class and if his stamina was not under question he would have a massive chance in this race of just 11 stone. His jumping has been superb in his two wins at Celtenham but there must be a huge doubt about his ability to stay the Grand National trip of four and a half miles. He has been tried over distances of three miles and above under Rules on four occasions in his careeer and has been well beaten on all ocassions. Connections may well want to have a go at this race whilst they have such a favourable handicap mark but the signs don't look favourable about him seeing out the distance. Horse Age: 12 Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Taurus Horse Trained at: England - South West Jockey Silks Colour: Black |
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Sunnyhillboy finally justified the obvious high opinion the stable hold him in when taking the Kim Muir at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival but the gelding probably owed his connections a few bob after previously being backed into favouritism for the 2010 Byrne Plate and the 2011 William Hill Chase at the Festival as well as the Irish National without failing to deliver. After his Cheltenham success Sunnyhillboy was sent off 16/1 for the Grand National where he would undoubtedly been a shorter price had he not been passed over by JP McManus’ retained jockey, AP McCoy. Sunnyhillboy went on to come agonisingly close to winning the 2012 Grand National losing out by a nose to Neptune Collonges in a breathtaking finish. Trainer Jonjo O’Neill had previously stated that he thought his charge might need a bit of cut in the ground for a race like the National to help him with his jumping which has been a problem at times in the past (his round of jumping before falling in the 2011 William Hill was x-rated). O’Neill had also voiced concerns over the horse’s size for a race such as the Grand National but these reservations proved unfounded as he really should have won but for wandering around on the run-in. Unfortunately that might have been Sunnyhillboy’s best chance to win a Grand National as he now sits on a ten pound higher mark than he ran from at Aintree. If there is a concern about his size lugging a big weight around Aintree will not be easy, although he is more likely to have the assistance of McCoy.
Horse Age: 10 Trainer: Jonjo ONeill Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Taurus Horse Trained at: England - South West Jockey Silks Colour: Green Backed it last year :( |
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Quel Esprit
Willie Mullins described Quel Esprit as a "serious horse" in 2009 and regular pilot Ruby Walsh has also enthused about the class of the gelding so it is slightly surprising that the eight-year-old isonly recently starting to deliver at the highest level. A winner of five of his first six outings Mullins sent Quel Esprit to the 2010 Cheltenham Festival where he started at just 5/1 in the Neptune Novice Hurdle won by Peddlers Cross. Unfortunately he only made as far as the second hurdle and this prompted connections to take the unusual step of running the horse for a second time at the Cheltenham Festival when turning him out two days later in the Albert Bartlett. Never really travelling that day he finished a disappointing sixth behind Berties Dream but its probable his earlier fall had taken a toll. Perhaps that fall at Cheltenham affected the horse's confidence because he fell again on two of his next three outings. The bad luck for Quel Esprit continue when he was brought down in a Grade One Novice Chase at Punchestown but he has since gone some way to restoring confidence with two facile victories against much weaker opposition. Mullins has since upped Quel Esprit to Grade One class in the Hennessy at Leopardstown and the gelding responded admirably winning well from Roberto Goldback. It remains to be seen if his jumping will hold up over these testing fences. Horse Age: 9 Trainer: Willie Mullins Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Taurus Horse Trained at: Ireland Jockey Silks Colour: Blue |
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reading the profile's for the runners and they are just bullsheight(who has written them).The Imperial Commander one is a prime example
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Always Waining
Always Waining has run seven times over the Aintree fences with form figures of 4F16141. His three remarkable victories came in the Topham Trophy from 2010 to 2012. In 2010 he was left clear at the second last following the fall of Frankie Figg, in 2011 he powered home to upset the well backed favourite, Mon Parrain and in 2012 he led from the elbow to record a famous hat-trick of wins. Trainer Peter Bowen had wanted to go for the National in 2012 but was over ruled by the owner as conditions softened. Bowen stated after the race that they would target another win in the Topham in 2013 all being well but a change of direction is not out of the question. The rest of Always Waining’s form is pretty patchy but he is obviously now trained just with Aintree in mind. He could possibly stay the longer distance of the National - he has won over 25 furlongs over fences and 24 furlongs over hurdles - but has tried distances of 3m 6f or above on four occasions and was pulled up every time. Nevertheless, the stable know what is required to go close in the National (their Mckelvey was runner-up in 2007) so if does he run in the big one perhaps punters should take note? Horse Age: 12 Trainer: Peter Bowen Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Aries Horse Trained at: Wales Jockey Silks Colour: Purple |
