Grand National Meeting; GN/Masters Doubles.

[Quevega]

I'm happy to be on Intense Raffles and Iroko after chipping away at them and a few others over the winter. Preference is for Iroko. That Aintree race last year looks proper good form to me and there's potentially much more to come so I think his mark is decent.

I think the market has it bang on with those 2.
I haven't backed antepost this year on the national but have added both since NRNB came out.
Both without doubt the best handicapped horses in the race.

I've got both 2.5pts win @10-1 on each.

My other bets so far

Vanillier. 2pt @22-1
Twig 1ptew 66-1
Conflated 1ptew 100-1
Three Card Brag 1ptew 33-1

But my main bet
4ptew 25-1 Meetingofthewaters.

I'm going to try and stick to that, unless Three Card Brag and/or Twig don't make the cut.

I've ruled out all the horses rated 160+ as it's hard to really believe any of them are much better than that, but I do respect their chances, especially if any better handicapped (with room upsides) don't run well on the day, or get unlucky. I could definitely see one or two of the top weights getting in the money, but realistically one of the lower rated Irish horses should have improvement I reckon.

I don't think any of the other UK trained horses look that well handicapped, aside from Twig. I'm hoping his Doncaster run was just to tick the box of having run over fences and he wasn't right, which is likely the case given the betting last time and the fact he went to donny.

Kandoo Kid & Hyland would be maybe's.

[Birds Nest]

Of the english i quite like beauport, stiill got plenty of upswing in his chase mark from his hurdle mark 154 and 156..

[Many Clouds]

Agree with the Intense Raffles & Iroko shouts, had a good look through the race the other day and also came down on them two as the standouts.

For some sick reason iv got a good feeling about Bravemansgame at a price if he could rekindle a bit of his old spark, more than likely barking up the wrong tree with that one though.

[Quevega]

Of the english i quite like beauport, stiill got plenty of upswing in his chase mark from his hurdle mark 154 and 156..

His chase mark is 156, 2lb higher than his hurdle rating. Not sure what you mean.

You think he has scope at age 9 to get into the 160's and be in the top ten of UK trained chasers then ?

I'd have him down as one of the worst handicapped horses in the field, after getting 12lbs rise for winning a race full of handicappers that have all fallen around 5/6lbs in the handicap since.

I think I'd want 100-1 and you might get it nearer the day, the 40-1 does not look right to me.

[Wayward Lad]

I think the market has it bang on with those 2.
I haven't backed antepost this year on the national but have added both since NRNB came out.
Both without doubt the best handicapped horses in the race.

I've got both 2.5pts win @10-1 on each.

My other bets so far

Vanillier. 2pt @22-1
Twig 1ptew 66-1
Conflated 1ptew 100-1
Three Card Brag 1ptew 33-1

But my main bet
4ptew 25-1 Meetingofthewaters.

I'm going to try and stick to that, unless Three Card Brag and/or Twig don't make the cut.

I've ruled out all the horses rated 160+ as it's hard to really believe any of them are much better than that, but I do respect their chances, especially if any better handicapped (with room upsides) don't run well on the day, or get unlucky. I could definitely see one or two of the top weights getting in the money, but realistically one of the lower rated Irish horses should have improvement I reckon.

I don't think any of the other UK trained horses look that well handicapped, aside from Twig. I'm hoping his Doncaster run was just to tick the box of having run over fences and he wasn't right, which is likely the case given the betting last time and the fact he went to donny.

Kandoo Kid & Hyland would be maybe's.

What’s your rationale about Meetingofthewaters Q ? He looked to be going well last year until the home turn and appeared to not stay ?

[Eggs]

Iv been having a scour through the national

First two I ruled out were iroko and intense raffles as too short in price and too young. Noble yeats broke the 7yo stat but they still have only won once since cavemen discovered fire.

Say it quietly but I'm going to back a British horse

Nicholls has a few in there but Kandoo Kid looks the stand out

right age
3rd in the topham so likes the fences
won the coral gold cup (form has worked out, 3rds won twice, 4th won in france, 5th won next time out)
sounds like cobden is riding
Nice weight

There are plenty entered who look exposed or badly handicapped so just thought he was one of the potential improvers

20/1 also a nice price to have in an e/w double with the golf

Iv come down on xander scauffelle at 18/1-20/1
Quiet start to the season for him but t5th last start is more like it

He's played in 7 masters and finished top 10 4 times. Was always a bottler but he got his first major wins last year and given his consistent major record looks a bit of value at the prices

So kandoo kid/schauffelle

May wait for some extra places on the golf as I'd like 10 places e/w before placing

…I used this week Hills 25% boost to take him over 30-1 from 25s but he’s been having a haircut these last few days along with quite a few others.

[Quevega]

What’s your rationale about Meetingofthewaters Q ? He looked to be going well last year until the home turn and appeared to not stay ?

I’m hopeful that the ground being better will help. He was the best jumper overall but made mistakes near the end that didn’t help.
And he’s a year older and has been aimed at it this year where last season he was busy enough.
Although there’s a couple of stand outs I think the race looks weaker overall in terms of potential winners.
And most obviously his price. He’s been ignored due to this season’s form I think. Which I’m happy to ignore but could be wrong.
Touch and go who he gets on his back though. But Mullins may help as I think he likes his chances.

i have split the bet so if jockey booking isn’t ideal then I’ll reduce

[archie]

Can I politely request that this thread be moved to 'National Hunt Racing'?

[ComplyOrDie]

I'm big on I Am Maximus after his facile success in the race last season.

Not convinced the rise will stop him if turning up in similar form.

Not big on Golf, usually go with names thay I know and I'll do the same again

On top of I Am Maximus being my main bet I've had some smaller plays on 3 huge prices.

Idas Boy 181.65/1 (boosted Hills price)
Minella Drama 181.65/1
Quick Wave 181.65/1

I'm not sure if the latter is going to get in although he only needs 8 to come out.

The one other I'm keen to get onside is Vanillier, but saw Eggs mention and 'Bet & Get' offer with Hills for the National. This hasn't appeared on my account yet, but I plan on covering him using this process if it turns up anywa.

[Pisto]

I like twig in the GN always seems to travel nicely through a race, except the last time. Golf I have 0 interest and gone for mcilroy as that’s the only name I’ve heard of
twig 25/1
Mcilroy 6/1
both bfsb

[Istabraq]

Not looked at the Masters yet but is McIlroy really 6/1 ?
Who’s backing him at that price ?

[Eggs]

I like twig in the GN always seems to travel nicely through a race, except the last time. Golf I have 0 interest and gone for mcilroy as that’s the only name I’ve heard of
twig 25/1
Mcilroy 6/1
both bfsb

…..Twig is still widely available at 66-1.

[Eggs]

…a few GN price boosts with 365;

IAM 10-1
BMG 50-1
Minella Cocooner 28-1

[Eggs]

Minella Indo and Senior Chief are both on track to represent Henry De Bromhead in the Randox Grand National on Saturday week.

The former ran a cracker to finish third behind I Am Maximus in the race last season and has had two runs so far this term, at Punchestown in October and a Grade Two hurdle at Navan last month.

Speaking on Wednesday’s Nick Luck Daily Podcast, the trainer said: “He loved it there last year, ran a cracker to finish third and he seems in good form.

"He worked well the other day so we’re happy with him.

“Senior Chief won well at Cheltenham in October, was a bit disappointing in the Coral Gold Cup, but he seems good now and we’ve aimed him at the National so we’ll see."

[Pisto]

…..Twig is still widely available at 66-1.

Thanks eggs I only looked at Betfair 66/1 seems generous