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Cassie
Gold Member
 England
781 Posts |
 Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 07:25:48 AM
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Hi
Anyone going to put a bet on the national and do you fancy here are the runners good luck Christine ![]() Joes Edge
No:39 Weight:10-2
2005 Scottish Grand National winner. Expected to do better than his seventh place last year.
8-1
Point Barrow
No:13 Weight:10-12
Winner of last years Irish Grand National. No doubts on stamina or ground - looks a great bet.
9-1
Hedgehunter
No:1 Weight:11-12
2005 Winner. Ruby Walsh rides again so has one of the best jockeys in the race.
14-1
Dun Doire
No:20 Weight:10-8
Improved enormously last year. Strongly fancied.
14-1
Numbersixvalverde
No:7 Weight:11-3
Bidding to become the first horse since Red Rum to win back to back Nationals.
14-1
Idle Talk
No:8 Weight:11-2
Fourth in the Scottish Grand National. Young and improving but high in the weights.
16-1
Eurotrek
No:2 Weight:11-8
Proven stamina and has won over the Grand National fences.
16-1
Simon
No:15 Weight:10-11
Winner of two good races this year but best form on softer ground.
16-1
Lami
No:3 Weight:11-8
French raider ridden by top jockey AP McCoy. Consistent but plenty of weight to carry.
16-1
Mckelvey
No:35 Weight:10-4
Aimed at the race since winnning over 4 miles last summer. Will ove the ground. Great chance.
20-1
Billyvoddan
No:6 Weight:11-4
Stamina doubts but he is improving all the time and ran a fine race last time.
20-1
Bothar Na
No:26 Weight:10-6
Already won one National although that was the Kerry National. Has handled the fences before. A good each way bet.
20-1
Longshanks
No:25 Weight:10-7
Plenty of stamina and has jumped the fences well before. Well handicapped.
20-1
Bewleys Berry
No:24 Weight:10-7
Jumps and stays well and has run over the national fences. Loves good ground and stable in form so could go close.
25-1
Monkerhostin
No:4 Weight:11-6
Top class chaser who ran a great race in this year's Gold Cup. Big weight is a worry.
25-1
Silver Birch
No:30 Weight:10-6
Won the 2005 Becher Chase over these fences as well as the Welsh National. Unlucky to exit at the 15th fence last year.
28-1
Clan Royal
No:17 Weight:10-9
Has won two other races over the National course and finished third in last years race.
28-1
Liberthine
No:29 Weight:10-6
She jumps well but she might not have the stamina to win a Grand National.
28-1
Slim Pickings
No:22 Weight:10-8
Has been the subject of a monster gamble being available at over 100/1 less than a week ago!
33-1
Jack High
No:37 Weight:10-3
Can make mistakes but trainer Ted Walsh knows what it takes to win a National as he won it in 2000 with Papillon.
33-1
Kelami
No:12 Weight:10-12
French raider. Jockey Mick Fitzgerald would love to win this race before he retires.
33-1
Royal Auclair
No:9 Weight:11-1
Proved he can carry a big weight round this course when runner up in 2005.
33-1
Homer Wells
No:28 Weight:10-6
Hasn't got the soft ground he needs to be at his best.
33-1
Ballycassidy
No:16 Weight:10-9
Six lengths clear when falling at the 25th last year. Could be out in front again for a long way.
50-1
Philson Run
No:31 Weight:10-5
Strong stayer who has won twice over 4 miles and this race has been the plan for some time.
50-1
Thisthatandtother
No:5 Weight:11-5
All wins over much shorter. Could give you a good run for a circuit but hard to see him staying the full distance.
50-1
Graphic Approach
No:27 Weight:10-6
Stamina doubts but does have the right age and weight profile of previous National winners.
50-1
Naunton Brook
No:36 Weight:10-4
Front runner with plenty of stamina reserves. Trainer has won the National before. Looks a great bet!
50-1
Livingstone Bramble
No:19 Weight:10-9
Three miles seems to stretch his stamina so it’s hard to see him being involved in the finish.
