Grand National 2010: Intended Runner Updates
Posted on March 17th, 2010 in Grand National 2010
I’ve noted the requests for a page where we can add any quotes from trainers/owners etc where intentions regarding the Grand National 2010 can be updated.
Please add any quotes on this page that you feel will be useful as to the fitness and/or possible targets of any Grand National runners
I’ll try to keep bouncing this thread so that it continues to be in the five threads in constant view.
PS I’m looking into if we can run a Grand National weights competition and will post something shortly.
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This post has 40 comments
#1
February 9th, 2010 12:45
Found this on Gerald’s thread in the racing forum:
ERIC’S CHARM
12 b g Nikos – Ladoun
Staying handicap chaser who won off highest mark of 135 latest start when beating Lorum Leader 19 lengths over three miles five at Sandown December 5. Now 143 but has been competitive off that calibre of rating in the past.
“Sandown last time was his day but there will be others. The owners are very keen to have a crack at the Grand National so he won’t run again until after the weights have been announced. Phil Smith, the handicapper, is adamant he’s a National horse – I’m not so sure. Although he fell in the Topham, that trip was too short and put him out of his comfort zone.”
#2
February 9th, 2010 16:39
Star De Mohasion retired according to the RP website.
that leaves just 120 now!!
#3
February 9th, 2010 17:03
Most of the info I’ve got is quite old now, but if there is a horse that people want to check on, name it, and maybe I or someone else can provide details.
#4
February 9th, 2010 19:14
“Whether War Of Attrition runs in the National will depend on the weights situation and if we think he has too much weight then he will probably run in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham instead.”
#5
February 9th, 2010 19:35
Dan, don’t you mean 111 as there is 112 horses to originally to sort out.
One trainer you could depend on for runners was ‘Ginger’ McCain. I think his son is cut from the same cloth.
Which means Cloudy lane will been there.
#6
February 10th, 2010 08:46
Sorry, i had 121 in my head for some reason!!
#7
February 10th, 2010 15:45
My Will’s owner Andy Stewart has told the press he’ll be running in Gold Cup then the GN.
”He’s also going for the National, but whether or not he’s good enough to go two places better than last year, we don’t know.He has matured that much more and he ran out of steam a little bit last year. At Becher’s second time last year he was almost on the floor. We’ll take our chance in the Grand National again with him.”
#8
February 10th, 2010 19:51
Yes, it seemed rather on the cards that My Will would go for the National, once the same owner’s Hoo La Baloo wasn’t entered.
#9
February 10th, 2010 23:09
OK Me6 will take you up on that offer…any news on:
One Cool Cookie
Cane Brake
Royal County Star
Trust Fund
Trabolgan
Go find it…
#10
February 10th, 2010 23:11
Le Beau Bai:
Great potential with 4 wins at 24+f in the last year and a good 3rd in Welsh nat.
“The Blue Square Gold Cup is definitely Le Beau Bai’s target at the moment – hopefully it will rain enough for him.
“He is also in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown but he is unlikely to run in that because I see that Money Trix is in there and it doesn’t seem terribly sensible to take him on at level weights.
“Haydock is a good, stiff track that should play to Le Beau Bai’s strengths and is very much plan A.”
He added: “[Part-owner] Lord Daresbury is very keen for Le Beau Bai to be entered in this year’s John Smith’s Grand National. The horse is very short on experience but he is the sort that would jump around there. For all he is only little, he is very careful and clever as a cat.
“Oliver [Greenhall] would ride him as he gets on very well with the horse. His father has horses in the yard but I use him because he is a very good rider. He is a great horseman and I am lucky to have him.”
#11
February 10th, 2010 23:16
Trabolgan….maybe this year’s dark horse.
Comments quite some time ago..
Henderson said: “Trabolgan is going to come out of training for a moment. Unfortunately, his airways aren’t working as they should, and I have a nasty feeling that we spent three years mending one thing and with two years of inactivity his larynx has got lazy and it’s affecting him.
“We’ve got to do a wind operation, which is very frustrating. However, we wouldn’t be mending him if we didn’t want to bring him back, so he’s out for the season but will come back and win the 2010 Grand National!”
#12
February 10th, 2010 23:18
Another one Me6/anyone – Mr Pointment – ain’t heard owt for donkeys lol…
#13
February 11th, 2010 08:51
Entered in the Gold Cup Showlad. He seems to be taking the same route to the GN as the stable’s Cerium did last year. Not a textbook prep but it seemed to work as he finished 5th!
