The Grand National

[my miss storm cat]

Some are horrified by this race and some think it's the single greatest race in the world.

Personally I never watch it (fallers) but always make a pick (I'm not redboarding but I so had Numbersix! ) and watch the very end on a replay.

Putting aside my sentimental favorites my early pick is The Package.

Much as I'd love to say I think Black Apalachi wins it... well I just don't but he's a terribly nice horse.

I'm wondering if any of you know if Preists Leap and Beat the Boys look like they'll go?

Character Building... wow those are surprising odds. Ollie at 100/1? Ummm okaaaay.

For me the best longshot is Mr. Pointment.

State of Play, Snowy Morning, Comply or Die, Silver Birch and Cloudy Lane... these are my sentimental picks and I wish them all a safe trip home.

Who are you all looking at?

Will Mon Mome be the favorite or will it be Big Fella Thanks?


Latest Odds Saturday April 10 2010
Aintree 16:15

John Smith's Grand National Chase (handicap)
£925000.00 added, 6yo plus, 4m 4f
65 runners
Going: Mildmay: Good to Soft-Good in plcs; National: Good to Soft-Soft in plcs.


Form Horse Age Wt Trainer Jockey OR NagMe Bet
01-3244 Madison Du Berlais (FR) 42 9 11-10 D Pipe 162 SP SP
50/1
1-P3463 Mon Mome (FR) 22 10 11-7 Miss V Williams 148 SP SP
10/1
151U-02 Black Apalachi (IRE) 49 11 11-6 D T Hughes 155 SP SP
12/1
5-50030 Joe Lively (IRE) 25 11 11-6 C L Tizzard 155 SP SP
66/1
211501 Vic Venturi (IRE) 49 10 11-6 D T Hughes 154 SP SP
16/1
P002-00 Comply Or Die (IRE) 25 11 11-5 D Pipe 153 SP SP
20/1
01-423P Don't Push It (IRE) 23 10 11-5 Jonjo O'Neill 153 SP SP
SP
2404P2 Made In Taipan (IRE) 14 8 11-4 Thomas Mullins 149 SP SP
100/1
1-03520 Niche Market (IRE) 25 9 11-4 R H Buckler 152 SP SP
16/1
121-210 Tricky Trickster (IRE) 22 7 11-4 P F Nicholls 152 SP SP
16/1
FU-3644 Cloudy Lane 35 10 11-3 D McCain Jnr 151 SP SP
40/1
UPP/21P Dream Alliance 49 9 11-3 P J Hobbs 151 SP SP
33/1
1P00-60 Nozic (FR) 103 9 11-3 P F Nicholls - SP SP
66/1
53-2050 My Will (FR) 22 10 11-2 P F Nicholls 150 SP SP
33/1
3606-4F Pablo Du Charmil (FR) 70 9 11-2 D Pipe - SP SP
100/1
123130 Backstage (FR) 14 8 11-0 G Elliott 148 SP SP
20/1
6-51110 Ballyholland (IRE) 41 9 11-0 C A McBratney 145 SP SP
25/1
P-1P1PP Beat The Boys (IRE) 25 9 11-0 N A Twiston-Davies 146 SP SP
80/1
0-000F0 Preists Leap (IRE) 25 10 11-0 Thomas O'leary 148 SP SP
SP
14F-016 Can't Buy Time (IRE) 35 8 10-13 Jonjo O'Neill 147 SP SP
SP
103223 Snowy Morning (IRE) 41 10 10-13 W P Mullins 147 SP SP
18/1
136-2U1 Big Fella Thanks 35 8 10-12 P F Nicholls 146 SP SP
7/1
3301-00 Character Building (IRE) 25 10 10-11 J J Quinn 145 SP SP
20/1
60/144-P State of Play 133 10 10-11 Evan Williams - SP SP
20/1
0-12100 Ellerslie George (IRE) 35 10 10-10 Nick Mitchell 144 SP SP
66/1
4P1540 Ballyfitz 23 10 10-9 N A Twiston-Davies 139 SP SP
66/1
43545U Conna Castle (IRE) 43 11 10-9 J J Mangan 143 SP SP
100/1
2P5-011 Eric's Charm (FR) 35 12 10-9 O Sherwood 143 SP SP
SP
2/0-0000 King Johns Castle (IRE) 27 11 10-9 A L T Moore 142 SP SP
33/1
305460 Ollie Magern 25 12 10-9 N A Twiston-Davies 141 SP SP
100/1
