Bet123 Online Betting Blog » Grand National

National hope Midnight out to regain the winning thread

Bet123 — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:49:38 +0000

Connections of the classy Midnight Chase will be hoping that a heavy fall at Down Royal on his seasonal reappearance has not affected his confidence and that the Lady Clarke-owned gelding can get his season back on track with a win at Wetherby on Boxing Day in the feature Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase, writes Elliot Slater.

Trainer Neil Mulholland took a big chance in running Midnight Chase in the Grade 1 JNwine.com Chase at the Northern Ireland track in early November on ground far more testing than is ideal for the son of Midnight Legend who has shown over the years that he goes best on a decent surface. After racing prominently for much of the way it was clear that Dougie Costelloe’s mount was struggling as he dropped back to a very tired fourth before taking a heavy fall at the second from home in the race won by Ireland’s big Cheltenham Gold Cup hope, Quito de La Roque. Anyone following the ante-post Grand National odds wouldn’t have been impressed.

The return to a left-handed track is also expected to raise the spirits of Mulholland’s charge who has a tremendous record at his beloved Cheltenham as proven last term when he rattled up a hattrick at the track including in listed and Grade 3 company before being given the green light to take his chance in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. After getting outpaced a mile from home and losing his position it was very much to Midnight Chase’s credit that he rallied bravely from the home turn and was staying on well at the death to be an excellent fifth behind Long Run.

His Gold Cup performance convinced connections that their horse has what it takes to bid for a John Smith’s Grand National and bookmakers currently rate the Midnight chase a 33/1 chance across the board to triumph at Aintree in April.

Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide

National hope Midnight out to regain the winning thread

Alterations under way after Grand National course review

Bet123 — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 09:15:06 +0000

The findings of the Grand National Review Group were published earlier this week and will lead to a number of changes to the course for next year’s John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree in April. Those wondering about the date of Cheltenham Gold Cup 2012 could be interested in this.

The review was ordered after the sad fatalities of both Ornais and Dooney’s Gate in this year’s renewal, a situation that was exacerbated by insensitive and inappropriate live footage shown by the BBC’s overhead camera shots. Images of tarpaulin covered horses in full view of hundreds of millions of viewers around the globe did not go unnoticed and caused a massive storm of protest from those who feel the race is too demanding and places the lives of horses in unnecessary danger.

The review group recommended that the landing side of Becher’s Brook be raised by around four or five inches to reduce the likelihood of fallers at the famous fence whose drop landing has proved the ultimate test of a steeplechaser for more than 170 years. Take-off boards will be raised to 14 inches to give horses a clearer sighting before attempting to clear the awesome spruce fences, and the landing side of the first fence will also be levelled giving horses a better chance of negotiating the opening obstacle without mishap. This could be the making of the next Grand National winner.

The suggested alterations have been welcomed and accepted by Aintree racecourse but have not been universally applauded, with many traditionalists (who see the challenge of the Grand National as the supreme test of a staying chaser), feeling that the race is gradually being watered down at the whim of people totally unconnected with the sport.

Many other racing professionals have however welcomed the findings of the review group, arguing that the image of the sport must be protected and the welfare of horses be seen to be of paramount concern to those who make a living out of training thoroughbreds to race for the pleasure of owners, racegoers and the betting public.

Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide

Alterations under way after Grand National course review

A Grand National Winning Chance for First-timer Tidal Bay

Bet123 — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 16:05:12 +0000

Ten-year old Tidal Bay’s strong jumping record could stand him in good stead for his debut in the Grand National 2011. In 27 starts over hurdles and fences the bay gelding has never fallen or pulled up.

In October 2010, the Howard Johnson-trained gelding came third in the John Smith’s Hurdle at Wetherby, having previously finished second twice – in the prestigious Betfair Chase at Haydock and the equally impressive Argento Chase at Cheltenham. Then in March this year, he finished a creditable sixth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Clearly, Tidal Bay has the ability to win a National. Unfortunately, this hasn’t gone unnoticed by the handicapper who has allocated the horse 11.09 – a defying weight for all but the truly great horses. The last horse to carry over 11.05 to victory was Red Rum when he won for the second time in succession back in 1974.

Then again, Tidal Bay – the 2010 Cleeve Hurdle winner – is known to be a strong finisher – so if he’s up with the leaders at the last, he’s one to keep an eye on and those looking for Aintree Grand National tips should remember this.

