The Grand National.

Horse still declared for Aintree, whats your early fancies?


THE 2011 JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL

Horse Wgt Owner Trainer
1) DON'T PUSH IT (IRE) 11-10 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
2) TIDAL BAY (IRE) 11-09 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
3) MIDNIGHT CHASE 11-08 Lady Clarke Neil Mulholland
4) SYNCHRONISED (IRE) 11-06 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
5) VIC VENTURI (IRE) 11-06 Seamus Dunne Dessie Hughes
6) WHAT A FRIEND 11-06 Ged Mason & Sir Alex Ferguson Paul Nicholls
7) MAJESTIC CONCORDE (IRE) 11-05 Dr Ronan Lambe Dermot Weld
8) OR NOIR DE SOMOZA (FR) 11-05 Filsal Stadeg Racing David Pipe
9) DOONEYS GATE (IRE) 11-04 Jackie Mullins Willie Mullins
10) SCOTSIRISH (IRE) 11-02 Double R Stables Syndicate Willie Mullins
11) BIG FELLA THANKS 11-01 Maggie Findlay Ferdy Murphy
12) BALLABRIGGS (IRE) 11-00 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain
13) THE TOTHER ONE (IRE) 11-00 Graham Roach Paul Nicholls
14) NICHE MARKET (IRE) 10-13 Graham Regan Paul Nicholls
15) THE MIDNIGHT CLUB (IRE) 10-13 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins
16) BACKSTAGE (FR) 10-12 MPR & Capranny Syndicate Gordon Elliott
17) CHIEF DAN GEORGE (IRE) 10-12 Maurice Chapman Jimmy Moffatt
18) SILVER BY NATURE 10-12 Geoff Brown Lucinda Russell
19) NOTRE PERE (FR) 10-11 Tilly Conway Barry Potts
20) CALGARY BAY (IRE) 10-10 Camilla Radford Henrietta Knight
21) KILLYGLEN (IRE) 10-10 David McCammon Stuart Crawford
22) OSCAR TIME (IRE) 10-09 Robert Waley-Cohen/Sir Martin & S Broughton Martin Lynch
23) BALLYTRIM (IRE) 10-08 Violet O'Leary Willie Mullins
24) BECAUSEICOULDNTSEE (IRE) 10-08 Noel Glynn Noel Glynn
25) COMPLY OR DIE (IRE) 10-08 David Johnson David Pipe
26) NEDZER'S RETURN (IRE) 10-08 William Elliott Gordon Elliott
27) NORTHERN ALLIANCE (IRE) 10-08 Irish Rover Syndicate Tony Martin
28) QUINZ (FR) 10-08 Andrew Cohen Philip Hobbs
29) QUOLIBET (FR) 10-08 J P McManus Jonjo O’Nell
30) GRAND SLAM HERO (IRE) 10-07 Walters Plant Hire Ltd Nigel Twiston-Davies
31) ROLL ALONG (IRE) 10-07 Bryan & Philippa Burrough Nigel Twiston-Davies
32) KING FONTAINE (IRE) 10-06 Trevor Hemmings Malcolm Jefferson
33) STATE OF PLAY 10-06 William & Angela Rucker Evan Williams
34) HELLO BUD (IRE) 10-05 Seamus Murphy Nigel Twiston-Davies
35) IN COMPLIANCE (IRE) 10-05 Westerly Breeze Syndicate Dessie Hughes
36) SANTA'S SON (IRE) 10-05 Douglas Pryde & Jim Beaumont Howard Johnson
37) WEST END ROCKER (IRE) 10-05 Barry Winfield & Tim Leadbeater Alan King
38) BLUESEA CRACKER (IRE) 10-04 Note The Link Syndicate James Motherway
39) CAN'T BUY TIME (IRE) 10-04 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
40) CHARACTER BUILDING (IRE) 10-04 Patricia Thompson John Quinn
41) ORNAIS (FR) 10-04 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
42) PIRAYA (FR) 10-04 Terry Neill David Pipe
43) SURFACE TO AIR 10-04 Tim Urry Chris Bealby
44) THAT'S RHYTHM (FR) 10-04 Don't Tell Henry Martin Todhunter
45) ARBOR SUPREME (IRE) 10-03 J P McManus Willie Mullins
46) FRANKIE FIGG (IRE) 10-03 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
47) ONE COOL COOKIE (IRE) 10-03 Gigginstown House Stud Charlie Swan
48) OUR MONTY (IRE) 10-03 Colland Sand & Gravel Ltd Willie Mullins
49) ROYAL ROSA (FR) 10-03 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
50) ALWAYS WAINING (IRE) 10-02 Mr & Mrs Peter James Douglas Peter Bowen
51) GOLDEN KITE (IRE) 10-02 Dr Anthony Calnan Adrian Maguire
52) SKIPPERS BRIG (IRE) 10-02 Ashleybank Investments Limited Nicky Richards
53) BELON GALE (IRE) 10-01 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
54) FAASEL (IRE) 10-01 Hush Hush Partnership David Pipe
55) LE BEAU BAI (FR) 10-01 Glass Half Full Richard Lee
56) MERIGO (FR) 10-01 Raymond & Anita Anderson Green Andrew Parker
57) PUTNEY BRIDGE 10-01 Louise Goldsworthy Keith Goldsworthy
58) ASKTHEMASTER (IRE) 10-00 Carrolle Wall Robert Tyner
59) DEV (IRE) 10-00 Liam Mulryan Gordon Elliott
60) GILES CROSS (IRE) 10-00 KCMS Partnership Victor Dartnall
61) SADDLERS STORM (IRE) 10-00 Billy Moffett/R T & J McLoughlin Tony Martin
62) STARZAAN (IRE) 10-00 Ben Arbib Hughie Morrison
63) AMBOBO (USA) 9-13 Deirdre Brassil Martin Brassil
64) DUERS (IRE) 9-13 Kate Kelly/Kate Ronan Paul Magnier
65) SAGALYRIQUE (FR) 9-13 Sir Robert Ogden Donald McCain
66) TOBY JUG 9-13 Paul & Caron Chapman & Sarah Humphrey Sarah Humphrey
67) GALANT NUIT (FR) 9-12 David Parry Ferdy Murphy
68) JUNIOR 9-12 Middleham Park Racing LI David Pipe
69) THE SAWYER (BEL) 9-12 David Fear Bob Buckler
70) BALLYFITZ 9-09 Fred & Wayne Mills Nigel Twiston-Davies
71) I'MONCLOUDNINE (IRE) 9-09 Fred Matthews Neil Mulholland
72) POMME TIEPY (FR) 9-09 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins
73) TREACLE (IRE) 9-04 Bjorn Nielsen Tom Taaffe
74) REGAL HEIGHTS (IRE) 9-02 Janet Heler Tom George