30-30U2 Arbor Supreme (IRE) 41 8 10-8 W P Mullins 140 SP SP
14/1
02P-253 Maljimar (IRE) 120 10 10-8 Nick Williams - SP SP
33/1
U01-4U5 Irish Raptor (IRE) 126 11 10-7 N A Twiston-Davies - SP SP
33/1
P/6220-0 Mr Pointment (IRE) 22 11 10-7 Paul Murphy 141 SP SP
80/1
0-33010 Piraya (FR) 42 7 10-7 D Pipe 141 SP SP
66/1
3-02312 The Package 25 7 10-7 D Pipe 141 SP SP
14/1
035B00 Hello Bud (IRE) 23 12 10-6 N A Twiston-Davies 137 SP SP
40/1
P6-1420 Palypso De Creek (FR) 23 7 10-6 C E Longsdon 139 SP SP
50/1
3/32-31P Abbeybraney (IRE) 24 9 10-5 J Howard Johnson 139 SP SP
50/1
0PP/05-0 Cerium (FR) 22 9 10-5 Paul Murphy 133 SP SP
66/1
P63/52-P Flintoff (USA) 103 9 10-5 Miss V Williams - SP SP
50/1
56/33P5 Royal Rosa (FR) 80 11 10-5 J Howard Johnson - SP SP
150/1
F-26R20 Silver Birch (IRE) 25 13 10-5 G Elliott 138 SP SP
50/1
PP462F Knowhere (IRE) 25 12 10-4 N A Twiston-Davies 140 SP SP
66/1
25-0560 Oodachee 23 11 10-4 C F Swan 133 SP SP
66/1
4F1311 Whinstone Boy (IRE) 65 9 10-4 J J Mangan - SP SP
25/1
P03-402 Faasel (IRE) 23 9 10-3 D Pipe 135 SP SP
50/1
1C40P-0 Officier De Reserve (FR) 25 8 10-3 Miss V Williams 137 SP SP
100/1
5-30011 Chief Dan George (IRE) 25 10 10-2 James Moffatt 142 SP SP
25/1
111P20 Duers (IRE) 105 8 10-2 Paul Magnier 130 SP SP
150/1
01-1F01 Ballytrim (IRE) 34 9 10-1 W P Mullins 131 SP SP
40/1
0-0U004 Offshore Account (IRE) 25 10 10-1 C F Swan 135 SP SP
40/1
P220P6 Pak Jack (FR) 45 10 10-1 R T Phillips 130 SP SP
SP
66/4-540 Kings Advocate (IRE) 34 10 10-0 T J Taaffe 127 SP SP
100/1
3F-116P Treacle (IRE) 41 9 10-0 T J Taaffe 130 SP SP
66/1
45-2613 Galant Nuit (FR) 23 6 9-13 Ferdy Murphy 133 SP SP
66/1
31F4-22 Belon Gale (IRE) 125 7 9-12 J Howard Johnson - SP SP
100/1
5-0600P Pomme Tiepy (FR) 49 7 9-12 W P Mullins 132 SP SP
100/1
021-0D6 Merigo (FR) 35 9 9-10 A Parker 130 SP SP
66/1
3414-00 Chiaro (FR) 63 8 9-9 P J Hobbs - SP SP
100/1
4-U335P According To John (IRE) 49 10 9-8 N G Richards 128 SP SP
100/1
12P0PU Lorum Leader (IRE) 7 9 9-7 Dr R D P Newland 124 SP SP
250/1
42/0PP0 Over The Creek 32 11 9-4 D Pipe 124 SP SP
100/1
P/FP522 Wee Robbie 15 10 9-0 N J Gifford 122 SP SP
200/1
1/P6P-4P Offaly (IRE) 50 9 8-12 Mrs P Townsley 118 SP SP
300/1

[brockguy]

Love the race

havent really had a big look at it this year to have any clear cut opinion.

On a slightly related note, I backed 7 horses in the Irish Grand National today (in a field of 26) and the best I could muster was 7th. Disaster, but great to bet!

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by brockguy

Love the race

Yeah I remember.

20 million places to get 20 million updates but this one has a ton of stuff, so...

For anyone interested...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/othe...ng/8603557.stm

[Hwjb]

I haven't had an ante-post bet and, none too surprisingly, the market has it about right I'd have thought, Big Fella Thanks is surely the likeliest winner, and he's almost becoming backable with some firms going 10/1. I certainly think he has a much better chance than Mon Mome (flattered by his Cheltenham run) and The Package (still think he might be doggy) who are only slightly longer priced.

