Grand National Meeting; GN/Masters Doubles.

[Eggs]

Just over a week until the GN meeting starts.

I know there’s a NH Forum on the site but maybe worth having a thread in here for this years meeting, including posting our GN/Masters Golf doubles with Lobos hitting the jackpot last year, although he went a bit stonewall on favourites :eagerness: GN on 5th Apr, Masters concludes the following weekend.

I know Aintree is popular on here, maybe a bit more chilled than the Festival and many FJs are regulars at the meeting. Plenty of discussions on site so feel free to pop thoughts in here.

 

[Ray]

Maximus/mcleroy

 

[Eggs]

….when he won at Cheltenham in October, I backed Senior Chief for GN. I gave him a mention in the ‘under the radar’ thread last week at 66-1 NRNB because it looks like he’s only one of two left in the field for HDB. Minella Indo was also 66-1 and I can see whoever Rachael selects getting a big haircut next week (most likely Indo given the spin he gave her last year).

Anyway, I’m sticking with Senior Chief and the other I’ve backed is Paul Nicholl’s Kandoo Kid.

Only golfer on my radar at the moment is Tommy Fleetwood, I’ll probably perm the two horses with him, I made a note last year to wait for extra places before putting double on but not sure how that’ll work with them being a week apart.

Contradicting my own advice, I’ve gone early on my first e/w double;

Senior Chief 40-1 (NRNB 1-5)/Tommy Fleetwood 33-1 (1-6)
1,393-1 e/w Double (Hills).

 

[Eggs]

https://www.sportinglife.com/racing...tion-for-joe-tizzards-the-changing-man/224500

 

[BuckingThe Trend]

Grangeclare West 25/1 NRNB (1-5) and Ludvig Åberg 12/1 (1-8)
337/1 E/W Double (B365)

 

[Hurricane fly]

Anyone think MacDermott gets in? Currently number 50 but surely some name based doubles
Robert MacIntyre being the obvious one but also Maverick McNally and of course Rory

 

[Eggs]

Anyone think MacDermott gets in? Currently number 50 but surely some name based doubles
Robert MacIntyre being the obvious one but also Maverick McNally and of course Rory

….only 34 runners these days so I’d imagine it’ll be difficult. I’m hoping Twig gets a run, currently no41.

 

[Eggs]

….Grangeclare West cut to 20-1 by 365, was available at 33s a few days ago but now a best 25-1.

 

[Eggs]

….the other little interest bet I like at Aintree is an e/w Trixie on the 3 races over the National fences. A bit risky before final decs and Topham weights are out but I did this one last week to small stakes;

(Thurs) Annamix 16-1 Fox (not getting any younger but ran a cracker to finish 3rd last year. Had a couple of recent spins, maybe with this in mind for P Mullins)
(Friday) Spanish Harlem 25-1 Top (risky, hopefully turns up but I thought ran an eye catcher in GN trial after which Mullins mentioned The Topham).
(Saturday) Senior Chief 50-1 GN (NRNB)

Might have another of these after decs; THE GN FENCES TRIXIE :bee:

 

[Eggs]

Patrick Mullins is eyeing up the ride on Nick Rockett in the Randox Grand National at Aintree on Saturday week.

The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old is a major contender for the world’s most famous steeplechase following winter wins in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park and the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse.

Both of those victories were achieved under Paul Townend, but with Mullins’ stable jockey expected to keep the faith in last year’s National hero I Am Maximus, a plum spare is going begging.

“I’d imagine Paul will ride I Am Maximus and then we have got a good few others there,” Mullins told Sky Sports Racing when paying his first visit to Hexham on Tuesday.

“Danny (Mullins) has often ridden Minella Cocooner and won the bet365 Gold Cup on him, Brian Hayes got a good spin with Grangeclare West in the Irish Gold Cup (finished second to Galopin Des Champs), so I am going to put my name in the hat for Nick Rockett – whether it comes out or not is another thing!
​

 

[ComplyOrDie]

I'm big on I Am Maximus after his facile success in the race last season.

Not convinced the rise will stop him if turning up in similar form.

Not big on Golf, usually go with names thay I know and I'll do the same again :highly_amused:

 

[Benjy23]

^ Good to get one off the shortlist I suppose. :welcoming: edit: That was meant to be about Patrick not CoD. Awkward timing!

Morikawa / Iroko my early stab.

 

[ComplyOrDie]

^ Good to get one off the shortlist I suppose. :welcoming: edit: That was meant to be about Patrick not CoD. Awkward timing!

Morikawa / Iroko my early stab.

Hahaha, I really wouldn't blame you, with the form I'm in :highly_amused:

 

[YoungHustler]

I'm happy to be on Intense Raffles and Iroko after chipping away at them and a few others over the winter. Preference is for Iroko. That Aintree race last year looks proper good form to me and there's potentially much more to come so I think his mark is decent.

