Horse Racing News Etc.

[dennisg]

We've news of today's Cheltenham market movers with Paddy Power and Sky Bet with Gentleman De Mee popular with both firms in the finale.

Sky Bet:
1.55 You Raised Me Up 7/1 from 10/1

2.30 Threeunderthrufive 8/1 from 11/1

3.05 Al Boum Photo 5/2 from 3/1

3.40 Stand Up And Fight 10/1 from 14/1

4.50 Gentleman De Mee 11/4 from 4/1

4.50 Gabynako 4/1 from 6/1

Sky Bet paying extra places in the County Hurdle
Sky Bet paying extra places in the County Hurdle
Offers

1.20 – Money back as cash if your horse finishes 2nd, 3rd or 4th

1.55 – 8 places instead of 4

2.30 – 4 places instead of 3

3.05 – 5 places instead of 3

3.40 – 4 places instead of 3

4.50 – 6 places instead of 4

Paddy Power
Cheltenham

120 Quilixios 5/2 from 11/4

155 You Raised Me Up 15/2 from 8

230 Threeunderthrufive 15/2 from 9

305 Al Boum Photo 5/2f from 3f

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: “With Rachael Blackmore on fire this week and 1-6 fav to win the leading Cheltenham Festival rider award, we thought A Plus Tard might even go off favourite for the WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup, but that looks unlikely now with previous dual winner Al Boum Photo coming in for sustained support.”

340 Stand Up And Fight 9 from 10

415 Colreevy 7/2 from 4

450 Gentleman De Mee 11/4 fav from 100/30 fav


Willie Mullins Cheltenham Festival Stable Tour: Day Four Preview
Offers

Extra Place Specials

155 7 places instead of 4

230 4 places instead of 3

305 4 places instead of 3

340 4 places instead of 3

450 5 places instead of 4

[dennisg]

Gary Moore is considering a number of options for Goshen before the end of the season, including the possibility of stepping him up in trip for the bet365 Select Hurdle at Sandown Park.

The Lower Beeding trainer has earmarked the extended 2m 5f Grade Two contest at the bet365 Jump Finale on April 24th as a possible target for the five year old, but has not yet ruled out a trip to the Punchestown Festival the following week.

After running out an impressive winner of the Grade Two Unibet Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton in February, Goshen failed to fire on his return to Grade One company when finishing eighth of 10 in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

It was the third defeat in succession at Cheltenham for Goshen, who in his previous starts at the track had unseated Jamie Moore at the final flight when in front in last season’s JCB Triumph Hurdle, before failing to beat a single rival home on his return in the Unibet International Hurdle in December.

Moore said: “Goshen is definitely not done for the season yet. He might go to Sandown for the Grade Two there or he could go to Punchestown. They are both possibilities.

“He won’t go to Ayr for the Scottish Champion Hurdle as it is the wrong way round and he seems to have an aversion to going left-handed.

“The Sandown race is definitely an option. He does it well every time he goes right-handed, but going left-handed he has a bit of a think about it.”

Reflecting on his below par performance in the Champion Hurdle, the Grade One-winning trainer believes the writing was on the wall for his stable star before he even set foot on the track.

He explained: “I wasn’t happy with him when I went to saddle him. He never sweats up before a race and he was warm. When he went down to the paddock he put the brakes on and that is not him.

“There was nothing wrong at all with him after the race - he was just massively disappointing.”

[dennisg]

Emma Lavelle has confirmed Paisley Park’s next target is the Ryanair Stayers’ Hurdle at the Randox Grand National Festival, but admits she expects her stable star to be ridden more prominently if he lines up at Aintree.

The nine year old is on course to take in the Grade One contest - registered as the Liverpool Hurdle – next month after finishing third in his bid to re-claim his Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle crown at Cheltenham on Thursday.

Having watched Paisley Park fail to make up the necessary ground required at Cheltenham after being anchored close to the back of the field for much of the race, Lavelle is now keen to see her triple Grade One scorer race much closer to the pace at Aintree.

The trainer, who also expects owner Andrew Gemmell to be there on the day if COVID-19 restrictions have been eased, added: “Paisley Park seems bright in himself though we will see what he looks like at the end of the week.

“The plan at this stage is to head to Aintree. Thyme Hill will be back there and I’m sure it will be a good race, while Andrew will also be able to be there.

“It will be interesting to see how he gets on back at Aintree as he has not got the Cheltenham hill. He won as a young horse around there over two and a half miles and it will be interesting to see how he goes.

“He will definitely have to be ridden a bit more prominently early on so if he hits that flat spot he is not too far back and doesn’t have lots of ground to make up.

“I think it was a magnificent performance when you look at it as he was on the back foot from the word go and he ran a stormer in the circumstances.”

Although proud of Paisley Park’s effort in defeat, Lavelle believes the result may have been different had she decided on an alternative preparation.

She said: “If I had my time again I think on the back of missing the Cleeve, which was abandoned, I would probably give him a run, even if it was only over two and a half miles just to give him that sharpness because we had a lot of ground to make up.

“Fair play to the horse that he was only beaten five lengths in the end. I just think he lacked that bit of sharpness. The winner (Flooring Porter) did win well.

“Paisley ran a great race but I think these races are all about margins and in this instance he probably just lacked that bit of sharpness he needed. Hopefully Cheltenham hasn’t taken too much out of him and he will go to Aintree that bit sharper.”

[dennisg]

Harry Fry says ‘We’ve got to raise our game' after Irish-dominated Cheltenham
By Molly Hunter
06:47 · SUN March 21, 2021

Harry Fry warns British National Hunt racing needs to substantially “raise our game” if it is to compete with its Irish counterparts.

British-trained runners won just five of the 28 races across the four-day Cheltenham Festival, with Nicky Henderson’s Grade One-winning duo Shishkin and Chantry House providing the highlights for the home team.

Fry fielded four runners at the Festival – including the well-fancied Metier, who beat just one home in the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, which was won in spectacular fashion by Willie Mullins’ Appreciate It.

While full of respect for the achievements of the Irish runners, Fry thinks there are plenty of areas requiring swift attention if British trainers are to mount more of a challenge next year.

He said: “They’re doing everything better than we are, quite simply. We have to congratulate them on a fantastic week, and aspire to the heights they’ve hit.

“We’ve got to raise our game – big time.

“There’s going to be lots of thought and conversations going on. We’ve already started that, from recruiting the right horses to getting the right owners involved. It’s everything – it’s the race planning, the team at home, the staff that work with the horses.

“There’ll be a lot of British-based trainers taking a hard look at themselves and working out where we can raise our game – because we need to, or we’ve going to get left behind quickly.

“We’ve got big owners investing in Irish racing, because there is some sort of return, and there isn’t here. It’s hard to justify to owners when you’re running around for £3,000 in a race.

“I won the Grade One Tolworth, and I didn’t even win £20,000 for winning a Grade One.”

Vintage Clouds gallops up the hill at Cheltenham
Vintage Clouds gallops up the hill at Cheltenham for Yorkshire-based Sue Smith
Charlie Longsdon, who had five Festival runners, believes better prize money in Ireland is key to the strong performance of the raiding party.

He said: “They’ve got better horses than we have. Prize money is the thing.

“We didn’t quite get it right in the handicaps – but their prize money is the main reason their horses are going so well, I think.”

Dan Skelton concedes the Irish horses are superior, but also feels it is time to review the National Hunt system in Britain.

The handler saddled 13 runners at the meeting, hitting the bar on multiple occasions, most notably with Nube Negra – who just failed to catch Put The Kettle On in the Champion Chase – and Langer Dan in the closing Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

He told ITV Racing: “They’re just better at the moment – it’s as simple as that.

“There is time now for a good look at everything. The whole British system needs a good look, and we need to come out with a plan to make sure we can compete going forward.

“We have to become better competitors – especially at that meeting – and this was the catalyst for it. I think you’ll see big changes because of it.”

[dennisg]

Midlands Grand National report | Timed to perfection by Jonjo Jr
By Sporting Life
16:18 · SAT March 20, 2021

Jonjo O'Neill Jr delivered Time To Get Up on the line to land the Marston's 61 Deep Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter on Saturday.

The well-backed 3/1 favourite came with a withering late thrust up the far rail to just deny Mighty Thunder (18/1) who had led throughout the final furlong for Lucinda Russell and Blair Campbell.

It was to be another big Uttoxeter payday for the O'Neills, though, with the senior Jonjo winning the race for the second time following Synchronised's victory in 2010.

Also owned by JP McManus like Time To Get Up, Synchronised went onto win the Cheltenham Gold Cup two years after his Uttoxeter success.

Mighty Thunder was a length behind in second, with Final Nudge (9/1) third and Screaming Colours (6/1) fourth.

RESULT: 3.35 Uttoxeter - Marston's 61 Deep Midlands Grand National
1st TIME TO GET UP (3/1 FAV)

2nd Mighty Thunder (18/1)

3rd Final Nudge (9/1)

4th Screaming Colours (6/1)

Click here or on the image below to watch the free video replay

Watch free racing replays on Sporting Life for FREE
Watch free racing replays on Sporting Life for FREE
"It looked great anyway!" said the winning trainer.

"The ground was grand, the horse was grand, it all happened nicely.

"You don't want it bog deep when you're trying to get four miles but it all went to plan.

"Whether he'd have enough pace for the National I'm not sure, but we might go for it next year."

The winning rider said: “He’s a huge horse. He was obviously in the Kim Muir, but we just thought a big, flat, galloping track would suit him. He’s a pleasure to ride.

“We’re delighted, this wasn’t necessarily the plan, but he won last time and we just thought, as he’d gone up a bit in the weights, that it looked a nice target for him.

“He’s a gorgeous horse and he had some nice hurdle form back in the day, so he was entitled to take his chance.”

[dennisg]

Five horses trained by David Jeffreys are at the centre of a significant gamble on Monday.

The quintet, including two who run in the same race and a Punting Pointers selection in Blood Eagle, are now a fraction of the price they were when betting opened up last night.

The horses are:

1.00 Southwell - Notnow Seamus

Winner over hurdles for Dan Skelton and some promise in two starts for Nicky Richards before joining current yard. Pulled up at Market Rasen and beaten over 58 lengths at Ludlow on two starts for Jeffreys.

2.03 Southwell - Perfect Predator

Second at Wincanton when with Alan King in October 2020 but form figures for current team 9909 and beaten 29 lengths, 37.5 lengths, 53.5 lengths and 41 lengths respectively.

3.40 Kelso - Getaman

Won two point-to-points but offered nothing in three starts for this stable in novice hurdles in the winter of 2019. He is by far the stronger of the pair in the market.

3.40 Kelso - The Gold Bug

Three starts over hurdles, all for current yard, and and form figures read 80PU, beaten 33 lengths, and 71.5 lengths at 20/1, 50/1 and 200/1. He began to drift again on Monday morning.

4.20 Plumpton - Blood Eagle

Yet to beat a rival in four starts over hurdles and given mark after finishing last of 15 at Wetherby on his fourth outing last time. Was a winner over a mile-and-a-half at Wolverhampton for Andrew Balding on the flat and had a peak rating of 78 in that sphere.

[dennisg]

Trainer Shark Hanlon is eyeing Grade One gold at Fairyhouse on Easter Sunday with bargain-buy Skyace following her fine effort in defeat at the Cheltenham Festival.

Despite placing in three bumpers for Willie Mullins, the six-year-old changed hands for just £600 in November 2019 and has proved an extremely shrewd acquisition.

Hanlon gave his charge a mid-season break after winning Grade Three and Listed prizes in Ireland in October and December, but she was still an outsider for Thursday’s Parnell Properties Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

However, Skyace outran her starting price of 28/1 to finish fourth, having conceded 5lb to the three mares that finished ahead of her.

Hanlon said: “I was absolutely thrilled with her as the trip was too short and we were giving away weight to all those in front of us.

“The boys that own her got a great thrill. They had a few quid each-way on her at 40/1 and partied for two days!

“I couldn’t understand how she went out to 40/1 – if Willie (Mullins) or one of the other lads trained her she would be nowhere near that price, but she didn’t know what price she was and I couldn’t be happier with her.

“We can dream away for another while that she’s one for the Mares’ Hurdle in Cheltenham next year.”

More immediately, Skyace will be targeted at the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final on April 4.

“Her trip really is two and a half miles and I’m looking forward to Fairyhouse with her as we’ll be back over our right trip and back on level weights with the mares that finished in front of us in Cheltenham,” Hanlon added.

“Easter Sunday comes up fairly quick, but she had a nice break before Cheltenham and she’s out in the paddock and loving life.”

[dennisg]

Trainer Rebecca Bastiman has died at the age of 40 following a long illness, it has been announced.

She saddled more than 100 winners after taking over from her father, Robin, at the family stables in Cowthorpe near Wetherby in 2015.

A statement on Bastiman’s Facebook page read: “It comes with extreme sadness and heartache that I’m posting this, but sadly Rebecca Bastiman has peacefully passed away after a long illness.