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Weird Al
Had had his problems but has managed to win over fifty percent of his starts including a Grade Two novice chase when trained by Ian Williams and a Charlie Hall since being switched to Donald McCain. Took on the top three mile chasers in November 2011 when finishing ten lengths third to Kauto Star and Long Run in the Betfair Chase at Haydock. Runs off a handicap mark of 159 in the Grand National and only has the current Grand National and Gold Cup winner ahead of him in the weights. Weird Al was well beat in the 2010 Hennessy when he ran off a mark of 156 but has undoubtedly improved for McCain but appears to face a tough task from such a lofty position in the weights. Horse Age: 10 Trainer: Donald McCain Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Aries Horse Trained at: England - North West Jockey Silks Colour: Black |
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scar Time
View Profile Oscar Time was well backed for the 2011 Grand National and the market confidence nearly paid off as he finished a gallant second to Ballabriggs. Trained by Martin Lynch in Westmeath, Oscar Time had previously won the Paddy Power Handicap at Leopardstown in 2009 for a whopping 100k+ payday. The bay son of Oscar was purchased by owner Robert Waley-Cohen in 2010 and Long Run’s owner had obviously seen Grand National potential in this horse after it had finished second to Bluesea Cracker in the 2010 Irish National. Oscar Time was aimed at Aintree in 2011 and was ridden by the owner’s son, Sam Waley-Cohen. Sam has a fine record over the National fences and dispelled those who believed that the horse would need a professional jockey to show his best. Oscar Time jumped superbly in the National and challenged Ballabriggs all the way up the run-in, just losing out by two and a quarter lengths. Unfortunately injury intervened in the 11/12 season and Oscar Time could not make it back to Aintree for 2012. All systems are go though for 2013 and even though he is now twelve-years-old he looks sure to go well once again. Horse Age: 12 Trainer: Martin Lynch Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Taurus Horse Trained at: Ireland Jockey Silks Colour: Orange |
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Saint Are
Saint Are has only recorded one win over fences but it was a 34k handicap on the Mildmay course at Aintree. Tim Vaughan's gelding seems to reserve his best performances for Aintree having also won a Grade One hurdle at the course in 2011. Saint Are has also ran some good races in defeat recently, most notably when finishing fourth to Master Overseer at Cheltenham and third to Vino Griego at Ascot. The fact that Saint Are's three wins have come between April and June makes him a likely improver in the next couple of months and could appeal as a lively outsider for the Grand National. The main drawback to his chances seem to be his age as seven-year-olds usually find the demands of the Grand National fences too big a challenge. Horse Age: 7 Trainer: Tim Vaughan Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Aries Horse Trained at: Wales Jockey Silks Colour: Green |
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oscar time
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Magnanimity
View Profile Magnanimity has looked a very hard ride at times recently, coming off the bridle at early stages in his races. Winless since January 2011 it would be a great training performance if Dessie Hughes can get him back to the form that saw him beat Jessies Dream in a Grade Two Novice Chase at Leopardstwon. Still engaged in the Irish National so make sure your bet is non-runner no bet if you are backing him for Aintree. Horse Age: 9 Trainer: Dessie Hughes Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Taurus Horse Trained at: Ireland Jockey Silks Colour: Purple |
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Weird Al
View Profile Had had his problems but has managed to win over fifty percent of his starts including a Grade Two novice chase when trained by Ian Williams and a Charlie Hall since being switched to Donald McCain. Took on the top three mile chasers in November 2011 when finishing ten lengths third to Kauto Star and Long Run in the Betfair Chase at Haydock. Runs off a handicap mark of 159 in the Grand National and only has the current Grand National and Gold Cup winner ahead of him in the weights. Weird Al was well beat in the 2010 Hennessy when he ran off a mark of 156 but has undoubtedly improved for McCain but appears to face a tough task from such a lofty position in the weights. Horse Age: 10 Trainer: Donald McCain Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Aries Horse Trained at: England - North West Jockey Silks Colour: Black |
