2015 Grand National

[mayo]

Could Ruby end up on The Druids Nephew or Cause of Causes?

Gallant Oscar could be Ruby's ride. Not guaranteed to get in but but of a gamble at the minute. Going to take the NRNB.

[mayo]

Martin said on Wednesday: "We'd love to give him a shot at Aintree and we're planning to wait and hope that he might get in.

"We'll probably leave him in the Irish National at the forfeit stage on Wednesday but we'll be keeping a close eye on how the field for Aintree is shaping up. Hopefully, we'll keep inching closer to the top 40."

Martin also trains Guess Again, who is number 55 in the Aintree list. However, he is likely to have another target.

"It's more likely that Guess Again will be aimed at either the Scottish National at Ayr or the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown," Martin said.

[Old Vic]

Druids has a jock...Aidan Coleman

Mulholland told the Racing Post: "A few names were put to the owners of the horse and Aidan was one of them. They have plumped for him to ride the horse in the Grand National.

"Obviously we are delighted as Aidan is a top class jockey and he will be schooling the horse in the coming days."

[MrMcGoldrick]

If the top 3 come out then the gamble on Shutthefrontdoor will start to look shaky, 11st 6lbs isn't a weight that I'd like a short priced fav with my money on to be carrying, 11st 3lbs is the cut off for me, lower than that if the ground comes up soft, then I'd be looking for something well under 11st.

[Old Vic]

Just 2/8 carrying 11 st or more finished in 2014.

Ground Good to soft.

2014 Grand National Result

1. Pineau De Re 25-1 (Leighton Aspell) 10-6

2. Balthazar King 14-1 (Richard Johnson) 10-13

3. Double Seven 10-1 J/F (AP McCoy) 10-11

4. Alvarado 33-1 (Paul Moloney) 10-2

5. Rocky Creek 16-1 (Noel Fehily) 11-5

6. Chance Du Roy 33-1 (Tom O'Brien) 10-6

7. Monbeg Dude 16-1 (Paul Carberry) 10-9

8. Raz De Maree 50-1 (Davy Condon) 10-3

9. Swing Bill 66-1 (Conor O'Farrell) 10-1

10. Kruzhlinin 100-1 (Wilson Renwick) 10-6

11. Buckers Bridge 66-1 (AE Lynch) 10-10

12. The Package 14-1 (Tom Scudamore) 10-4

13. Vesper Bell 40-1 (Katie Walsh) 10-5

14. Across The Bay 50-1 (Henry Brooke) 10-11

15. Mr Moonshine 20-1 (Ryan Mania) 10-12

16. Prince De Beauchene 20-1 (Paul Townend) 10-10

17. Hunt Ball 50-1 (Andrew Tinkler) 11-7

18. Hawkes Point 50-1 (Ryan Mahon) 10-6

Non-finishers:

Fence 1: Twirling Magnet (fell)

Fence 2: Burton Port (unseated)

Fence 3: Big Shu (fell)

Fence 6 (Becher's Brook): Last Time D'Albain (unseated)

Fence 8 (Canal Turn): Tidal Bay and Our Father (unseated), Golan Way (fell)

Fence 9 (Valentine's Brook): Long Run and Mountainous (fell), The Rainbow Hunter (unseated)

Fence 15 (The Chair): Teaforthree unseated

Fence 20: Shakalakaboomboom (pulled up)

Fence 21: Quito De La Roque (pulled up)

Fence 22 (Becher's Brook): Tricolo D'Alene (pulled up), One In A Milan (fell)

Fence 25 (Valentine's Brook): Colbert Station (pulled up)

Fence 26: Vintage Star (pulled up) Rose of the Moon (fell)

Fence 27: Lion Na Bernai (pulled up)

Fence 28: Wayward Prince (fell)

Fence 29: Walkon (pulled up)

Did not start: Battle Group

Distances: 5, 1¼, 10, 2½, sh, 3, 16, sh, 4½, 2½, 18, 6, 2, 7, 37, 33, 1

Time: 9m 09.90s

[Old Vic]