“Being a trainer was her dream her life, her everything, she put 110 per cent into the love and care of her four-legged friends.

“Rebecca was a dedicated trainer and a hard worker, she was first on the yard and last to leave, she mucked out and rode out and loved the challenge of problem horses and sweetening them up.

“Rebecca will leave a hole in many people’s hearts, but her legacy will go on and never be forgotten. The world has lost a special, beautiful person but the heavens have gained an angel.”

The news prompted a flood of tributes on social media.

Fellow Yorkshire trainer Julie Camacho said on Twitter: “We would like to send our heartfelt condolences to Rebecca Bastiman’s family and friends. She is a big loss to the racing world and we are so sorry to hear of her passing.”

Scottish trainer Linda Perratt wrote: “We would like to send our condolences to the family and friends of Rebecca Bastiman at this time. Our memory of Rebecca will be her greeting us with a smile and friendly chat. We’ll miss her on the northern circuit. R.I.P. Rebecca.

Top northern Flat jockey Paul Mulrennan posted: “Very sad news to hear of the passing of Rebecca Bastiman, a lovely lady who absolutely loved her horses. Myself and @acmulrennan send our sincere condolences to Becky’s family, friends and all at Goosemoor Farm.”

Fellow rider Harrison Shaw added his thoughts, saying: “Really sad news to hear of the passing of Rebecca Bastiman a lovely lady and a sad loss to Yorkshire Racing. My thoughts are with Rebecca’s Family at such a sad time. RIP Becky.”

The Bastiman family will be forever associated with the brilliant sprinter Borderlescott, who won back-to-back Nunthorpe Stakes in 2008 and 2009.

Bastiman’s best season was in 2018 when she had 27 winners and amassed nearly £250,000 in prize-money. Probably her best horse was Hayadh, winner of the Thirsk Hunt Cup in 2019, who she also owned.

[dennisg]

Layfayette came with a powerful late run to cap a fine week for trainer Noel Meade with victory in the Paddy Power Irish Lincolnshire at the Curragh.

Meade, who is better known for his exploits over jumps, produced the shock of Cheltenham with Jack Kidder at 80-1 in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

Layfayette was much more fancied at 8-1 and delivered the goods under a patient ride from Chris Hayes, as he dropped down to a mile for the first time since July.

Quizical was one of the early leaders with Star Of Cashel, Agitare and In From The Cold among those close-up in the 24-runner field.

With the field spread across the course, there was enough room for Hayes to get through in the final furlong and stamp his authority in the race.

Layfayette went on to win by half a length from Maker Of Kings, with Comfort Line another half a length away in third and Star Of Cashel a neck back in fourth.


“It’s nice when a plan comes together. We’ve always loved him and I gelded him during the winter,” said Meade.

“I spoke to Chris the other day and I said ‘I think the mile is too short, will I put blinkers on him?’. I put cheekpieces on him and he said they made some difference to him.

“The first day he ran here last year the ground was very quick and it took him a long time to get over it as he was sore after the run. He’s quite a nice horse and hopefully he’ll be able to build on that.”

He went on: “He’s not a hurdler, he’s not that shape, and he has quite a flicky action. A mile and a quarter will probably suit him better, and he was second over a mile and a half. He was entitled to win a good one because he’s been knocking on the door. I’m delighted for the owner, too, because he hasn’t had a lot of luck lately.”

[dennisg]

Couple of winners for our man at the weekend and Chris Day has a pair of 20/1 bets for Doncaster on Saturday.

Weekend view betting tips: Saturday, March 27
1pt e.w River Nymph in 3.10 Doncaster at 20/1 (bet365, Betfred 1/4 1,2,3,4)

1pt e.w Brunch in 3.10 Doncaster at 20/1 (bet365, Betfred 1/4 1,2,3,4)

The Flat season kicks off this week with Doncaster’s traditional curtain raiser, the Unibet Lincoln Handicap run over the straight mile.

The going is currently described as soft and, with very little rain forecast, it seems likely that we’ll be racing on decent ground by Saturday.

To win this race the trends say you need a four-year-old rated between 95-100 which does help when trying to whittle down the contenders.

If Charlie Appleby’s Eastern World can repeat his win over an extra furlong at Meydan last month he’s going to take a lot of stopping but he was beaten by a few of these in our turf season and wouldn’t be top of the list from a value perspective here.

The trainer won this with a similar type when the race was last run a couple of years ago but the layers have not missed him and I’m happy to look elsewhere.

Eastern World stretches clear at Newmarket
Eastern World stretches clear at Newmarket
Richard Hughes’ Brentford Hope was the easiest winner you’ll ever see at Haydock last autumn and would also have every chance on that run. The prevailing ground in Lancashire that day was heavy though and he was dropping significantly in trip which appeared to improve him no end.

What he does have to show is that he can be just as deadly on better ground and in the same form for his reappearance.

Haqeeqy, who was three from four last season, bids to get the newly formed Gosden partnership off to a flier here and it would obviously surprise nobody if he was to win this although it may need the gelding operation he had this winter to find improvement sufficient to defy his mark.

Presumably connections feel he needed the surgery to achieve his potential and his trainer has a superb record with older handicappers.

An owner who similarly excels when he keeps older horses in training is Hamdan Al Maktoum, whose famous blue silks had a fantastic season last year and knocked off many big handicaps along the way.

His representative is Danyah, trained by Owen Burrows, who bookended his season as a three-year-old with victories here and at Haydock. The trainer appears to believe the key to him is good ground and he’s another to strongly consider with it quickening up all the time.

River Nymph ridden by jockey Adam Kirby (right) on their way to winning at Newbury
River Nymph ridden by jockey Adam Kirby (right) on their way to winning at Newbury
In between those two victories, however, he was comprehensively outpointed (admittedly on softer ground) at Ascot by the Clive Cox-trained RIVER NYMPH and Danyah gets just a 6lb turnaround for the seven lengths he was comfortably defeated by.

That form looks particularly strong with the runner-up, Tranchee, now rated 18lb higher after a string of smart efforts and River Nymph ought to have plenty of scope to progress as a four-year-old, so he looks a decent each-way price at around 20/1.

He did disappoint at Ascot next time in one of their valuable end-of-season races when sent off at 11/2, but may have been over the top by then and could be about to resume his progress, refreshed after a break.

Clearly, as with many Flat races over this kind of trip, the draw will have its say. It appears likely that a middle to high draw will be beneficial although that is the one piece of the jigsaw we don’t have at this stage.

What we do know, however, is that his trainer is in good form with winners in the last couple of weeks and a 75% run-to-form stat which bodes well for his charge here, plus Cox shows a level-stakes profit at the track in the last five seasons.

Brunch (far side) beats Jumaira Bay
Brunch (far side) beats Jumaira Bay
The other horse I like here is the Michael Dods-trained BRUNCH, who won three times last season including on his seasonal reappearance at Newcastle. In between he was beaten a head by the William Haggas-trained Johan at Ayr, who is worse off with him here and carries top weight.

Brunch gained the verdict in photo finishes twice at York in summer and is a hardy battler who will not go down without a fight and he had the favourite for this, the aforementioned Eastern World, behind on the second occasion over this trip.

He also disappointed later in the season on heavy ground but this surface should be right up his street and he is also available around the 20/1 mark. He's a bet too.

Preview posted at 1800 GMT on 22/03/2021

[dennisg]

Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Tom Taaffe has decided to end his training career after 27 years.

Taaffe, who saddled Kicking King to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2005 and two King George VI Chases in 2004 and 2005, feels the time is right for him change direction. He will, however, remain in the thoroughbred industry.

“In life you make decisions and I’ve probably been thinking about it for a year or two – it’s just the right time now,” said the County Kildare handler.

“It’s all part of a programme and this is the time now that I need to just move on. I’m involved in sales, breeding and a few other things.”

Kicking King and jockey Barry Geraghty lead over the last at Cheltenham
Kicking King and jockey Barry Geraghty lead over the last at Cheltenham
He added: “Every time you have a winner is a great moment and I was very fortunate to have many of them. The principal races were in our grasp both as a rider and as a trainer, and I’m very happy with it.”

Taaffe, 57, the son of the mighty Arkle’s jockey Pat Taaffe, was a capable rider himself, winning the Irish Grand National on Brittany Boy in 1987.

He went on to enjoy great success as a trainer, having three winners in all at the Cheltenham Festival, with Delphi Lodge being his first Grade One winner in the Power Gold Cup at Fairyhouse in 1998.

He had his last winner with Goose Man at Down Royal last Wednesday and final runner at Downpatrick on Sunday. Both were partnered by his amateur rider son, named Pat after his father.

[dennisg]

Irish National Hunt Handicapper Andrew Shaw believes results at Cheltenham last week “prove beyond doubt” the best horses are in Ireland.

Shaw grew up in an era when Ireland left the Cotswolds reeling with a solitary victory, but the wheel has gone full circle now.

So much so that Shaw likened it to the Irish contingent playing in the Premier League while their British counterparts are scrambling for promotion out of the Championship.

“I think it proves beyond doubt we simply have the best horses,” said Shaw.

“Back in the 1980s when we were lucky to come away with one winner, it used to be the other way and we didn’t win any handicaps. It’s turned on its head and one of the main reasons is we have the best horses.

“The best horses are bought here and even British owners send their horses here. It’s a bit like the Premier League versus the Championship. We simply have the best horses and it is a tribute to Horse Racing Ireland and the committees that are there.”

Shaw feels the disparity in prize-money is a reason some major owners are now choosing to have their horses trained in Ireland.

“We have the races in place to entice them to come over, the prize-money is in place. I think it was Sporting John who won the Scilly Isles and picked up £20,000 – the equivalent Grade One in Ireland is worth €50-60,000,” said Shaw.

“It’s all about the economics really. The money is here, the best horses are here and that is why we are so successful – that’s my take, we just have the best horses.”

Connections celebrate Layfayette's success
Trainer Noel Meade (right)
Noel Meade, on the scoresheet himself with Jeff Kidder in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, concurs and feels it is currently a perfect storm.

“When I looked beforehand I thought we’d have a lot, but often it doesn’t work out like that. I suppose the difference was all the handicaps as well,” he said.

“It is a surprise for it to be a total wipe-out, especially when Envoi Allen went down, he would probably have been another one and we got beat another two short-heads in other races.

“There’s no great secret, the best horses win the races. The best horses cost the most money, the most money is being spent by owners in Ireland at the moment. Whether that is because of the prize-money or because we are better trainers or because we are lucky they want to have them here, I don’t know.

Allaho and Rachael Blackmore power up the Cheltenham hill
Allaho and Rachael Blackmore power up the Cheltenham hill
“The fact Cheveley Park are buying those horses and sending them here was a terrible kick in the pants for the English trainers at the time. Simon Munir is another putting his money in here, it must be because of the prize money.

“We have a great set-up now and if you have a good horse in Ireland, the way the whole system is put together is much better. A horse like Envoi Allen, you can write down all the races he can run in within five minutes before you head to Cheltenham. It’s a great programme.

“When we put together all the mares’ races I was a bit against them because I didn’t think mares were as good, but they’ve worked very well. They are great for breeders and have worked very well.”

[dennisg]

Officials at Fairyhouse have not given up hope of Tiger Roll running in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National on Easter Monday.

The 11-year-old bounced back to winning ways with an incredible fifth victory at the Cheltenham Festival last week, putting behind him a winless run stretching back to the 2019 Grand National at Aintree.

As his owners Gigginstown House Stud have already withdrawn him from the Aintree spectacular this year – where he would have been trying to equal Red Rum’s achievement of winning the race three times – Tiger Roll’s options now include the Bowl at Aintree, the Punchestown Gold Cup and the Irish National.

Peter Roe, general manager at Fairyhouse, said: “If Tiger Roll shows up we’d love that. For the team at Cullentra to get him back to the form he was in – from flag-fall you could tell he was loving it.”

After a very wet winter, the ground at Fairyhouse has dried up considerably but the weather could turn again before Easter.

The magnificent Tiger Roll
The magnificent Tiger Roll
“January and February were the wettest two months on record since we began recording, but we’ve had a dry fortnight,” said Roe.

“It’s unsettled going forward, but we’re yielding at the moment. I’m very happy. The support we have got from HRI and BoyleSports to keep the money at €400,000 is amazing. To get in this year you’ll be looking at (a handicap mark of) 136/137 so the quality is rising all the time.”

On that theme Irish handicapper Andrew Shaw admitted he found it just as hard as his British Horseracing Authority counterpart Martin Greenwood to put a figure on Tiger Roll before coming up with 163.

“It was difficult (to give him a mark) as it has been mentioned by Mr (Eddie) O’Leary that he is not as good as the Al Boum Photos and Minella Indos of the world. They think he should be getting a lot more weight off them, but he hasn’t run in a chase over park fences since November 2017,” said Shaw.

“We don’t take the form over the cross-country fences quite as literally as they do in Britain, but at the same time he has won the Aintree Grand National twice. He was in at Aintree off 166, he’s 3lb lower here which is pretty much the same as last year, though I know neither race was run.