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Poker De Sivola has always been regarded as a high class chaser in the making by trainer Ferdy Murphy and his reputation went before him in his early fencing career even to the point of making him a weel backed favourite for the 2009 Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival before he had even won a race over fences! That task proved a step too soon in his career but when returned to the Cheltenham Festival in 2010 connections hit the jackpot when this son of Discover D'Auteil won the four mile NH Chase under an inspired ride by amateur Katie Walsh. Poker De Sivola's races after that victory were somewhat of a disappointment with four uninspiring defeats between April 2010 and April 2011. Question marks were starting to be raised about the horse's resolution and these appeared to be well founded when the horse appeared to drop himself out hopelessly of contention in the b365 Gold Cup at Sandown. However, in the end, it proved to be masterful riding tactics from Timmy Murphy who realised that the horse needed to be held up for a very late run. His supporters must have torn up their tickets when he was in a detached last place but Murphy worked his way through the field on the final circuit and produced his mount to take the lead at the final fence and sped away for an amazing two and a quarter length victory from David Pipe's Faasel. Very likely to be the Johnson/Murphy horse to take over from Comply Or Die
Horse Age: 10 Trainer: Ferdy Murphy Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Aries Horse Trained at: England - North East Jockey Silks Colour: Green |
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soll
Very lightly raced for a potential Grand National winner with only a handful of races over fences. Soll's supporters will no doubt point to the fact that his previous trainer Willie Mullins ran him in the NH Chase last season indicating that connections feel that a stamina test is just what the horse wants. No with Jo Hughes in Lambourn he won well on his latest outing in a decent race at Sandown and with youth on his side as well he could be a popular outsider. Horse Age: 8 Trainer: Jo Highes Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Taurus Horse Trained at: England - South East Jockey Silks Colour: Blue |
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Quel Esprit
View Profile Willie Mullins described Quel Esprit as a "serious horse" in 2009 and regular pilot Ruby Walsh has also enthused about the class of the gelding so it is slightly surprising that the eight-year-old isonly recently starting to deliver at the highest level. A winner of five of his first six outings Mullins sent Quel Esprit to the 2010 Cheltenham Festival where he started at just 5/1 in the Neptune Novice Hurdle won by Peddlers Cross. Unfortunately he only made as far as the second hurdle and this prompted connections to take the unusual step of running the horse for a second time at the Cheltenham Festival when turning him out two days later in the Albert Bartlett. Never really travelling that day he finished a disappointing sixth behind Berties Dream but its probable his earlier fall had taken a toll. Perhaps that fall at Cheltenham affected the horse's confidence because he fell again on two of his next three outings. The bad luck for Quel Esprit continue when he was brought down in a Grade One Novice Chase at Punchestown but he has since gone some way to restoring confidence with two facile victories against much weaker opposition. Mullins has since upped Quel Esprit to Grade One class in the Hennessy at Leopardstown and the gelding responded admirably winning well from Roberto Goldback. It remains to be seen if his jumping will hold up over these testing fences. Horse Age: 9 Trainer: Willie Mullins Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Taurus Horse Trained at: Ireland Jockey Silks Colour: Black The Best Odds For Quel Esprit are 50-1 with Victor Chandler |
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The Rainbow Hunter 100/1
View Profile Kim Bailey has been starting to attract back some decent horses in the last couple of years and that is great to see as he is a very capable trainer. Bailey has managed to win a couple of chases this season with The Rainbow Hunter including a decent event at Ascot in November where he saw off the likes of Loch Ba and Carrickboy. The trainer has reported that this horse would not be the biggest horse to go chasing but he states that his former charge Docklands Express was around the same size and he had no problems with the National fences. Despite the trainer's assurances The Rainbow Hunter is flat bred and does appear to have a fair bit to make up on his overall form level to be competitive in a race such as the Grand National. Horse Age: 9 Trainer: Kim Bailey Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Gemini Horse Trained at: England - South West Jockey Silks Colour: Green |
