Auroras Encore Bids To Compelte Aintree and Scottish National Double

April 17, 2013 Leave a comment

Champagne corks would not have just been popping at Sue Smith’s Bingley yard after Auroras Encore’s shock 66/1 victory but the BHA and all concerned with improving the welfare of horses in the race would have breathed a sighed a huge sigh of relief over a glass of the fizzy stuff as the 2013 Grand National produced a magnificent spectacle with all 40 horses and jockeys returning from the four mile four furlong marathon trip safely.

Aintree have prided themselves on introducing safety measures over the last 12 months after two horses, including 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Synchronised, suffered fatal injuries in the world’s greatest steeplechase last year, and the Merseyside venue would’ve been triumphing over the positive impact their changes made to what was still a highlight of not only National Hunt racing but of the UK sporting calendar.

Witticisms were flying in ten to the dozen in the lead-up to the race with some in the racing ranks referring to the race as a potential glorified hurdle race, but the 4m 3f 110y marathon lost none of its glitz and glamour as the 40-strong field went careering to the first fence.

The obstacles have certainly become a lot less taxing on the horses, as they are now able to brush through the top of the fences with more ease, but the view of watching these 40 equine superstars jumping round the idiosyncratic course still created a buzz around the millions that were watching the race around the world.

Going into the race all eyes had been on Katie Walsh, as her mount Seabass was backed off the boards, but as he did 12 months ago, the Ted Walsh-trained raider failed to see out the closing stages, whilst the fellow Irish raiders Colbert Station and On His Own had both failed to make it around the course after falling in the middle part of the contest.

Meanwhile at the head of affairs Nick Scholfield was gaining a real tune out of Teaforthree, but the petrol tank was plummeting in the red as a tired jump at the last handed the initiative to Ryan Mania on board Auroras Encore and the 2012 Scottish National runner-up and the pair duly sprinted clear to send the bookmakers into raptures and a new name catapulted into the newspapers.

Mania was a name only known in racing quarters, but no doubt editors across the land enjoyed compiling their punchy headings utilising the Scotsman’s surname, but his fall the following day at Hexham, where he was airlifted to hospital just brought home to the nation the ups and downs with the national hunt world.

After being discharged from hospital, Mania will have to spend some time on the sidelines, but he will desperate to be back in the plate for Auroras Encore’s next race, which looks set to be in the Scottish National at Ayr on April 20, where he tries to emulate the legendary Red Rum by notching up the Grand National and Scottish National double and he is currently around the 12/1 market in the latest betting to secure victory north of the border.

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Grand National Contenders Emerge As Race Nears

February 20, 2013 Leave a comment

We have seen the build-up to the 2013 Grand National crank up a notch over the last week with the announcement of the weights coupled with one or two contenders staking their claims following trials. The handicapper has tried his best to level the field of entries for this year’s race and as usual, which has signalled the start of ‘National season’. Trainers and owners in Britain and Ireland are now finalising plans for their Aintree hopefuls with the race fast approaching.

One horse who has impressed recently is Cappa Bleu, who had his final run before Aintree at Ascot last weekend. The Evan Williams trained 11 year old ran a blinder to finish second in the Weatherbys Insurance Chase Limited Handicap over three miles and connections have now decided to send the horse straight to the National. Cappa Bleu seemed in great order as he jumped with style around Ascot before staying on well through the line to pick up a hard fought second place.

Last year, Cappa Bleu ran a great race in the Grand National to finish fourth and with that experience behind him and a fair weight to carry (10-7 – 3lbs less than 12 months ago), he has to be respected once again in 2013. The bookmakers were certainly impressed with his run at Ascot with the horse now fighting for second favouritism in some places at 12/1 behind the Willie Mullins trained Prince De Beauchene. That is high praise indeed for the horse but punters can be pretty sure he stays as he proved last year when he finished fourth and based on his current form, it would be no surprise to see him at least placed again.

Another horse who has long been touted as a potential National winner is Teaforthree but he looked well below his best recently when he faded out of contention in the Haydock National Trial. The Rebecca Curtis trained nine year old won the four mile handicap at the Cheltenham Festival last year to prove his stamina while he ran another good race at Chepstow when finishing second in the Welsh Grand National back in January. The manner in which he faded at Haydock on his last start however is a worry for punters but at the same time, he has been such a consistent horse recently that he can surely be forgiven for one bad run.

