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Will Weird Al win the Grand National

Max Hammond — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 07:12:19 +0000

Weird Al is a 50-1 chance with some bookmakers and the horse has had his problems in recent years. But he has managed to win over fifty percent of his starts including a Grade Two novice chase when trained by Ian Williams and a Charlie Hall since being switched to Donald McCain.

He took on the top three mile chasers in November 2011 when finishing ten lengths back in third to Kauto Star and Long Run in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.

With nine chase starts returning five wins and a third place, Weird Al is an incredibly successful horse who has netted connections over £130K in his career.

Primarily a Cheltenham horse – has has run there four times, he has never run at Aintree and this will be his first shot at the Grand National.

He likes the ground anywhere from Good to Soft so a little bit of rain should really help him out on the day. McCain has only been trained Weird Al for a few months having gotten him in October 2011 from Ian Williams yard.

Weird Al is now on a handicap mark of 164 and that rating would almost certainly find him very near the head of the weights in a Grand National showdown. Weird Al was well beat in the 2010 Hennessy when he ran off a mark of 156 but has undoubtedly improved for McCain.

However, he would face a tough task if he was given the go ahead to race in the National from a mark in the mid 160s.

The horse ran a poor race in the recent Cheltenham Gold Cup, despite being fancied by many. During the festival’s marquee contest, he bled from the nose and he seems to be a fragile character.

Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide

Will Weird Al win the Grand National

Could Seabass win Grand National

Max Hammond — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 20:17:50 +0000

16/1 chance Seabass is a recent winner of the 40k Leopardstown Handicap Chase and in doing so won his sixth consecutive race.

The horse now finds himself on an official mark in the 140s having started his winning run at a lowly 95 and trainerTed Walsh has done a great job improving this nine-year-old son of Turtle Island over forty pounds; the improvement may not yet be finished.

However, despite Seabass emerging victorious in his last six races, the Irish runner has only ever contested two races over 3m and never been beyond that distance in his racing career under Rules.

That is certainly not ideal for when heading into a Grand National, as most winners of the contest have at least possess winning form over 24 furlongs or more and Seabass has tasted defeat on both of his starts over the distance.

He has won a three mile point-to-point so still has stamina to prove for a race like the Grand National but the stable have proved already that they can deliver the ultimate prize with a young, improving horse after guiding Papillon to Grand National success in 2000. And punters should keep a very close eye on this horse. He is a must for any Grand National shortlist.

It has also been confirmed that Katie Walsh will have her first Grand National ride when she partners this horse, trained by her father Ted, in the Aintree spectacular on April 14.

With her brother Ruby confirmed to partner the Willie Mullins-trained On His Own in the big race, Ted Walsh, speaking on Saturday morning, said: “Katie will ride Seabass in the National. She knows the horse like the back of her hand and has won two handicap chases on him this season.”

Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide

Could Seabass win Grand National

Midnight Chase 33/1 to Win Grand National

Max Hammond — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:09:00 +0000

Midnight Chase was impressive when winning the Morson Group Handicap Chase at Cheltenham in November 2010 but that was some time ago now and it’s difficult to see him being a major contender for this year’s National.

33/1 shot Midnight Chase led for nearly the whole race at Cheltenham that day seeing off challenger after challenger including the stout stayer and National fancy, Any Currency, in the process. The overriding quality of his performance was the accuracy of his jumping and it’s very easy to see why he was a leading fancy for the last season’s Grand National before he was withdrawn.

The horse ran well for a long way when fifth in the Gold Cup last year but had a very hard race there and connections decided that would be enough for the season.

Trainer Neil Mulholland stated last year that he believed the horse needed another season before he becomes a fully fledged Grand National contender so it would appear all systems are go for Aintree. The 2012 season started well with a win in the Argento Chase at Cheltenham.

After that it was on to the Gold Cup again but the very highest level just seems beyond him and he finished seventh.
Despite a disappointing performance at Cheltenham, the 10-year-old is a five-time course winner at Prestbury Park and appeared to have sound place claims for trainer Neil Mulholland after finishing fifth in the blue riband 12 months ago.