“He’s 11 now, time catches up with us all. He won his Grand National off 159, so he’s only 4lb higher here. It’s a fair drop from the 171 which he was after his second National. It was difficult for Martin to drop the horse because he hasn’t run against Grade One horses, so we don’t know how good he is.


One in a million! A Fifth win for TIGER ROLL at the Cheltenham Festival - 2021 Glenfarclas Chase
“He certainly looked as good last week as he had before in that race. What will make it difficult for Tiger Roll is that we have progressive novices in it, you don’t get those at Aintree.

“I’d love to see him run. I know he could run in the Betway Bowl, but he’d be wrong in that race against a few.”

One trainer with multiple entries is Noel Meade, who won the race with The Bunny Boiler in 2002.

“It is still my favourite win, I have to say. Fairyhouse to me was the place I got started as we weren’t a racing family, but we used to take a picnic there for the National,” said Meade.

“When I was growing up I had a scrapbook of Tom Dreaper and he won the National so many times – to stand in the place he did when I’d won was very special.

“I owe Ross Geraghty, Barry’s brother, for staying on him, he did everything he could to fall. He was quite a good horse, but a terrible jumper. Norman Williamson was telling me the other day that he won the Midlands National on him and was asked to ride at Fairyhouse but he said there was no chance he’d get round!”

Among Meade’s team are School Boy Hours and Brace Yourself, but both need plenty of withdrawals to guarantee a run in the maximum field of 30.

“School Boy Hours might not get in, but I always thought the trip would suit,” said Meade.

“Brace Yourself will take his chance, but wouldn’t want the ground too quick. Tout Est Permis hasn’t been running well, but he could go over to Aintree and see if a trip over livens him up. Brace Yourself is a fresh horse, but he’s only a novice.”

[dennisg]

Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum has died, at the age of 75.

Sheikh Hamdan, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, was a hugely prominent owner of a string of Classic and Royal Ascot winners for more than 30 years.

His blue-and-white colours, under the livery of his Shadwell Racing banner, are among the most famous throughout the racing world.

On Wednesday morning Sheikh Hamdan’s younger brother Sheikh Mohammed posted on Twitter: “We belong to God and to Him we shall return … May God have mercy on you, my brother, my support and my companion.”

Among the best of Sheikh Hamdan’s many Group One winners, he was most widely associated with 1989 Derby and 2000 Guineas winner Nashwan, the brilliant 1990 dual Classic-winning filly Salsabil and outstanding sprinters of different generations in Dayjur and Battaash.

Others to have carried his silks included Oaks and King George heroine Taghrooda, another Derby victor in Erhaab and even a winner of the Melbourne Cup in the shape of At Talaq, who triumphed at Flemington in 1986.

Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation was among the first to pay tribute.

A Tweet on the official account read: “Everyone at Godolphin is deeply saddened to hear of the death of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum. A great loss to Dubai and our sport. He was one of the greatest owner breeders of modern times. Our deepest condolences to His Family and all @shadwellstud.”

[dennisg]

Kim Bailey is mulling the Scottish Champion Hurdle for Huntingdon winner Ajero while a trip to Punchestown is also up for discussion.

Kim Bailey has trained plenty of smart performers throughout his career and Ajero looks to be another after completing a four-timer for the season in the Racing TV Handicap Hurdle at Huntingdon on Tuesday.

Since tasting defeat on his debut over hurdles at the track in September, the Red Jazz gelding, who is a half-brother to the yard’s now retired Grade Two Peterborough Chase winner Charbel, took another significant step forward with a stylish success in the two mile feature.

Tracking the early pace set by Sofia’s Rock for much of the race the 4-7 favourite moved into the lead under David Bass approaching the second last, before pulling away smartly late on to defeat the Pam Sly-trained Haafapiece by eight and a half lengths.

Bailey, speaking away from the track, said: “That was exactly what I wanted to see and I was really pleased with him. The big thing today was that he didn’t appear to hang right-handed like he has done before. Maybe the wind operation might have helped straighten him out.

“It was quite nice to see him relaxed as he has been a little bit free in his races but it has all been about gaining experience and going softly with him. He has come forward a lot since Harry Cobden rode him that first day over hurdles at the track when he basically climbed over everything.

“I think we will have to try him left-handed. I don’t think Aintree is the place to go for him but I’ve made an entry for him in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr and there is the possibility of going to Punchestown as well.”

A week after Honeysuckle stormed to glory in the colours of owner Kenny Alexander in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at The Festival™ supporting WellChild, the Nicky Henderson-trained Doddiethegreat did likewise in the same silks in the concluding Racing TV Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.

All prize money secured by the 5-6 favourite’s four and a half-length success was donated by connections to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, which was set up by former Scotland rugby union star Doddie Weir, who is battling Motor Neurone Disease.

Winning rider Nico de Boinville said: “All prize money won today between myself, and the governor and my riding fee as well will go to Doddie Weir’s foundation in support of Motor Neurone Disease. It’s a great cause and Kenny Alexander the owner has named him after a great man. I think he is a fantastic advert for it.”

On Doddiethegreat he added: “He is a fantastic horse as it is not easy for horses to win bumpers under penalties. The boss gave me free rein and he said if there was no pace to let him stride on as he has got a massive stride so you might as well use it. The main thing was to get him through his bumpers and educate him.”

Jockey Nathan Brennan enjoyed a day to remember after securing the first double of his career with a comfortable 10 length success aboard Emmas Dilemma in the Racing TV Mares’ Handicap Hurdle, a victory which also a first under rules for trainer Hannah James.

Brennan said: “I’m going to try to get used to them now (riding doubles). I’m delighted for Hannah and all the team. She is a small little gutsy filly and she tried her heart out. Hannah had her spot on and it’s great for her as she deserves it.”

Torrent Des Mottes got the ball rolling for Brennan when securing a third course win to give trainer John Cornwall his first winner in 377 days when defeating Go As You Please by half a length in the Thank You & Happy Retirement Matthew Tong Handicap Chase.

Cornwall said of the 9-1 winner: “I’ve only got a couple of horses in at the moment with all this going on. He ran a week ago but he probably needed it over two and a half miles and that has brought him on.

“He likes it around here as he has won over two and two and a half miles before.”

Adopting a patient approach proved the key for jockey Colm McCormack who ended his 142 day wait for a winner when steering the Philip Kirby-trained Wye Aye (7-2) from last to first to collect the Racing TV Novices’ Handicap Chase by three and a quarter lengths.

McCormack said: “He is a quirky horse. You have to just drop him in and ride him cold and switch him off but he has got a bit of ability. It is just about getting it right on the day. The wind operation has obviously helped and the drying conditions are what he wants.”

[dennisg]

Doddiethegreat was a popular winner of the bumper at Huntingdon on Tuesday.

Trained by Nicky Henderson, the five-year-old runs in the Honeysuckle colours of owner Kenny Alexander.

He is named after Scottish rugby union great Doddie Weir, who is suffering from motor neurone disease and has set up his own charity to help others in the same situation.

The My Name’5 Doddie Foundation aims to raise funds to aid research into MND, and Alexander has donated everything Doddiethegreat earns to the charity – and on this showing, there will be plenty more.

Already a winner at Ludlow, the 5-6 favourite conceded lumps of weight to second-placed Kalmoor but ran out a four-and-a-half-length winner.

Both Henderson and jockey Nico de Boinville also donated their share of the winnings from the Racing TV-sponsored contest.


Peter Molony, Alexander’s racing manager, said: “Kenny met Doddie a few years ago at a rugby international. Scotland were playing Fiji, and Kenny has a Fijian sister-in-law. Her son was with them. They met Doddie, and he made their day – Kenny thought he was an absolute superstar.

“Kenny loves his rugby and was really keen to do something to help Doddie. It’s nice of Nico and Nicky as well.”

Molony is looking to an exciting future with the unbeaten gelding.

“I loved the way he won the last day, and the second came out and won well, which is always a good sign,” he said.

“It’s never easy to give away a penalty in a bumper, but he was giving a stone to a fancied horse today and won well. He won’t run again this season, that will be it, and we can look forward to going hurdling next season with him.”

[dennisg]

Copperless defied top-weight to highlight an Olly Murphy double at Taunton in the Ray Wonnacott 80 And Not Out Handicap Hurdle.

Considered by Murphy as one of his nicest prospects, the 15/8 favourite was ridden confidently by Champion Chase-winning jockey Aidan Coleman.

Given plenty of time to warm to his task after being anchored at the rear in the early stages, the six-year-old made his ground up very quickly rounding the home bend to assume command between the final two flights and score by a length from Chez Hans.

“He’s a very nice horse and in a weak race I thought the only thing that might get him is lack of experience,” said Murphy.

“He has plenty of ability and will improve. He has to have good ground.”

Murphy was earlier smiling from ear to ear after Grandads Cottge provided him with a first winner for popular owner John Hales in the Taunton Branch RNLI Supporters Novices’ Hurdle.

The Harry Skelton-ridden winner engaged in a battle with Earth Lord and Time To Tinker up the final straight, with the former making a race of it but succumbing by a length to the 4/7 favourite.

Skelton – who later doubled up with the Jeremy Scott-trained Tactical Manoeuvre, matching the two winners for Brian Hughes at Wetherby – reported he felt Grandads Cottage will want three miles in time.

Murphy said: “I’m thrilled to have sent out my first winner in the famous Hales colours. This is a lovely horse, and dad (bloodstock agent Aiden Murphy) bought horses like Al Ferof and Nolan for John.

“I think he’s a horse for next year and is a lovely chaser in the making.”

Camprond appealed as one of the nicest horses on view and duly opened his account when wearing down market rival Defining Battle for Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson in the Game And Wildlife Conservation Trust Maiden Hurdle.

The 2/1 shot made a couple of mistakes, but Johnson felt there was a genuine excuse for the errors, ones that failed to impair his momentum as he pulled a length and a half clear of his rival.

Hobbs’ wife Sarah said: “Richard said the horse was blinded at the first, which wasn’t his fault, and then two out he got blinded again when waiting to make his challenge.

“The important thing was that he is settling a bit better. He’s a lovely horse.”

Young O’Leary (9/2 joint-favourite) prevailed in a tight finish for the Invest Southwest Novices’ Handicap Chase from Tierra Verde.

David Prichard was on board for winning trainer Nigel Hawke, who said: “He’s got the job done, but was a bit short at the last.

“The ground was plenty quick enough as he’s a great big stamp of horse by Scorpion, but he could do no more than win.

“Although it’s late in the season we should all being well get a bit of rain so that I can run him again.”

Joint top-weight Sumkindofking ultimately ran out a wide-margin winner of the Newton King Estate Agents Handicap Chase, but until approaching the final fence veteran Regal Flow gave an immaculate jumping display which earned him almost as much glory as the 11/1 winner.

Trained by Tom George, Sumkindofking benefitted from the 10lb claim of conditional Thomas Doggrell and looks a horse that can win again on the better ground, having been out of sorts on winter conditions until now.

[dennisg]

Harry Skelton kept up his title chase with a four-timer at Hereford on Wednesday.

Skelton started the day nine winners behind Brian Hughes and four in front of third-placed Harry Cobden, and he was quick off the mark aboard Real Stone in the opening Central Roofing Novices’ Hurdle.

Trained by his brother Dan, Skelton is unlikely to enjoy an many easier winners as the 1-10 favourite dismissed his two rivals without coming out of second gear, cantering home 91 lengths clear of Harlow, with Rogue Male a further nine lengths back in third.

Skelton said: “Although the ground was a bit dead on top, it was fine. It’s always great to get a winner here at Hereford – it’s been a lucky course for me and that’s the perfect way to start the day.”

The Skelton team soon made it a double as another favourite, 2-1 chance Ambassador, proved a length too good for Kamaxos in the Central Roofing Juvenile Maiden Hurdle.

Unplaced in five runs on the Flat for Richard Fahey, Ambassador was making it fourth time lucky over obstacles for current connections after undergoing wind surgery since his last start.

The winning rider said: “The wind operation has helped him. He was quite keen and fresh, but he enjoyed the track and better ground.

“He’s a proper Flat horse – strong and not over big – and he loved the going.”

Global Harmony then made it a hat-trick for the Skeltons in the Central Roofing Mares’ Handicap Hurdle.

The 7-4 shot was making her handicap debut and despite a mistake at the last, she kept on for a two-and-three-quarter-length verdict.

Stylish Dancer (13-2) then rounded off a fabulous day with victory in the closing Central Roofing Handicap Hurdle.

With Hughes out of luck at Haydock and Cobden failing to strike at Hereford, Skelton was thrilled to have strengthened his championship position.

He added: “I’m delighted to have narrowed the gap with Brian – it’s been a great afternoon. The horses are just in such great form generally, and happily they all seem to be enjoying the ground.”

James Bowen also got in on the riding act, initiating a double aboard To Be Sure (11-4) in the Central Roofing Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Evan Williams’ charge kept finding a bit extra after jumping the last to reel in the Skelton’s 2-1 favourite Headfullofdreams and win by half a length.