In 2010, Tidal Bay’s jockey Brian Hughes was thwarted in his first attempt at the National when his horse “Beat The Boys” pulled up at the 19th. But Hughes is confident that Tidal Bay has the stamina – as long as he gets a good start. The good weather will also be to his liking, as he prefers the good ground. Others, though, have suggested that Tidal Bay’s form is unreliable, and he has only had one win since 2008.

At 40-1, Tidal Bay may well prove an interesting proposition for those who like long shots that are also class horses.

Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide

A Grand National Winning Chance for First-timer Tidal Bay

Quolibet remains a mystery to most National punters

Bet123 — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:23:31 +0000

One of four runners set to represent Jonjo O’Neill in the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday as he bids to land the ‘world’s greatest steeplechase’ for the second year running, ex-French chaser Quolibet is something of an unknown quantity to most British punters, writes Elliot Slater.

Like last year’s winner Don’t Push It and his other two stable companions Synchronised and Can’t Buy Time, Quolibet is owned by legendary gambler JP McManus who will have the Irish raiders Arbor Supreme and Bluesea Cracker also representing him in a race he clearly would love to win for a second time.

On the face of it Quolibet is a fairly unlikely candidate for Grand National top honours. He brings to the race a career record of one win from 20 starts and has failed to complete on five occasions, including when falling three races in succession at Auteuil over a 13 month period to October last year. In between those disappointments there were glimpses of a horse who could be potentially very smart, including when running another ex-French Grand National entry, David Pipe’s highly regarded Or Noir de Somoza, to just three-quarters-of-a-length in a listed chase at Auteuil in November.

That level of form would entitle the Fragrant Mix gelding to plenty of respect, but he shaped with little promise on his first outing for O’Neill, albeit in the quirky Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month when pulled up at the 21st fence in the race won by Sizing Australia. That apparent setback hasn’t deterred O’Neill and McManus from declaring Quolibet for the big race and Mark Walsh has been booked to ride the horse that has severely divided bookmaker opinion, some going just 33/1 about the seven-year-old, whilst others make him a 100/1 chance!

Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide

Quolibet remains a mystery to most National punters

Santa supporters hoping Christmas comes early at Aintree

Bet123 — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:23:05 +0000

On the face of it there isn’t a great deal to recommend the Howard Johnson-trained Santa’s Son as a likely winner of the ultra-competitive John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 9, but then again the same could have been said of Mon Mome before he romped to a 100/1 success in the great race in 2009, writes Elliot Slater.

Available with a number of firms at odds of up to 150/1 to give the bookies an early Christmas present, the 11-year-old has been a decent horse in his time and the shrewd Johnson surely wouldn’t have entered him along with his other Grand National runners if he didn’t suspect he would give a pretty decent account of himself.

Like many candidates for this year’s running of the four-and-a-half-mile marathon, Santa’s Son has been prepared for the race for the most part over hurdles and showed himself to be in very good heart when winning a competitive event at Musselburgh in February under the crushing burden of 11st 12lbs. That 16/1 success was his first outing for five months having gone into his winter break on the back of some good efforts over timber, including when running second at both Hexham and Perth in the summer, on both occasions on ‘good to firm’ ground.

Doubtless owners Andrea and Graham Wylie, (who will also have the very smart Tidal Bay running for them in the race), will be pleased to see the ground drying out for Santa’s Son whose chance of seeing out the extended distance will surely be enhanced by a decent surface.

On his most recent start in the Johnny Henderson Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival over an inadequate two miles, Johnson’s charge showed up prominently until the third last when, not surprisingly, he was soon outpaced. That effort should have put him spot on for Aintree and his attempt to give once a year punters a big thrill by running prominently – at least for a circuit and a half!

Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide

Santa supporters hoping Christmas comes early at Aintree

Dooneys yet another live hope for Mullins

Bet123 — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:49:23 +0000

With most media attention focusing on Willie Mullins’ ante-post favourite The Midnight Club, it is easy to overlook the chances of his other intended runners in the race, each of which is worthy of consideration on its merits. The talented Dooneys Gate is a case in point, writes Elliot Slater.

Dooneys Gate is a horse who has done little wrong this season and at the age of 10 seems to be better now than ever before. In good form on his final two starts last term when chasing home Dancing Hero in a decent two-mile chase at Gowran Park before running a fine race on his first outing over the Aintree fences in finishing fourth of the 27 runners to Always Waining in last season’s Topham Trophy at the Aintree Festival, Dooneys Gate has continued on an upward curve in his two runs this season.