But his trainer believes the ground played a big part in his poor jumping display. “He’s come out of the race fine. I think the ground was just too fast for him in places and he didn’t jump,” said Muholland.

“He just never got into that rhythm that he can do, which was a bit frustrating, but these things happen and we move on.
The quality of this horses jumping would entitle him to have some consideration at Aintree especially as he likes to race up close to the pace which has been a tactic used to good effect in recent years.

Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide

Midnight Chase 33/1 to Win Grand National

Will Shakalakaboomboom scoop the Grand National

Max Hammond — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:45:16 +0000

Trainer Nicky Henderson recently stated that Shakalakaboomboom’s preparation had gone perfectly and the trainer believes that his charge has a decent weight. Another bonus is that stable jockey Barry Geraghty is likely to be on board. Geraghty has as good a record as any jockey currently riding with a win and four placed rides in the last ten years. Geraghty also enjoyed a wonderfully successful Cheltenham Festival.

Shakalakaboomboom wasn’t particularly setting the world alight in his novice year over fences having been well beaten at the Cheltenham Festival and when stepped up into open handicap company for the Topham at Aintree.

It was, therefore, something of a surprise to see him pop up and win one of the big handicaps at the Punchestown Festival where, despite a last fence blunder, Shakalakaboomboom held off the late challenge of the well regarded Beautiful Sound from the stable of Gordon Elliott.

Stable reports had outlined that this horse had continued to improve and his reappearance in 11/12 underlines this as he won a Cheltenham handicap at the December meeting seeing off the likes of Knockara Beau, Mon Parrain and Fair Along.

Henderson has reported that this son of Anshan enjoyed his experience of the National fences in the Topham last year but the 2m 6f trip was just too short for the horse.

The horse is available at around the 20/1 mark and with Henderson and Geraghty at the helm, it is sure to be well-backed. Whether it has enough class to win this famous race is another question.

But Henderson is certainly in confident mood. “He’s our intended runner and is all ready to go,” the popular trainer told At The Races.
“After the Topham, in which he jumped beautifully, it was just that two-miles-six was a bit short for him, he went on to Punchestown where he won the Pat Taaffe Chase, then he came out at Cheltenham over three miles and a bit first time out this season and his stamina helped him a lot.”

Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide

Will Shakalakaboomboom scoop the Grand National

West End Rocker Grand National Chances

Max Hammond — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:10:19 +0000

West End Rocker is a thorough stayer who ran below par on desperate ground last time but had looked most progressive until that setback.

The horse has winning form on good ground and must enter calculations if he adapts to these unique obstacles. One of many dark horses in the race, his victory in the 3m 5f totesport Classic Chase in January appears to have allayed any stamina fears, but the big question here is whether he will act on good ground.

Although West End Rocker failed to complete the National course last season when being brought down at Becher’s Brook on the first circuit, Alan King’s raider showed he could manufacture his way round the course when storming to victory in the Beecher Chase.

He jumped eyecatchingly well and as other seems to wilt under the pressure of the trip, he duly pulled clear of Niche Market up the run-in to immediately propel him into the Grand National reckoning and if he can emulate that classy performance on April 14 then he will be a lively contender, even though he is a little bit of an unknown quantity.

Alan King is not noted for his runners in the Grand National with just five runners in the last ten years but Aintree has always been the target with West End Rocker. It’s well documented that King’s horses were not firing at 100% in the 09/10 season and this horse ran twice that year performing poorly on both occasions. The upshot was an eight pound drop in the handicap for last season and with the trainer’s string revitalised, the team utilised West End Rocker’s new mark, winning two decent handicaps.

It would seem his unlucky experience last year in the Grand National has not caused any lasting problems as he returned to Aintree for the Becher Chase in December and was an emphatic twenty-two length winner. At 16/1, this horse looks good value.

Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide

West End Rocker Grand National Chances

Sunnyhillboy Grand National Chances

Max Hammond — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 09:15:49 +0000

Sunnyhillboy was spectacular when winning the Kim Muir Challenge Cup at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival and Jonjo O’Neill’s charge will look to use that success as a springboard to Grand National glory.