Teaforthree and Jockey AP McCoy, have built up a successful partnership over the past couple of years but the Champ is unlikely to be on board the Welsh trained horse at Aintree come April. McCoy is likely to get the leg up on Sunnyhillboy for his boss JP McManus this year instead, leaving Rebecca Curtis looking for a new partner for Teaforthree. It was Nick Scholfield who took the ride at Haydock and while he is clearly a very good jockey, he does lack the experience and class of McCoy who is of course the best in the business.

One other contender who is worthy of a mention at this stage is On His Own who made a fine return to the track at Navan to win the Boyne Hurdle ahead of his second tilt at the Grand National. The Willie Mullins trained horse fell at Bechers on the second circuit when travelling well last season and all the signs are that he is bang in form ahead of a return to Liverpool on 6th April. The horse showed plenty of class to win the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle on his first start for 10 months and as a result the bookmakers were impressed enough to cut the horse into as short as the 8/1 favourite for Aintree.

All of this comes in the wake of the news that Grand National top weight, Tidal Bay, will miss the race after picking up an injury. Even shoudler top weight, the Paul Nicholls trained runner looked well in after the handicapper had done his work but his withdrawal will now see the field shaken up ahead of the race. Plenty of horses will now be the subject of a hike in the handicap as a result of the withdrawal of Tidal Bay leaving plenty of punters left scratching their heads when trying to find the winner at this stage. There is no doubt however that the likes of Cappa Bleu and On His Own are credible contenders, they have both been treated fairly by the handicapper and both will be looking to win the race at the second attempt.

Filed under Aintree, Grand National, Tony McCoy Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Neptune Collonges Grand National Success Marred By More Aintree Tragedy

April 17, 2012 Leave a comment

In the wake of a second successive Aintree Grand National in which two fatalities were suffered, it is quite understandable that the public outcry would be at its loudest. The tragic deaths of Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Synchronised and According To Pete could now spark profound changes to the race that could even result in the removal of its most notorious fence, Bechers Brook ahead of the 2013 Grand National.

Aintree Racecourse spent £250,000 on safety improvements after receiving thousands of complaints following the deaths of Ornais and Dooney’s Gate last year. It is clear however, that the improvements have failed, particularly those made to “Bechers” as it was at this fence that Synchronised (on the first circuit) and According To Pete (on the second circuit), both fell as had Dooney’s Gate 12 months before them. In fairness to the fence, Synchronised actually got to his feet after depositing jockey, Tony McCoy and ran on until falling rider-less at the 11th where he then broke his leg.

The deaths sadly marred the outcome of the race, where grey, Neptune Collonges and jockey, Daryl Jacob, not only defied the 33/1 odds against him, he defied the trends and stats of the race proving in the process that there is no substitute for sheer class to get up by a nose to finish ahead of Sunnyhillboy. At his peak in 2009, the 11 year old was rated at 174, making him easily the best horse in the race. He had won two Grade One races inIrelandand would have won more in theUKhad it not been for the presence of his two superior stablemates, Kauto Star and Denman. In winning, he became the first grey horse since Nicholas Silver in 1961 to win the race and the first since Red Rum in 1977 to carry 11-06 or more to victory. Neptune Collonges win also meant a first ever “National” success for champion trainer, Paul Nicholls.

Whatever the outcome it was certainly not to be a day for the JP McManus the Jonjo O’Neill team, who not only lost their prized Gold Cup winner Synchronised but also had to suffer the agony of watching O’Neill’s second entry, Sunnyhillboy lose the race in the run-in. Ridden with great gusto by Richard McLernon, the nine year old was overhauled in a thrilling battle with Neptune Collonges before being beaten on the line by the shortest possible margin. It was the closest ever finish to a Grand National and one that will live very long in the memory.

As usual, thebookmakers had a superb day after sending off Seabass and Shakalakaboomboom as 8/1 joint favourites. Despite brother Ruby Walsh turning down the ride on him, a huge gamble on Katy Walsh and Seabass was witnessed beforehand with the general buzz indicating that she was about to become the first ever female to ride the winner of the race. In the event, having ridden the horse superbly throughout, where he remained prominent, he just did not have enough stamina to take on the first two on the run in. Nonetheless, his third place earned Katy the accolade of finishing the race in a higher position than any other female before her. Shakalakaboomboom, who also rode with great prominence faded at the last finishing in 9th place.