50-1
Kandjar Dallier
No:21 Weight:10-8
Has top jockey Robert "Choc" Thornton on board to help him round.
50-1
Zabenz
No:23 Weight:10-8
Plenty of stamina and could enjoy himself over the Aintree fences. Has form on good to firm ground so one to watch.
50-1
Le Duc
No:40 Weight:10-2
Two placings already over these fences and a good third recently at the Cheltenham festival.
66-1
Puntal
No:32 Weight:10-5
Has run well in this race before so an outsider with a chance.
66-1
Knowhere
No:11 Weight:10-13
Looked a smart prospect at the start of the season and comes from a stable who know how to win a National.
66-1
Lou Du Moulin Mas
No:44 Weight:10-0
Lou du Moulin Mas is a reserve so will only run if others pull out.
66-1
The Outlier
No:33 Weight:10-5
Badly out of form in last two runs but two impressive wins earlier in the season. Would prefer much softer ground.
66-1
Gallant Approach
No:18 Weight:10-9
Races in a way that appears to live up to his name! Could spring a surprise if not too inexperienced.
66-1
Tikram
No:34 Weight:10-5
Stamina a doubt but will enjoy the ground and jumps well.
66-1
Cloudy Bays
No:10 Weight:11-0
Not as good as he used to be and has fallen eight times in his career. Only for the very brave!
66-1
Risk Accessor
No:41 Weight:10-2
Risk Accessor is a reserve so will only run if others pull out.
100-1
Celtic Son
No:14 Weight:10-11
Hasn't lived up to big reputation. Top class owner and trainer team and could spring a shock.
100-1
Dunbrody Millar
No:42 Weight:10-1
Dunbrody Millar is a reserve so will only run if others pull out.
100-1
Sonevafushi
No:38 Weight:10-3
Not good enough for this.
100-1
Undeniable
No:43 Weight:10-1
Undeniable is a reserve so will only run if others pull out.
125-1
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geegee
Platinum Member
England
3682 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 07:38:09 AM
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Oh is it that time again 
Good info for those that like it, Christine. I am afraid I am anti-GN 
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Zoe Tyzack
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4047 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 09:02:27 AM
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Hi
Sorry another Anti Grand National person |
     
Zoe.x |
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Zan
Platinum Member
Scotland
3213 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 09:06:10 AM
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| And another ---I hate the Grand National and all it stands for. |
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Libby Frost
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4711 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 09:58:31 AM
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| ive got 3 im betting on Simon and Billyvoddan as our mates are called simon and Billy and dun Doire as i just fancied him,hope they dont all fall at the first! |
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Judith S
Platinum Member
Wales
15686 Posts |
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rosyw
Platinum Member
England
3756 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 12:10:28 PM
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| Very anti, sorry, I usually avoid being near tv if it's on, but if I do happen to catch any of it air turns blue! |
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Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
8652 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 1:22:07 PM
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I've got Celtic Son and Bewley's Berry in the Sweepstake at work
Vera and Dennis |
    
Hampshire |
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arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 1:24:34 PM
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| Nothing this year :-( Didnt even know the name of any horses running until now! Last year managed to pick out 1st 2nd and 3rd but didnt bet. Dont like watching it. |
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Lila
Gold Member
Netherlands
1097 Posts |
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donna72_uk
Gold Member
England
1123 Posts |
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CatQueen
Gold Member
England
545 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 7:49:47 PM
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| i will have hedgehunter again and not sure what else always pick two runners .i dont know why people are anti ,if the horses did not enjoy it then i'm sure they would not carry on after falling. |
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Nuttybabez
Gold Member
England
522 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 8:51:50 PM
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| They carry on after falling as that is what they are trained to do. You can train horses to do a lot of things but it doesn't mean that they enjoy it. I am very anti too. |
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crinks
Gold Member
England
650 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 9:04:48 PM
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| Used to love watching the National but not any more, won't go near the tv when the race is being run, have to take myself completely away from it, and then find myself scanning the lists the day after to see how many got injured. Cheltenham has lost some of its appeal as well for me now, with Best Mate and Mysilv no longer around. Used to love watching them bound round the course along with One Man, but sadly not any more |