#14
February 11th, 2010 09:11
Re: One Cool Cookie, he was entered last year and as far as I can make out from the comments below, connections wanted to run him but were disappointed with the weight allocated to him so pulled him out. That shouldnt be a problem this year as he is starting to look well handicapped, now rated 142 after reaching 153 in the early part of last season.
These are Swans comments after the weights were allocated last season:
“He seems to have given One Cool Cookie way more than he should have when you consider Exotic Dancer is rated 174. He’s ran in England off around 150 and has ran to his mark.
“I don’t know where he gets this mark from – it’s absolutely crazy. It’s unlikely he will run with that weight.
He ran him in the Irish version instead in which he was making good ground in 7th place, 2 fences out before taking the wrong course.
Another interesting comment is in the “Tote 10 to follow list of horses, where they include a quick one liner about the horse. In OCC’s case the comment was:
“hurdling to protect chase mark for National”
The hurdling bit is wrong as he has run over fences a few times this season. So whilst the National hint could be wrong too, they have got an inkling from somewhere that he may be aimed at the race. If he is, then the price available now doesn’t make sense. Ran a decent race in the Irish version, on a good OR, bred to have the Stamina for the race (his sire Old Vic is responsible for stayers such as Black Apalachi, Comply or Die, Chelsea harbour and Southern Vic). Connections considered Aintree last year and with his lower rating, maybe he will be allocated a more realistic weight. Therefore, i’m taking a punt they do the same this year, at a triple figure price.
#15
February 11th, 2010 13:25
Not a horse i’m keen on or one that we’ve discussed but we might as well put the plans up:
Nick Gifford is hoping WEE ROBBIE can catch the handicapper’s eye with a prominent display in the Aon Chase at Newbury on Saturday.
The Findon trainer accepts his runner should have no chance against Denman, but a bold show might persuade the assessor to raise his rating.
Connections of the 10-year-old are praying that happens to give the gelding a chance of making the cut for the John Smith’s Grand National.
The timing could not be better as the weights for the Aintree marathon on April 10 are announced on Tuesday.
Wee Robbie has had little chance to improve his handicap mark as he has failed to complete the course in both of his outings since returning to action after being off the track since February 2008.
“He’ll probably run in the Aon. Things haven’t gone right for him yet since he came back, but the owner is very keen to try to get him in the National,” said Gifford.
“He’s only on 120 and that is nowhere near getting him in the National. He’s got to go up an awful lot in the weights and I’m just hoping if he runs a big race it will help.
“We can’t expect him to beat Denman in a million years, but if he can be there or thereabouts on the premises jumping the last, the handicapper might shove him back up otherwise he’d have to win a handicap by 20 lengths.
“This is really the last throw of the dice to try to get him in with a squeak of getting into the National, but he needs to go up at least a stone.
“There won’t be many runners which will suit and it’s fingers crossed.”
#16
February 11th, 2010 15:57
I think you’ve got me with most of those Showlad, as the general impression seems to be that most of them are going for the National, but nothing has been definitively said by the trainer one or other. I’ll start searching now . . .
#17
February 11th, 2010 16:06
Okay, I think this is the only easy one.
23/11/2009 – 18:12:46
Tom Taaffe is hoping to prepare both Treacle and Cane Brake for a crack at the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree next April.
Treacle looked an early contender for top staying honours when winning the Munster National last month but he suffered a luckless run in the Troytown Chase at Navan on Sunday.
The eight-year-old was hampered at the first fence and Taaffe admits it was too big an ask to recover lost ground in testing conditions.
“He was nearly brought down twice at the first and got knocked all over,” said Taaffe.
“That put him a long way behind and in that ground it was always going to difficult to get back on terms.
“In the circumstances he did well to finish sixth. He’ll have a break now and we’ll prepare him for a shot at Aintree in April.”
Cane Brake has not run over fences since finishing third in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown last Christmas.
The 10-year-old has had two starts over hurdles so far this term and Taaffe plans to stick with the smaller obstacles for the immediate future.
“Cane Brake will stay hurdling for the minute as he is rated 30lb lower than over fences,” added Taaffe.
“He was a bit unlucky to only finish third the other day and he flew at the finish. I think there is a nice hurdle prize or two to pick up with him, then we will go back over fences with Aintree the aim.”