Black Apalachi must have a very good chance, and I'll certainly have a few shekels on him, whilst Comply Or Die has to be the most solid each-way bet at 20+/1.

I may be slightly biased, but Backstage does tick a lot of boxes in that he's got the requisite speed, he's an up-and-comer, the ground has come right, he jumps well and, for me anyway, he'll stay. Granted a bit of luck obviously, I imagine he'll be thereabouts and will certainly have him to win a fair bit.

[my miss storm cat]

Good luck to Celestial Halo and Zaynar in the Dick Francis.

The Package is my pick to win this thing but King John's Castle, Black Apalachi and Character Building all have a shot.

Good luck to Beat the Boys and Preists leap who might be two of the last home but gotta wish them a safe trip.

CONE HOME SAFE, EVERYONE.

[brockguy]

Originally Posted by Hwjb

I haven't had an ante-post bet and, none too surprisingly, the market has it about right I'd have thought, Big Fella Thanks is surely the likeliest winner, and he's almost becoming backable with some firms going 10/1. I certainly think he has a much better chance than Mon Mome (flattered by his Cheltenham run) and The Package (still think he might be doggy) who are only slightly longer priced.

Black Apalachi must have a very good chance, and I'll certainly have a few shekels on him, whilst Comply Or Die has to be the most solid each-way bet at 20+/1.

I may be slightly biased, but Backstage does tick a lot of boxes in that he's got the requisite speed, he's an up-and-comer, the ground has come right, he jumps well and, for me anyway, he'll stay. Granted a bit of luck obviously, I imagine he'll be thereabouts and will certainly have him to win a fair bit.

Harry, cant have Big Fella Thanks. Im not a fan of his attitude and am not getting too carried away with a win over a certain Swiss bred horse last time out. I do agree with you re: Mon Mome (and I had him last year) and The Package.

My 4 would for the race would be:
Niche Market - Im a huge fan of his, He doesnt have anything in hand of the handicapper but is assured of loving the trip, is a great jumper and I love the angle of backing Irish National winners the next year in the big one.

Comply Or Die - last 2 nationals, he's been first and 2nd, you'd have to say hes a cracking each way bet - may find one or two too good but should be in the top 4.

Vic Venturi - I loved him up until yesterday when Paddy Flood was injured and I would not be Roger Loughran's biggest fans. He is a classy sort. Not much between him and Black Apalachi but I prefer Vic (I think last year was Black Apalachi's year!)

and in my search to find a 100-1 winner I like
Palypso De Creek - This guy is not fast or classy, all he does is stay and hopefully he can run into a place at 100-1+. As a 5yo he won a G3 hurdle over 3m on bottomless ground in Auteuil. That will do for me..

Best of Luck.

[herkhorse]

The best I can do is 8/5 on half the field.

[Sightseek]

I'm rooting for Tricky Trickster.

[viscount26]

Don't want to Redboard, but I finally get Tony M'Coy with a winner and exacta

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by viscount26

Don't want to Redboard, but I finally get Tony M'Coy with a winner and exacta

Very nice!

I haven't watched replays yet but in Dick Francis... is Celestial Halo alright? Love him to death.

Is Ruby alright? All I'm seeing is that he was taken to the hospital and nothing about Celestial except that he fell.

Full results and can someone tell me what RR means (King Johns Castle, last one listed)? Hope the others are okay.


Saturday April 10 2010
Aintree 16:15 - Result
John Smith's Grand National Chase (grade 3 Handicap)
£925000 added, 6yo plus, 4m 4f, Class 1, £521052 penalty, 40 ran
Dist. Horse Wt Jockey Trainer Age SP

