He didn’t make the line-up although it was “touch and go” and to be honest my staking plan on him would be minimal given Stayer’s report. That is assuming he passes the stats this year.

On a personal note I like a grey to win and love to have backed it, but they do have to qualify on the stats first.For example Kings John Castle surprised me on the statima ability and so was not backed by me.

If I am being honest I have never been the greatest fan of this horse, and i’m not talking through my pocket. I do have a few doubts. Firstly, i’m not too sure if his overall level of form is good enough. Ok he won at the Festival last time out, and under 11-12 too, but the Kim Muir is only a class 2 and 9 of the first 10 horses home were aged 9 or over – exposed chasers that have been around the block a few times. Ok so the form book says that he’s finished 3rd in a Hennessy, but he was beaten 19l by the winner. That’s easy enough to overlook as The Tank put up an awesome display that day but he was also beaten 8l by the second (Dream Alliance) and only finished just in front of exposed older horses liked Knowhere, Juveigneur and Sir Rembrandt, with the latter two being horses on the downgrade. Outside of Denman, Madison Du Berlais (who has improved since) and Snowy Morning (who unseated) I don’t think it was a partcicularly good renewal of the Hennessy.

I also have my doubts about the horse’s mettle when push comes to shove at the end of the race. He likes to come from behind and challenge late and was given a great waiting ride in the Kim Muir. The way the race panned out very much suited him as the top 8 were covered by as many lengths so he had horses to run at and pass up the run in without his jockey getting too serious with him. That’s unlikley to happen up the long National run-in as at some point his jockey will have to resort to the stick as the horse gets tired. He’s been outbattled before and I don’t know if I would want my money on him in a tight or all-out finish.