Grand National Day Saturday 14th April 2012

Sorry to those who may of popped to my page in the last couple of weeks, I have been away but for some reason the blogger website keeps deleting my posts. Anyway, on to tomorrows pinnacle Aintree card and what special day it could turn out to be. Can the gold cup winner double up and win the National? Or can Ballabriggs win for a consecutive year running?. All these questions will be answered tomorrow and what a spectacle. On with the card... 1.45pm Novices Hurdle 2m 4f An intriguing start to proceedings with a strong favourite on the cards. This race could setup a great start for Nicky Henderson in the trainers championship as he is currently a few thousand behind Paul Nicholls and SIMONSIG could be very hard to beat, he won the Neptune Hurdle at Cheltenam in terrific style and is very hard to oppose and I aspect him to win. However, what's the pointin tipping an odds on favourite so I'll be looking at an each way bet on SUPER DUTY he travels well, likes to front run and will be battling on in the finish over this distance. Donald McCain has already notched a winner at Aintree this week and if this front running type gets his own way then I'm sure he'll be hard to pin back! 2.15pm Maghull Novices Chase 2m Nicky Henderson could be two up here within the first half an hour, SPRINTER SACRE is so hard to oppose as i can't see any chink in his armoury. He won the Arkle at Cheltenham in terrific style and it's pointless picking any other as only six go to post so no each way value at all. SPRINTER SACRE can give them a furlong head start and he'd still win. 2.50pm Aintree Hurdle 2m 4f Sorry for the boring trend here but I'm almost certain that Nicky Henderson will have three straight winners in a row. OSCAR WHISKY is suited by not only the trip by the track as well. He was entered in the World Hurdle finishing fifth but looked good until the last few furlongs which stretched his stamina and found him out. At Aintree last year in this very race he showed just how could he can be and in doing so beat a stronger field in my opinion. OSCAR WHISKEY travels well, is slck over the hurdles and will take all the better over this his favoured trip. Barry Geraghty needs a mention here as he could be on for a treble, one of my favourite jockeys so I'd be more than pleased to see that happen. Rock on Ruby won't get the trip but Zarkandar could be the main danger. 3.25pm Handicap Chase 3m 1f A difficult handicap race to call but an interesting one non the less, looking through the form you can discount many of these for more than one reason. Im going with the Ferdy Murphy trained HOLLINWELLthis horse will relish the conditions. I also believe the trip at this course will suit, whilst carrying a featherweight will make that a little easier. I'm also going with BATTLE GROUP ran a blinder at Cheltenham behind Hunt ball and on that form looks a major player. 4.15 THE GRAND NATIONAL 2012 This years renewal is probably the most competitive and exciting that I've seen since I started my love affair with racing. As is always the case people choose colours, names or go with certain horses usually greys and even just pick the number! That's fine and luck is a huge player in getting he winner here but lets put a little thought into form and certain trends. It interesting to not that 9 or the last 10 winners have run over hurdles, 9/10 year olds ave won the majority over the last 10 years and since 1999 all winners have carried 11-5 or less. So where do we start? Well one of my selections doesn't fit any of those trends but is an out and out galloper who if gets a clean round of jumping will stay on in the finish, he's a grey, 11 years old and is a horse I adore NEPTUNE COLLOGNES because of his handicap mark he is a little high in the weights but a perfectly sound chance is given to this Paul Nicholls trained horse. The jockey on board is Daryl Jacob who is an excellent horseman and at 40/1 has a great each way squeak. My next selection is WEST END ROCKER Wayne Hutchinson keeps the ride after an xcellent easy win in the Becger Chase at Aintree back in December over the National Course, this bay gelding will be staying on when all around him others will be floundering carrying a nice weight with a trainer in form after Lovcen won at Aintree today a lot to like about this horse with a cracking namesake. Finally, my last selection goes to KILLYGLEN this horse from Ireland was travelling fantastically well in this race last year before he fell 5 from home. This horse has had a very consistent season and because of his featherweight and the experience he has this horse could do it for the Irish who's last winner was Silver Birch. GOOD LUCK IF YOU HAVING A PUNT!