1 Don't Push It (IRE) 11-5 A P McCoy Jonjo O'Neill 10 10/1 jf
opened 20/1 £10000-£500 (x5) £9000-£500 £80000-£5000 £10000-£600 (x8) £5000-£300 (x4) £10000-£700 (x7) £5000-£350 (x5) £10000-£800 (x5) £5000-£400 (x9) £10000-£900
2 5 Black Apalachi (IRE) 11-6 p Denis O'regan D T Hughes 11 14/1
opened 16/1 £20000-£1250 Each Way £19200-£1200 Each Way
3 20 State of Play 10-11 Paul Moloney Evan Williams 10 16/1
£8000-£500 Each Way
4 3 Big Fella Thanks 10-12 B J Geraghty P F Nicholls 8 10/1 jf
opened 9/1 £10000-£1000 £5000-£500 (x7)
5 7 Hello Bud (IRE) 10-6 t Mr S Twiston-davies N A Twiston-Davies 12 20/1
opened 33/1 £16500-£500 (x6) £10000-£300 (x4) £12500-£500 £5000-£200 (x6)
6 1½ Snowy Morning (IRE) 10-13 D J Casey W P Mullins 10 14/1
opened 12/1 £7000-£500 Each Way
7 nk Character Building (IRE) 10-11 Miss N Carberry J J Quinn 10 16/1
opened 20/1 £20000-£1000
8 12 Cloudy Lane 11-3 J M Maguire D McCain Jnr 10 25/1
opened 33/1 £50000-£1500 £10000-£300 (x7) £10000-£300 Each Way
9 ¾ Tricky Trickster (IRE) 11-4 R Johnson P F Nicholls 7 16/1

10 s.h Joe Lively (IRE) 11-6 J Tizzard C L Tizzard 11 33/1
opened 66/1
11 dist Cerium (FR) 10-5 D N Russell Paul Murphy 9 50/1
£10000-£200 Each Way
12 8 Comply Or Die (IRE) 11-5 b T J Murphy D Pipe 11 12/1
opened 16/1 £10000-£600 (x10) £10000-£700 (x10)
13 dist Piraya (FR) 10-7 t J W Farrelly D Pipe 7 100/1

14 dist Preists Leap (IRE) 11-0 b P T Enright T G O'Leary 10 100/1

PU Niche Market (IRE) 11-4 Harry Skelton R H Buckler 9 16/1
touched 18/1
PU Dream Alliance 11-3 p T J O'Brien P J Hobbs 9 16/1
opened 33/1
PU Ballyholland (IRE) 11-0 A J Mcnamara C A McBratney 9 25/1
£33000-£1000
PU Beat The Boys (IRE) 11-0 B Hughes N A Twiston-Davies 9 25/1
opened 66/1 £10000-£200 (x8) £20000-£600 £10000-£300 (x6)
PU Conna Castle (IRE) 10-9 S W Flanagan J J Mangan 11 100/1

PU Ollie Magern 10-9 T Molloy N A Twiston-Davies 12 100/1

PU Flintoff (USA) 10-5 b A Tinkler Miss V Williams 9 50/1

F Madison Du Berlais (FR) 11-10 p T Scudamore D Pipe 9 50/1

F Mon Mome (FR) 11-7 A Coleman Miss V Williams 10 14/1
opened 16/1 £5000-£300 £14000-£1000 Each Way
F Made In Taipan (IRE) 11-4 N P Madden T Mullins 8 100/1

F My Will (FR) 11-2 Nick Scholfield P F Nicholls 10 20/1
opened 33/1 £20000-£600 £10000-£300 (x12)
F Pablo Du Charmil (FR) 11-2 t Danny Cook D Pipe 9 100/1

F Can't Buy Time (IRE) 10-13 R P Mclernon Jonjo O'Neill 8 33/1

F Ballyfitz 10-9 David England N A Twiston-Davies 10 50/1

F Eric's Charm (FR) 10-9 W Hutchinson O Sherwood 12 33/1

F Arbor Supreme (IRE) 10-8 Paul Townend W P Mullins 8 16/1

F Maljimar (IRE) 10-8 D Jacob Nick Williams 10 33/1

F Irish Raptor (IRE) 10-7 P J Brennan N A Twiston-Davies 11 33/1

F Palypso De Creek (FR) 10-6 T Siddall C E Longsdon 7 66/1

UR Nozic (FR) 11-3 t L Treadwell P F Nicholls 9 40/1
opened 66/1 £10000-£150 (x12)
UR Ellerslie George (IRE) 10-10 p1 Christian Williams Nick Mitchell 10 66/1

UR The Package 10-7 G Lee D Pipe 7 14/1
opened 12/1 touched 6/1 £32000-£2000 Each Way £12000-£1000 Each Way
UR Royal Rosa (FR) 10-5 K Renwick J Howard Johnson 11 66/1

BD Vic Venturi (IRE) 11-6 p R Loughran D T Hughes 10 25/1

BD Backstage (FR) 11-0 D J Condon G Elliott 8 25/1

RR King Johns Castle (IRE) 10-9 P Carberry A L T Moore 11 28/1



Tote Win: £15.70 Tote Place: £3.90,£3.90,£5.20,£3.90
Straight Forecast: £130.60 Tricast: £2324.26 Exacta: £544.50 Trifecta: £10724.50
Swingers:1&2:£90.40, 2&3:£130.50, 1&3:£99.60

[Sightseek]

King Johns Castle refused to run.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

King Johns Castle refused to run.