Fourth place went to the Evan Williams trained Cappa Bleu giving the trainer a fourth consecutive place finish in the race, while fifth home was 100/1 rank outsider In Compliance who was just over two lengths clear of last year’s winner, Ballabriggs. Only fifteen of the forty runners finished the race.

Filed under Aintree, Grand National, Jockey, Latest Racing News, Ruby Walsh, Tony McCoy Tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,

Synchronised Remains On Course To Re-Write History After Latest Grand National Forfeit Stage

March 23, 2012 Leave a comment

Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Synchronised heads both the market and the weights at the latest forfeit stage for the 2012 Grand National. A total of 59 runners have stood their ground, with last year’s winner Ballabriggs next in the weights on 11-09. Midnight Chase, who finished 31 lengths behind Synchronised in the Gold Cup is on 11-08 the same as Weird Al who pulled up in Cheltenham feature with a broken blood vessel whilst a pound further back is Gold Cup fourth BurtonPort who’ll have just three pounds to reverse the eight lengths he finished behind Synchronised in the Gold Cup.

The simple fact that there are so many Gold Cup runners in this year’s Grand National tells us that we are likely to witness one of the highest quality renewals for many years. Add to the mix last year’s winner, Ballabriggs, Prince De Beauchene, winner of the Bobbyjo Chase inIrelandlast time out, together with Irish Hennessy Gold Cup winner, Quel Esprit and Sky Bet Chase winnerCalgaryBay.

Should Synchronised pull off the almost impossible Gold Cup and Grand National double in the same season then he would be the first horse to do so since Golden Miller in 1934 and the first horse since L’Escargot in 1975 to win both races. Another first is that he would also be the first horse since Freebooter in 1950 to carry top weight to victory. It all adds up to a very difficult task indeed for the Jonjo O’Neil trained and JP McManus owned runner but he could be the once in a lifetime horse that defies the history books.

It is fair to say that he will not go down as one of the all time great Gold Cup winners but it should be remembered that he won the Grade 1 Lexus Chase inIrelandin his preparation race forCheltenhamback in December. He also won the rearranged Welsh National over 3m7f in January 2011 and the Midland National over 4m1f a year before that, wins that confirm his staying ability to handle the marathon Grand National trip and it’s just whether he can overcome the burden of top weight.

Meanwhile Bookmakers generally have confirmed that support continues to come for the Willie Mullins trained Prince De Beauchene. The nine year old was last seen winning the Grade 2 Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse last month will be racing off only 10-06 making him a very decent proposition and with Ruby Walsh likely to take the ride, his price is only going to go in one direction.

Support it appears has waned for Donald McCain’s Weird Al following his broken blood vessel sustained in the Gold Cup where he had to be pulled up. He was still confirmed for the race however as is stablemate and 2011 winner, Ballabriggs, who is currently third favourite with odds of around 12/1. Ballabriggs of course will be trying to emulate the feat of the legendary three time winner, Red Rum, trained by McCain’s father, Donald and who was the last horse to win the Grand National back-to-back.

Others reported to be being well supported with just three weeks to go before the race include Junior from the David Pipe stable, Burton Port who is now into 12/1 in places, Alan King’s West End Rocker a 16/1 shot the same price as Cappa Bleu, Cheltenham Festival winner, Sunnyhillboy and the highly regarded Seabass from the Ted Walsh stable in Ireland. All will come to Aintree on April 14th with high expectations.

Filed under Aintree, David Pipe, Gold Cup, Grand National, Hennessy Gold Cup, Jonjo O'Neil, Ruby Walsh, Willie Mullins Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Are Changes On The Cards Following The BBC Ditching Its Racing Coverage?

March 23, 2012 Leave a comment

If viewer’s comments made on the Mail Online and other such sites, is anything to go by then the BBC’s loss of the rights to cover live the Grand National, Royal Ascot The Derby and Prix l’Arc de Triomph meetings to Channel 4 Racing from 1913 is a popular one.

