God’s Own can be backed at 7-2 for another win in the Melling Chase, while Nicky Henderson may have the Topham winnerHmmm, another 3mm has been put on the track at Aintree after racing yesterday and, while that’s not a great deal, I don’t see the case for watering at all. There were four Grade One races there yesterday and all of them took at least 10 seconds longer than standard time, indicating plenty of juice in the ground. There has been sun but temperatures have not been high and are not due to get above 12C before 1pm tomorrow by my forecast. Related: Grand National 2017: a horse-by-horse betting guide Related: Grand National 2017: sweepstake kit Continue reading...
Which jockey from the famous 1967 National had been deprived of his pedals but still thinks he’d have won?I thoroughly enjoyed speaking to as many of the jockeys who rode in the 1967 Grand National as I could find for this piece about Foinavon’s race. For those of you interested in the subject, I recommend David Owen’s definitive book and Owen was kind enough to put me in touch with a couple of the riders I would otherwise have missed. Related: Tom George hopes Grand National can put gloss on best season as trainer Continue reading...
Which Grand National runner has had a breathing operation since he last ran? Plus three fancies for Sedgefield todayI appreciate that there is some dispute about the value of wind operations in racehorses but it so happens that I know of a Grand National runner who has had a bit of tinkering to his breathing apparatus since he last ran. I’ve run out of space to mention it in the stories I’ve written over the last couple of days, so here it is now. Related: Derek Fox confident of return to saddle in time for Grand National Continue reading...
Measureofmydreams looks overpriced for the Aintree race a week on Saturday, unless you know something we don’tBeing a bit of a Grand National obsessive, I’ve been turning this year’s race over in what passes for my mind these last few days. I have developed an interest in an outsider that wouldn’t quite justify tipping the beast - not yet, anyway - but I thought I’d share it with you lot in case someone can come up with a convincing reason to leave it alone. Related: Racing news and tips: Blackmore faces race to make Grand National cut Continue reading...
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has made it clear that he does not see Don Poli running in the Grand National this year after a row over the weight he must carryThe latest chapter in the case of Gigginstown vs Phil Smith might be titled ‘Michael O’Leary Really, Really Means It’. Far from being reassured by the explanations of Britain’s top handicapper yesterday, to the effect that Irish horses get a fair shake in jumps handicaps here, the Ryanair boss has given quotes to the Racing Post expressive of outrage. Continue reading...