Read more: http://www.breakingnews.ie/world/taaffe-eyeing-national-bid-435526.html#ixzz0fFBox14H
#18
February 11th, 2010 17:06
I think I’m calling off the hunt, Showlad. I don’t know of any other quotes, apart from the Trabolgan one mentioned here or on another thread.
I’ll post any quotes as and when I find ‘em.
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Meanwhile, McBratney was hopeful that his Grand National candidate Ballyholland — who won the Galway Plate last July — would put in a big run in a hurdle race at Naas today.
McBratney said: “I’m thinking long term nowadays and, hopefully, Ballyholland will show his form early in the season before he goes to Aintree.
“The fact that I decided to run him over hurdles, is not unusual for other horses like Bobbyjo have won over hurdles before going to National success.”
Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/racing/new-backers-for-ulster-national-14641331.html#ixzz0fFQG3Dmd
#19
February 11th, 2010 17:18
News about Siegemaster, on the ATR site, which impinges on One Cool Cookie:-
Siegemaster:-
“Long-term he will probably end up in the Irish National.”
If Siegemaster runs in the Irish National, and War Of Attrition runs in the World Hurdle, then I’d have thought that this would increase the chance of owners Gigginstown running One Cool Cookie in the GN.
At the moment, One Cool Cookie is sort of a 3rd string for the owner, and a 2nd string for the trainer, behind Offshore Account.
#20
February 11th, 2010 23:59
Thanks Me6 and Ewok
#21
February 12th, 2010 13:39
Showlad says:
February 10, 2010 at 11:18 PM
Another one Me6/anyone – Mr Pointment – ain’t heard owt for donkeys lol…
Ewok says:
February 11, 2010 at 8:51 AM
Entered in the Gold Cup Showlad. He seems to be taking the same route to the GN as the stable’s Cerium did last year. Not a textbook prep but it seemed to work as he finished 5th
Its got nothing to do with prepping the horse and everything to do with the owner being able to brag about having a horse in the gold cup or GN and having a nice jolly day out in the owners enclosure.
Murphy and Wilson are infamous for buying horses at auction with high handicaps who are clearly past their past and going cheap from big yards like Ditcheat and then running them in the biggest most important races of the year giving their owner and trainer a nice day out and running at odds of 250/1 to 1000/1. If one of his ever brings down and hurts a Kauto Star or Denman I swear I’d swing for the pair of them…
#22
February 12th, 2010 15:44
Hi Brody surely we cannot write off a class act and Aintree specialist and Becher winner like Mr Pointment just yet? I certainly won’t be…
Much bigger comebacks have occured from class acts in the past..
#23
February 12th, 2010 16:31
Im hanging on to my ticket at 330/1 Showlad, but he’s running out of time, that’s the concern.
Even a spin over hurdles before now would have filled me with some confidence, but he’s not been out for the best part of a year now. I just cant see him (nor any horse) winning the GN with such a delayed build up. He really needs two runs at least between now and the end of the festival.
That said, if anybody asks me come April who they should be on, I will tell them to have a saver on him; Imagine a former Becher winner, 11 years old, wins the National off the 10_08 or so he is going to have and you werent on him….
you would never forgive yourself!! People didnt give Silver Birch a hope that year. Dont let lightining strike twice!!
#24
February 12th, 2010 17:59
Without a doubt Daniel at these ridiculous odds he cannot be passed up on IMHO in the 200s and 300s. If his prep off course is great and then on course ignites – hey presto – he really is a class animal and Aintree specialist.
What a headline it would make – Nicholls discarded the winner !!
#25
February 12th, 2010 19:24
The decision on Kilcrea Castle’s participation won’t be made until after his next run, possibly in the Racing Post Chase:-
Mon 8th Feb 2010
It has been a really good couple of weeks for the horses and I have run some really nice youngsters as well as some interesting new recruits and some notable improvers. Kilcrea Castle looks a smart prospect – his run at Ascot when 3rd just behind The Sawyer was franked again by the latter winning at Cheltenham. He will go to either Wincanton or Kempton next and depending on the outcome of that we will decide about the Grand National. He is a brilliant jumper and I think that the step up in trip from Ascot will help. He is only 8 and I think he has a really bright future. He was trained in Ireland by Jack’s father Pat and is most definitely the apple of his eye – I can understand why!