Indeed most of those “in the know” seemed to be expecting a capitulation by the BBC from horse racing, particularly after the last year’s Grand National when two horses died. Rigidly adhering to their political correct policies, the “Beeb” clearly could not be seen to be broadcasting an event which is under such close scrutiny from all corners of society.

What this means for the array of presenters on both channels is yet to be discussed in the public domain but Clare Balding, who has fronted BBC racing for the last 14 years, has made it clear that she is very disappointed and hinted that she will be leaving the BBC. Obviously she will be going nowhere until post London Olympics but will she be offered the same position with Channel 4 Racing and if so, will she bring Willie Carson with her?

Will Channel 4 be tempted to replace their current betting appraisers led by John McCririck with the John Parrott and Gary Wiltshire or will Channel 4 stick with its current stable.

Certainly Parrott will not be short of employment as the BBC do intend, at least for the time being, to continue their snooker coverage. Meanwhile Wiltshire is gainfully employed currently by the Greyhound coverage on Sky Sports as well as his role with the Tote/Betfred.

There may even be an opportunity for Rishi Persad with Channel 4 but the man famed for his inane interviews is finding alternative sporting opportunities elsewhere within the BBC.

Will any of the current Channel 4 presentation team be nervous about their futures? Certainly they have the edge in popularity over their current BBC counterparts but given that there may be personality changes which of them will be the most worried?

Despite curtailing his appearances, McCririck remains a very watchable character by most and along with the other pundits, all are very professional and deliver their message with great clarity as a rule. They let the punter know well in advance on their Morning Line programme on Saturday morning, the likely market movers and drifters and latest information from the markets and exchanges. They also usually inform their audience of which horses Pricewise from the Racing Post is tipping, which saves money buying the paper which more often than not proves profitable!

Nick Luck who is generally the front man for the Morning Line does a great job and it would appear unfair if he paid the price for some heavyweight arrivals from the BBC.

It all looks very interesting and no doubt if Channel 4 sees fit, it could form a new team that befits the fact that from 2013, they will be the lead broadcaster as far as horse racing is concerned in the UK. This is a far cry from just a few short years ago when it looked as if their racing coverage was about to fold due to lack of revenue.

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Grand National Trial At Haydock Should Provide Some Useful Aintree Pointers

February 15, 2012 Leave a comment

With the weights having being revealed for the 2012 Aintree Grand National, particular attention will be paid to the Betfred Grand National Trial over 3m4f which takes place this Saturday at Haydock Park.

After the five day declaration stage made on Monday, 23 runners stood their ground with Neptune Collonges from the Paul Nicholls stable topping the weights with 11-12 with Grand National favourite, Junior, from the David Pipe stable set to carry 11-6 in the race.

This will be the first run of the season for Junior, who demolished his rivals in the Kim Muir Fulke Walwyn Challenge Cup over 3m2f at the Cheltenham Festival last March and then subsequently ran at Royal Ascot where he failed in his attempt to win back to back Ascot Stakes on the flat. The style of his Cheltenham Festival win however, is the principle reason why he is the antepost favourite for the Aintree Grand National in which he will carry 11-2. He won the ‘Kim Muir’ by a staggering 24 lengths looking a very commanding horse in the process and clearly one who has a lot more to come and the handicapper looks to have given Junior a huge chance ahead of the Aintree feature.

Up against him on Saturday is Welsh National winner, Le Beau Bai from the Richard Lee stable who is likely in fact to go off as the favourite should the going remain heavy. He finished third in this race 12 months ago behind Silver By Nature but never went on to run at Aintree. After a mediocre start to the season, this 9 year old has come on leaps and bounds with the Welsh National victory his biggest success to date. He is an absolute mud lark and the worse conditions the ground is in the better and if they turns in to an extreme test of stamina, you can be assured that Le Beau Bai will be in the shake up at the end.

Topping the Irish challenge is the Charlie Swan trained, Start Me Up, who comes to the race with only one win in a Beginners Chase but the form of that run has worked out well and stable optimism for a big run is high.

Cappa Bleu third behind Le Beau Bai in the Welsh National will be representing the Evan Williams yard who will expect him to improve considerably for his Chepstow run. A former winner of the Foxhunters Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, the ten year old is an excellent jumper and a very thorough stayer.