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Ballabriggs
Ballabriggs took a while to find his feet over fences but once he got the hang of things he has gone from strength to strength winning a hat-trick of races in 2010, including the Kim Muir and, of course, following that up with a brilliant success in the 2011 Grand National. Ballabriggs was campaigned over hurdles in the early part of the 10/11 season to maintain a good handicap mark but that didn't stop him winning two novice hurdles. He came back over fences at Kelso after the publication of the Grand National weights to finish second to Skippers Brig. Connections were very happy with his run at Kelso although it didn't please all viewers and was presumably the reason he went from ante-post favourite for the Grand National to being available at 20/1 in the run-up to the race. Ballabriggs was put up a hefty ten pounds for his National win and the steep rise in handicap mark meant that, as with most returning champions, he was unable to defend his crown finishing an honourable 6th. The handicapper has been much more lenient with Ballabriggs for 2013 and Donald McCain’s gelding is only two pounds higher than he was when winning in 2011. However, it has been quite a while since he has shown his best form and it would be an amazing training performance if McCain could get another Grand National win out of Ballabriggs, especially at twelve years of age. Horse Age: 12 Trainer: Donald McCain Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Taurus Horse Trained at: England - North West Jockey Silks Colour: Yellow |
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Joncol
View Profile Trainer Paul Nolan reported at the Grand National weights day that Joncol currently has some back issues so anyone thinking of backing the former Irish Hennessy winner should probably wait for a positive update from the stable before betting. Horse Age: 10 Trainer: Paul Nolan Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Taurus Horse Trained at: Ireland Jockey Silks Colour: Red |
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Ballabriggs ffs , will plod round and finish about 14th me thinks.
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Typical my 'lucky' dip has a fricking back problem....pah!
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Wyck Hill
View Profile Wyck Hill's form has been given a huge boost by the subsequent win of Katenko, a horse Wyck Hill beat four lengths in a dour struggle at Ascot. Wyck Hill would now meet the rapidly improving Katenko on 13lbs better terms if they both lined up at Aintree. Wyck Hill's two wins this season have come on soft and heavy ground but he does have some form on good ground as well so would hopefully not be overly inconvenienced if the ground dries out before Aintree. Horse Age: 9 Trainer: David Bridgwater Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Aries Horse Trained at: England - South West Jockey Silks Colour: Green |
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Becauseicouldntsee
View Profile Talented young chaser trained by Noel Glynn who has still (to date) only won one race over fences (a beginners chase at Fairyhouse) but does have some impressive placed form. The son of Beneficial was runner-up to Poker De Sivola in the four mile NH Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2010 and underlined that form by again filling the bridesmaid placing behind Majestic Concorde in that season's Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown. Becauseicouldntsee has proved his form over long distances and on a variety of surfaces (his Cheltenham run was on good ground and Leopardstown was on heavy). Took his chance in last year's Grand National despite a lack of experience and this may have counted against him as he only made it as far as the second fence. Connections have been keen to increase the nine-year-old’s experience this year and he has had five outings to date, the highlight being an excellent runner-up sport in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival. The eye catching part of his run that day was his excellent jumping from the front of the field and similar tactics in the Grand National have been particularly successful in recent years. Noel Glynn’s chaser is an aggressive, front-running type who goes on good ground with top class form over four miles and stands out as one of the best bets in the Grand National field. Horse Age: 10 Trainer: Noel Glynn Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Aquarius Horse Trained at: Ireland Jockey Silks Colour: White |
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got to have afew quid on it now!!