 

[FinalFurlong91]

Iv been having a scour through the national

First two I ruled out were iroko and intense raffles as too short in price and too young. Noble yeats broke the 7yo stat but they still have only won once since cavemen discovered fire.

Say it quietly but I'm going to back a British horse

Nicholls has a few in there but Kandoo Kid looks the stand out

right age
3rd in the topham so likes the fences
won the coral gold cup (form has worked out, 3rds won twice, 4th won in france, 5th won next time out)
sounds like cobden is riding
Nice weight

There are plenty entered who look exposed or badly handicapped so just thought he was one of the potential improvers

20/1 also a nice price to have in an e/w double with the golf

Iv come down on xander scauffelle at 18/1-20/1
Quiet start to the season for him but t5th last start is more like it

He's played in 7 masters and finished top 10 4 times. Was always a bottler but he got his first major wins last year and given his consistent major record looks a bit of value at the prices

So kandoo kid/schauffelle

May wait for some extra places on the golf as I'd like 10 places e/w before placing

 

[Quevega]

I'm happy to be on Intense Raffles and Iroko after chipping away at them and a few others over the winter. Preference is for Iroko. That Aintree race last year looks proper good form to me and there's potentially much more to come so I think his mark is decent.

I think the market has it bang on with those 2.
I haven't backed antepost this year on the national but have added both since NRNB came out.
Both without doubt the best handicapped horses in the race.

I've got both 2.5pts win @10-1 on each.

My other bets so far

Vanillier. 2pt @22-1
Twig 1ptew 66-1
Conflated 1ptew 100-1
Three Card Brag 1ptew 33-1

But my main bet
4ptew 25-1 Meetingofthewaters.

I'm going to try and stick to that, unless Three Card Brag and/or Twig don't make the cut.

I've ruled out all the horses rated 160+ as it's hard to really believe any of them are much better than that, but I do respect their chances, especially if any better handicapped (with room upsides) don't run well on the day, or get unlucky. I could definitely see one or two of the top weights getting in the money, but realistically one of the lower rated Irish horses should have improvement I reckon.

I don't think any of the other UK trained horses look that well handicapped, aside from Twig. I'm hoping his Doncaster run was just to tick the box of having run over fences and he wasn't right, which is likely the case given the betting last time and the fact he went to donny.

Kandoo Kid & Hyland would be maybe's.

 

[Birds Nest]

Of the english i quite like beauport, stiill got plenty of upswing in his chase mark from his hurdle mark 154 and 156..

 

[Many Clouds]

Agree with the Intense Raffles & Iroko shouts, had a good look through the race the other day and also came down on them two as the standouts.

For some sick reason iv got a good feeling about Bravemansgame at a price if he could rekindle a bit of his old spark, more than likely barking up the wrong tree with that one though.

 

[Quevega]

Of the english i quite like beauport, stiill got plenty of upswing in his chase mark from his hurdle mark 154 and 156..

His chase mark is 156, 2lb higher than his hurdle rating. Not sure what you mean.

You think he has scope at age 9 to get into the 160's and be in the top ten of UK trained chasers then ?

I'd have him down as one of the worst handicapped horses in the field, after getting 12lbs rise for winning a race full of handicappers that have all fallen around 5/6lbs in the handicap since.

I think I'd want 100-1 and you might get it nearer the day, the 40-1 does not look right to me.

 

[Wayward Lad]

I think the market has it bang on with those 2.
I haven't backed antepost this year on the national but have added both since NRNB came out.
Both without doubt the best handicapped horses in the race.

I've got both 2.5pts win @10-1 on each.

My other bets so far

Vanillier. 2pt @22-1
Twig 1ptew 66-1
Conflated 1ptew 100-1
Three Card Brag 1ptew 33-1

But my main bet
4ptew 25-1 Meetingofthewaters.

I'm going to try and stick to that, unless Three Card Brag and/or Twig don't make the cut.

I've ruled out all the horses rated 160+ as it's hard to really believe any of them are much better than that, but I do respect their chances, especially if any better handicapped (with room upsides) don't run well on the day, or get unlucky. I could definitely see one or two of the top weights getting in the money, but realistically one of the lower rated Irish horses should have improvement I reckon.

I don't think any of the other UK trained horses look that well handicapped, aside from Twig. I'm hoping his Doncaster run was just to tick the box of having run over fences and he wasn't right, which is likely the case given the betting last time and the fact he went to donny.

Kandoo Kid & Hyland would be maybe's.

What’s your rationale about Meetingofthewaters Q ? He looked to be going well last year until the home turn and appeared to not stay ?