Ive already backed BIG FELLA THANKS at tasty prices and i just have an inkling that all the hustle and bustle and hubbuub that goes with Aintree just might fire THE TOTHER ONE to put it all in.Hes ran some tremendous races in some half decent contests,i would certainly keep him on my side.

I also think that the days of not winning it carrying over 11st have gone,as a whole the race gets classier year on year,so i wouldnt be scared of horses with a so called welter weight.

I was at Ffos Las last June and watched Grand Slam Hero beat a horse of Paul Webbers, it was only a urine poor 3 mile chase but I left quite impressed and vowed to keep an eye on it.

I noticed it was declared on Saturday, currently 66/1 maybe worth a small interest.

Unless its bad ground i dont think that just having the ability to stay the trip is enough anymore,you need a bit of quality,even an ability to change gear.That being the case i will be keeping my eye on the ones at the top half of the handicap.

Big Fella Thanks is my fancy for this year's National.

Why's he with Ferdy Murphy.......did he change owners or just trainers?

Solerina

Sol was apiece in the Post today sayin that Harry Findlay has sold the horse

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/grand-national-harry-findlay-big-fella-thanks-sale-sparks-national-dream-for-new-owners/833078/grandnationalmeeting/

Swanseadabber wrote:Sol was apiece in the Post today sayin that Harry Findlay has sold the horse

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/grand-national-harry-findlay-big-fella-thanks-sale-sparks-national-dream-for-new-owners/833078/grandnationalmeeting/

Thanks for that Swansea : )

Well Big Fella Thanks is sure to win the National........then the story of the National this year will be, another horse that Paul Nicholls used to train wins the National.

Remember Silver Birch?

Though it was different circumstances with Silver Birch...........I think the owners let him go, not realising they had a potential National winner on their hands.
Something like that, anyway..........that could be totaly wrong...........I'm just waffling now lol

Solerina

Silver Birch was thought to need real soft ground to show his best form and the owners sold him for decent cash to go racing in Ireland,the rest as they say is history.Hope lightning strikes twice as ive backed Big Fella Thanks at tasty prices antepost and if Harry Findlay sold a National winner just before its victory id be made up....cant stand the man.

racingnut wrote:Silver Birch was thought to need real soft ground to show his best form and the owners sold him for decent cash to go racing in Ireland,the rest as they say is history.Hope lightning strikes twice as ive backed Big Fella Thanks at tasty prices antepost and if Harry Findlay sold a National winner just before its victory id be made up....cant stand the man.

