Grand National Thoughts

Well the big race is fast approaching and it will be interesting to see what difference the start being moved makes, probably more than the jumps being watered down I would imagine as there is potential for a number of fallers at the first if someone doesnt get a grip.
Lets hope the jockeys, who after all set the pace of the race, think before they set off. This is their livelyhood aftre all and they dont need a load of own goals in the press which will only serve as another nail in the coffin for all in the National Hunt game.

Looking at the field for this years race there were three 12 year olds at the top of the handicap before Tidal Bay came out and of those left you wouldnt be confident that either Albertas Run, Imperial Commander, Quito De La Roque or What A Friend will run which could mean that the weights would be raised by 6lb which would then bring 20+ horses to 11 stone or over which the last 4 winners have carried.

One sire who has had a big influence in the race of late is Old Vic as his record below shows :
2012 - Sunnyhillboy 2nd (btn a nose) (142)
2011 - Dont Push It 3rd (160)
2010 - Dont Push It 1st, (154) and Black Apalachi 2nd (153)
2009 - Comply Or Die 2nd (154)
2008 - Comply Or Die 1st (139)

This year there are only two by Old Vic in the entries for the race, last years second Sunnyhillboy (152) and the Becher Chase second Join Together (150), but the latter has to cope with the statistic that no 8yo has won in the last 10 years from 61 runners.

There were three or four races yesterday that will have a bearing on the race and I will review those later on in the week.