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rare bob 40/1
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View Profile
Useful handicapper for Dessie Hughes who managed to win a 42k race at Leopardstown in 2010/11. All Rare Bobs wins have come on soft or heavy ground but that is not to say that this is horse is a mudlark as he has run some fine races on good ground. He has finished fourth in an Irish National as well as running fine races in the John Smiths Handicap at Aintree in 2010 and again last year. This shows that good ground would not be a handicap to him in the Grand National. More of a concern would be the form he showed at the track when tackling the Becher Chase. Rare Bob's trainer Dessie Hughes has a fine record in that race and so Rare Bob's participation was highly anticipated but he weakened badly after the third last and was beaten over sixty lengths into fifth place. Dessie Hughes record over the Aintree fences in recent years would mean that this horse deserves consideration but his performance in the Becher Chase would dampen enthusiasm. Horse Age: 11 Trainer: Dessie Hughes Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Taurus Horse Trained at: Ireland Jockey Silks Colour: Blue |
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wont be backing it
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Auroras Encore 100/1
The highlight of Auroras Encore to date is undoubtedly his head second to Merigo in the 2012 Scottish National. Harvey Smith purchased the gelding for just 9,500 in 2005 and connections have been rewarded with a sound investment as the son of Second Empire has won seven races including three worth 28k or more. Sue Smith is not renowned for her runners in the Grand National and has not had a runner in the great race since Ross Comm fell at the fourth in 2006. However, there must be a decent chance this horse will be aimed at Aintree but punters should take note that the ten-year-old has fell or unseated five times to date which doesn't fit the usual criteria of a Grand National winner. Horse Age: 11 Trainer: Sue Smith Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Pisces Horse Trained at: England - North East Jockey Silks Colour: Blue |
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Chicago Grey 16/1
A novice chaser in the 10/11 season this Gordon Elliott trained gelding started his chasing career early in the season, running his first race over fences on the 1st July. He followed his initial outing with a victory at the Galway Festival, highlighting his liking for good or good to firm ground. Chicago Grey actually ran eleven times in 10/11 until his final race in the Scottish National in April. A total of four wins were recorded in the season with the major highlight being victory in the NH Chase at the Cheltenham Festival where he saw off subsequent Scottish National winner Beshabar by over four lengths. Chicago Grey could just have been feeling the effects of a long season when misfiring at Ayr that year. The 11/12 season proved to be a major disappointment for connections of Chicago Grey but the Gordon Elliott yard were never at their full strength in that season and it has also recently emerged that this horse has recently had a wind operation. Something has obviously clicked as Chicago Grey smashed back to form when a surprise winner of a Grade Two chase at Navan over what looked an inadequate trip of two and a half miles in February 2013. This return to form and a suspicion that the handicapper may have let this horse in lightly at the weights for 2013 have seen plenty of ante post support for Gordon Elliott's gelding. Horse Age: 10 Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Pisces Horse Trained at: Ireland Jockey Silks Colour: Purple |
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Backstage
Didn't look a likely Grand National candidate when well beaten in a Hunter Chase at Aintree in 2009 but has since won a novice hurdle and a couple of competitive British handicaps. Backstage has been mixing running under Rules with running in point to points. Ran in the 2009 Grand National and was in the process of running a very good race until be brought down by a loose horse at the 20th fence. Gordon Elliott has sent Backstage back point to pointing after some uninspiring performances after his Grand National defeat and this seemed to have reignited the horse's enthusiasm. Buoyed by positive stable comments Backstage was well backed for the 2011 Grand National but never really got competitive but did finish the course coming home in tenth place. A further run under rules then took place when he was tried in the Irish National but he was pulled up with six to jump. He has wins on good and good to firm under Rules and soft and heavy in point to points so ground conditions are unlikely to be the cause of his recent disappointments. Currently running up a sequence again in Irish point-to-points so appears to have rediscovered his form. Horse Age: 11 Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Capricorn Horse Trained at: Ireland Jockey Silks Colour: Blue |
