2016 Grand National

[loveracing]

Yep, couldn't agree more.
The cyclist has caused row after row in my house, the wife says how well she did etc etc etc and I agree, but I resent the camera's pointing her way when Nina and On The Fringe had just created history with a memorable double in the race.
The media should be ashamed, the achievements of Nina are exceptional and should celebrated not some cyclist who gave her horse a poor ride focusing on completion rather than position until late in the race

Haha, totally agree Ista. I am getting sick of seeing her name.

[Faugheen_Machine]

Yep, couldn't agree more.
The cyclist has caused row after row in my house, the wife says how well she did etc etc etc and I agree, but I resent the camera's pointing her way when Nina and On The Fringe had just created history with a memorable double in the race.
The media should be ashamed, the achievements of Nina are exceptional and should celebrated not some cyclist who gave her horse a poor ride focusing on completion rather than position until late in the race

I couldn't disagree more Ista. VP gave PDP a gem of a ride. He's a horse I've followed for a while and he doesn't stay 3m+. He ran in the 3m handicap on the Tuesday 3 or 4 years ago and the jockey tried to be positive and take it up 3 out and he curled up and finished down the field. VP didnt rides him out very well at the finish and if we are being picky she might have finished a place closer but if Nina rode him she would have finished further down the field IMO, purely because she would have rode him too aggressively.

VP shouldn't have taken the limelight off the winner but she isn't too blame for that. An outstanding achievement by both VP and NC and both a credit to racing IMO.

[Istabraq]

VP shouldn't have taken the limelight off the winner but she isn't too blame for that. An outstanding achievement by both VP and NC and both a credit to racing IMO.

Totally agree there FM, her profile has been a fantastic shot in the arm for racing but I feel it has been at the expense of the pros/regular amateurs, not her fault at all, completely get that and applaud her achievements.

I wasn't impressed with the ride but I guess we see different things, plenty of horses don't get 4 miles at 5 or 6 but get that and more 3 or 4 years down the line so I don't see him as a non stayer, he's been competing with the best hunters for a couple of years and never been that far away so the fact he may not have won over the distance I don't see as relevant.
But opinion is what make life interesting....

[Faugheen_Machine]

They are due to re-oppose at Aintree in the Foxhunters (horses, not jockeys) so it'll be interesting how it plays out.

[Istabraq]

They are due to re-oppose at Aintree in the Foxhunters (horses, not jockeys) so it'll be interesting how it plays out.

Would VP not get a ride in the Foxhunters at Aintree ?

[Faugheen_Machine]

I dont think she's qualified to ride over the national fences. A jockey needs to have won a certain number of races to ride in the race (15 I think). I'd imagine Will Biddick will ride PDP, Jamie Codd booked to ride OTF.

[Istabraq]

I dont think she's qualified to ride over the national fences. A jockey needs to have won a certain number of races to ride in the race (15 I think).

Yep, good shout

[Old Vic]

I dont think she's qualified to ride over the national fences. A jockey needs to have won a certain number of races to ride in the race (15 I think). I'd imagine Will Biddick will ride PDP, Jamie Codd booked to ride OTF.

thats their story for 2016 if they want to keep it going.

[loveracing]

I've added Vics Canvas 66/1 nrnb to my ap selection. I know he's the wrong age but he has course experience and always puts in a decent run on better ground over the big obstacles.

Saint Are 25/1 nrnb
Highland Lodge 50/1 nrnb
Vics Canvas 66/1 nrnb

[Morning Glory]

Given the year she has had

"

It is all systems go towards Aintree with Bishops Road," said Lee. "I have been very happy with him since Haydock. He has schooled over Grand National-style fences and everything is going to plan.

"I am not at all worried about ground conditions. Aintree always produces beautiful ground and I am very happy to be going there. We just need nine horses to come out [above him in the handicap]."

Moore in line for return

Jamie Moore has been another key figure in Lee's excellent campaign but missed out on her Fairyhouse raid, where she landed a Grade 1 and Grade 2, after breaking his collarbone in a fall at Taunton earlier this month.

If he can return to fitness in time for the Aintree showpiece, Moore will partner Bishops Road and Lee is optimistic the rider will make it.

"Jamie Moore is working his socks off to get back in time for Aintree and I am quite confident that he will be," she said.

and cut off musings from the Doctor

DR RICHARD NEWLAND put his Crabbie's Grand National hopefuls Pineau De Re and Royale Knight through their paces in Lambourn on Thursday morning and is keeping everything crossed that the duo make the final cut for next week's contest.


Pineau De Re, who won the Grand National two years ago, was partnered by Brian Hughes and popped over two replica National fences twice, as did Royale Knight, who was ridden by Brendan Powell.

Newland said: "We've done all our preparations now and the horses are very fit. This is just getting the jockeys acquainted to the horses."

Will they or won't they?

Neither of Newland's two candidates are guaranteed to get a run in the National and the trainer is sweating on whether they will make the final field with Pineau De Re and Royale Knight sitting just outside the top 40 entries for the race.