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Arabian Girl
Platinum Member
England
2893 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 9:39:54 PM
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| ...i am not into racing either,,,,,,but i have watched the national a few times ( on T.V)...Is the national bad because the course is greatly testing and at the later stages of the race , the horses are totaly exhausted and they are then running on instinct, and that it is then, when it becomes cruel????? is that what is so bad about the national???Pushing them further when they are exhuasted???as well as the obvious fatalities of course |
   
Posting from Billinge Wigan |
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Sadika
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3520 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 10:32:47 PM
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| I am into racing - I've been going to point-to-points since I was very young. I was at Aintree yesterday. I can understand people feeling it's cruel. There's little point in stating the pros and cons here about racing as people have made their minds up and are obviously fully entitled to their views. Of course I am upset (as are all the horses' connections) whenever I see a horse injured, especially if it's fatal. At a point-to-point I was at over Easter a runner in a two horse race broke a pastern on the flat - he wasn't going flat out at the time just a good controlled gallop. The problem with the races over the National course is basically the number of horses competing - today there was a fatality at The Chair - this is the biggest fence on the course at 5 foot with a huge wide ditch in front - in the Foxhunters (yesterday) and The Topham Chase today this is fence 3 - in The National it is fence 15 so they have done about 1/2 of the 4 1/2 mile course. They are not exhausted when they jump it but today one horse fell and brought down others (including the horse that lost his life). In the National they are by and large proven staying experienced chasers - most attack those fences with relish (like Scots Grey who won the "amateur" National (The Foxhunters) yesterday - he soared over them all in the lead) and a few take an instant dislike to them and are soon behind. Yesterday a horse fell at the first on the Mildmay course (the usual steeplechase fences), he carried on riderless quite some way behind the others (the herding instinct?) but got onto the National course jumping into the Chair's ditch. He then turned left and pushed his way through the plastic wings of the fence and cantered off - then he could have easily bypassed the fences but he jumped the next fence beautifully - controlled and not in a blind galloping panic - see photo of Alph further down this page. There are 2 point-to-pointers in my area who are in their teens - both won races over Easter - both enjoy being in front and are quite spectacular jumpers with that will to win. |
Marilyn
     
www.sweetphotography.com ** Now available online Our 2016 Galleries ** |
Edited by - Sadika on 13 Apr 2007 11:30:03 PM |
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Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
8652 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 10:44:09 PM
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Here here Marilyn, ther is nothing 'wrong' with the National itself, the problem lies with the amount of runners. Bottle necks at the jumps are inevitable and a faller at the front brings down the ones behind it. The solution is simple - make it harder to qualify and have less runners. I would like to see 20 max after all that is a lot more than most races but even 30 would help but 40 is way too many.
Vera and Dennis |
Hampshire |
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Sadika
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3520 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 10:57:21 PM
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| The standard of horses has gone up - none out of the handicap anymore - so it is a higher quality of horse and whether there's 30 or 40 if one in front falls the chances are at least another will get brought down. The fences are very wide so there is room if they jump well - The Chair is narrower but by the time they reach it there are less than 40 going and are more strung out - in the Foxhunters and Topham there is maximum of 30 - trouble is horses are not machines and they can and do make errors. On Easter Saturday in a 4 runner field one brought another down at the 3rd - nasty but all concerned were fine. Every single horse at Aintree yesterday looked magnificent and a credit to their lad/lass. |
Marilyn
www.sweetphotography.com ** Now available online Our 2016 Galleries ** |
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sammyd0380
Gold Member
England
1169 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 10:58:14 PM
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Echo Marilyn and Vera! I love the National. It is a fantastic race, and I love watching good horses jumping around this course of fences (eg Scots Grey yesterday was awesome, and he was obviously enjoying himself immensely). Just because people enjoy racing, doesn't mean that they enjoy watching horses get injured or worse.