Neptune Collonges is still looking for his first win since taking the 2011 Argento Chase and will have the burden of top weight, although that did not hamper him too much last time out when he was a very creditable second place behind Hold On Julio in the 32Red Handicap Chase at Sandown in January but the weight may way hold him back from winning this.

Giles Cross, second in the Welsh National is slightly better weighted to reverse form with le Beau Bai and trainer, Victor Dartnell, was a little frustrated by a second successive second in the Welsh National but is sure to be confident that his 10 year can make the frame at the Lancashire track on Saturday.

All in all, this is a very open Grand National trial with a host in with chances. One to possibly watch out for who is well handicapped is Evan Williams second entry, Deep Purple. This 11 year old looked a very decent Gold Cup prospect a couple of years ago after winning both the Grade 2 Charlie Hall and Peterborough Chases. However his form evaporated after efforts in the 2009 King George Vl Chase and the 2010 Ryanair Chase failed. However, he returned to winning ways in December, when taking the London National over 3m6f at Sandown, when carrying top weight. This race is altogether a higher quality but with only 11-7 to carry this time, the odds 16/1 look decent each way value for a horse with proven quality.

Whatever the outcome, this Grand National Trial should provide a number of useful pointers ahead of the big race on 14th April.

Filed under Aintree, Alan King, David Pipe, Grand National, Haydock, Paul Nicholls, Racecourse Tagged with , , , , ,

A Tribute To Ginger McCain

September 21, 2011 Leave a comment

There would have been very few National Hunt racing fans that would not have spared at least a thought or two after hearing of the death of that great charismatic trainer, Ginger McCain, who lost his battle against cancer earlier this week.

“Ginger” was eighty years old but leaves behind a legacy that will probably never be equalled having trained Red Rum to three Grand National victories in five years during the mid 1970s. In those other two years “Rummy” finished second, making him the greatest Grand National horse of all time that richly deserves his burial place at the Aintree winning post.

McCain, although very colourful and often controversial, would never accept the media inclination to label him as a legend, he would correct them whenever the term was used and tell them the truth, that it was Red Rum who was the legend. Without Red Rum in fact it is doubtful, whether the former second hand car salesman and Taxi Driver, would have lasted long as a trainer.

Red Rum was clearly a life changer for McCain, who carried on training and developing his stable which paid off with a fourth Grand National success with Amberleigh House in 2004. The rapidly developing stable is now being run by Ginger’s son, Donald, who, not wanting to be totally eclipsed by his ‘old man’ saddled Ballabriggs to victory in this year’s Grand National, making it five wins for the stable. It was almost as if young Donald McCain was presenting his father with a going away gift, which, with the benefit of hindsight makes Ballabriggs’s win this year that much more profound. Wouldn’t it be remarkable should Ballabriggs become the first horse since Red Rum to win the race two years running by winning the 2012 Grand National?

McCain Snr was never one to be politically correct; he probably didn’t really understand the term. He was from the “old school” when men were the sole breadwinners who ruled the roost while women cooked the dinner and looked after the family. His comment a few years ago, concerning baring his backside should Carrie Ford ride the winner of the 2005 “National” which the very often over-reactive media made a ‘meal out of’ was typical of his naiveté and of his character. For most media analysts however, McCain was treated with the utmost respect and often as a loveable, but eccentric ‘Uncle’ who was only ever trying to put a smile on your face. Incidentally, Carrie Ford in fact did not win that race but she finished in a very creditable fifth place on Forest Gunner.

One of ‘Ginger’s’ greatest feats with Red Rum was the method he used to nurse the horse back to full fitness after arriving at the McCain yard lame. Ginger who had spotted the potential of the horse and had persuaded owner, Noel Le Mare to buy him for £6,000, had not realised the extent of the lameness. However as if fate lent a hand, McCain made an inspired decision to take Red Rum up on the Southport sands where he understood the salt water may well do the lameness plenty of good and quite simply, it did.

‘Rummy’ was soon racing again and although he was never a classy enough horse to win a Cheltenham Gold Cup or indeed any top National Hunt Grade One, he still broke all records for Aintree.

It was McCain’s decision in 1974 to take the chance and attempt to win the Scottish Grand National at Ayr. He had noticed hat Red Rum had come out of Aintree exceptionally well and knew that he could follow that win up with another marathon victory in Scotland. Quite remarkably he proved to be right again; Red Rum strolled up to become the only horse to have won the Aintree and Scottish Grand National’s in the same year.