"We know one or two are coming out so we just have to hope that enough come out to get a run," Newland said. "It would be incredible not to get a run off [a handicap rating of] 143. Last year Royale Knight was last in off 139."



Pineau De Re is 1lb higher in the weights than Royale Knight, so more likely to make the cut, and Newland offered a positive update regarding the horse's wellbeing.

"He's very good. He won before Christmas, which was great, but we gave him a bit of an easy time after that - probably too much of an easy time - and I was disappointed with him at Chepstow," Newland said.

"He ran well at Newbury the following week, though, and since then I've given him a lot of work and he has taken it well," the trainer added.

[mayo]

One out and acouple more jocked up

Winner of the Kim Muir at the Festival two years ago, Culloty told the Daily Mail that Spring Heeled was "99% certain not to run" on Merseyside.

"He came back from Cheltenham pretty sore," added the County Cork handler.

Jeremiah McGrath will have his first National ride when he gets the leg-up on former Hennessy winner Triolo D'Alene, who also struck over the Aintree fences in the Topham Chase in 2013.

Nico de Boinville will partner the Nicky Henderson-trained stablemate Hadrian's Approach.

Henderson, who has never won the National, told the Telegraph: "Both horses schooled over the Aintree fences in Lambourn and it all seemed to go well.

"They will both go for the National and Cocktails At Dawn is going for the Topham.

"Hopefully we'll get decent ground."

[mayo]

Jock em up

NO.	HORSE	TRAINER	JOCKEY	OR
1	Many Clouds27	Oliver Sherwood	L Aspell	165
2	Silviniaco Conti49	Paul Nicholls	N Fehily	163
3	Carlingford Lough22	John E Kiely	M Walsh ?	162
4	First Lieutenant63	M F Morris		159
5	Wonderful Charm120	Paul Nicholls	Sam Twiston Davies	158
6	Third Intention24	Colin Tizzard		157
7	Ballynagour23	David Pipe		157
8	OŽFaolains Boy22	Rebecca Curtis		156
9	Gilgamboa23	E Bolger		156
10	On His Own22	W P Mullins	Patrick Mullins	156
11	The Druids Nephew35	Neil Mulholland	Denis O'Regan ?	155
12	Triolo DŽAlene49	Nicky Henderson	J McGrath	155
13	Rocky Creek42	Paul Nicholls	Andrew Thornton	154
14	Sir Des Champs63	W P Mullins		154
15	Roi Du Mee161	Gordon Elliott		154
16	Holywell25	Jonjo OŽNeill	R McLernon	153
17	Shutthefrontdoor35	Jonjo OŽNeill	B J Geraghty ?	152
18	Soll51	David Pipe		152
19	Buywise70	Evan Williams	P Maloney ?	151
20	Boston Bob49	W P Mullins	Ruby Walsh ?	151
21	Turban49	W P Mullins		151
22	Aachen35	Venetia Williams	A Coleman ?	151
23	Morning Assembly25	P A Fahy	D N Russell ?	150
24	Double Ross25	Nigel Twiston-Davies		150
25	Goonyella34	J T R Dreaper	J Burke	149
26	Ucello Conti79	Gordon Elliott		149
27	Unioniste27	Paul Nicholls	N Scolfield	149
28	Le Reve42	Lucy Wadham		149
29	Gallant Oscar34	A J Martin		149
30	Onenightinvienna49	Philip Hobbs	R Johnson ?	149
31	The Last Samuri35	Kim Bailey	D Bass	149
32	Kruzhlinin25	Philip Hobbs	T O'Brien	148
33	Rule The World34	M F Morris		148
34	Just A Par18	Paul Nicholls	Sean Bowen	147
35	Katenko25	Venetia Williams	L Treadwell	147
36	Vics Canvas49	Dermot Anthony McLoughlin		147
37	Living Next Door12	A J Martin		147
38	Black Thunder63	Paul Nicholls		147
39	Ballycasey23	W P Mullins		147
40	HadrianŽs Approach42	Nicky Henderson	N De Bonville	147
	CUT OFF
42	Katkeau21	David Pipe		146
43	Vieux Lion Rouge25	David Pipe		146
44	Pendra112	Charlie Longsdon		146
45	Saint Are45	Tom George		146
46	Home Farm41	Henry De Bromhead		145
47	The Romford Pele24	Rebecca Curtis		145
48	Knock House23	Mick Channon		144
49	Bishops Road49	Kerry Lee		144
50	Pineau De Re35	Dr Richard Newland	B Hughes	143
51	Alvarado35	Fergal OŽBrien		143
52	Highland Lodge126	James Moffatt		143
53	Maggio27	Patrick Griffin		143
54	Perfect Candidate23	Fergal OŽBrien		143
55	Present View11	Jamie Snowden		143

[HardyEustace]

There's a few to take off that list of runners. From the Guardian on Wednesday:

Connections of Third Intention, Katkeau and Living Next Door have now said their horses will take no part in the National.

[Faugheen_Machine]

If Maloney gets Buywise round he's a miracle worker!

[Faugheen_Machine]

What are the chances of BJG riding Gallant Oscar? He's my number 1 pick for the race.