2013 Grand National Result

15 horses carried 11st or more just 4 finished - only 1 in first 10



1. Auroras Encore (Ryan Mania) 66-1 10-3

2. Cappa Bleu (Paul Moloney) 12-1 10-11

3. Teaforthree (Nick Scholfield) 10-1 11-3

4. Oscar Time (Sam Waley-Cohen) 66-1 10-1

5. Rare Bob (Bryan Cooper) 16-1 10-11

6. Swing Bill (Conor O'Farrell) 80-1 10-6

7 . Soll 10-2

8. Tarquinius 10-2

9. Saint Are 10-8

10. Always Waining 10-10

11. Major Malarkey 10-1

12. Join Together 11-2

13. Seabass (11-2 favourite) 11-6

14. Across The Bay 11-2

15. Balthazar King 10-12

16. Quiscover Fontaine 10-7

17. Any Currency 10-0

[Old Vic]

2012 Grand National

10 horses carrying more than 11st

4/10 finished including winner and 6th placed horse

Ground Good, Good to Soft in places

1. Neptune Collonges (Daryl Jacob) 33-1 11-6

2. Sunnyhillboy (Richie McLernon) 16-1 10-5

3. Seabass (Ms Katie Walsh) 8-1JF 10-12

4. Cappa Bleu (Paul Moloney) 16-1 10-10

5. In Compliance (Niall Madden) 100-1 10-0

6. Ballabriggs 11-9

7. Hello Bud 10-0

8. Tharawaat 10-4

9. Shakalakaboomboom 10-12

10. Swing Bill 10-3

11. The Midnight Club 10-8

12. Planet of Sound 11-5

13. Neptune Equester 10-5

14. Calgary Bay 11-6

15. Midnight Haze 10-0

[Old Vic]

In my mind these are the most important nationals as run over new fences etc. Also inclined to think last two are the really important ones as we will not be allowed to have good ground again.

Very reluctant to back anything over 11st based on this.

[Sefton]

Pineau De Re in the Crabbie's Grand National at Aintree a week on Saturday, according to John Provan.
Pineau De Re is looking to make it back-to-back victories at the showpiece event, following on from victory under Leighton Aspell 12 months ago.

However, Aspell is set to partner Many Clouds this year and Jacob has been called on to step in and go in hunt of the victory.

Jacob, who won the Grand National aboard the Paul Nicholls-trained Neptune Collonges three years ago, has been backed by Provan, who feels he has more than enough experience.

Provan said: "We spoke to Leighton on Saturday and he's going to ride Many Clouds, so we've booked Daryl Jacob to ride our horse.

"Daryl is a top-class jockey and was Richard's main rider until he got the big job with Paul Nicholls a while back.

"We then used Sam Twiston-Davies quite a lot until Paul Nicholls also spotted him and Sam replaced Daryl.

"We've always thought a lot of Daryl and he's a Grand National-winning jockey. He has plenty of experience riding in the race, which counts for a lot.

"Daryl will come and school the horse this week and we'll see if he can go and win back-to-back Grand Nationals, which would be quite an achievement."

[Sefton]

runner in the National.

"A lot can happen in the next fortnight, but we've not done a lot with him since the Gold Cup and that is the plan.

"There's nothing else for him, but I've always thought he would be a National horse at some stage.

"It was a teamwork decision (to run him in the National). He did his first bit of light work on Saturday and we were very happy with him.

"It has always been a dream for Mr Hemmings and whether we've made the right decision, time will tell.

Profiles Many Clouds Saint Are
"I presume [Leighton Aspell] will ride him, rather than Pineau, as he rides most of mine

Meanwhile, Tom George has confirmed Saint Are on course for the race and "in great form".

"We had a trip away with him on Friday (March 27) and went down to Lambourn," said the trainer. "He did some work and had a schooling session over the Grand National fences. Obviously, he has jumped over them before but it was good to have a day out with him.

"We couldn't be happier with him at present. He looks like he has really come on for the spring weather, which he has done in the past. He really looks fantastic."

[Morning Glory]

Court by Surprise thoughts ?

Court By Surprise, an overpriced 50-1 shot allotted 10st 3lb, has overcome two serious problems — a leg injury when falling on his point-to-point debut and an infected leg which kept him off the course for almost two years and could have ended his career.

Lavelle added: 'Having missed the best part of two years, he has not had much racing but maybe it is a blessing in disguise; he is so much stronger. Now, he's the best he's ever been.'

