Aintree Grand National 2013 Ante Post

[davidg3907]

Stats: Horses come 2nd, and went on to win following year,
are there any done that achievement?

Hmmm..... One that springs to mind is Red Rum !

He finished 2nd in 1975 and 1976 having won the 2 previous Nationals and won again in 1977.

[deswalker]

Sunnyhillboy went into the last National officially well handicapped, because he won a race at Cheltenham between the weights being announced and the race.

Now he has nowhere to hide and, despite hitting every trend that I look for, I can't have him this year off the mark. He could run well and perhaps place but I doubt that he is up to winning this year.

My twopennorth!

[andystaff]

underdogslover

Amberleigh House won in 2004 after finishing 3rd the year before.

[andystaff]

deswalker

I know what you mean regarding Sunnyhillboy, was getting alot of weight from Neptune Collonges and still got caught on the run in.

[deswalker]

But he came back slightly lame andystaff. That was his year, he should have won, but the last ingredient that you need to get a National winner is a slice of luck...

...he didn't have it unfortunately. Neptune did; how he avoided all the trouble despite sitting on the inside behind runners right the way round is beyond me!

Impossible to legislate for unfortunately! The bottom line is that Sunny has paid the price for running so well and now looks up against it at the weights.



Cappa Bleu @ 25/1 now looking great value; very happy with that.

[UnderdogsLover]

Thanks DavidG oh yea Rummy done 2nd twice.

Thanks andystaff, Amberleigh House 3rd then went
win following year..Yes did Amerleigh when won, feels
along time ago now..


So best to follow place horses last year, see if they can go
one better then last year.
Least we know Neptune has been retired,and his enjoying his
derserved retirement.

[martinr]

Could someone tell me what the maximum field size is for the GN?
Am I right in that a horse can't get penalised for a win between now and Aintree, and move up the weights and the order of entry?
Also, for a horse low in the weights, does it need attrition from those above to get in now, or are there ballot free races that a horse can win to get in?

[deswalker]

The weights are set now martinr, no penalties for victories. Top weight would have been Tidal bay but with that one very doubtful the weights will all go up a couple of lbs.

The top 40 acceptors will compete in the race. Are you looking at one that might not get in?

[DannyCraig]

Paul Nicholls has received the news that Tidal Bay has a tiny stress fracture and is out of the Grand National

I have got some bad news to report. Tidal Bay is out of the Grand National.

As previously mentioned, he was slightly lame before the Argento and we couldn't get him ready in time for that race, or the Irish Hennessy.

He was out cantering as usual on Monday and Tuesday, but on Wednesday we decided to step up his work.

But his work rider came back up and said he didn't feel right.

So we immediately called in Buffy and, after discussions, we got him down to Newmarket today for an MRI Scan.

The news through from Buffy is that Tidal Bay has a tiny stress fracture of the lower cannon bone on his right hind leg. This is something that the X-rays we took before his problem in the Argento didn't pick up; only today's MRI did.

He needs a month's box rest, so that rules out the National.

As soon as I got the news, I immediately rang Mr Wylie and we agreed to release this statement as soon as possible.

[martinr]

Thanks deswalker. Yes, I was looking at one low in the weights. Too low it seems. As a 10yo now he should be around next year though. Cheers.

[hieu123456]

hello everybody

[Flat Cap and Whippet]

Thought Roberto Goldback ran a good race today and showed he can be competitive from his current mark, was not knocked about by Geraghty surely with the National in mind.

Wyck Hill obviously very disappointing