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Quinz
View Profile Novice chaser last season who won the 2011 Racing Post Chase. Trainer Philip Hobbs was wary of asking his charge to compete in the Grand National at such a young age but was also aware from a handicapping perspective he was unlikley to ever have a better chance with the horse. Unfortunately the gamble did not pay off and Quinz ultimately broke a blodd vessel after making a bad mistake at Valentines on the first circuit. Quinz's first season over fences also did not go well due to jumping problems and whilst those issues appeared to have been ironed out, Aintree poses a severe test for any horse with question marks over its prowess over obstacles and it remains to be seen if the Hobbs team will aim him at Aintree again. Horse Age: 9 Trainer: Philip Hobbs Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Taurus Horse Trained at: England - South West Jockey Silks Colour: Blue 66/1  |
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Sunnyhillboy finally justified the obvious high opinion the stable hold him in when taking the Kim Muir at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival but the gelding probably owed his connections a few bob after previously being backed into favouritism for the 2010 Byrne Plate and the 2011 William Hill Chase at the Festival as well as the Irish National without failing to deliver. After his Cheltenham success Sunnyhillboy was sent off 16/1 for the Grand National where he would undoubtedly been a shorter price had he not been passed over by JP McManus’ retained jockey, AP McCoy. Sunnyhillboy went on to come agonisingly close to winning the 2012 Grand National losing out by a nose to Neptune Collonges in a breathtaking finish. Trainer Jonjo O’Neill had previously stated that he thought his charge might need a bit of cut in the ground for a race like the National to help him with his jumping which has been a problem at times in the past (his round of jumping before falling in the 2011 William Hill was x-rated). O’Neill had also voiced concerns over the horse’s size for a race such as the Grand National but these reservations proved unfounded as he really should have won but for wandering around on the run-in. Unfortunately that might have been Sunnyhillboy’s best chance to win a Grand National as he now sits on a ten pound higher mark than he ran from at Aintree. If there is a concern about his size lugging a big weight around Aintree will not be easy, although he is more likely to have the assistance of McCoy.
Horse Age: 10 Trainer: Jonjo ONeill Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Taurus Horse Trained at: England - South West Jockey Silks Colour: Green |
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JONCOL 50/1 Generally,
All wins listed below, 03Nov11 Thu 22Sft/Hy ChL 15K 11-10 1/4 (12L, Cooldine11-0) 07Feb10 Leo 24Sft ChG1 91K 11-10 1/7 (nk, Cooldine11-10) 06Dec09 Pun 20Hy ChG1 59K 11-10 1/5 (5½L, In Comcompliance) 14Mar09 Naa 20Sft NvCh 12K 11-10 1/6 (12L, Top Of The Rock11-0) 22Feb09 Naa 20Sft NvChG2 30K 11-5 1/8 (10L, Good Fella11-5) 09Dec08 Pun 20Hy Ch 8K 11-12 1/17 (½L, Pesoto11-12) 31Jan08 Thu 18Hy NHF 4K 11-5 1/16 (8L, Definitive Edge11-11) 02Dec07 Bld 24Hy 4yMdPTP 11-7 1/17 (½L, Flemensford11-7) Ok horse on the downgrade of late but got a real tempting racing weight jumps fine any wet weather will help and under the radar a little. |
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just my luck a donkey
Join Together View Profile Paul Nicholls has always referred to this horse as a staying chaser in the making and his run in the Becher Chase seems to underline those potential qualities. Just held by the gallant Hello Bud at Aintree he looks likely to improve further when tried over extreme distances and his generally clean and efficient jumping marks him down as a horse to watch closely for the Grand National. The handicapper does not appear to have reacted too unfavourably to Join Together's Becher run so connections must be very hopeful of following up on the stable's fine win the Grand National in 2012. Horse Age: 8 Trainer: Paul Nicholls Jockey: Horse Star Sign: Pisces Horse Trained at: England - South West Jockey Silks Colour: Blue |