Oh okay thanks! I've never seen that and had no idea.

Naughty!

[brockguy]

Originally Posted by viscount26

Don't want to Redboard, but I finally get Tony M'Coy with a winner and exacta

Nice one Ian and fair play to McCoy - was delighted for him.

King Johns Castle may have been the smartest horse out there today

[brockguy]

for people who want to know what it would be like to attend the Grand National, just have a look at this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/ar...nary-hats.html

[Pedigree Ann]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

King Johns Castle refused to run.

Those who say horses only run because people whip them, need to watch this race. No amount of encouragement could inspire King John's Castle to take part in this race, while numerous horses who had shed their riders continued to race and jump, having a fine time running around the course with their buddies.

[Hwjb]

Originally Posted by brockguy

Harry, cant have Big Fella Thanks. Im not a fan of his attitude and am not getting too carried away with a win over a certain Swiss bred horse last time out. I do agree with you re: Mon Mome (and I had him last year) and The Package.

My 4 would for the race would be:
Niche Market - Im a huge fan of his, He doesnt have anything in hand of the handicapper but is assured of loving the trip, is a great jumper and I love the angle of backing Irish National winners the next year in the big one.

Comply Or Die - last 2 nationals, he's been first and 2nd, you'd have to say hes a cracking each way bet - may find one or two too good but should be in the top 4.

Vic Venturi - I loved him up until yesterday when Paddy Flood was injured and I would not be Roger Loughran's biggest fans. He is a classy sort. Not much between him and Black Apalachi but I prefer Vic (I think last year was Black Apalachi's year!)

and in my search to find a 100-1 winner I like
Palypso De Creek - This guy is not fast or classy, all he does is stay and hopefully he can run into a place at 100-1+. As a 5yo he won a G3 hurdle over 3m on bottomless ground in Auteuil. That will do for me..

Best of Luck.

Hiya Kev, hope things are well. That Daily Mail link you posted does not show the women of Liverpool in a good light!

Couldn't have found Don't Push It with more than a dozen tries at the race, but even though I'd backed the second, was delighted a true living legend won the race.

It was surely lack of stamina rather than attitude which beat Big Fella Thanks; that's two years in a row he's taken really well to the fences and, campaigned a bit more sensibly next year (i.e. not running over two and a half the time before), there must be a chance they'll eke out the necesary stamina.

Again, being a little biased, but I thought Backstage was massively unlucky to be brought down by a loose horse when he was going just as well as the principals. He's only 8 and with BFT will be right in the reckoning next year.

[GPK]

Originally Posted by brockguy

for people who want to know what it would be like to attend the Grand National, just have a look at this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/ar...nary-hats.html

wow...no wonder you like coming to the States so much.

[brockguy]

Originally Posted by Hwjb

Hiya Kev, hope things are well. That Daily Mail link you posted does not show the women of Liverpool in a good light!

Couldn't have found Don't Push It with more than a dozen tries at the race, but even though I'd backed the second, was delighted a true living legend won the race.

It was surely lack of stamina rather than attitude which beat Big Fella Thanks; that's two years in a row he's taken really well to the fences and, campaigned a bit more sensibly next year (i.e. not running over two and a half the time before), there must be a chance they'll eke out the necesary stamina.

Again, being a little biased, but I thought Backstage was massively unlucky to be brought down by a loose horse when he was going just as well as the principals. He's only 8 and with BFT will be right in the reckoning next year.

Hey Harry, Im grand, hope youre well. yeah i really just glossed over Dont Push It but was great to see McCoy win and it does refute the notion that you need a low weight to win the National. Soon we'll have top /near top weights regularly win it I think.

I still dont know what to make of Big Fella Thanks. He should get a little bit further in future but he did empty quite rapidly I thought from the 2nd last and that would always be a concern with me.. He does look a different horse over the National fences though and with a sensible preparation he will be a threat next year.

The odd thing about Backstage is he's French bred and seems to hate heavy going. I thought they all loved it!

[brockguy]

Originally Posted by GPK

wow...no wonder you like coming to the States so much.

Thats Liverpool for ya. Give me San Diego any day of the week!!