Bowen said: “It took a while for my lad to warm to his task as he wasn’t letting himself down in the early stages and the ground is quick out there.

“Overall he jumped really well and I would like to thank Evan for the ride – he’s been good to me.

“I feel like I’m riding well at the moment and I hope I can keep the strike-rate up.”

Bowen then added to his tally aboard the Toby Lawes-trained Pottlereaghexpress (10-11 favourite) in the Central Roofing Mares’ Handicap Chase.

Lawes, who was also on the mark with Kap Auteuil at Market Rasen, said: “Plan A was to get her head in front after a few near-misses and that’s been achieved.

“She’s a bonny little filly, well put together and I think she’s only once ever been out of the frame.

“I’m pleased for James and the general aim is to build with our team, which includes a number of young horses with bags of potential.”

Beau Haze sprang a 20-1 shock for trainer Philip Dando and jockey Conor Ring in the Central Roofing Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

[dennisg]

The Timeform team continue their list of horses to follow with Simon Baker nominating a four-year-old owned by the Queen as one to track.

King's Lynn (Andrew Balding)
Click here to add horses, jockeys & trainers to our FREE tracker - My Stable
Selected by Simon Baker, Senior Horse Racing Analyst
It’s hard enough to find the Wokingham winner on the day, never mind three months in advance, but King’s Lynn will surely be aimed at the race given the identify of his owner, and he strongly appeals as the type to win a big sprint handicap in 2021.

King’s Lynn has had just five career starts, breaking his maiden on his second outing in a big-field sales race at Doncaster in September 2019, and his three starts last season only scratched the surface of his potential.

Buy the Timeform Horses To Follow book for
Buy the Timeform Horses To Follow book for
Even then he showed loads of promise, chasing home Starman (another member of the Fifty) on his reappearance back on Town Moor in August and signing off with an excellent second in a handicap at the same track in October, lack of experience and track position having been his undoing in the Ayr Silver Cup in between.

King’s Lynn is still open to more improvement as he embarks on his four-year-old campaign and that counts for plenty when the top-end sprint handicaps so often lack for unexposed types nowadays.

He’ll probably need to win before Royal Ascot to have a chance of getting a run in the Wokingham, but that’s no bad thing when nominating him as a horse to follow, and in Andrew Balding – who saddled Tactical to win last season’s Windsor Castle Stakes to provide The Queen with her twenty-fourth Royal Ascot winner – he’s got a trainer with a proven track record of winning big sprint handicaps, including the Wokingham which he won with Dark Missile in 2007.

[dennisg]

The Timeform team continue their list of horses to follow with John Ingles highlighting a Henry Candy-trained colt by Muhaarar.

Run To Freedom (Henry Candy)
Click here to add horses, jockeys & trainers to our FREE tracker - My Stable
Selected by John Ingles, Features Writer
Twilight Mistress was the winner of three ordinary handicaps but what a fantastic broodmare she has turned out to be.

Four of her foals have achieved Timeform ratings of 100 or more, and we’re sure that Run To Freedom will be the fifth.

The pair that stand out among the offspring of Twilight Mistress are Twilight Son (125) and Music Master (122), who both raced for Run To Freedom’s owner Godfrey Wilson and trainer Henry Candy.

Music Master’s biggest win came in the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury, but he also finished third in the Sprint Cup, while Twilight Son won the latter race when still unbeaten as a three-year-old and added another Group 1 sprint to his record in the following season’s Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

Run To Freedom showed marked improvement in his three races last season, each of them novice events over 7f. He beat only two home when a 40/1 shot for his debut at Newbury in September but left that run behind when chasing home a promising Godolphin colt, Quintillus, at Kempton the following month.

For his final start, Run To Freedom returned to Kempton in December where he faced another Godolphin colt, this time the newcomer Highland Avenue, who clearly came with a reputation as he was sent off the 1/4 favourite.

However, that was reckoning without a good deal more improvement on Run To Freedom’s part, as he quickened to lead two furlongs out and kept the favourite at bay from then on to win by a neck. As well as the runner-up, the third and fifth also won their next starts, so it was clearly strong form.

Run To Freedom therefore starts his three-year-old season with a higher rating than either Music Master or Twilight Son at the same age. It will no doubt be handicaps next for Run To Freedom, who has been given an opening BHA mark of 88. However, if he keeps progressing at the same rate, then connections might have to raise their sights as they did with Twilight Son, who went straight from handicaps to winning the Sprint Cup.

Twilight Mistress was successful from 5f to 7f and has only ever been mated with other sprinters. Run To Freedom’s sire Muhaarar, who ironically denied Twilight Son another Group 1 win in the Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot, is getting winners at a variety of trips, but it will be interesting to see if Run To Freedom is tried over 6f at some stage.

[dennisg]

Tom Scudamore labelled Cloth Cap "a thrill to ride" ahead of their bid for Randox Grand National glory.

Jonjo O'Neill's carge is a general 4/1 chance for the Aintree showpiece following brilliant wins in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbyry and the Listed bet365 Premier Chase at Kelso .

He represents owner Trevor Hemmings, who is seeking a record fourth win in the world’s greatest chase following Hedgehunter (2005), Ballabriggs (2011) and Many Clouds (2015), while his trainer saddled Don’t Push It to a famous victory under Sir A P McCoy in 2010.

Scudamore is yet to win the race, his best performance in 18 rides was when sixth on Vieux Lion Rouge in 2017, but Cloth Cap offers the chance to change that.

He said: “This season has been fantastic and Cloth Cap has been a tremendous thrill to ride. He keeps going from strength to strength and is a worthy favourite for the race. I am really excited by it all. In any other race he would be much shorter than 4/1.

Cloth Cap clears the last in the Ladbrokes Trophy
Cloth Cap clears the last in the Ladbrokes Trophy
"It’s a very privileged position to be in to be riding the favourite and I would much rather be riding the favourite than under the radar on an outsider. He is favourite for a reason and a very good reason.

“The Grand National was the natural race for him to go for after his win in the Ladbrokes Trophy. He ran very well in the Scottish National as a novice and he is related to some good stayers, so Aintree always looked the natural progression for him.

"Obviously, Mr Hemmings is no stranger to National glory and the horse was probably bought with Aintree in mind so it is the logical race for him to go for.”

Both Cloth Cap’s victories this season have seen him make all and Scudamore continued: “Jonjo told me he jumps and stays and we got a good start at Newbury. We just took each fence as it came and it was a similar scenario at Kelso.

"He doesn’t have to make the running. He was up in the van when he ran so well in the Scottish National but I wouldn’t put his performances this year down to the fact he has been able to make the running. He has obviously matured plenty this season and has gone from strength to strength.”

Cloth Cap is away and clear in the Ladbrokes Trophy
Cloth Cap is away and clear in the Ladbrokes Trophy
On how to ride Aintree the 38-year-old continued: “It all depends on the individual horse and how the race pans out as to where you want to be. More often than not, the winners seems to be handy but at the same time One For Arthur came from a long way back (in 2017).

“Obviously, Cloth Cap has generally been ridden pretty prominently and I imagine that is what will happen again – why change anything when it isn’t broken? He is a pretty versatile and a very intelligent horse. Things will be different with the big field but he has coped with big fields before and it’s just a case of hoping he goes well and you get that little bit of luck.

“You are very aware which fence is which because of the challenges they present. It is about the job in hand and riding accordingly. I was 18 when I first rode in the race and probably too excited but since then I have tried to concentrate on the challenges each fence presents you.

“It is different. You sometimes go there with horses you think are tailor made for it and for some reason it doesn’t work out. For other horses, it can really make them. Vieux Lion Rouge wasn’t actually a great jumper until he went over the National fences – it really made a man of him.


Daryl Jacob: Being a Jockey - full documentary
"Cloth Cap has run in big handicaps and in my mind he has the maturity and braveness to go and do it. Until he actually has you can never be sure but he certainly shows all the right attributes.

“I learnt plenty riding Blowing Wind and Vieux Lion Rouge, both real National experts. Vieux Lion Rouge has jumped more National fences than just about any other horse in history so I learnt plenty riding him. Soll was also a great ride, as was The Package.

"I have been in contention crossing the Melling Road the final time on a few occasions but unfortunately every time it was a little bit too far for the horse. You just have to go and ride it like a four and a quarter mile chase – you can’t get too carried away because it’s the Grand National but have just got to make the right decisions at the right time.

“The course executive has done a really brilliant job on the course in recent years. Everything involved with horse welfare, not just the fences but other things such as the wash down areas, has been really thought through and done correctly.

"The race is a slightly different challenge to how it was in the past but is still very unique and you have to ride it accordingly. It is still a unique challenge but it is fairer than it was say nine years ago.”

Tom Scudamore riding Vieux Lion Rouge
Tom Scudamore riding Vieux Lion Rouge
On how much he is looking forward to April 10th at Aintree, Scudamore said: “I have been thinking about it an awful lot. It’s certainly in the forefront of my mind and you are aware it’s round the corner but fortunately I am very busy with plenty to keep me occupied like four rides at Market Rasen today.”

The Scudamore family has a fantastic connection to Aintree as the jockey explained: “My grandfather won the race in 1959 (as a jockey on Oxo) and it while I obviously have no recollection of that it is something the whole family is obviously very proud of.

"When Oxo when won there was a big dinner in Hereford to celebrate a couple of weeks’ later and we have still got the menus and cards from that. It is something that will always be associated with grandad and for all that dad and I have achieved, there was always the fact that Michael Scudamore had won the Grand National so he always put us in the shade a bit.

“It is something that until you have gone and done it you can’t really appreciate what it involves. Growing up, dad was obviously associated with Nigel Twiston-Davies and when Earth Summit won in 1998 it was absolute bedlam.

"That was my first realisation at age 13 or 14 about how huge it was and it absolutely blew my mind. It was a whole jamboree and after seeing all the disappointments dad had been through to see Earth Summit win it was amazing. Dad and grandad had bought Earth Summit and played a massive part in his training so it was a fantastic memory.

Buy the Timeform Horses To Follow book for
Buy the Timeform Horses To Follow book for
"My first memory of Aintree was going there when dad rode Strands Of Gold (1989). That was very exciting as he was going very well until he fell at Becher’s second time!

“Growing up, we would talk at Sunday lunches for hours about the Grand National. Grandad rode in I think 16 consecutive Grand Nationals which I still think is a record and dad rode in it 13 or 14 times and I think I could talk about every single ride they had and how they got on. It was an enormous part of my childhood. I’ll speak to dad about Cloth Cap and I might pick his brains about one or two things.”

On what other contenders he fears, Scudamore said: “There are plenty of dangers. You have got to be very respectful of Kimberlite Candy who seems to have been campaigned with this race in mind, Ted Walsh’s horse (Any Second Now) was very impressive in Ireland the other days and there will be plenty of horses with a chance but I’ll be focusing in Cloth Cap.

"If the handicapper could have his say again we would be 14lb higher so that is a lovely position to be in. It is such a high quality race that you have to respect any horse that meets the criteria and gets a run.”

On what winning the Randox Grand National would mean to him, Scudamore commented: “It would mean probably paying the next two tax bills! No, it would be the ultimate pinnacle of my career up to that point. It is the race that you want to be involved in and growing up it is the race that I wanted to win most. It doesn’t add any more pressure on to it having spent your whole career trying to win it but it would just be the pinnacle as far as I am concerned.

“I have spoken to Mr Hemmings on a couple of occasions after Cloth Cap’s wins. He is a tremendous supporter of National Hunt Racing and it would be an honour if I was able to win for him for a fourth time.”

A J O’Neill, assistant trainer to his father, said: “Cloth Cap is in great form. His training regime hasn’t really changed since the Ladbrokes Trophy – we have kept him doing the same thing. But he is in great form at home and the whole team is very excited about Aintree.

Sky Pirate wins the Grand Annual
Sky Pirate wins the Grand Annual
“We were lucky enough to have a winner at The Festival with Sky Pirate in the Grand Annual and we followed up on Saturday in the Midlands National with Time To Get Up so last week was definitely one to remember and there have been a lot of smiles around the yard for sure.

“I would agree with Tom that Cloth Cap is entitled to be favourite off of 10st 5lb. It is a competitive weight and we are really looking forward to seeing him run. He jumped very well in the Ladbrokes Trophy and obviously stays as showed in the Scottish National when he was younger. It will be very exciting to see him over the bigger fences at Aintree.

“The ground as it was when he won at Newbury (Good) would be ideal but obviously it is out of our control and we will just have to see how it is on the day. We certainly wouldn’t want it bottomless – it already takes plenty of getting with such a long trip.

“He jumps very well. We don’t actually have any National style fences at home any more. We always used to have them until 2010 and the first year we didn’t have them Don’t Push It won the National! So we have stuck with leaving them out from then to be honest. It’s not superstition, we still take horses to the schooling fences at Lambourn sometimes and we did with Minella Rocco so it’s a possibility we could take Cloth Cap there.”

[dennisg]

Tom Lacey is confident he has Kimberlite Candy in prime condition for next month’s Randox Grand National.