Ballabriggs showed when using the race as a springboard that it is an ideal trial for this race and if he can take to the Aintree fences then could well be a leading contender come the last couple of fences. His third place finish in the 2011 Irish National showed he can deal with the extreme distances and so the 4m 4f distance shouldn’t be a problem.

Sunnyhillboy finally justified the obvious high opinion the stable hold him in when taking the Kim Muir and he is an obvious contender for the National at around the 16-1 price.

The nine-year-old had previously been backed into favouritism for the 2010 Byrne Plate and the 2011 William Hill Chase at the Festival as well as the Irish National without failing to deliver so connections must be relieved he has finally won a big prize over fences.

The Jonjo O’Neill trained gelding had previously won big races over hurdles – a 28k handicap hurdle at Sandown in 2008 and a similar contest worth 34k at Aintree – but sometimes his jumping over the larger obstacles can leave something to be desired (his round of jumping before falling in the William Hill was x-rated).

Sunnyhillboy’s trainer has stated previously that as his charge was not the biggest he might need a bit of cut in the ground to help him with his jumping but he seemed to cope well enough with goodish ground at Cheltenham this year. However, if he lacks scope he may find the demands of the Grand National a step too far, especially as his jumping has been a cause for concern in the past.

Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide

Sunnyhillboy Grand National Chances

Will Ballabriggs manage a second Grand National Win

Max Hammond — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:30:23 +0000

Last year’s success story, the Donald McCain-trained Ballabriggs, would be an extremely popular back-to-back winner at around the 14/1 mark.

The horse has been preserving his handicap mark all winter as connections believe him to be an ideal National type yet again and he is bidding to give the McCain family their 5th win in the race and owner Trevor Hemmings his second after Hedgehunter in 2005.

It took a while to find his feet over fences but once he got the hang of things he’s gone from strength to strength winning a hat-trick of races in 2010, including the Kim Muir and, of course, following that up with a brilliant success in last year’s Grand National.

The horse was campaigned over hurdles in the early part of the 10/11 season to maintain a good handicap mark but that didn’t stop him winning two novice hurdles. He came back over fences at Kelso after the publication of the Grand National weights to finish second to the improving Skippers Brig.

Connections were very happy with his run at Kelso although it didn’t please all viewers and was presumably the reason he went from ante-post favourite for the Grand National to being available at 20/1 in the run-up to the race. Any doubts were obviously misplaced as, given a very positive ride from Jason Maguire, he led from the third fence and despite being headed with six to jump, fought on bravely to see off the field by over two lengths.

As with every Grand National winner there inevitably comes plenty of hype regarding his chances of winning the race again but this is proving so difficult to do in the modern era especially as Ballabriggs official handicap mark has gone up a hefty ten pounds.

Compare this to impressive 2010 winner Don’t Push It being raised only seven pounds for his win and it would seem that Ballabriggs will have his hands full to try and pull off an Aintree double.

Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide

Will Ballabriggs manage a second Grand National Win

Junior Chances to Win the Grand National

Max Hammond — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 06:55:22 +0000

Junior has run over the jumps for three different trainers in Brian Meehan, Alan King and now David Pipe – and he seems to have rekindled the horse’s enthusiasm.

Had started to look slightly uncooperative during his time with Alan King and despite winning twice in his novice year over fences connections were probably disappointed with what he achieved considering he was a 143 rated hurdler.

The move to Pond House certainly seemed to stoke the horse up with Pipe gaining an excellent win from the horse on the flat at Royal Ascot. Junior then returned to action over obstacles and was placed over fences and hurdles before demolishing the field in last year’s Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival where he won by a huge 24 lengths.

As he has now won over 26f over jumps you would imagine stamina would not be a problem in the National. Junior failed to make the cut for last year’s Grand National but his win at last year’s Festival will ensure he will be high in the weights in this year’s National.