Lol....I think a lot of people would feel the same.

Solerina

If you remember Silver Birch was favourite for the National 2 years before he won it. Got injured & then the owners sold it.

SetupDeterminesTheMotion wrote:If you remember Silver Birch was favourite for the National 2 years before he won it. Got injured & then the owners sold it.

Ah yes.....and he won a Welsh National.....he was a class horse.

Some really interesting stuff about Silver Birch and his National win HERE

Solerina

thanks for that Solerina.

The only time I have ever won any money on the Grand National was when Silver Birch won. I loved this horse! You are right about it winning the Welsh National, and he also won the Becher Chase at Aintree in 2004 too. I therefore had an ante post bet for the 2005 National. Something I have never done for any horse before or since for the National. So anyway I was gutted when he got injured and couldn't take part.

I backed it again in 2006 and I think it fell and then i backed it again in 2007 and of course it won!!! I don't think I have ever been so excited about a race (although perhaps Long Run last week came close!)

He will always be my favourite National horse and I planted a shrub in its honour in my garden which is growing nicely now !

steveo77 wrote:

He will always be my favourite National horse and I planted a shrub in its honour in my garden which is growing nicely now !

Aaaw..steveo.....what a lovely thing to do

Seeing's you're here.......don't forget to enter the Saturday Tipping Comp

Solerina

yes i will be entering.
havent looked at the cards yet though, tomorrow looks a busy days racing!

Just had a look at the forecast for the coming week and it it could be fairly wet in the run up to the National.The course is currently good/soft but with rain around it could certainly ride a lot slower than that.With this in mind i might take a pot at backing a couple of mud lovers NRNB.SKIPPERS BRIG adores soft ground,stays forever and has some fairly sound recent form(beat Ballabriggs at Kelso)and you just couldnt ignore SILVER BY NATURE if theres cut in the ground.His profile reminds me of Comply or Die in his victory year.

My tip for this year is Silver By Nature.

Best getting on this now as it will be backed heavily in the next few days.

I agree with you Soldier of Fortune. My only concern would be if the ground is not soft enough. My outside tip is the Tother One.

steveo

I've got a slight advantage as I live in Liverpool to know what the weather has been like haha.

Your right, ground needs to be soft/heavy. But its been raining here today, and if it keeps it up for the next few days, I'll be happy. Put it on today for good odds

Rain is forecast for tonight but then its supposed to be almost Balmy Spring weather with some fairly warm temps and a drying wind,reckon just of the slow side of good come Saturday.Wouldnt change my bets for double the money.

Well i'm on Oscar Time for the big one but the most interesting sub-plot in the race is how Big Fella Thanks performs. I know that one or two on here are very sweet on his chances however with Paul Nicholls coming out and saying that he doesn't stay, will this be a massive case of 'Egg on yer Face' if Ferdy Murphy manages to find the key to the horse .... Racingnut - With your connection to Ferdy's, do you know if he is confident it will see out the trip ? (I guess he must be as you've backed it !!!) .... I don't think Nicholls has had the most inspiring season by his very high standards and this could just top it off if one of his ex-inmates BFT goes on to win on Saturday.

Soldier_Of _Fortune wrote:My tip for this year is Silver By Nature.

Best getting on this now as it will be backed heavily in the next few days.

Hi Soldier of Fortune,

Welcome to the racing pages of v2

I see you post mainly in boxing, but you must be a big racing fan, going by your user name : )

Hope you're going to be a regular vistor to this part of the forum.......you should join in our Tipping Comp on Saturdays : )

Solerina

I hear Our Monty is out with a leg infection.
His defection means that Royal Rosa gets the 40 spot....

Grizzly wrote:I hear Our Monty is out with a leg infection.
His defection means that Royal Rosa gets the 40 spot....

Thanks for the info Grizzly and welcome to our racing pages : )

Solerina

Grahame1971 wrote:Well i'm on Oscar Time for the big one but the most interesting sub-plot in the race is how Big Fella Thanks performs. I know that one or two on here are very sweet on his chances however with Paul Nicholls coming out and saying that he doesn't stay, will this be a massive case of 'Egg on yer Face' if Ferdy Murphy manages to find the key to the horse .... Racingnut - With your connection to Ferdy's, do you know if he is confident it will see out the trip ? (I guess he must be as you've backed it !!!) .... I don't think Nicholls has had the most inspiring season by his very high standards and this could just top it off if one of his ex-inmates BFT goes on to win on Saturday.

Ferdy has been trying to get him to drop the bridle in all his races,he is a very free going type and last year he just burnt himself out by running with the choke out.If he settles for the first circuit and gets the all important luck in running then connections are as hopeful as you can be in a race like this.