Donald McCain Snr was a very unique and remarkably, popular man, who will be very sadly missed by all in the sport.

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Weld Dominates Galway Festival With Record 17 Winners

August 2, 2011 Leave a comment

More often than not the Galway Festival is all about the Galway Plate, the Galway Hurdle and the irrepressible Dermot Weld and that has proven to be the case once again in 2011.

The two feature races had been declared as major targets for Weld this year but Majestic Concorde, who was having his first run since Unseating his rider in the Aintree Grand National was forced to pull up after jockey, Paul Carberry, lost his irons in the Galway Plate on Wednesday. More disappointed followed for the ‘Master of Rosewell’ when his Hidden Universe finished well down the field after making a bad mistake two out in the Galway Hurdle on Thursday.

Apart from those disappointments, Weld dominated the Galway Festival with a record breaking seventeen winners, six better than his previous best of eleven achieved 12 months ago. The performance of the stable was truly incredible and won Weld his 27th title as top Trainer at the Festival.

His first win came on the opening day with the two year old Riviera Poet who turned over the hot odds on favourite Learn, trained by Aidan O’Brien and thought to be a good Ballydoyle prospect.

Hat tricks followed on Days two and three, but exceeded even those performances with a four timer on Thursday with the highlight being the success of Rock Critic in the valuable, Ladbrokes Biggest names in Racing Handicap. That performance by the 10/11 jolly had punters racing to the Bookmakers stands to collect their winnings, much to the delight of Weld who loves to be the punters friend.

Only two more winners came on Friday, but Weld was to send the punters into ecstasy on Saturday with a third hat trick of the meeting. His 17th and final winner came on Sunday when Comedic Art took the honours in the penultimate race of the meeting.

Top jockey at the Festival this year was once again Pat Smullen who won the top flat jockey and who rode a record of 12 winners, all for Weld, while it was Robbie McNamara who had Weld to thank for him lifting the top National Hunt Jockey award with 4 winners.

The organisers reported that the Festival’s crowd was just 4,000 down on last year’s attendances with 146,847 attending over the seven days. An average of just over 20,000 per day. This is thought to be very encouraging particularly in light of the current economic climate. Bookmakers by and large reported that turnover was 10% down on last year, while the Tote Ireland reported it was down by over 13%, which is a slightly worrying trend.

Filed under Dermont Weld, Galway, Grand National, National Hunt Races Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Ballabriggs lands 2011 Grand National

April 12, 2011 Leave a comment

Despite an Aintree racecourse being packed to the rafters with 70,000 racing fans, record amounts of money being taken by the Bookmakers on bets and a worldwide TV audience of 600,000 the furore still erupted into why two horses had to die in the Grand National, the world’s greatest steeplechase.

The row seemed to pre-occupy one wing of the media where the usual rants of ending all future races are being heard once again with talk of protests and action by animal rights militants. No doubt in time it was all quieten down again and then perhaps the real media, the people friendly media can sit back and pen their accounts of what was otherwise a fantastic spectacle. They should be prepared to sing the praises of the race winner, Ballabriggs and the McCain stable who trained the ten year old and who have done more than any other stable to establish the Grand National as a British institution; it is after all the people’s race and they know it only too well!

With the venom being totally focussed on the racing industry and the deaths of the two horses, Ornais, who died instantly after falling at the fourth fence and Dooney’s Gate, who came to grief at Bechers Brook first time around, those pointing the fingers seemed to have lost sight of the injury suffered by young jockey, Peter Toole. He sustained horrible injuries after his fall in an earlier race, which has left him fighting for his life in a coma in hospital. Surely he should be the priority not the horse?

All that said, the race panned out in an incredibly exciting fashion, with Ballabriggs always prominent in a fast paced race, along with Niche Market and Majestic Concorde. Behind them and always handy were the two race favourites, The Midnight Club and 2010 winner, Don’t Push It always. By the time the second circuit began it was clear that the winner was going to come from those who were still prominent and they now included Oscar Time, ridden by amateur jockey, Sam Waley-Cohen, bidding to create history by becoming the first amateur to tide the winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National during the same season. His approach to the front of proceedings seemed ominous as did, the arrival to the fore of Tony McCoy and Don’t Push It, who despite top weight was running a cracking race.

