Mullins casts doubt on Snowy for 2009 National
2008 Grand National third Snowy Mornings participation in the 2009 race has been thrown into doubt recently when his trainer Willie Mullins suggested in the Racing Post that a repeat performance might be unlikely.
Mullins was running through his runners in a stable tour and when speaking about Snowy Morning and the Grand National he said the following:
He ran a blinder to finish third in the Grand National this year, but he’s 14lb higher now and there is hardly much point in having another crack at the race this season.
Bookmakers haven’t been rushing to move Snowy Morning in the betting for the National although there has been a slight move in his price on Betfair where he has drifted out to a current price of 25. However given that the statement is so early in the season it must be quite possible that the trainer could reconsider if Snowy Morning hasn’t made the progression into Grade One races that he is evidently hoping for.
His current mark of 162 would be enough to put off a large number of people from backing him and it could be that his trainer is spot on in his analysis and last season was his best chance of glory at Aintree.
What do you think? Do you believe that the Mullins camp will have a change of heart and run Snowy Morning in the National or has his performance at Punchestown now weighted him out of competing in the Grand National?
This post has 14 comments
#1
October 25th, 2008 20:21
Yip Mr Mullins is spot on . the horses window of opportunity has gone , he ran a blinder last year and deserves lots of praise for it but you only get one shot at being well handicapped in this race….. same comments apply to cod ,cloudy lane and king johns castle methinks…..
#2
October 25th, 2008 20:33
I agree birchy his current mark is way too high and the same goes for a few others,best to watch the hennessy for a few pointers your national winner could be in that race !
#3
October 25th, 2008 20:40
ye like to keep an eye on that one texas – a good souce of prev nat winners ….hopefully the 2009 candidates will start to come out in the next few weeks and things will become a bit clearer
#4
October 25th, 2008 20:54
Hi Birchy/Pete,
We’ve done a bit of analysis of some of the major trial races (including the Hennessy) and the info will hopefully be showing on the site in the very near future – keep an eye out for when it appears and let us know any other races you think we should include.
Shame about Snowy I think – I would have liked to have seen him have another go a year older even if it had been with somewhere in the mid 11 stones it would have been interesting to see how he got on. I see the price has been nibbled at for the Gold Cup? Seems a bit hopeful but if Denman has problems I suppose that is wide open too?
#5
October 25th, 2008 21:36
Txd admin i reckon the sites gonna be better and bigger than ever this yeear -cant wait for all the regulars to appear …. the henessy analysis sounds a great idea , wouldnt mind seeing something on the welsh national as well . how good a pointer is it to the big one.?.. i agree re snowy – i thought he ran a marvellous and brave race for one so inexperienced…he could be a good ew bet in the gold cup…
#6
October 25th, 2008 22:37
I agree with what’s been said about Snowy. Could be a good each way bet in the Gold Cup.
#7
October 26th, 2008 23:27
Snowy on 162 cant win the 2009 National and the trainer is right not to run him.
Henessy first pointer for 2009 National – cant wait.
#8
October 26th, 2008 23:32
Anyone know what PARSONS LEGACY new handicap mark is?
He was certanly on my early short list last year and if he has not gone up too much or loses a few pounds before Feb 2009 may well be on the short list again – but too early still to be sure.
#9
October 27th, 2008 16:17
Some Welsh National also info coming soon and we’ve also had a look at the Red Square race at Haydock. We intend to add some others, maybe the Paddy Power at Leopardstown to get a view of where the Irish trial their National horses and maybe as a bit of a quirky one the long term influence of the Sun Alliance Chase on the big race at Aintree? I haven’t finished the research yet but Rough Quest, Royal Athlete and Miinnehoma all ran in the big staying novice chase at Cheltenham and I’m sure there are a few others. And of course Denman!!!……..
#10
October 30th, 2008 11:28
Over the last 20 years, the best races for producing horses that have either won or placed in the national are;
Welsh National
Beecher
Racing Post Trophy
Hennessey
They are the only 4 races that have provided more than 2 horses that have then gone on to place. The Beecher and Welsh National have both provided 2 winners. In the case of the Beecher, the Winner of the national had won his Beecher 3 years previously.
3 of the last 7 winners of the Grand National had placed in the Welsh National within 2 years of winning their Grand National
#11
October 30th, 2008 14:19
good call admin – comply or die was another sun alliance graduate – finishing 2nd behind trabolgan – definitely an interesting source for potential nat winners
#12
October 30th, 2008 16:25
8 out of the last 10 nat winners had previously ran at the cheltenham festival . the two who didnt had never been out of ireland in their life and both had won the irish grand national
#13
October 30th, 2008 19:10
Hi All,W MULLINS is spot on saying that Snowy Morning is going to be weighted out of winning the national.But all is not lost in the Gold Cup as horses that don’t run b4 xmas have a poor record and that will be Denman.Plus horses placed in the gold cup don,t come back and win the next year which is Kauto and Neptunes.Snowy will hopefully run against kauto at down royal at the weekend and im expected a big run and that is why i,ve taken the 40/1 for snowy in the gold cup.I will be laying DENMAN,KAUTO and NEPTUNES for the GC.Anyone agree?
#14
October 31st, 2008 13:25
I think it is a brave man who lays Denman for the CC GC this year!!
YES many horses have run in teh Gold Cup with just the 1 seasonal run and not won, but how many of those horses have been as good or even as close to as good as Denman?!
Laying Kauto is a smart move. He was flattered by a shocking renewal of the GC in 2007 and the time in that race was poor also. He was found out in 2008 well and truely.
Not sure about Snowy Morning yet. Will wait and see I think.