Pipe has run the nine-year-old twice this season including a hugely encouraging second in the Grimthorpe at Doncaster where he lost out by just a short-head to Ikordu Road. Versatile and talented it is easy to see why Junior figures so highly in the betting for the 2012 Grand National and connections will be hoping that his previously suspect jumping holds together under the ultimate test at Aintree.

At a current price of around 10/1, Junior – a likely pre-post favourite – will be popular with the punters and has an excellent chance in a wide-open race.

Having been allocated 11-02 for the 2012 Grand National, many question his jumping ability but as he has never unseated his rider or fallen, he is a safe bet to get around the course.

Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide

Junior Chances to Win the Grand National

Synchronised chances in the Grand National

Max Hammond — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 22:52:41 +0000

All eyes will be on Aintree next week as the 2012 Grand National takes centre stage in the sporting calendar. One of the horses competing on Saturday 14th April 2012 will be the Jonjo O’Neill trained Synchronised.

Synchronised Chances of winning

It seems fair to say that nine-year-old is considered one of the main contenders for victory in the biggest and most famous Steeplechase in horse racing.

Fresh from victory at the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the horse is in fantastic form and even though there has been a small amount of doubt about Synchronised’s involvement in the 2012 Grand National, a representative says that the JP McManus owned horse has ‘come out of the Gold Cup well’.

If this extremely capable horse – who heads the weights for the National – is in the field, its chances of winning are fantastic and many believe lightning can strike twice.

Synchronised Odds

Looking at the specific betting odds for a Synchronised victory, BetVictor has this down as short as 8/1, while the best value at the moment comes from William Hill at 10/1.

You can bet on other events involving Synchronised and the Grand National too of course. For the horse to be named as the favourite prior to the race, you can get 4/1 with Stan James.

You can even get odds of 22/1 for Synchronised to win by over nine lengths and this shows you the expectancy for this horse.

Synchronised Current form

The current form of Synchronised is obviously top draw having won the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month. With jockey Tony McCoy, the horse won the most famous race at the Cheltenham Festival and this followed victory at Leopardstown in December.

All rounds now lead to Aintree at Synchronised eyes a hat-trick of high-profile wins.
Previous performances

As for the history of Synchronised in the Grand National, the short answer is that there isn’t any. This would be the first time Synchronised has been run in the Aintree Grand National.

Synchronised Trainer form

Trainer Jonjo O’Neill on the other hand has plenty of experience and the victory with Synchronised at the Cheltenham Festival was one of his many in 2012 already. However, none of O’Neill’s runners have been placed above 2nd since the Cheltenham Festival, so he is perhaps saving his next success for the biggest race of all.

Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide

Synchronised chances in the Grand National

Burton Port in standby for Grand National

Bet123 — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:06:45 +0000

Cheltenham Gold Cup fourth Burton Port, who is as short as 12-1 for the John Smith’s Grand National with Blue Square and Coral, will contest the Betfred Bowl instead, trainer Nicky Henderson has said.

The horse will, however, be left in the National in case anything untoward occurs with Ballabriggs, who like Burton Port is owned by Trevor Hemmings.
Burton Port was almost the forgotten novice chaser in the Henderson yard of 09/10 that included Punchestown and Long Run but he quietly went about his business and won his first three races over fences before surprising his trainer in finishing best of his runners (second to Weapons Amnesty) in the RSA of 2010.

The horse then followed up in the Mildmay at Aintree, on a track that probably did not play to his tenacious strengths. The season 2010/11 promised much after such an illustrious start to the son of Bob Back’s chasing career and that year started off in great fashion with a runner-up spot in the Hennessy behind the impressive Diamond Harry.

Unfortunately, injury intervened after that race but he returned apparently as good as ever in 2011/12 when running Long Run close in the Denman Chase at Newbury. With regards to the Grand National, his will to win is ideal and probably would have the required stamina but dealing with a big weight would be a major worry.

Reports suggest that Burton Port is relatively small for a top-class chaser and might therefore have problems shouldering large weights, especially over big fences such as those at Aintree.

The horse is currently 20-1, a big reflection of the fact he is unlikely to take his place in this year’s National.

Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide

Burton Port in standby for Grand National