Comments on: Irish Grand National 2009

By: Pablo

Pablo — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:20:17 +0000

Niche Market & Church Island very good RPRs in Irish National – 154 & 150

Should they match those numbers next season both would be of real interest at Aintree next April but my feeling is that the handicapper might put them up a fair bit on weights day

By: mattzz

mattzz — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:03:50 +0000

nevermind, i watched the replay on ATR, what exactly happened with witchita?, it looked like he fell and then got up and collapsed, but jonjo seems to think he was hit by the horse behind…looked awful

By: mattzz

mattzz — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:30:49 +0000

is there any where you can watch a replay of the race? i never actually got to see it

By: Pablo

Pablo — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:14:22 +0000

think the bunny boiler was the last to win the Irish GN with claimer in 2002

coincidence and perhaps a non-staying bunch of novices and youngsters this year (a new story was too close?) – although i still want to be proved that skip two would not have stayed – i believe that he would on that ground

By: maureen

maureen — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:05:16 +0000

Emma Jane has gone to veterinary hospital but they think she’s going to be ok.

By: maureen

maureen — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:45:36 +0000

am I right in thinking that the claiming jockeys were able to use their claim? if they did, most of the placed horses were ridden by claimers..worth noting for next year.

By: Pablo

Pablo — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:11:45 +0000

I agree with One Cool Cookie – I would have had a few quid on him if he’d lined up at Aintree.

Maureen hats off again – win or lose I think your contributions are top notch and very well considered

By: maureen

maureen — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:27:48 +0000

One to take out of the race for next years National is One Cool Cookie; was pointed out to me a while ago that this one is bred to stay and will be the magic age of 9 next year. Know what you mean, bobbyjo; I saw the result before I was able to watch the race and felt that someone had thrown a bucket of cold water over me. Terribly sad.

By: chris

chris — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:20:13 +0000

Management @ the course should be ashamed re todays race. Not only because two horses died in the race – one well fancied went at the first fence – but that 2 circuits later as the winners are on the final run in – the downed horse can still be seen struggling to get up with not much attention being paid to him behind a half erected screen! I am not anti racing but I feel strongly that standards must be set – and adhered to – at a high level to insure the welfare of the horses. The third horse that was mentioned – Emma Jane I think, lost the rider early on and continued on loose for most of the race – weaving in and out dangerously across the course – the use of outriders would help prevent loose horses injuring themselves or interfering with other runners and shouldn’t be that difficult to organise. What I saw today made me questions if any standards were in place at Fairyhouse – a real disgrace! I was watching on TV – I can’t imagine what a grim specticle this was for people at the course to have to watch the distress of this animal. I will be complaining to the racecourse directly and if I can find any other official routes too.

By: bobby jo

bobby jo — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:18:29 +0000

Only just noticed the fatalities does take the shine of win sorry if sounded heartless, been out all day a theme park only just come in and read telly text.