Stamina is everything in the famous contest since the fences were softened and Ballyoptic’s credentials can’t be doubted“I’m so lucky! I’ve got a wealth of talent,” said Nigel Twiston-Davies when asked about his nine entries for this year’s Grand National at the unveiling of the weights on Tuesday. The Gloucestershire trainer had his tongue at least partly in his cheek but his Ballyoptic is very nicely positioned on 10st 11lbs and looks the best long-range pick of the 110 possible runners at odds of 33-1.Stamina is everything in the famous Aintree contest since the fences were softened and Ballyoptic’s credentials can’t be doubted in light of his powerful finish in last year’s Scottish Grand National. Alas for all concerned, he...
Lauded jockey doesn’t have the sort of job that leads straight to Festival glory but could still land a plum Grand National rideHell is, of course, full of people typing up novelty bet offers for the New Year but there’s some morbid fascination that drags my eyes to the silly lists of prices issued at this time of year. For some reason, we’re expected to care whether snow will fall on Heathrow on Easter Sunday (16-1) or Mary Berry will sign up for Strictly (25-1). Related: Waiting Patiently could be on collision course with Altior at Ascot Lingfield Continue reading...
Walk In The Mill looks a live contender for the big Aintree race after winning over the famous green fences on SaturdaySacrifices are sometimes necessary in the buildup to a really important moment in your professional life and so it is that Walk In The Mill has been put on a strict diet of hurdle races for the next two months, part of his preparation for the Grand National in early April. The eight-year-old put his name in lights by winning Saturday’s Becher Chase and looks a serious contender for the real thing, if he can be delivered there in one piece by his trainer, Robert Walford. Related: Talking Horses: building plans in place at second London racecourse Tips for...
We mark the passing of Stan Murphy, who reckoned he could have won Foinavon’s Grand National, despite broken tackI’m sad to report the loss of Stan Murphy, a jump jockey of the 60s and 70s, who died on Wednesday in a Waterford hospital after surgery for cancer. His major wins included the Mackeson on 1973 on Skymas and the Thyestes five years earlier aboard Great Lark. Related: Uncharted waters with Classic runner Tip Two Win has Roger Teal all at sea Lingfield 1.50 Chelwood Gate 2.20 Fitzrovia 2.50 Crossing The Line 3.20 Al Barg 3.50 Accomplice 4.20 Waneen 4.50 Storm Again Continue reading...
After winners in the 2018 Grand National and Irish equivalent, Gordon Elliott could make history in the Scottish raceGordon Elliott, having saddled the winners of the Grand National and the Irish equivalent in the past fortnight, is poised to achieve an unprecedented treble with Fagan (4.05) in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr. This looks a long-term plan for the grey, a horse who loves a sound surface and is owned by a Scotsman, Ronnie Bartlett.Two years ago Fagan finished best of all to be second in the Albert Bartlett Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, despite having started at 33-1. He has been lightly raced since then but his second place to Black Corton in October looks a lot better...