Comments on: Grand National Prep Races 2010: The Galway Plate

By: TC

TC — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:04:41 +0000

I think we can add another 2 from Nicholls’s yard in Dear Villez and Tricky Trickster. Dear Villez is a trend hitter, year too early for Tricky Trickster though i think

By: Neil

Neil — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:25:50 +0000

Hi admin, I know you say that on the Hello Bud thread about Mr Pointment not being in the National betting, well how about extending that to cover Paul Nichol’s yard. That way you can fit in Mr Pointment, Denman & Big Fella Thanks to name but a few.

By: Neil

Neil — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:59:16 +0000

Just one question about distance; if a horse has done three miles plus but in an hurdle not a chase would you still count in the stats as a stayer?

This question is open to anyone as sometimes this as occured to me and I was just wondering how other people treat these horses when analysing the National

By: admin

admin — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 08:52:56 +0000

Nice list Gammers.

I’ll be trying to open up a thread about a week before each of these type of races so if one comes up and I haven’t set one up by all means give me a nudge and I’ll open a thread and have a look at the entries and who has won the race in the past.

By: Neil

Neil — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:15:42 +0000

Gammer your list looks quite extensive, but don’t forget our new course down in Wales,( Ffro Las).I said on another thread somewhere that if it likes Newbury in nature and the fences take some jumping (According to McCoy), then any staying chases ran on there would be worth adding to your list.

By: Gammers

Gammers — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:04:22 +0000

On the Cheltenham point, I think they intend to maintain a 3 week gap in future where possible.

Admin – I think I’ve posted this in an earlier chain as well, but the races I will be looking closely at myself (as tests of stamina or course form), from last GN onwards are;

Topham Chase – Aintree – April; Irish National – Fairyhouse – April; Scottish National – Ayr – April; Sandown GC – Sandown – April; Eventus Chase – Punchestown – April; Summer National – Uttoxeter – June; Cork National – Cork – November; SCS Trophy Chase – Cheltenham – November; Sefton Chase – Aintree – November; Becher Chase – Aintree – November; Hennessey – Newbury – November; Porterstown Chase – Fairyhouse – November; Welsh National – Chepstow – December; Classic Chase – Warwick – January; Ulster National – Downpatrick – February; Haydock GC – Haydock – February; National Trial – Punchestown – February; Cheltenham GC – Cheltenham – March; Midlands National – Uttoxeter – March

By: The Stayer

The Stayer — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:38:29 +0000

Hello all,

I was disappointed that Church Island wasn’t declared for The Plate the other day. The ground would have been fine for him and as I mentioned further up it was difficult to come from off the pace as 2 of the first 3 home were prominent throughout. I think he would have run a blinder.

Not too sure what bearing the race will have on the National. Ballyholland won well but the National is almost another 2m further so I would want to see some evidence that he stays 3m at the very least before I could back him.

As for the Cheltenham Festival, the gap between the two meetings is very important. This year the Gold Cup was run on Friday 13 March and the National was run on the 4th April, meaning at every horse running at Cheltenham had at least 3 weeks between races. It’s probably not a coincidence that Comply or Die and My Will, 2nd and 3rd, ran at Cheltenham and Mon Mome ran in the Midlands National the day AFTER the Gold Cup. In some years the gap is only 2 weeks and that extra week to recover probably makes a difference to horses having a hard race at Cheltenham.

Note for next year that there is once again a 3 week gap so I wouldn’t put a line throught anything running at Cheltenham automatically. As Neil said, you really have to take it horse by horse. Some horses at the Festival will have harder races than others – some will be trying to win, others may be having a pipe-opener for Aintree. If a horse does have a hard race, what are it’s powers of recovery – some horses take racing better than others etc.

By: Neil

Neil — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:01:48 +0000

Thinking about Cheltenham festival races as trial for the Grand National should be taken on a horse by horse biases as some would still be recovering from hard races.

By: Neil

Neil — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:07:29 +0000

Thanks for the information, didn’t know the was a london national but will keep my eyes peeled for that.
The Ritz Club I sort of suspected to have changed to the William Hill.
The Racing Post I’ve heard it’s an easy track to get 3 miles, so stamina might not come into play, but won’t hurt to keep track of the finishers there.

Lastly and I know this won’t be every year but I remember backing Grittar (1982) and he took the Gold Cup itself as a prep race (finishing fifth). I think that this race might also be worth keeping tabs on. I know that the principles would have ran the race for this, but those who might not got too tied up at the business end might come on for the race.

By: admin

admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:19:48 +0000

Hi Neil,

As far as I am aware the Mildmay/Cazalet hasn’t been run for sometime and was replaced by the William Hill Marathon sometime around 2003 (I think!). I’m not sure but I think this has now become the London National that Kilbeggan Blade won in December. This might not be exactly right as the Mildmay/Cazalet used to be run in January.

The Ritz Club is now the William Hill handicap at the Cheltenham Festival (same race just different sponsors) and opinion is divided as to how much of a National trial this race proves to be, although a number of Aintree candidates do tend to run in the race its close proximity to Aintree tends to lessen its sway on the big race.

The Racing Post Chase is another race where opinion is divided as to the effect on the National but we are always open to suggestions and the races we look at with a view to the National is always up for debate and change. I will be examining our list as we update the site over the next couple of months so if anyone has any suggestions of races they would like to see covered please let me know.