The nine-year-old, prominent in the ante-post market for the Aintree showpiece, has often shown he can go well fresh.

Lacey is therefore not too concerned about Kimberlite Candy’s absence since finishing second in the Becher Chase over the National fences in December.

Plan A was to have one more run through the winter, but Kimberlite Candy was not quite at the top of his game for a possible return in last month’s Swinley Chase at Ascot.

His Herefordshire trainer then made a late decision to swerve the Premier Chase at Kelso, won impressively by Cloth Cap – who took a stranglehold on the Aintree betting as a result.

Kimberlite Candy is in rude health at home, as his big target approaches.

“He’s very well,” said Lacey.

“He went for an away day (on Monday), galloped two miles on grass – and did it really well.

“You could just see in his eyes and his skin he’s really coming to himself now.”

Kimberlite Candy has had just one run since his emphatic success in the 2020 Classic Chase at Warwick 14 months ago.

“He is (good fresh),” Lacey added.

“(But) I had him in a race at Ascot and I wasn’t happy with him (to run).

“Then we had him in a race at Kelso, and we decided to drop travelling overnight to race up there on a sharp track.

“We decided, in a competitive race like that, it wasn’t a necessity.

“Yes, it would have been nice to have had a run. But not so if you’d gone and had a disappointing run on the wrong track, in the wrong race.

“We think he’s a dour stayer. In that grade, he’s going to be taken off his feet in three-mile competitive handicap chases.”

Tom Lacey and Richie McLernon celebrate after Kimberlite Candy's win
Tom Lacey and Richie McLernon celebrate a Kimberlite Candy victory
Lacey is therefore satisfied that he made the correct marginal decision.

He said: “To go to Aintree on the back of a poor run, through no fault of the horse’s, for me the advantages of not running outstripped the advantages of running.

“In this day and age, we can all get them fit at home.”

Five of Kimberlite Candy’s six career victories under rules have come on ground described as either soft or heavy, but Lacey does not believe he will need an Aintree bog over an extended four-and-a-quarter miles.

“It’s four miles two,” he said.

“If it’s safe, good to soft ground – which it will be – you’re going to have to stay.

“I’d like to think we can ride a race on him – I don’t want him being forced early on.

“I’d like to see him creeping into it and doing his best work at the end.

“He has raced prominently in the Becher, but he’s got an extra mile and a bit to go this time.

“So he doesn’t need to be ridden that aggressively. I don’t think he does.”

Cloth Cap has been promoted to an unusually short price since his Kelso win.

Lacey is among the many who could not help but be impressed by Jonjo O’Neill’s vastly-improved chaser this season.

But he added: “I certainly wouldn’t be frightened of one in a field of 40.

“He’s got to go and jump round Aintree.

“His jumping has been so clean, and Jonjo will have him well-prepped for it, but he’s still got to do it.

“Of course the horse demands respect – he’s been very impressive. But he needs his luck in running too.

“He isn’t going to be allowed off on the front end like he has done his previous two runs.

“He’s going to be hassled, horses around him, a very different test.”

[dennisg]

Cheltenham Festival winner Galvin will not run in the Irish National, but an outing in the Coral Scottish Grand National is still a possibility.

The seven-year-old quickened up smartly to win the National Hunt Chase last week, proving stamina is no issue in the process.

A second-season novice, he was transferred from Gordon Elliott to Ian Ferguson by owner Ronnie Bartlett before the Festival, but with Galvin having spent his early days with Ferguson, the handler already knew the horse well.

“There’s a possibility he could run in the Scottish National, but definitely not the Irish, – it will come too soon,” said Ferguson.

“He’s been entered at Ayr, so we’ll see how he is between now and then. It looks to be coming up at the right time.

“We know he stays, he’s a good jumper and he acts on decent ground, so he has all the plusses to go there.

“The Irish National was just a bit soon, but he’s come home fine after the race, so we’ll play it by ear and see how we go.

“He’s a quality horse, he’s been a great servant to us all and Cheltenham worked out very well.

“The rating he’s got (154) is understandable, you don’t win five in a row and expect to get off lightly.”

[dennisg]

Clive Cox reports Nando Parrado to have ‘strengthened up well’ over the winter but admits ground conditions will dictate where he has his prep run ahead of the first Classic of the season, the Group One QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday May 1.

The Kodiac colt grabbed the headlines last season when becoming the longest-priced Royal Ascot winner ever after springing a 150-1 surprise in the Group Two Coventry Stakes, ahead of filling the runner’s up spot at Group One level in the Prix Morny at Deauville and the Prix Jean Luc Lagardere at Paris-Longchamp.

Nando Parrado will either be stepped up to mile for the first time on his return in the Group Three bet365 Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday April 15, or be kept at seven furlongs in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury according the Lambourn handler.

Cox said: “Nando Parrado is in great form and he has wintered really well. He looks very good and is much stronger.

“He is still talked about as being the biggest priced Royal Ascot winner but it was not as sensational for us as we liked him ahead of his first run at Newmarket, where prior to that he had never been away from home. It was a big step up at Ascot but he ran with promise first time out at Newmarket. He ran with promise afterwards especially in the Morny when he was second and he was then second again in the Lagardere on truly atrocious ground. We knew he coped with normal soft ground but that was very testing.

“The plan is to have a Guineas prep with him. He had his first ever run at Newmarket so he has experience there. He does cope with ease in the ground but one is over seven furlongs and the other over a mile and the ground will be a factor. We will decide nearer the time but we do have choices. His work so far shows us he retains plenty of speed from his two year old days but I think the mile will be his optimum trip and I don’t see why he won’t get it.”

An outing at Group Three level in either the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn at Newmarket or the Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Newbury is on the agenda for stablemate Isabella Giles ahead of taking aim at the QIPCO 1000 Guineas on Sunday May 2.

Isabella Giles is in control of the Rockfel Stakes
Isabella Giles is in control of the Rockfel Stakes
Having claimed victory in the Group Two Shadwell Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket on her penultimate outing, the daughter of Belardo beat only one home on her Group One debut back at the track in the bet365 Fillies’ Mile.

Cox added: “Isabella Giles is in very good form and she has been doing some nice pieces of work. We will look at one of the trials for her ahead of the Guineas which we are very much intending to target her at.

“She had been busy enough and we went back too soon after winning the Rockfel in the Fillies’ Mile. I’m pleased with the way she has strengthened up.

“She is very straightforward to deal with and she took a big step forward that day she won at Goodwood on what was real attritional ground.

“She handles the soft ground well but she has also won on a drying surface as it was like that on her debut at Leicester.”

Cox intends to work back from an outing in the Group One Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot with Supremacy which could start with a trip to Haydock Park to take in the Group Two Sandy Lane Stakes on Saturday May 22.

The Mehmas colt went from strength-to-strength following his defeat on debut at Windsor last season by rattling up a hat-trick of victories culminating with tasting Group One glory in the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.

He added: “The Commonwealth Cup is the obvious first major target and he will either go to the Pavilion at Ascot or the Sandy Lane at Haydock. Either of those would be logical steps to take first but I don’t think he could do both though Harry Angel did.

“He has got a Group One penalty we have to think about but I’m delighted with him and he is making the right sort of progress at home.”

[dennisg]

Timeform's champions of 2020 | Get back into Flat mode with a reminder of last year's stars
By Tony McFadden
18:41 · THU March 25, 2021

Ahead of the start of the 2021 British Flat turf season at Doncaster on Saturday, remind yourself of the star performers from last year. Tony McFadden highlights Timeform's champions of 2020.

Horse of the Year – Ghaiyyath (133)
Ghaiyyath - brilliant winner of the Juddmonte International
Ghaiyyath - brilliant winner of the Juddmonte International
Ghaiyyath had shown flashes of brilliance in the early part of his career, but 2020 was the year he put it all together and confirmed beyond doubt that he was a top-class performer blessed with rare ability. He impressed when brushing aside inferior rivals in a Group 3 on his reappearance at Meydan in February and enhanced his reputation when beating better opponents in the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Newmarket in June, running his rivals ragged from the front. The big question left for Ghaiyyath to answer was whether he could back up a big performance, as his previous efforts suggested he might be best after a break. However, he took the notable scalp of Enable in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown only 30 days after his exploits at Newmarket. He then raised his form another notch in the Juddmonte International at York six weeks later, handing out an authoritative three-length beating to Magical. He was unable to make it four Group 1s in a row when Magical reversed the form in the Irish Champion Stakes, but a busy campaign had probably taken the edge off Ghaiyyath by that point. There's no doubt he was the star of the summer, and, as well as being crowned Horse of The Year, he was Timeform's champion older horse and leading middle-distance performer.

Two-year-old colt – St Mark's Basilica (121p)
St Mark's Basilica (centre) beats stablemate Wembley (left) and Thunder Moon
St Mark's Basilica (centre) beats stablemate Wembley (left) and Thunder Moon
There was no standout two-year-old colt last season, but St Mark's Basilica edged it on Timeform ratings based on his defeat of Wembley and Thunder Moon in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, where he reversed the form of the National Stakes having been third behind that pair at the Curragh. St Mark's Basilica's rating of 121p equals the lowest handed to a champion two-year-old colt in the past 10 years – Limato, Toormore and Harbour Watch had the same figure – but he did progress well during the campaign and appeals as the type to improve further when stepping up in trip and tackling a mile. He has seemingly always been held in high regard as he was sent off favourite for the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes when still a maiden, and that confidence is significant as he hails from Aidan O'Brien's powerhouse yard.

Two-year-old filly – Campanelle (116)
Frankie Dettori celebrates after victory aboard Campanelle
Frankie Dettori celebrates after victory aboard Campanelle
Campanelle may be trained in the US by Wesley Ward, but she was responsible for the best performance by a two-year-old filly in Europe last season when easily beating the colts in the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville. Campanelle won on debut at Gulfstream Park in May, booking her ticket to Royal Ascot, and she then made it two from two when landing the Queen Mary Stakes. Ward's juveniles have a reputation for brazen speed and many of his Royal Ascot winners have effectively had the race won at halfway, but Campanelle scored in contrasting style, staying on well from the rear to lead close home. That strength at the finish suggested she would have no problem with the step up to six furlongs and her rider was in little doubt that she would stay the trip as Frankie Dettori sent her straight into the lead. Coventry Stakes winner Nando Parrado could never throw down a telling challenge and Campanelle scored by a cosy two lengths. A subsequent defeat at the Breeders' Cup can easily be excused on account of a significant step up in trip.

TIMEFORM: 50 HORSES TO FOLLOW 2021 - ORDER NOW!
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2021 Flat edition includes

★ 50 to follow from Britain + 10 from Ireland, including ratings & profiles for each

★ Rising Stars – profiling the up-and-coming trainers & jockeys to watch out for

★ Classic Ante-Post – our value picks for the Derby, Oaks and Guineas

★ Talking to the Trainers – a star performer, handicapper & dark horse from a host of top handlers

★ Timeform's View on 13 key juvenile races last year, with added notes from our handicappers

★ Timeform's Best in each division including reviews of the top performers & Top 100 lists

& more besides across 136 packed pages!

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Get the latest 'Timeform 50 Horses to Follow' book by clicking this link
Three-year-old colt – Palace Pier (132)
Palace Pier - rated 131 after St James's Palace Stakes win
Palace Pier after his St James's Palace Stakes win
Palace Pier looked a horse of Group 1 potential when making a winning reappearance in handicap company at Newcastle, and he proved up to the task in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Wichita and Pinatubo, the placed pair in the 2000 Guineas, were in opposition but Palace Pier proved too good, impressing with his strength at the finish as he drew a length clear. He took another step forward to land the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, beating Alpine Star with more in hand than three quarters of a length would suggest after being eased down inside the final furlong. That earned Palace Pier a Timeform rating of 132, identifying him as the best miler since his sire Kingman was on the scene in 2014, and it also took his unbeaten record to five. He suffered a surprise defeat in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day, but he clearly wasn't at his best on the day – the John Gosden stable suffered a few disappointments on the afternoon – and is better judged on his previous efforts. He will get the chance to redeem himself as a four-year-old.

Three-year-old filly – Love (126p)
Love is out on her own at Epsom
Love is out on her own at Epsom
Love won three times as a juvenile, including the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes, but she had also been beaten four times, including without excuse in the Fillies' Mile. Those efforts hardly suggested she would dominate during her classic campaign but, like many sired by Galileo, she improved markedly at three and was in a different league to her rivals. Given her middle-distance pedigree, a smooth four-and-a-quarter-length success over a mile in the 1000 Guineas was an ominous sign for her rivals. She duly improved for the step up to a mile and a half in the Oaks, slamming her rivals by nine lengths, and raised her form another notch in the Yorkshire Oaks, earning a rating of 126p for her easy five-length win. Testing ground meant that she missed the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe – she wouldn't have run in any case due to an issue with contaminated feed at O’Brien’s yard – but she remains in training and the 'p' attached to her rating suggests she is capable of reaching even greater heights this season.

