In the latest of our looks at the early betting for the 2009 Grand National I thought we’d change the format slightly and rather than work through the remaining horses in the betting, we would highlight a few of the remaining interesting runners or suggestions from other posts.

In one of the earlier posts Pav asks about Hot Weld and Kings Advocate so let’s take a look at those:

Hot Weld: One of the ante post favourites for last years race until ruled out in January with a haematoma on his leg. Trainer Ferdy Murphy reported at the time that the horse would be aimed at the National again in 2009.

Hot Weld certainly ticks all the right boxes for the National having won Cheltenham’s NH Chase, the Irish National and the BetFred Gold Cup but I just have reservations about horses coming back from injury and if they can reach the same level of form after being off for a year or more. Granted there are the exceptions (Comply Or Die for one) but in general I believe it is rare for horses to surpass their form levels after a stopping injury. Added to this is the amount of getting fit that Hot Weld seems to need.  In his last two full seasons of racing he needed three and then four races before showing any worthwhile form and I’m not sure that this trait will improve after an injury. Therefore we are unlikely to get an idea on his retained ability for some time and, as such, I would want to wait and see with Hot Weld and in all probability would give him a miss.

Kings Advocate: Similar comments apply to the Tom Taaffe trained 8 year old Kings Advocate as he hasn’t run since finishing 6th to Butlers Cabin in the 2007 Irish National. A horse of some promise he was sent off favourite that day and he ran well to finish 6 lengths behind the winner. I can’t find anything to say what has been wrong with him but he doesn’t have much experience over fences for a horse to be aimed at a Grand National (6 races over fences) but he does have a nice staying pedigree and if you can get a big price on the exchanges and he is a horse you like then he could spring a surprise. But, I’d want to see him fit and well and back on the track before making a decision.

Finally, one from fairly high up in the betting that has been attracting some interest in the betting, Old Benny.

Old Benny: I can see why this horse would appeal to a lot of people - trained by Alan King, might be ridden by Choc Thornton, a young horse, plenty of stamina and a mark in the low 140s but I have major doubts about his jumping as the race he won at Cheltenham was the first time I’d seen him jump ok in his outings over fences (which haven’t been many). I would think he would have to get more experience over larger obstacles and that would run the risk of increasing his handicap mark to a point where he would have too much weight? What does anyone else think? Do you fancy Old Benny’s chances at Aintree?

Let us know about him or any other horse you would like see discusssed.

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This entry was posted on Monday, June 9th, 2008 at 3:48 pm and is filed under Grand National 2009. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.