#26
February 13th, 2010 10:29
I’ve always had the feeling that Mr Pointment wouldn’t stay the National Trip, but that is probably because when he was with PN I thought he was too young for the race; I’m afraid there is no foundation to my theory. I have been looking at his price for the past few days, though. All PN horses that move elsewhere have to be on my radar screen after the [personal] disaster that was Silver Birch!
#27
February 13th, 2010 12:39
Hi there Maureen. A beloved comeback (and big GN winner for me on 140s on betfair lol) is Silver Birch. What happened Maureen?
#28
February 13th, 2010 13:13
I told a friend at work not to back Silver Birch [she liked the name] because Point Barrow couldn’t lose. She actually forgave me.
#29
February 13th, 2010 13:20
Ha ha
#30
February 15th, 2010 12:54
That being the year Point Barrow fell at the first right??!
Yeah, I was on him too!
#31
February 16th, 2010 20:30
Nozic to go straight to the National.
SILVER BIRCH TO TAKE ROUTE AS LAST YEAR – CROSS-COUNTRY CHASE AT CHELTENHAM, AND THEN HOPEFULLY GRAND NATIONAL, AND THEN LA TOUCHE CUP. (But will he be balloted out?)
Abbeybraney definite.
Le Beau Bai depends. (I think, going off memory.)
#32
February 17th, 2010 17:15
Grauniad:-
Dessie Hughes said Siegemaster would not run as he is “feeling the effects” of his run on Saturday, while Louping D’Ainay was said to be an unlikely runner by his trainer, François Cottin.
#33
February 21st, 2010 17:53
Air Force One may go to (or not)to IN and or Bet 365 according to trainer so be careful with this one.
#34
February 22nd, 2010 19:07
David Pipe is considering giving two of his jumping veterans, Our Vic and Comply Or Die, one more run before the John Smith’s Grand National.
Our Vic continued his fine form this season when finishing second under the steadier of 11st 12lb to Silver By Nature in the Blue Square Gold Cup at Haydock on Saturday.
“He’s fine and was out in the field on Sunday,” Pipe went on.
“It was a great performance under top weight for a 12-year-old. Monet’s Garden put up a great performance at Ascot and Our Vic’s at Haydock was just behind.
“It’s been amazing for the old horses, the old boys are the best boys.
“Our Vic will go to Cheltenham next I imagine, but I’m not sure what for at the present moment. We’ll have him in a few races there.”
Comply Or Die has done the Nicholashayne handler proud in the National finishing first and second in the last two runnings of the world’s most famous steeplechase.
Pipe would not be worried if the 11-year-old did not have another race before April 10.
He has only had the one run since chasing home Mon Mome last April and that was at Cheltenham over hurdles in November.
“He may have one run before the National or he may go straight there,” Pipe added.
“He’s got a couple of options, not very much, but it wouldn’t be a concern if he went straight to the National.”
Philip Hobbs still intends to send Dream Alliance to Aintree despite the Welsh National winner disappointing at Haydock when he was well beaten and pulled up before the 16th fence.
“He seems fine but he can a bit in and out sometimes which was the problem yesterday,” said the Minehead trainer.
“All being well he’ll still run in the National and he’ll go straight there.”
Nick Williams is keeping his fingers crossed Maljimar makes the cut for this year’s Aintree spectacular having missed out when first reserve last year.
The 10-year-old was third over the cross-country fences at Cheltenham in December and now heads straight for Liverpool on April 10.
“He ran a cracker at the Cheltenham Festival last year (second in William Hill Trophy) but because of that race he didn’t run very well at Aintree at the Grand National meeting,” Williams told At The Races.
“That is why we’re avoiding Cheltenham this year and it’s full steam ahead to Aintree.
“He’s been off since December but that’s not going to matter to him as he’s a good horse fresh and that will be to his advantage.
“He’s 61st in the list and I’m told that he’s guaranteed to get in, but I’m not sure where the cut is going to come this year.
“It would be frustrating if he missed it for the second year running and he only missed it by one last year.”
#35
February 23rd, 2010 12:36
Henry Daly admits there is some doubt about Possol’s participation in Saturday’s Racing Post Chase at Kempton due to the possibility of soft ground.The seven-year-old has been campaigned over hurdles so far this season with connections aiming for the Grand National at Aintree in April.He is two from two since switching back to the smaller obstacles but Daly wants to get a run into his charge over fences sooner rather than later, otherwise the National dream may be over for another year.