Older mare – Magical (127)
Aidan O'Brien with star mare Magical
Aidan O'Brien with star mare Magical
Magical proved better than ever as a five-year-old during the latest season, improving her Timeform rating to 127, a level that her old rival Enable failed to match in 2020. Magical had the misfortune of being around in the same era as Enable and but for that top-class rival she would have had an even higher tally of Group 1 victories. Still, a total of seven top-level wins represented an excellent haul, and it was that seventh success that was her best effort. She had been comfortably put in her place by Ghaiyyath in the Juddmonte International but turned the tables in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, showing all her trademark tenacity. It is testament to that splendid attitude that she finished out of the frame only twice in 28 starts.

Sprinter – Battaash (128)
Battaash and Jim Crowley after winning a second Nunthorpe
Battaash and Jim Crowley after winning a second Nunthorpe
Battaash wasn't at his explosive best in 2020 – a rating of 128 is 8 lb lower than what he achieved in the 2019 Nunthorpe Stakes – but it was still a hugely successful campaign for the best sprinter since Dayjur. As well as winning a second Nunthorpe and a fourth King George, Battaash finally registered an overdue success at Royal Ascot, landing the King's Stand Stakes by two and a quarter lengths. He seemed more mature than in previous campaigns, and, while he may have lost a touch of brilliance, the consistency he has added to his game ensures he will still take the beating as a seven-year-old this season.

Stayer – Stradivarius (130)
Stradivarius returns after winning a fourth Goodwood Cup
Stradivarius returns after winning a fourth Goodwood Cup
There was an anti-climactic end to the season for Stradivarius, who was beaten on his last three starts, though the only poor effort was on his final outing when tailed off in the Long Distance Cup. It was a completely different story at Royal Ascot earlier in the season, however, as Stradivarius pulverised his rivals in the Gold Cup to complete a hat-trick in the race, in the process putting up the best performance by a stayer in almost 40 years. Stradivarius further added to his Group 1 haul by landing the Goodwood Cup for a fourth time.

Handicap performance in Britain – Art Power (120)
Art Power storms ahead of his rivals at Ascot
Art Power storms ahead of his rivals at Ascot
The Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap was run for the first time at Royal Ascot in 2020 and it was won by a very smart type in Art Power, who showed he was a cut above that level with a three-and-a-half-length success. A big performance was clearly expected from Art Power as he was sent off the 6/4 favourite in the 21-runner field, and his supporters would have had few concerns as he was soon in front travelling powerfully. He came up short when tried at the highest level later in the season but was by no means disgraced when fourth in the Sprint Cup and Champions Sprint.

All-weather performance in Britain – Enable (123+)
Enable during her September Stakes victory on Saturday
Enable during her September Stakes victory
Enable's legacy had long been secured before the latest campaign but, while she wasn't at her best in 2020, she still managed to secure a slice of history, gaining a third success in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. She also put up the best performance on the all-weather in Britain in 2020 when winning the September Stakes at Kempton by seven lengths, running to a Timeform rating of 123. That looked like the perfect stepping stone to the Arc, but Enable came up short in her bid for a historic third success, finishing unplaced for the first time in 19 starts. That defeat in no way detracts from what was a remarkable career.

[dennisg]

It's been a frustrating season for Colin Tizzard but our top gossip column expects him to pick up a decent prize at Newbury on Saturday.

3.25 Newbury - Rose Of Arcadia
5
Horse silk
Rose Of Arcadiat51
Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 120| D
11/4
Form: 11-421
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Rose Of Arcadia is in good form and is fancied to see off a strong challenge from Nicky Henderson to win the EBF BetVictor 'National Hunt' Novices' Mares' Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday.

Colin Tizzard has certainly suffered more lows than highs this jumps season but this former ex-Irish pointer has always been highly regarded and showed her ability with a game win over subsequent dual winner Fable at Wincanton early last month.

Henderson, who trains Fable, will know just where he stands with that form but arguably his best young mare Fantastic Lady doesn't make the line-up here and his four remaining runners, cannot quite boast the form of their stablemate.

Docte Dina, who chased Fantastic Lady home at Doncaster on her latest start, looks each-way value but the handicapper put her up a none too generous 10lbs for that defeat. Lily Pedlar, now the mount of Nico de Boinville, has also worked very well recently.

4.35 Newbury - Lord Baddesley
2
Horse silk
Lord Baddesley106
Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 121
7/2
Form: 25-12U
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Lord Baddesley can show his appreciation for a winter break in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Novices Hurdle. A useful performer in bumpers last season, he made a great start to his hurdling career at Fontwell on his comeback in the autumn but failed to build on that on his two subsequent starts.

However, he does look the sort to progress and his stable are now back in very good form after a lengthy quiet spell during the darker, colder months.

5.10 Newbury - Boagrius
4
Horse silk
Boagriust107
Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 125| D
15/2
Form: 4/PP2-57
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Boagrius can land an overdue win in the BV Handicap Chase over two miles.Tom George has his team in great nick at the moment and will be hoping this rather inconsistent nine-year-old can bounce back to his best after a break.

Overall his form over this trip is much better than over longer distances and if he can reproduce his very good second to Billingsley over this course and distance just over a year ago, he should go close at what should be a decent price.

Get the latest 'Timeform 50 Horses to Follow' book by clicking this link
Get the latest 'Timeform 50 Horses to Follow' book by clicking this link
3.10 Doncaster - River Nymph
5
2
Horse silk
River Nymph161
Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 101
12/1
Form: 1/38110-
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River Nymph can give Clive Cox a flying start to the season in the Unibet Lincoln at Doncaster.

The Beechdown trainer took a while to strike with the highly-regarded son of Cable Bay but he came good at the third time of asking in an Ascot handicap and then followed up at Newbury the following month.

Although well beaten when well fancied on his return to the former course on Champions Day, he has always been looked upon as one to do well as a four-year-old and his preparation has gone well this spring.

1.25 Doncaster - Wonderful World
10
8
Horse silk
Wonderful World
Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: James Doyle| T: M R Channon| OR: -
5/2
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Mick Channon has been known to field a sharp juvenile or two in the opening exchanges of the turf season and hopes are high that Wonderful World will win the Unibet Brocklesby Stakes.

By the West Isley trainer's Cornwallis winnerBungle Inthejungle out of a mare who has produced several winners, he has been working very nicely in his prelims on the Berkshire Downs and may just have the edge over George Boughey's well thought of Forca Brasil.

3.45 Doncaster - Emaraaty Ana
4
8
Horse silk
Emaraaty Ana218
Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: K A Ryan| OR: 100| D
8/1
Form: 051/338-
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The veterinary surgeon has been busy with Kevin Ryan’s Emaraaty Ana and he can show his appreciation for the attention with victory in the Listed Unibet Cammidge Trophy.

A smart performer at his best and past winner of the Gimcrack Stakes, he underwent breathing and gelding surgery last back-end and connections have been pleased with both the way he has come back from the operations, and his recent work.

Ryan has complicated things a little by running Group One performer Brando, but he may need his first outing and Emaraaty Ana, looks the best value proposition.

4.20 Doncaster - Line Of Descent
5
7
Horse silk
Line Of Descenth1
Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: S & E Crisford| OR: -
13/2
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Andrea Atzeni partners Emaraaty Ana and also holds sound each-way chances aboard Simon Crisford's newcomer Line Of Descent in the 32Red Maiden Stakes.

The increasingly powerful Newmarket team will be waiting until the middle of next month to get into top gear but this son of Nathaniel has shown enough at home to suggest he can give William Haggas’ well-fancied Dhushan plenty to think about.

2.00 Doncaster - Top Rank
1
7
Horse silk
Top Rank183
Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: P J McDonald| T: J Tate| OR: 111| D
6/1
Form: 11/1316-
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Top Rank merits serious consideration despite his 5lb penalty in the Listed Unibet Doncaster Mile. The son of Dark Angel won a Group Three in good style in the mud at Haydock last September and James Tate has some lofty ambitions for him in the weeks and months ahead.

If he is to achieve them he should go well here, especially with the forecast rain overnight on Town Moor.

1.45 Kempton - Stormy Antarctic
4
3
Horse silk
Stormy Antarctict1147
Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: L Morris| T: E Walker| OR: 110
9/1
Form: 452768-
Live betting powered by
Stormy Antarctic may be getting a little long in the tooth now but usually runs very well first time up and Ed Walker has found a sound opportunity for him in the Listed Ladbrokes Magnolia Stakes at Kempton.

The eight-year-old has undergone a breathing op during his break and if he reproduces anything like his run behind Century Dream in a Group Three at Newbury on his return in 2020, he should be a big danger to likely favourite Global Giant.

[dennisg]

Betfair ambassador Paul Nicholls guides you through his team for Saturday's action in the UK.

SATURDAY RUNNERS
Best chance: Petrossian. 17:45 Newbury.

A smart bumper horse with every chance of winning again.

For more exclusive Paul Nicholls content visit betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/

Newbury
14:50 - Good Ball

He is an exciting recruit from France who won at Newbury on his debut for us and again ran tidily when second back at this track to a useful type Gowel Road. He is crying out for this step up in trip to two miles, three furlongs and has sound claims off a mark of 131.

15:35 - Kilmington Rose

She ran well last time when finishing second to Global Harmony on really testing ground which she didn’t like at Wincanton early in November. I’ve kept her for this mares final since then, she has come together nicely and it’s a bonus that the drying ground has come in her favour. Her mark of 113 looks fair.

16:00 - Grand Sancy

Things didn’t go his way after a tardy start last time at Newbury. He was always trying to play catch up but the experience of racing in a big field of handicappers will have not have been lost on him and he has come on for the run. Grand Sancy is a lot sharper now and I am looking for an improved performance from him in a smaller field of runners. We plan to make more use of him.

17:45 - Petrossian

He made a striking impact when hacking up at Newbury on his racecourse debut on November 5. While I wasn’t expecting fireworks from Petrossian that day he had been doing everything right at home and cruised clear in the closing stages. He has continued to please and returns to Newbury in great shape.

Kelso
14:40 - Christopher Wood

He has a decent record on his trips to Scotland but was too keen for his own good last time in a red hot race at this track, got the front too soon and paid for it late on. We need to curb his enthusiasm so Angus Cheleda will be dropping him in and trying to get him to settle. Christopher Wood loves good ground and should run another solid race.

[dennisg]

Get the view from connections ahead of Saturday's Unibet Lincoln at Doncaster including Owen Burrows on Danyah.

View from connections:
Owen Burrows reports Danyah to have done well during the winter and is looking forward to saddling the four-year-old in the Unibet Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster.

The son of Invincible Spirit showed progressive form last term, topping and tailing his season with victories on Town Moor and at Haydock.

Burrows is optimistic Danyah can put up a good show on Saturday, on the evidence of his home work. The Lambourn trainer said: “We’ve been pleased with him. He’s done well through the winter. He’s pleased me in his work leading up to this. Conditions look to suit, so fingers crossed.

“He’s won over the course and at Haydock over a mile on good ground. I’m expecting the ground to be similar to Haydock – so no excuses there. We’re going there ticking a few boxes. We’re hopeful.”

The draw is always a talking point over the straight mile on Town Moor, and Burrows is happy enough with stall nine.

Get the latest 'Timeform 50 Horses to Follow' book by clicking this link
Get the latest 'Timeform 50 Horses to Follow' book by clicking this link
“I wouldn’t have wanted to be drawn much lower. We’ll take that,” he said. “It depends how it pans out. We’ll just have to see what happens.”

Charlie Appleby is anticipating a big run from Eastern World as he seeks a third win in the race, following the successes of Secret Brief in 2016 and Auxerre in 2019.

“Eastern World won impressively on his one start in Dubai over the winter and travelled back to the UK well,” the Newmarket trainer told www.godolphin.com.

“The one thing he does take into this race is that he is fit and ready to go – he looked fantastic when he got off the plane. Both our previous winners of the Lincoln were also drawn high, so hopefully stall 19 is a good sign.”

Eastern World stretches clear at Newmarket
Eastern World stretches clear at Newmarket
Charlie Fellowes is hoping stall four will not prove disadvantageous to King Ottokar, who has had this race as his objective since the autumn.

He said: “We’re far side. It’s a typically strong field, (so) hopefully there is some pace around us to aim at, and we’ll see. In these big handicaps, you need to be behind the pace. I want a bit of rain just to take the edge off the ground. I’ll go and walk the track beforehand.

“He’s had a perfect preparation. He’s working well at home, and this has been the target since the Balmoral. We’re very happy.”

River Nymph ridden by jockey Adam Kirby (right) on their way to winning at Newbury
River Nymph ridden by jockey Adam Kirby (right) on their way to winning at Newbury
River Nymph disappointed in that race at Ascot in October, but trainer Clive Cox felt it was one race too many.

However, the Lambourn trainer could not be more pleased with how the four-year-old has wintered and is hoping stall two will not be a hindrance.

“He’s in great form. I think he was probably just off the boil when he ran in the Balmoral, but he’s trained very well and wintered well,” he said.