Nuttybabez, I would be amazed to see anyone that could 'train' a horse to carry on riderless! |
www.samadracing.co.uk |
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CatQueen
Gold Member
England
545 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 11:00:21 PM
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| hi i am glad some of you agree with the national ,yes there are too many runners i agree ,but the fences have been modified since the early days ,and it should be harder to qualify , how many of you have ever rode in arab racing or done point to points ? ihave had the pleasure of both and would do it again if did not have too many other interests these days . |
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Sadika
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3520 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 11:16:03 PM
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(Hopefully) here is Alph - lovely solo jump at Aintree yesterday !
PS Would love to hear about your pointing Sue - maybe we have a photo of you!!!
I once rode a pointer during a race - it fell early in the race at the fence before the one I was standing out way out in the country. The steward was miffed (it was the day of the National and the last race and he wanted to get off home to watch Red Rum) and said who'd like to ride it back to the paddock? I said I will, turned to give Pete my binoculars - the steward gave me a leg up and off we went - no hat, short stirrups, a fresh horse - health and safety would have had a field day! I was riding the horse back at a trot and realised that the rest of the field were approaching on their second circuit and we were going towards them - I also knew from his previous form that he was a dodgy jumper ...! What if my mount decided he'd like to join in again??! Luckily he was a real gent and ignored them so we cantered gently back to the paddock - hardly anyone there - all left to watch the National and this horse's owner/rider/box driver had broken his arm ... I handed the reins to an official and then had to walk back to the car where Pete was waiting for me with his mouth still wide open - sadly no photographic evidence... |
Marilyn
www.sweetphotography.com ** Now available online Our 2016 Galleries ** |
Edited by - Sadika on 13 Apr 2007 11:26:21 PM |
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Libby Frost
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4711 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 11:17:22 PM
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| I wasnt allowed to point to point( by my mum) ,but i arab raced and id do it again tomorrow if i had the time and money,my gelding LOVED it. |
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Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
8652 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 11:34:26 PM
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I haven't actually ridden but I have at least been to arab racing, does that in some way qualify!!!!
Vera and Dennis |
Hampshire |
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Honeyb060674
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4301 Posts |
Posted - 14 Apr 2007 : 11:00:19 AM
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I don't think we give these horses enough credit for their intelligence. Many of the runners have been there done that all before. Like Red Rum who was an old hand and was said to know and love the course. I cryed when they did the piece on him and Ginger McCain last year I agree that the field is just far too big, but the horses/trainings inproved and the fences aren't as unforgiving. Like any horse lover you can't help but be saddened by injuries and deaths, but it can happen in any equine event. I'm naff at picking winners...so this year I'm sticking with Hedgehunter |
      
Claire & Sunny x
http://sunnyandclaire.blogspot.com/ |
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beau
Gold Member
United Kingdom
806 Posts |
Posted - 14 Apr 2007 : 1:42:51 PM
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I love the national + am going with Hedgehunter, Puntal and Joes Edge,
I understand everyones reservations re the race however this year alot has been done to make the course safer, also i knowhat you are saying re why they carry on running after jockey has fallen (or they have fallen + got back up) but i would say soem horses do love it - i have a horse at mo who is very competitive if we go for a canter thru woodland with another horse he will always bolt to get in front + he doesnt stop til hes tired (a long time too) he jumps whatever is in his way and he has never 'raced' in his life!! |
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Woodlay
Gold Member
United Kingdom
566 Posts |
Posted - 14 Apr 2007 : 2:09:50 PM
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| One of the most exciting days was when Nigel Hawke (my stepson) won the Grand National in 1991 on Seagram. Seagram was the smallest horse in the race (about 15.2 or 15.3) and neither Seagram or Nigel had ever ridden around the Aintree Grand National Course before. I think Nigel (and Seagram for that matter!) had their eyes shut for about the first three fences..... and we were all celebrating for the next week. Ken and I were obviously up at Aintree, we walked the course at the crack of dawn - I couldn't describe the atmosphere,it just has to be experienced. The local bookmakers ran out of money, and when we got home people were driving past the farm hooting as they went for days - great times! |
Annie
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