Positive report on Alvardo

Fergal O'Brien was delighted with last year's Crabbie's Grand National fourth Alvarado after he warmed up Aintree with a work-out at Newbury this morning.

O'Brien took his stable star to Newbury as part of his prepartions for a return to Merseyside on April 11.

The 10-year-old, who is a best-priced 25-1 chance with most bookmakers for the National - worked well under big-race jockey Paul Moloney, who been placed in the last six Aintree marathon aboard Alvarado, and the Evan Williams-trained duo Cappa Bleu and State Of Play - all owned by the Rucker family.

Alvarado was fifth in a veterans' chase at Doncaster on his only start this season and speaking shortly after the gallop, O'Brien said: "He worked over a mile and six furlongs with a stablemate and went really well. Paul was happy with him and he was very good. Fingers crossed for Aintree - we're very happy with him."

Although Aintree have encouraged big-race contenders to use National-style fences at four locations in Britain and Ireland as preparation, O'Brien doesn't feel he needs to do so with Alvarado before the big day.

He added: "We didn't do it last year so we won't do it this year."

[mayo]

Ballycasey to run ?

"Ballycasey looks like our only runner in the National, and I'll have to see about the novice chases and hurdles."

[Sefton]

David Bass is booked for the rainbow hunter.

Tom Scudamire expected to be on Soll. Pipe thinks rest of his will miss out.

[Morning Glory]

Bass reported The Rainbow Hunter full of enthusiasm following the session at Lambourn and the jockey is hoping his mount can put in a clear round after not getting far in the last two Nationals.

"He's been there the last two years and the furthest he's got is Valentine's (ninth fence), so hopefully we can get a bit further," Bass told Racing UK.

"He's got the right attitude. He hasn't got a lot of weight, so a clear round and we'll see what happens. I jumped off him after the gallops (on Monday morning) and he nearly ran away with me.

"I told Kim it was as though he was two or three, he's got so much enthusiasm. The fact he's 11 and he's had a long absence is not going to worry me."

Donald McCain has booked Henry Brooke for Across The Bay and Wilson Renwick for Corrin Wood after Jason Maguire decided to miss the rest of the campaign to give him time to cure a back problem.

Maguire, who gained Aintree glory on Ballabriggs for McCain in 2011, has been struggling with the injury since taking a fall at Catterick last month, but is aiming to be 100 per cent for the start of next season.

McCain is hoping Across The Bay fares better than last year when he was almost carried right off the track by a loose horse when leading the field as they were about to set off on the final circuit.

"He's been so unlucky, it's not true," the Cheshire trainer told the Guardian.

"He was running a good race at the Cheltenham Festival (in the Kim Muir) when he got brought down last time. He's in good order."

Corrin Wood is now pleasing McCain after pulling muscles at Haydock in January.

"He had a racecourse gallop the other day, so we're getting close," said McCain. "I've always thought of him as an Aintree horse. Wilson Renwick rides."

Rocky Creek and Unioniste will head Paul Nicholls' four-strong team, supported by Royal Rebellion and Mon Parrain.

The Ditcheat handler has, however, has yet to make a final decision on his two other entries, Sam Winner and Benvolio.

[Morning Glory]

Monbeg Dude, owned by a trio of former rugby players from the county, is on course for a second crack at the Crabbie's Grand National.

James Simpson-Daniel, Nicky Robinson and Mike Tindall saw the 10-year-old finish seventh last year for their Oydunow syndicate, run in partnership with his trainer, Michael Scudamore.

Monbeg Dude would have to bounce back from a rare disappointing run at the Cheltenham Festival, where he ran wearing a new piece of equipment.

The trainer said: "He was disappointing at Cheltenham. He was in good form going into it and has been bright and happy since, so all we can put it down to is that he didn't like the tongue-strap. He was never travelling the way he can during the race.

"All going well we'll head on to Aintree now, because as I say, he seems really well and happy in himself at the moment.

"I'm not sure who will ride him. I'll have a chat with the owners and make a decision nearer the time."

Scudamore's brother Tom is the most likely candidate if he is not required to ride for David Pipe.



Read more: http://www.gloucestershireecho.co.uk...#ixzz3VwUYRQ3E

Thought Carberry would be up ?