“I hope a low draw is no inconvenience. I think he will get the mile, though, we’ve got to prove that yet. It will mould our campaign, but I couldn’t be happier with him. He’s fit and well. We’re looking forward to getting under way on Saturday.”

Richard Hughes
Richard Hughes
Richard Hughes is another who would prefer some rain, to help Brentford Hope’s chances.

“I’m happy enough. I just need a bit of rain now,” said the Upper Lambourn handler. “Hopefully, they’ll get some. He needs some. He’s well and he goes there with his chance if the ground is soft.”

Richard Hannon expects his two runners, Man Of The Night and Ouzo, to go well.

The Marlborough trainer was pleased with Man Of The Night’s first run for 246 days at Wolverhampton this month.

“He ran a very good race at Wolverhampton, he was running on late,” he said. “He probably does want a mile and a quarter, but they will go very quick on that straight mile at Doncaster. He is a big horse who would have needed that first run. He will come on massively for the run.

“He is quite lightly raced. We thought he was going to be a very good horse, and he has not delivered on that after his win first time out at Newbury, but he is looking like he is going to pay dividends now in these very good handicaps.”

Ouzo in winning action
Ouzo in winning action
Hannon reports Ouzo to be catching the eye on the gallops.

“He has been working great. His last run (at York) last year was very pleasing, and he looks to me a horse still on the upgrade – he is in great form,” he said.

“I think he will go very well at a fairly good price. He might want further, but a straight mile is what he wants first time.

“Mentally he looks to be going the right way. I was a bit worried about him at one stage last year, but he has sorted himself out and he is in great nick mentally and physically.”

Karl Burke has ground worries for Born To Be Alive, winner of the Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton.

“The drying ground is a concern, I’ll walk the track before I let him take his chance,” said Burke. It’s a bit frustrating because the horse is in good form.”

[dennisg]

Racing betting tips: Saturday March 27
2pts win Mishriff in 4.10 Meydan at 11/4 (General)

1pt e.w. Jesus' Team in 4.50 Meydan at 6/1 (Paddy Power, Betfair 1/5 1,2,3,4)

0.5pt e.w. Felix in 3.30 Meydan at 25/1 (Sky Bet 1/5 1,2,3,4)

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair Sportsbook

Saturday’s Dubai World Cup meeting will no doubt be overshadowed by the recent passing of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and one of racing’s most prominent owners for the past three decades.

Sheikh Hamdan’s famous blue and white silks will again be on show on one of the biggest days of the year, and in Khaadem, they hold strong claims of enjoying another major success in the Al Quoz Sprint as he kicks off a five-year-old campaign that promises much.

With the coronavirus pandemic having forced the abandonment of this meeting last year, Meydan officials will be thrilled with the strong turnout 12 months on and five Group Ones highlight a truly world-class card that sees runners from the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Unites States also take part.

The stage is set for World Cup Night at Meydan
The stage is set for World Cup Night at Meydan
US challenge too strong to ignore in World Cup
The Dubai World Cup itself has attracted a bumper entry with Michael Stidham’s US raider Mystic Guide flying the flag for Godolphin following his deeply-impressive success at Oaklawn Park four weeks ago.

Luis Saez makes the long trip to Dubai to take the mount and his no-nonsense style of riding should to be a good fit for a Meydan dirt surface that so often suits prominent racers. Expect him to sit hot on the heels of big home hope, Salute The Soldier, who continues to go from strength to strength and ran out a convincing winner of Round Three of the Al Maktoum Challenge last time.

I’d expect that pair to engage turning for home, but that could play into the hands of JESUS’ TEAM who should have a race run to suit and is in danger of being underestimated given the strength of his form in America.

The four-year-old son of Tapiture has chased home Breeders’ Cup hero Knicks Go twice in the last six months, with the facile victory at Gulfstream Park sandwiched between those efforts allowing him to claim a confidence-boosting success following a campaign undertaken in red-hot company throughout 2020.

His latest run, when running a fine second to the aforementioned Knicks Go in the Pegasus World Cup, was a career-best performance and while he was clear second best to a brilliant winner, I love how Jesus’ Team kept finding for pressure despite being forced four wide turning into the straight, before staying-on willingly to claim the silver medal close home.


Pegasus World Cup 2021 (FULL RACE) | NBC Sports
There isn’t a Knicks Go to worry about in this field, and with that latest run confirming he ought to get this slightly longer trip well, there is plenty of upside to a colt who doesn’t have many miles on the clock and who can be backed at 6/1 with Paddy Power and Betfair (four places).

Click here to back Jesus' Team with Sky Bet
Make Mishriff your Meydan banker bet
Jesus' Team kicks off the staking plan, but the headline bet on the card comes in the preceding Dubai Sheema Classic with MISHRIFF a strong play at 11/4.

John Gosden’s French Derby hero went under the radar at the beginning of last season, announcing himself with a surprise success in Listed company at Newmarket before quickly progressing through the ranks and ending the year as a strong fancy for the Champions Stakes.

At the end of a busy campaign, Mishriff looked to have cried enough at Ascot but was right back to his best when reappearing with victory in the Saudi Cup just over a month ago, beating the highly-touted Charlatan in stoic fashion.

That was a monster performance given it was his first try on dirt, and that the European runner proved classy and resilient enough to get the better of a Bob Baffert-trained dirt specialist; no mean feat and one that hasn’t been achieved too often in the past.

Still, I think it underlines that in Mishriff, we are dealing with a very special colt – one whose potential rivalry with Love later in the season is already whetting the appetite – and I fully expect him to prove a class above the likes of Mogul and Japan’s Chrono Genesis.

The latter merits obvious respect given a profile that is remarkably consistent, while that fact Aidan O’Brien has kept Mogul in training this term following his Grand Prix de Paris and Hong Kong Vase victories last season speaks volumes.

Jockey Ryan Moore
CLICK on the image to get Ryan Moore's lowdown on his rides at Meydan on Saturday
However, Magic Wand and Idaho both looked in need of the run when comfortably held in this race in 2019 and 2018 respectively and I wonder if O’Brien and his paymasters at Coolmore will be viewing this as more of a political exercise than a major early-season target, with Mogul’s campaign surely working back from the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October.

A son of Galileo, Mogul clearly retains huge potential, but Mishriff might just be a superstar in waiting, one whose match-fitness is assured and who has no doubts surrounding his acclimatisation to the Middle East.

1m4f clearly represents a new test for him, but his brilliant victory over an extended 1m2f in the French Derby could hardly have been more impressive and he found plenty for pressure on a surface as demanding as dirt last time. I have no worries about his stamina and he rates the bet of the night at 11/4.

Click here to back Mishriff with Sky Bet
Mouheeb the pick in open UAE Derby
I’ll just about resist an interest in the UAE Derby, for all I was very tempted to take the 8/1 on offer for Mouheeb to take another step forward following his game 2000 Guineas triumph here early last month.

Having been made to pay for a slow start on his previous start, Mouheeb was much sharper from the gates last time and looked to be crying out for this stiffer test when dourly getting the job done.


He needs to improve again, and sharpen up in the early part of his race, but I do think he’s a colt going places and it’s only the wide-open nature of this year’s renewal that puts me off striking a bet.

Take feisty Felix in Dubai Turf
On first inspection, I had similar reservations about the Dubai Turf with Lord Glitters bidding for his third success of this year’s Carnival following victories in the Singspiel Stakes and the Jebel Hatta. He, like current market leader Lord North, will be hoping for a strong, end-to-end gallop, while Al Suhail probably boasts the most potent turn of foot, if not the most resolution.

This is another competitive Group One in which plausible cases can be made for any of the top three in the market, but none are bombproof and I’m going to roll the dice each-way with FELIX at 25/1, in the hope he can take advantage of the four places on offer with Sky Bet.

While Marco Botti’s charge has clearly got plenty to find with the principals on the book, I thought he was a shade unfortunate when a fast-finishing second in the Winter Derby recently having displayed steady improvement throughout the winter. Formerly with Sir Michael Stoute, Felix has really benefited from the patient approach adopted by Botti and new connections, and his best might still be to come.

Despite his success on the All Weather, Felix promises to be suited by returning to turf and the long run for home at Meydan ought to play to the strengths of a horse who, to my eye at least, was never happy at Lingfield until getting balanced and finding his stride in the straight.

Trainer Marco Botti
Trainer Marco Botti
While the likes of Lord North and Lord Glitters clearly have much stronger form at this stage, I’m not sure the rest are that far ahead of Felix and I think he’ll run a big race here, with the booking of Oisin Murphy an obvious plus. I’d prefer to take the four places on offer (25/1), but do note that bet365 go 40/1 if you’re prepared to take three places in return for the bigger price.

Click here to back Felix with Sky Bet
Godolphin have no secrets in Gold Cup
This meeting rarely goes by without Godolphin taking centre stage at some point and Secret Advisor holds strong claims for the boys in blue when he goes to post for the Dubai Gold Cup. His comeback run in Saudi Arabia was perfectly satisfactory and given the handy weight pull he enjoys with old rival Spanish Mission, his claims appear rock-solid.

I wouldn’t write off Spanish Mission, though, given the progress he has made since joining Andrew Balding and 6/1 about him is sure to lure in each-way thieves.

I won’t be getting involved, nor in the Al Quoz Sprint which I mentioned at the top of the piece, but I do think Khaadem is a sprinter capable of winning at the highest level, and hot favourite Space Blues might have to work harder than his odds of 6/4 suggest.

Victory for Khaadem would certainly be a fitting tribute to his owner, whose involvement in horse racing was typified by big days like this one, where the most illustrious names in the sport do battle for some of the most generous prizes on the international Flat racing calendar.

Posted at 1600 GMT on 25/03/21

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[dennisg]

Our racing team recall some of their favourite horses to have contested the Grand National over the years as our week reminiscing about all things Aintree continues.

We want your feedback. Do you have a favourite Grand National horse? Check out details of how to contact us towards the foot of the article...

Matt Brocklebank - Party time through the 90s
So many Grand National stories; a multitude of characters and fascinating horses involved down the years.

In 2005 I was utterly convinced the monstrous Colonel Rayburn would win it for then up-and-coming young trainer Paul Nolan.

He'd won chases over distances ranging between two miles and three miles, and he was supposedly going to love the forecast deep ground.

The horse had shaped well when third in the Punchestown trial at the end of January, while Paul Carberry, who swung from the rafters of the old winner’s enclosure after winning on Bobbyjo in 1999, was booked to take the ride for the first time.

Above all, he was a proper character. Standing at 18hh, he must be just about the biggest National runner of all time and everyone connected with the yard was keen to stress what a gentle giant he was. He also had quite a significant overbite and used to do unusual things with his mouth, occasionally resembling some sort of strange, equine anteater.

In the end, it wasn’t to be. For all the amazing stories of glory, this great race has been far from a fairy-tale for many and Colonel Rayburn won’t be remembered for his Aintree exploits.

The ground was ultimately much drier than they’d anticipated all week and, after being hampered at Becher's on the second circuit, he was pulled-up as Hedgehunter achieved what at the time felt like the almost unthinkable in defying a weight in excess of 11st. He was pulled up when a 50/1 shot the following year, too, when again carrying my cash.


But as far as favourite National horses goes it has to be Party Politics.

He won in great style under Carl Llewelyn in 1992, was running well in the void race of ’93, finished second as an 11-year-old behind Royal Athlete in ’95, before falling at the third obstacle in ’96 on his final racecourse appearance.

That’s some record for a horse who suffered badly with his wind, so much so that later into his career he had to be fitted with a special tube to assist with his breathing.

Another colossus size-wise, standing a little over 17hh, Party Politics was a topical winner just days ahead of the general election, while his backers barely had a moment’s worry throughout the race.

He cruised to the front four fences from the finish, popped it like it was the first and never looked back.

He made the ultimate test for steeplechasers look so simple.


1992 Grand National - Party Politics
David Ord - Corbiere for the leading lady
The thing about the Grand National, and jump racing in general, is your heroes, with any luck, hang around.

That was certainly the case with Corbiere, the big chestnut with a huge white face. His win in the 1983 renewal made Jenny Pitman the first woman to train a National winner - and provided the launchpad for a fantastic training career.

Corbiere had already landed that season's Welsh National when lining up at Liverpool in the spring and galloped his way into Aintree history with a relentless display. In front at Valentines, he had the reserves to fend off the late thrust of another National stalwart Greasepaint by three-quarters-of-a-length. The runner-up was finishing fast but the line came in time for a jubilant Ben De Haan.

And the wonderful thing with Corbiere was he was back, for the next four runnings.

Under top weight he went down all guns blazing when third behind Hallo Dandy and Greasepaint (him again) in 1984. It was third place too in 1985 - behind Last Suspect and Mr Snugfit, with Greasepaint (him again) fourth.

Peter Scudamore was in the saddle for this bid and once again Corbiere had shouldered top weight, 11st 10lb, with distinction. Then in 1986 the unthinkable happened. He fell at the fourth fence. A horse who'd barely put a foot wrong for the previous three years, took a liberty at an obstacle for the first time and paid the price.

