I'm having a sentimental bet on Vieux Lion Rouge e/w. You know he gets round, just doesn't stay. But at that weight he could trouble the places.
Twiston Davies losing the plot, comparing Blaklion to Red Rum.
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I'm having a sentimental bet on Vieux Lion Rouge e/w. You know he gets round, just doesn't stay. But at that weight he could trouble the places.
Twiston Davies losing the plot, comparing Blaklion to Red Rum.
Gold Present for me.
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Skybet already gone NRNB, 5 places
Reflected in their prices, though, but fair play to them.
I can't help thinking the following headline at the ATR site is a bit misleading. My immediate reading of it was that just as Definitly Red heads the weights, so the idea of Total Recall heading the Irish challenge meant TR was the highest weighted. It turns out he's nowhere near highest-weighted of the Irish. He's 8lbs below Edwulf with others in between.
Total Recall heads Irish bid for Grand National glory at Aintree
A 40-strong Irish representation for the Randox Health Grand National at Aintree is headed by the Willie Mullins-trained Total Recall, who has been allotted 11st 1lb.
These are the last horses to actually get into the race, once the weights were announced, since 2000
2000: 81st
2001: 79th
2002: 68th
2003: 77th
2004: 95th
2005: 75th
2006: 76th
2007: 75th
2008: 71st
2009: 74th
2010: 79th
2011: 70th
2012: 72nd
2013: 76th
2014: 76th
2015: 67th
2016: 59th
2017: 71st
Elliott said this in the RP recently, “We gave him plenty of time off in order to keep him fresh for the spring and Aintree. He’ll have one run over hurdles somewhere and then go straight for the Grand National.”
Thunder And Roses about 73 on the list, 10:01 on a mark of 142. I'd like to see him run a decent race beforehand like.
DG, there's no mention of that in the conditions as given at the GN site:
NE will have already qualified, I'm sure.
Quote:
Grade 3 handicap chase, £1 million total prize fund. Aintree, 5.15pm Saturday, April 14, 2018. 4m 2f 74yds over the Grand National fences.
For seven-year-olds and upwards who, up to and including March 19 have been placed first, second, third or fourth in a steeple chase with an official distance description of’ two miles seven and a half furlongs’ or more and which are allotted a rating of 125 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including February 11.
Horses which are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain or Ireland at closing may also be entered. Such horses may be eligible for a weight providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse’s racecourse performances up to and including February 11 would merit a minimum rating of 125.
To qualify, horses must have run at least three times in chases run under the Rules of Racing of the same Recognised Racing Authority up to and including February 11. At the Handicapper’s discretion, such horses may be allocated a rating. The decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final.
Entries close January 30, entries revealed January 31 (105 entries), weights revealed February 3, first scratchings deadline February 27, second scratchings deadline March 20, five-day confirmations April 9, final declarations 10am April 12.
Maximum field of 40 plus four reserves.
From Chris Cook of The Guardian
"Gordon Elliott’s instinct was to give Noble Endeavour a spin over hurdles and go straight to Aintree. He corrected himself, once reminded of the new rule, and seemed satisfied that the horse had time for the necessary spin over fences. Still, these horses are leaving it late to qualify and they wouldn’t want a setback at the wrong moment."
I could make a good case for about 20 in that list with a slight lean towards the higher weights this year. Noble Endeavour would be high on my list.
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Also the minimum rating up from 110 to 120, a new minimum age of seven and a requirement is to have been placed over three miles or more.
The issue of weight becomes more acute the softer the ground.
The CoC is doing his best [by artificially softening the ground] to make sure the class horses don't win and that's plain wrong.
No more wrong than the handicapper rigging the weights to help the class horses.