Hedge your bet
Grand National day is traditionally the busiest of the year for betting-shop staff. But this time round they will surely be able to relax, enjoy a cup of coffee, puff a fag, as long as they leave the building, and, generally, put their feet up. And all thanks to the lovely couple.
Most won’t have time to bet! Put the National back 25 minutes for television purposes all you want, but don’t expect us to miss a second of the wedding.
There are certain similarities between Charles and Camilla and some of the runners at Aintree. Now stick with me.
Charles and Camilla aren’t exactly spring-chickens and have both been over the course before. Tough and durable, they should get the trip. Indeed, the only thing that will be new to them will be the cake! It’s a bit like that for a number of the principals in the National. The first five from last year, Amberleigh House, Clan Royal, Lord Atterbury, Monty’s Pass and Spot Thedifference, are all available for duty again.
And Hedgehunter, who was just beginning to weaken when falling at the last a year ago, is also in the mix.
Tough, durable customers the lot, largely certain to get the trip, not unlike Charles and Camilla, you would have to agree.
Anyway, who is going to win this National? To put it bluntly, haven’t a clue.
Put a gun to my head and I’d probably come down on the side of Hedgehunter. He ran a blinder 12 months ago and has a much better chance of staying now as a nine-year-old. Soft ground will hold no fears for him.
It is also significant that Ruby Walsh had no hesitation accepting the ride. The nagging worry, however, is Hedgehunter will have to carry over 11-0 and that won’t be easy.
REALLY looking forward to Brave Inca at Aintree on Saturday in the Grade One Scottish and Newcastle Aintree Hurdle.
Sorry Charlie and Camilla, but simply have to tear myself away from you, briefly, to see this contest.
It will only be the second time Brave Inca has tackled two and a half miles. The other occasion was when he won his first ever race over flights at Fairyhouse in November of 2003.
He was 6-4 favourite to beat 23 rival and duly scored by four lengths. Brave Inca ran off 93 that day, he is currently on 165.
Many good judges didn’t fancy him for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, on the basis his jumping wasn’t good enough.
They were right. When the pace slackened on the far side of the track, he backed off two of the obstacles and you could even argue that ultimately cost him the race. He seems to jump best at top speed, he flew the last two at Cheltenham when flat to the board.
His old rival Macs Joy, fifth in the Champion Hurdle, again renews rivalry. This easy track will be ideal for him, but will he get down and battle like Brave Inca when the war starts to rage?
COULDN’T believe the price Dermot Weld’s Tasman was at Navan last Saturday. Indeed, If you had said 7-4 would be on offer here’s one who would have sent for the lads in the white coats.
My interpretation of the form book indicated he had achieved a fair bit more than main rival, Far From Trouble, but all the faces, all the wide boys, wanted to be on that horse.
It’s amazing how much improvement a beastie can find when asked to go and jump a set of flights. Tasman has never won on the flat and his last effort on the level, fourth to Liberman at Tramore in August, was hardly encouraging.
But he has gone from strength to strength over hurdles. He jumps brilliantly, handles testing conditions and stays really well.
Tasman is still only a five-year-old, clearly has a future and has the physique to handle a fence one day.
Wonder if Weld will be tempted at some stage this season, particularly given cut in the ground, to exploit the horse’s current flat mark? Heading for Navan he was rated 125 over hurdles. His flat rating right now is 65, down 3lbs since Tramore.