As far as good things went in the National, Corbiere to complete the course had been one.

He dusted himself down and was back in 1987 as a 12-year-old. He'd slipped down the weights somewhat - to the basement at 10st. But a fourth in the Welsh National showed the fire still burned and, reunited with Ben De Haan, he was a day-of-the-race punt - into 12/1.

The number 12 figured prominently for a third time, as it was represented by his finishing position. A solid effort to bid farewell to a race he'd graced for more than half a decade.

Corbiere made Aintree history and for six years played his part in the world's greatest steeplechase. A true National treasure.


The BBC Grand National 1983 - Corbiere
Ben Linfoot – Lording it up in the Monday National
A lot of people’s favourite National horses will be those that came back year after year.

The likes of West Tip and Greasepaint and Party Politics and Suny Bay and Hedgehunter and Black Apalachi.

Old warriors like that who came back for more and performed with credit time after time hold special places in our hearts.

But my favourite National horse was a one-hit wonder.

More Chesney Hawkes than DJ Pied Piper and the Masters of Ceremonies, Lord Gyllene was very much The One And Only in 1997 as he smashed the National field on his, err, one and only run in the race.

Of course, his race became known as The Monday National.

And there was a certain charm in coming home from studying for your A-levels to watch the Grand National in the evening in your school uniform.

So perhaps there is an element of looking at this race through rose-tinted glasses, something that couldn’t have been imagined after the awful scenes on the Saturday when a mass evacuation of Aintree, due to an IRA bomb scare, saw the postponement of the race.

At least it was a postponement, of only two days, and just when the National needed a hero to get the race on the back pages for all the right reasons, it got one.

As Sir Peter O’Sullevan said in the commentary at the start of the 150th Grand National, ‘the winners of 265 races lining up, being told not to get on the tape…’

It was a cracking renewal, including a Gold Cup winner in Master Oats, and Lord Gyllene set his stall out from the very first fence, attacking it in the lead under Tony Dobbin. It was a similar story at the next 29 obstacles.

Rarely have we seen such a dominant performance in the National, thanks to an incredible display of jumping and galloping, and there was only one moment of real concern; when a loose horse came very close to carrying him out at the water jump in front of the stands.

The threat of drama never goes away in the National and it didn’t here, a loose horse accompanying the leader for much of the back straight down to Becher’s, but Lord Gyllene was in a beautiful rhythm and nothing looked like catching him from a long way out.

He won by 25 lengths in front of the 20,000 who had turned up and they were rewarded with a real treat.

Lord Gyllene only raced twice more without success, but, on Monday April 7 1997, he put in one of the best performances we’ll ever see in a Grand National.


1997 Grand National
Send us your views
Send your comments and contributions on your favourite ever Grand National horses to [e-mail] and if you’ve any ideas for more topics you want covering over the coming days and weeks please let us know.

Feedback from readers
Thom:

For me, what better a horse to remember than in 1998, the year I first followed the Grand National & even picked the winner Earth Summit.

A bay gelding bred by Celtic Cone out of Win Green Hill, he was bought by Peter Scudamore for a 6-strong partnership headed by ex-Hereford United footballer Ricky George & Aintree's press officer Nigel Payne. Never the fastest to grace the racing turf, Earth Summit possessed courage & stamina in staying over marathon trips (mostly on soft/heavy ground) & showed this winning the 1994 Scottish National as a 6yo with David Bridgwater in the saddle.

After a win in the Peter Marsh at Haydock, Earth Summit overcame a 16-month absence from the track, owing to leg injury, to win the 1997 Welsh National under Tom Jenks who would later break his leg & miss riding the Nigel Twiston Davies-trained horse in the 1998 Grand National. Step forward "the luckiest jockey" (as he put it) to get 2 Grand National winners, Carl Llewellyn to ride Earth Summit to that GN success 7 lengths ahead of the game 12st top weight Suny Bay in heavy muddy conditions for history in winning 3 different Grand Nationals.

Earth Summit was also among that select group of GN winners who could win after winning "the big one" by winning that winter's Becher Chase & although not as strongly fancied due to drier & faster ground conditions in 1999, he plugged on to finish 8th behind Bobbyjo. Retired the following year, he lived out his retirement years with his head lass Marcella Bayliss before being put down in 2005 due to diagnosis of cancer.

It does feel lost in time these days due to the changes made to the race as well as other memorable winners but Earth Summit to me is a Grand National legend in his own right, the only horse to win a Scottish, Welsh and English National & with a love of marathon tests. But for those feats & being my 1st ever GN bet too, "Digger" as he was nicknamed (partly due to his reputation of tearing up his bedding in his stable!!) is a horse I remember for inspiring my love of racing & most importantly, my love for the Grand National.

Stephen Marks:

For me the first national winner I backed Red Alligator when just a boy. Halycon days.

Davidathome:

Spanish Steps is worth a mention, a great jumper over those then awesome fences, he finished 4th, 4th, 3rd and 9th. Just think of who he ran against, Red Rum, Crisp, The Dickler and Lescargot. Steps won a Hennessy as well as being placed in a gold cup so was a class horse on his day.

Darren Ashworth:

For me it has to be Maori Venture at 28/1 , simply because it is the only time I thought I was a top tipster. I told all my friends he was not a great jumper but if he was within 5 lengths at the last he would win as he had a very strong finish. I was at the football and asked someone who had won , I still dine out him sprinting clear after the last.

Degsy59:

As with most things in popular culture the National is something that makes me feel I was born middle aged!

At 60 though with memories of at least 57 of the great races it has to be Rondetto!

Leading and still cantering when stumbling and falling in 1965. He didn't run in '66.

First over the 23rd when Popham Down did just that in 1967 only for Johnny Haine to bail out the side door, he unshipped Jeff King at the same fence a year later.

3rd behind Highland Wedding aged 13, Jeff thought he was a certainty as a 14-year-old but his mad streak got the better of him and he crashed out early on.

Winner of a Festival Handicap under 11st 5lb and a Hennessy beating What A Myth just enhances what a Golden Age for staying chaser's the 60's were.

Graham Nutter:

Having been to every single National since 1989 I've seen my fair share of great winners.

One that stands out for me is Hedgehunter, who took such a crashing fall in the 2004 National at the last (win by Amberleigh House) many feared the worst at first. Fortunately Hedgehunter got back to his feet after the screens were removed after what seemed like an eternity.

To come back the year after and triumph the way he did under the guidance of Ruby Walsh is something that will last with me forever

Kevin, East Yorkshire:

For me it has to be 1988 and Rhyme n Reason. After clattering Bechers first time round, Brendan Powell literally grabbed him up from the turf and weaved his way from last position to win an epic battle at the end with the brilliant Durham Edition.

Richard Turner:

Mr Frisk won the National in 1990 in a course record time breaking that set by 'Red Rum' in 1973. Marcus Armytage was the jockey and I had a little wager which made this all the sweeter!!

John Garrod:

I will never forget Red Rum, the greatest national horse and probably the greatest horse ever. My dad used to run the greyhound in Riccall Yorkshire and I remember him telling the story of a local farmer who came in and was just saying he was going to see this horse. Anyway when he came back he was full of it didn’t buy it but started backing it from odds of 100/1 to the day of the race when Red Rum won his first National, beating the mighty Crisp.

I still have the Red Rum Christmas card he sent us and it’s a picture of Rummy's face and the races he had been in winning on the flat at Aintree back in the day around the card and one even had him with Lester Piggott aboard in his early days. Still have the card to this day and started my love with racing.

Probably my best bet was after seeing Aldaniti win his come back race at Ascot I think on a midweek Channel 4 racing program and the story about horse and jockey you thought then if the unthinkable happens and he wins there’s a film there.

Dave Chapman:

Got to say it was also Party Politics for me but I was a bit biased as my fav jockey at the time was on the horses back. But the horse I will remember above all others was Crisp as I watch the re runs now there is still a part of me that expects to see Crisp finish in front of Rummy on just 1 viewing – although I obviously know that this is an impossibility, how Crisp ever got caught is still to this day beyond me.

Simon from Newark:

For a long time I have used an elimination method. Discarded any horse which had fallen on its previous six outings, any horse which had not won over at least three miles staying on, any horse out of the handicap, any horse whose jockey I did not fancy staying on, and any horse whose trainer I did not rate (Arrogantly, quite a few).

This usually produces a very short list from which I make my choice, quite often some at tasty prices. It came up with the likes of Maori Venture, Comply or Die, Hedgehunter and One for Arthur as well as one of those Aintree regulars, Durham Edition.

Trained by Arthur Stephenson and ridden by the excellent Chris Grant, he certainly passed the trainer and jockey test. Second twice, fifth and sixth on his two other National appearances, he was the epitome of those brave horses who make the race such a spectacle, year after year.

Dave Parker:

Moving to Devon permanently in the summer of 1988 I didn’t get much time to follow the flat season so once I had moved in all eyes were on the local national hunt scene which I prefer anyway. I remember going to Plymouth on the A38 and passing the old Buckfastliegh racecourse. This sparked my interest , when looking into the history of that course the family name of Frost kept coming up quite regularly.

So that year and for quite a time I followed Jimmy Frost and obviously backed him in the 1989 Grand National on Little Polveir I still remember jumping up and down my wife thought I had gone mad. It was a great ride by Jimmy Frost and a great training performance by Toby Balding. What I do remember was having to queue to pick up my winnings as there was no online gambling in them days. Pity we have no national this year.

Robert Jones:

West Tip.

Martyn Weston:

Earliest National memory for me when I was a very young kid was Rhyme N Reason, I was only about 7 years old and was drawn to the name and jockey colours. I remember it was very close to falling at one fence, but survived that scare and as a young kid I was made up my dad had put me 50p E/W on it.

Next up would be Seagram powering home to grab the classy Garrison Savannah. I felt a bit for my Dad that day as he was on Garrison Savannah and I was going mad when Seagram came through on the run in, it probably taught me at a young age to win with humility !

Finally, I had started to understand racing form lines far more in my teens and in 96 I was convinced Rough Quest was a good thing that year. I had got my dad to back the horse on a couple of occasions that season, partly down to one performance that just become etched in my mind when it won at Cheltenham easily beating a horse called Antonin. Ever since that run I kept looking out for Rough Quest and convinced my dad to back it in both the Gold Cup and National in 96, it ran a cracker to be placed in the Gold Cup, but it just stood out a mile to me in the National. Sometimes you just see a horse in a race and it sticks out like a sore thumb and that was Rough Quest in the National that year.

Now 25 years later and I don’t think I have had the winner since, so I definitely peaked way too soon in my ability to find the Grand National winner!

Steve G:

Easy one for me. Has to be Neptune Collonges. I used to say I wanted to see two things before I died, a proper white Christmas and a grey win the National, I was too young to rermember Nicholas Silver. I love mares, greys and bold jumping front runners and Neptune, a gelding, won numerous Grade Ones in that style, in his pomp.. It was brilliant to see him, the least regarded of the NIcholls Gold Cup Triumvirate ( with Kauto Star and Denman) do something that maybe the other two couldn't have.

Only gripe, I never thought he was going to win. Before the race I thought he was past it, he was under pressure the whole of the second circuit and even as they passed the post I thought he had just failed to get up.

Andrew Pelis:

Certainly Party Politics is right up there for me. I loved him as a young chaser – he ran in the Edward Hanmer against Celtic Shot I believe – but a run in the Gold Cup of 1991 jarred him up, otherwise he just might have been a 1991 National winner too. I rarely bet, but did have an antepost punt on Party Politics at 40/1, in January 1992.

Other horses I loved included: Zongalero, Rough And Tumble, Silent Valley (the horse who recovered from a broken leg to race and win again – and got as far as second Becher’s in 1984 before pulling up) , Northern Bay and Imperial Black.

There are many more besides.

I think the dynamics of the race have changed irrevocably now. It is a lot harder to train a horse specifically for the race and the element of a course specialist has been somewhat lost as far as the fences go. An ability to jump surrounded by other horses is still important of course. But is there such a thing as a “National horse” anymore? Maybe less so.

You can’t easily hunt round as such on the first circuit anymore and wait for the field to thin out. They are still playing dodgems long into the second circuit nowadays so luck in running still plays a part but in a different way.

So where you could hang your hat on a The Pilgarlic or a Hallo Dandy or a Greasepaint, Corbiere or Mr Snugfit in the past, to jump round and make the frame, it is maybe a more competitive race now.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy day.

George Goodenough:

Double Silk - This Somerset trained dual winner of the Cheltenham Foxhunters got into the '94 renewal off a feather weight. He adopted his bold jumping, front running style and was spring heeled and jumping the big fences for fun. Then inevitably disaster struck. A riderless Young Hustler crossed him at the fence before the Chair.

Unsighted, Double Silk never even took off and came down. It was a doubly bitter pill to swallow as he hurt himself in the process and although he returned to the course he was never the same again. He qualifies for this as he remains one of my favourite horses and he ran in the National, albeit just the once.