Grand National Thoughts

Tomorrow is our busiest day of the year by far, all those once a year punters asking the same old questions but its a great day and usually flies by. Lets hope for a trouble free day ;)

The race itself is as competitive as ever and with the bottom weight carrying 10 stone 7 lbs, only 19lbs covers the whole field which has to be a first. I will highlight a few contenders.

Cloudy Lane has a Favs chance but at around 6/1 i will not be interested.
Comply Or Die i feel will struggle to get round and i think he will be Pulled Up.
Slim Pickings, out of all the horses to finish the course last year i feel he will come out best of them and run into a place again.
Simon was going well last year when falling and although he has a different jockey (possible upgrade for me) i think if the ground doesn't dry up to much he has a major chance (On at 20/1 e/w in December)
Bewleys Berry has similar claims to Simon and must be on anyones shortlist granted a clear round.
Butlers Cabin has AP aboard but i am not sure if he has fallen out with the game.
Hedgehunter will jump round but at his age with a big weight cant see him winning (6-12 place finish for me)
Knowhere is an interesting contender, he beat Our Vic easily in Jan and that form is solid now, could go well at a price.
Iron Man (ran in Gold Cup) is the biggest longshot in the race if you fancy a speculative punt.

Others that interest me if they are still intact with their jockeys at halfway would be Snowy Morning, Mr Pointment, Dun Doire (given too much to do in 2007), D'argent, Turko, Black Apalachi and Backbeat.

My prediction for the race is ..............................

1 Simon
2 Knowhere
3 Slim Pickings
4 Bewleys Berry

probably way off the mark but GL with your picks.

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Early runners at Hall Green in April as follows -

Weds 2nd
Tom (1/9) 3rd in A3
Lucy (2/11) 2nd in A4

On Thurs Shelley had a sprint Trial, 480m next week

Friday 4th (Today)
Lulu (2/11) WON A6@4/1 , the rest did her a power of good :)
Betty (2/5) 5th in A5
Fivo (2/11) 6th in A2, a bumpy ride for him
Marvin (4/17) 4th in A2
Teddy (1/15) 5th in S3, slightly disappointing

April 1/7
year 19/124

Tom and Russ out Saturday :)

Thx and GL
Neil