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Showing posts from April, 2021

The Grand National - runner by runner

A brief summary of every runner in the 2021 Grand National, including the arguments for and against each of them. 1.Bristol De Mai Multiple Grade 1 winner, all at Haydock, stepping up to the National fences and trip for the first time. Should have the stamina but topweight in the National is a massive ask. WHY HE CAN WIN Class gets you a long way. WHY HE CAN'T WIN The last horse to carry this weight or more to victory was Red Rum in 1974 (although Many Clouds carried 11st9 in 2015). 2.Chris's Dream Good Irish chaser who has never lived up to the hype in Britain, flopping on all four occasions.  WHY HE CAN WIN At his only run in a big handicap, he won the Troytown at Navan in 2019. WHY HE CAN'T WIN Jumped terribly at Cheltenham, seems like he is here to fulfill an owner's dream rather than have a genuine chance. 3.Yala Enki Seems to save his best for very soft ground. Reliable jumper, very experienced WHY HE CAN WIN Paul Nicholls is on fire this week and in an era where

Aintree Friday preview

Around the mark on opening day but nothing really to show for it. The Place 6 ticket was looking nice until Sod's Law deemed that the only leg we had one out went down. Paid a whopping £804.62 for those who collected. Pertemps Hurdle Day two kicks off with a devilishly hard hurdle with a swathe of chances. Whatsupwithyou ran fourth in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham behind some handy types and gets his chance to go even better here with useful claimer Kevin Brogan aboard. Topweight Wilde About Oscar has won four from five over hurdles, his only blemish being in the Challow behind the high class Bravemansgame. Edwardstone keeps running honest races high in the handicap, (third in the Betfair Hurdle, fifth in the Coral Cup) and will be in this for a long way.  Nightboattoclyro completes the quartet, he won a trio of handicaps in the winter on left-handed tracks and returns to favoured conditions at a price. Watch out for Monte Cristo who was staying on well in the Coral Cup before bein

Aintree Day 1 Preview

Another major racing festival unfortunately robbed of the crowds and the atmosphere, but soon enough we'll be over this, or at least a bit more relaxed. Fingers crossed the racing can focus on the very best of jumping and runners & riders all get home safely. Onto the tips! Manifesto Novices' Chase A very competitive little race to kick off the Aintree Festival, with even the roughie Phoenix Way having some hope (bled last time when he faced Eldorado Allen and Hitman). Starting with Cheltenham form, Eldorado Allen ran second to Shishkin in the Arkle while Fusil Raffles took silver against Chantry House in the Marsh after Envoi Allen fell early. The Shunter was the handicap snip at the bottom of the weights in the Paddy Power Plate but goes up to Grade 1 company here and will run in the colours of JP McManus who bought him on Wednesday. Umbrigado won the Greatwood just before the Festival while Hitman is the most lightly raced runner with seemingly plenty of scope ahead of h