Fourth to Rare Bob in the two-and-three-quarter-mile Leopardstown Handicap Chase in early January under Mullins’ son Paddy, the Oscar gelding than went to Clonmel in February where he routed a decent field beating the useful Northern Alliance (also entered in the Grand National) by no less that 13-lengths, giving the runner-up 5lbs. That effort confirmed Dooneys Gate in fine form and he will go to Aintree with plenty in his favour and the Grand National 2011 betting reflects this.

The big question mark however and the reason why he is available at a wide variety of odds ranging from 33/1 to 80/1, is that opinion is sharply divided as to whether or not Mullins’ charge will see out the marathon four-and-a-half-mile trip. His best form has come between two miles and two-miles-six-furlongs, but that doesn’t mean that he is without the stamina to go much further at a steadier pace.

If you’re prepared to take a chance that he will stay then the current odds offered reflect excellent each-way value for a horse with top connections and who is proven over the Aintree fences.

Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide

Dooneys yet another live hope for Mullins

The Grand National Meeting – Top Jockey Award

Bet123 — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:52:28 +0000

The Cheltenham Top Jockey Award for the Festival seems to go the way of Ruby Walsh with monotonous regularity but it’s not so easy for the Irishman at Aintree and he has only captured the award in 2003 and 2008. Far more dominant at Aintree is his great friend and rival AP McCoy who last season captured the prize for being leading rider at the meeting for the seventh time. Anyone looking for tips for Grand National should remember there’s more to the meeting than just the big race.

Last year was a close run affair for the award as three jockeys tied with three winners apiece; the aforementioned Walsh and McCoy were joined by another Irish rider In Barry Geraghty. McCoy took the title in the close battle due to having more places on the board but his success in the Grand National itself on board Don’t Push It was the highlight of his three winners. The 15-times champion jockey also scored on Albertas Run in the Melling Chase and Ringaroses in the Smithy The Horse Handicap Hurdle. Fans of Grand National betting will have plenty to get their teeth into.

Geraghty’s highlight was his second day double on General Miller and Burton Port while Walsh experienced an up and down meeting – he landed the feature races on the first day, with Big Buck’s victory in the Liverpool Hurdle and What A Friend in the totesport Bowl. Saturday started well for Walsh winning on Tataniano in the Maghull Novices’ Chase but he broke his arm when falling on Celestial Halo in the very next race – not only did that end his meeting putting him out of the National but side-lined him for a further four months.

Walsh had just missed out in 2009 for this award also, this time to Robert Thornton, although he dominated the race in 2008 with five victories and four seconds. He even managed that tally despite the fact that two of his best mounts were beaten – both Master Minded and Kauto Star failing to deliver.

McCoy rattled up a hat-trick of victories for this award between 2005-2007 recording 10 wins over those campaigns. In fact of the current jockeys riding at the Grand National meeting it is McCoy and Walsh who dominate with 32 and 26 wins respectively.

We are sure that those two names will be well to the fore for this year’s award and it will take a good performance from the other jockeys to break their domination.

Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide

The Grand National Meeting – Top Jockey Award

Walsh in line to ride The Midnight Club

Bet123 — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 07:29:31 +0000

Having been surprisingly overlooked for the ride on What A Friend in the Grand National, Ruby Walsh looks almost certain to partner the Willie Mullins trained The Midnight Club another horse with an excellent chance of landing the race.

Walsh has twice partnered the winner of the world’s most famous steeplechase. He rode Papillion to victory for his Father Ted Walsh in 2000 and followed that win up when he partnered Hedgehunter to success for Mullins five years later. Clearly, Walsh has what it takes to win the National and with The Midnight Club among the favourites, he could easily add a third title.

The Midnight Club has been trained with the Grand National in mind this season and he certainly looked to be coming to the ball nicely when he won the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February. In winning that event Mullins horse got the better of fellow Grand National entry Oscar Time and he looked as though the four-and-a-half mile trip would be right up his street.

Ruby Walsh was reported to have partnered The Midnight Club in his most recent piece of homework and his trainer Willie Mullins stated that the work had gone really well and that he was very hopeful that Walsh would take the ride. Anyone looking for Grand National tips should bear this in mind.

