I have connections at Weatherby’s so I don’t have to pay!!! Have you tried pedigreequery.com? That coupled with the RP site helped kick start things for me until I found my better source. You’ll need a good memory too! It was actually Roselier that first made me sit up and take note of the pedigrees and I can say with some certainty that backing his progeny in marathon chases has given me a healthy profit but now that his youngest progeny are now nine (he died in 1998)they won’t be on our racetracks much longer although of course he will live on through the broodmares he has produced. I fully expect Kayf Tara to become the premier stallion for staying chasers in the future and fill the void left by Roselier but I am praying that d’Argent becomes Roselier’s third Aintree winner. What you must also bear in mind with d’Argent is his damsire, the truly great Monksfield. Monksfield was also the damsire of 2003 winner Monty’s Pass and Midlands National heroine Miss Orchestra (she is now a broodmare and has produced RSA Chase 3rd Battlecry). Monksfield was himself by the stallion Gala Performance who produced dual runner up Greasepaint and 1986 winner West Tip. If blood won Nationals d’Argent would hack up and 40/1 is a ludicrous price.

I’m chuffed to see the good word for Baily Breeze as I’ve had a few of the admin pennies on each way!

Trainer is in good form.
Won over three miles and bred to stay further.
Won this year
Good jumper who has won on left and right-handed tracks.
Ground at Aintree is going to be suitable at Good or Good to Soft.

Also he is definitely going to get in.

Also fits many of the trends for a winner.

Anybody know who is riding him.

Cornish Sett is related to previously mentioned winners Rhyme N Reason and Hallo Dandy and is bidding to become the third member of the family to win the race within a quarter of a century.

Madison Du Berlais is related to the decent French stallion Saint Preuil who has sired the likes of My Will and dual placed Irish National horse Marcus Du Berlais.

Bewley’s Berry is extremely well related. His family include 1978 Hennessy winner Approaching, 1996 Irish National winner Feathered Gale, 1997 Whitbread winner Harwell Lad, he had two other relatives with him in last year’s race in Gallant Appraoch and Graphic Approach and he is also related to the Nicky Richard’s trained Great Approach. The list does go on, it’s a truly amazing equine family.

Snowy Morning is interesting. I had written him off completely as a non-stayer but his grand dam Tamed was the dam of the good, if a little quirky, marathon chaser Him Of Praise. I will still be against SM but it would not surprise if he did see out the trip.

L’ami is a full brother to Kelami, they are in turn related to Innox and indeed Nitrat and ALL four received a National entry this year. None of them however have ever looked like staying four miles+.

Fundamentalist has a very special relative in the form of Badsworth Boy the Queen Mother hat-trick hero between 1983-85. The family does seem best short of three miles.

Knight Legend is related to the very decent Jenny Pitman trained The Illywhacker who was best over 2m 4f and never seemed to get home over three. He did of course finish third in the 1992 King George behind The Fellow.

Simon’s relatives have been well documented but to reiterate they do include the wonderful Kingsmark and Gaye Brief and also decent stayer (albeit in lesser graded affairs) and full brother to Kingsmark, Galen and Irish National runner up Oulart.

D’argent is from the same family as the Paul Nicholls trained Geeveem both rather similar in as much as they are stout stayers without being spectacular. He is also distantly related to Alvino, Cardinal Red, Ringaroses and Frosty Canyon. Also in his family is 1996 4 mile NH Chase winning mare Loving Around.

McKelvey as some will know already is a half brother to Chives who promised so much. He’s also related to some moderate sorts such as the winning Roselier mare Common Girl and Eskimo Pie and that old Owen Brennan stalwart Speaker Weatherill.

Black Apalachi is related to some solid rather than spectacular types such as Delgany Royal. However, digging right through his pedigree he is also related to that wonderful but quirky mare Hati Roy. His blood can also be traced to the now deceased Mac Three who never fulfilled the promise he showed as a hurdler for Noel Meade.

Baily Breeze is very interesting (I know that is a matter of opinion) but based on his jumping Baily Breeze would be one of the first you would discount but on pedigree he is a very lively outsider. He is closely related to the dual Whitbread winner Topsham Bay who was also victorious in the 4 mile NH Chase.

Point Barrow is related to 4 mile Punchestown winner Dublin Hunter and the wonderfully named Irish National runner up Amble Speedy.

Over The Creek is related to Ross River but deep in his pedigree he is related to 1979 National hero Rubstic and the talented Kildimo who got to see Dessie’s backside more often than connections would have liked. He did win the Beecher though.

Outsiders to be placed would have to be Baily Breeze and Black Apalachi. D’argent will win though.

Probably value = around 33/1 so a little bit of value to nibble at 40s