As they took the last the race looked between Ballabriggs, who was being brilliantly ridden by Jason Maguire, but it was clear that Oscar Time was in for the fight and he did not disappoint. The two fought ‘tooth and nail’ past the ‘Elbow’ putting distance between them and the chasing McCoy but Ballabriggs was never headed and it was only then that it dawned on the screaming crowd that he was going to win, which he duly did holding on by just over two lengths.

It was a famous victory for Donald McCain, so long in the ‘shadow of his father, ‘Ginger’ McCain, trainer of the great Red Rum and more recently Amberleigh House. This time it was the son who delivered the winner providing the McCain stable with their fifth in all.
Oscar Time should have no complaints; he ran a great race to be second, while Don’t Push came in a gallant third, ahead of State Of Play, who was having his first run since being placed in this race in 2010, he seemed to come from nowhere and stayed on the best of all. Niche Market was fifth.

Filed under Aintree, Grand National, Racecourse Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Grand National Meeting Kicks Off With Fantastic Undercard on Thursday

April 5, 2011 Leave a comment

Whilst not carrying the same prestige as the Cheltenham Festival the Grand National meeting which of course climaxes with the big race itself on Saturday stages a whole host of top quality graded races that will feature many of the stars of Cheltenham over the three days.

The opening day on Thursday features several cracking races including the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle, the Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle, the Grade 1 Totesport Bowl as well as a cracking Foxhunters Chase.

2.00 Liverpool Hurdle (Grade1) –3m 110y

This brings together the first two home in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham, Big Bucks and Grands Crus who look set finish in the same order in this race. Big Bucks has won this race for the last two years and comfortably held the young pretender Grands Crus at Cheltenham. He is likely to go off as an odds on favourite to win for the 12th consecutive time.

Added interest comes in the form of Khyber Kim, runner up in the Champion Hurdle in 2010 and who many thought should have ran in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham instead of making a second crack at the Champion Hurdle where he had no real chance. His performance will be dependent as much on the form of the Nigel Twiston-Davies stable who had a poor Cheltenham and who are still not firing.

Another interesting runner is Carlito Brigante from the Gordon Elliott yard who won the Coral Cup at Cheltenham and who is stepping up in class and trip.

Selection: Big Bucks

2.30 Juvenile Hurdle (Grade1) – 2m110y

The highly exciting Zarkandar, another inmate at the paul Nicholls stable will start this race as the favourite but can expect some opposition in both the race and the market from Grandouet from the Nicky Henderson Seven Barrows stable. Zarkandar, son of 2008 Arc de Triomphe winner Zarkava comfortably held off Grandouet in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham finishing five lengths ahead with the Dermot Weld trained Unaccompanied dividing them in second place.

Unaccompanied subsequently won the Listed Alleged Stakes on the flat last Sunday where he had none other than the one time 2010 Epsom Derby favourite St Nicholas Abbey well beaten in third. This win alone totally confirms the class of Zarkandar and demonstrates that Grandouet is a horse with prospects too.

Selection: Zarkandar

3.05 Totesport Bowl (Grade1) – 3m1f

Due to the softening up of conditions at Aintree it looks like only six will go to post in this highly valuable Grade One who should be headed in the betting by Denman, second for the third time last month in the Cheltenham Gold Cup behind Long Run.

On paper this race should be a ‘stroll in the park’ for Denman and if that is the case he will should be providing his trainer and jockey, Ruby Walsh their third win from the first three races at the meeting. However, Denman is not necessarily suited by the Mildmay course at Aintree as it is very sharp and tight course and he fell here for the only time in his career two years ago at the second last when he was not running at his very best. There have been a number of pundits suggesting that the Tom George trained Nacarat could be the one to follow as the course will suit his strong front running.

An interesting entry is the Nicky Henderson trained Punchestowns who missed Cheltenham possibly for a tilt at this race. He won a decent quality Graduation Chase last time and is a horse with plenty of class, and who Henderson suggested a year or so ago was as good as Long Run, winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month.

Selection: Punchestowns

Filed under Aintree, Cheltenham, Cheltenham Festival Races, Grand National, Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls, Racecourse

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