Oscar Time was noted as running a blinder behind the Mullins trained runner at Fairyhouse and he too will travel to Aintree with strong claims. The ten-year-old will be looking to give the Waley-Cohen family a famous Gold Cup and Grand National double.

Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide

Walsh in line to ride The Midnight Club

Manifesto – Greatest Of Them All?

Bet123 — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:44:32 +0000

Ask any racing enthusiast who the greatest Grand National horse of them all is and you’ll undoubtedly hear the answer “Red Rum”.

But there is one horse that could dispute Rummy’s title as the greatest of the lot – and that is Manifesto whose National record over his remarkable eight runs in the race is truly amazing.

Bred in Ireland by solicitor-cum-farmer Harry Dyas, Manifesto fell in his first ever race aged four at Manchester Racecourse in 1892. Fortunately for Grand National fans, it wasn’t a taste of things to come.

His record improved and with some very creditable performances under his belt, Manifesto was given his first ever taste of the Grand National in 1895. The horse is said to have jumped well but tired in the closing stages in heavy ground and, as he was giving weight all round, he finished an impressive fourth behind the winner Wild Man From Borneo despite not being a favourite in the horse race betting odds.

The following year, he either fell or was brought down at the first fence, but in 1897, he entered the record books for the first time as a 20-length impressive winner of the National. The following year, when down to run in the race again, Manifesto managed to get out of his stable and was injured trying to jump a five barred gate.

Fortunately, he returned in 1899 and claimed victory again overcoming a strong challenge from the Prince of Wales’ horse Ambush II.

In 1900, Ambush II triumphed for the Prince, later to become King Edward VII, whilst Manifesto managed to finish second despite a crippling weight of 12st 13lbs.

In 1901, Manifesto didn’t run in the National due to injury, but remarkably, he was back the following year aged 14 and again carrying top weight of 12st 8lbs – an impossible challenge for such an old horse. Remarkably, Manifesto managed to finish third and was ridden this time by Ernie Piggott, Lester Piggott’s grandfather.

In 1903, now aged 15, Manifesto ran in his seventh National. Carrying 12st 3lbs, the old horse brought the house down with his courageous third.

The following year, now aged 16, Manifesto carrying 12st 1lb, was the last of the six finishers, topping off his incredible National record in fine style. As anyone following the Grand National 2011 betting will know, the race is now very different and in many ways this makes his achievements all the more impressive.

His Grand National record reads: 1895 – 4th, 1896 – did not finish due to a collision with another horse at the first fence, 1897- winner, 1898 didn’t run due to injury, 1899 – winner, 1900 – 3rd (carrying 12 stones 13 lbs.) 1901 3rd, 1902 – 3rd, 1903 – 3rd, 1904 6th aged 16.

Was this truly the greatest Grand National horse of all time?

Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide

Manifesto – Greatest Of Them All?

Williams playing it cool with State

Bet123 — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:43:46 +0000

Evan Williams has had a long term goal of winning the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 9, ever since his talented staying chaser State of Play finished a fine third behind Don’t Push It and Black Apalachi in last year’s renewal, writes Elliot Slater.

Having scratched his other possible Grand National contender Deep Purple from the Aintree marathon at the latest declaration stage, Williams is set to rely on his now veteran State of Play to carry out the plan and win the ‘world’s greatest steeplechase’. The 11-year-old hasn’t been seen since his fine effort in the race last April but that should prove no barrier to success for a horse who is well known for running best when fresh after a long break.

Two years ago the Hernando gelding also put up a terrific performance at Aintree to finish fourth in the behind shock winner Mon Mome who was 100/1 in the Grand National betting, and can be safely regarded as something of a Grand National specialist. Unlike many horses who seem to reserve their best for the Liverpool circuit but often prove ineffective at other tracks, State of Play has a record of achievement stretching back a number of years, including winning the Betfair Handicap Chase at Aintree in 2006, then putting up the best performance of his career to win the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury the same year, beating the smart Juveigneur by four-lengths.

Winner of the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in 2008, Williams’ stable star is at his best on decent ground and conditions seem likely to be ideal for him for this year’s renewal of the big race. Off a 3lb lower mark than last year (and 8lbs lower than two years ago), State of Play, a best priced 25/1 shot, looks set to run another mighty race at his favourite venue.

Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide

Williams playing it cool with State