Grand National...what a superb day!

Earl Hafler · April 3, 2006

Really looking forward to it, 7th time I'll have been. Anyone else going from here? Any tips on horses?

I posted this in the Aintree thread last week

Garvivonnian : 25-1 :

A course winner at Aintree last year, winning the Becher Chase. Stays like the mother-in-law and would appreciate the soft going. I think it's fallen only once in 86 races.

Haut De Gamme : 40-1 :

Has been racing over hurdles to keep fit and protect handicap rating ( for those that don't know, horses have a rating over a hurdles and a rating over fences ). Like Garvivonnian, has an excellent record at completing races and getting into the money. In 2004, came 4th at Cheltenham over 4 miles, which is like 4 1/2 miles around Aintree. Trainer is having his best form all season

Nil Desperandum : 33-1 :

Came 6th in the race last year and the history of the Grand National is littered with winners who were returning to the race. Has been made less use of this year in an effort to be primed for the race. Lovely, well bred horse - on one side of the family you have Best Mate ( sorry, had Best Mate. Eh, Kahnee ? ) and on the other, brilliant horses such as 1994 Grand National winner Minnehoma and King George winner Barton Bank. Once again, has a 50% strike rate at getting into the money, winning almost a third of it's races.

All three horses go on Good or Soft ground and have ran very well before at Aintree.

Garvivonnian is to be ridden by Cotter, who won on him at Aintree last year.

Haut De Gamme by stable jockey Keith Mercer

Nil Desperandum by Treacy who won on him about 3 weeks ago.

If it's no worse than Good To Soft going it's difficult seeing Hedgehunter and Clan Royal being outside the first 4 but their prices are ridiculously low. Must be the shortest priced National field i've ever seen.

Edited April 3, 2006 by Big Stuff

April 4, 2006

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