“We’ve been playing over hurdles because I didn’t want him to go up any more in the handicap as we’re aiming at Aintree. The ground on Saturday is a major worry for me and basically if it’s soft ground, he won’t run.I’m very keen to run him if it’s possible because it would fit in with my general plan of trying to run him in the National.If we don’t run on Saturday it becomes about as clear as mud.He could run the following week in the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster but if he didn’t go there for whatever reason, that might change our entire plan all together.We might easily end up running in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and if we went there we probably wouldn’t run in the National as I think it’s a bit unfair to run him over hurdles three times and then ask him to go round Aintree.”
#36
February 23rd, 2010 15:39
Iris Aintree bound:
Sean Curran is keen to run his stable star Iris De Balme in the marathon contest.
The 2008 Scottish National winner was a fine fifth over hurdles at Wetherby earlier this month on his first start in almost two years and Curran is hoping he will make the cut for the Grand National at Aintree in April.
“The plan is for him to go to Newcastle,” said Curran. “I was very pleased with his run at Wetherby. He actually jumped into the race at two out, but was then maybe just a bit ring-rusty at the end.
“He’s come on leaps and bounds since then, so hopefully he’ll run well at the weekend. His better performances have come on better ground, but he’s run well enough on soft before. He’ll then head straight to Aintree if he gets in.
“It’s such a tight race this year so it’s hard to know whether he’ll get in or not, but we’ll give him entries in the Scottish National again and the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown as a precaution.”
#37
February 23rd, 2010 16:43
Mullins searching for Harbour prep
(UKPA) –
Tom Mullins would like to get one more run into Chelsea Harbour, possibly over hurdles, before a third crack at the John Smith’s Grand National.
The 10-year-old was ninth in the Aintree marathon in 2008 but fell at the third last year, and he has been handed 10st 11lb for this season’s renewal.
Mullins said: “It’s not a bad weight, I’d be happy enough with it. I think the bottom weight on the day will be about 10st 5lb. The top 60-odd horses this year only go down to 10st 7lb.”
He added: “That means he could only be giving 5lb or 6lb to the bottom weight in the race, so it doesn’t look too bad.
“He had an injury but he’s back in flying form. I’d love to run him once more. It could be over hurdles, but it depends where it fits in.”
Chelsea Harbour has not been in action since being well beaten behind Denman in the Hennessy at Newbury in November.
#38
February 28th, 2010 13:15
Kilcrea Castle is to miss both Cheltenham and Aintree following a disappointing run in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton.
Trainer Emma Lavelle felt the ex-Irish eight-year-old could not act in the testing conditions as he trailed in eighth of the nine finishers behind Razor Royale.
As a result, Lavelle has scratched Kilcrea Castle from the William Trophy at Cheltenham and the John Smith’s Grand National.
He could though return for a late spring campaign with the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown a possible objective.
“He’s absolutely fine after yesterday but he struggles going that pace the whole way on very soft ground,” said the Andover handler.
“Jack Doyle said he thought he could hear his wind affecting him as well so he could never get into a rhythm accordingly.
“On the back of that, having talked to the owners we are not going to the National this year and will hopefully go there next year. We will have a look at some of the other big prizes around before the end of the season.
“We’ve also taken him out of the William Hill at Cheltenham as it will come up a bit quick for him.
“I know he’s got form on soft ground in Ireland but their style of racing over there is different to ours. They don’t start racing until very later on in the race.
“It wasn’t a nice experience for him so we’ll try to find a nice race for him before the end of the season and look to the National next year as a main target.
“There’s nothing set in stone yet but I’ll sit down and discuss it with the owners. One thing that might get thrown into the ring could be the old Whitbread at Sandown.”
#39
March 4th, 2010 08:01
Not a real suprise but –
Taranis will not run in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup or the John Smith’s Grand National.
The 2007 Ryanair Chase winner had made a triumphant return from over two years on the sidelines with a leg injury when landing the Argento Chase at Cheltenham in January.
Owner Angela Yeoman said: “It is not a leg problem, which is a relief, but something is the matter with him.
“We are not quite sure what the problem is yet, but I don’t want to run him if he’s not right.
“I knew there was a little problem on Tuesday night but I’ve not spoken to Paul today.”
#40
March 6th, 2010 13:22
Notre Pere is out of the GC, and listening to the reasoning it would look as though he may well be withdrawn from the GN too, although this hasnt been confirmed yet.
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