Comments on: How important is current form for the Grand National?

By: Showlad

Showlad — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:57:24 +0000

Hi All
One thing for sure was D’Argent’s 4th last Saturday was definitely encouraging and a good positive warm up for the big one.
I notice on bestbetting that both Character Building and Thisthatandtother have been by and large removed from the odds. Does this prob mean they have withdrawn?
Do we have a page on this site that updates us on withdrawals/rumoured withdrawals? If not, it would be GREAT!!Instead of having to wait until Mar 4 at the next cut.
New to this site, but am lovin it. My only complaint (a positive one at that) is I wish there was an entry every day in the blog, to feed our hunger for the big day

By: Man O Bong

Man O Bong — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:03:03 +0000

Hey guys, coincidentally i have been running through and drawing up a shortlist just today and have come to the conclusion the Bewleys Berry is going to head that list. As far as a Grand National Trial? I dont think there can really be one, not in a dress rehearsal sense anyway. The race itself is so unique. Another side point is of course that from a serious betting point of view i dont consider the race itself as a serious opportunity to have a bet, but rather one to go through the card, make a couple of selections, either form or trend based and at the end either congratulate yourself for highlighting a winner, or go back with hindsight and identify that snippet of form from the winner you didnt pick up on and so drew a line through its chances. Anyway back to the short-list. s mentioned Bewleys Berry is top for me at present whilst others have to include Simon who was going as well as BB last time round and should enter calculations. Of course as mentioned there is the trends angle to look at and the much fated weight issue of winners coming from the 10-11st area in which not only BB is in, but also the aforementioned POINT BARROW along with ante post favourite SNOWY MORNING. I am keeping an eye on both FERDY MURPHY and JONJO at the back end this term and the latter of course has BUTLERS CABIN in at 11st, so top of the preferred weight trend but not incapable of being involved. This short-list is sure to change a little over the coming weeks as we see some of these and others not included running, but they form the basis of my most interested attention at this stage and we shall see how the curent form of these and some emerging chances develops over the coming racing weeks.

By: admin

admin — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:32:31 +0000

Hi Silver Birch,
I’m with you and have nailed my colours to Point Barrow but I was left very disappointed after Haydock. I like the fact he has a background from the Irish National and was therefore thinking that stamina should be assured but his running on Saturday seemed to suggest the opposite. My only other hope was that it was a reaction to the blinkers. Sometimes horses take to blinkers on their first run (as he seemed to at Gowran Park) and then resent them thereafter but I have a feeling I may be clutching at straws and my voucher is heading for the recycling bin.
Back to the drawing board?

By: SILVER BIRCH

SILVER BIRCH — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 12:29:51 +0000

I think there has to be a definition on what should be deemed to be a fair grand national trial i.e running encouragingly - finishing in the fisrt half dozen without the jockey getting over serious on the horse ) I dont think point barrow or bewleys berry did either and being a big point barrow supporter im now seriously concerned . The only fading hope of light for pb is that his form figures going into the irish national were littered with duck eggs and he came good on the day but i dont think you can enter such a competitive race at aintree without a top 6 finish posted in ur last race . the stats seem to support this . bindaree is the exception when he finished seventh at cheltenham . i know theres still seven weeks to ago but i maintain unless pb traps again in a small hurdle race in ireland before 5th april hes got a stiff task on his hands