In the 2011 renewal Tatenen popped up as a relatively unconsidered outsider at odds of 22/1, slamming a decent field by 16-lengths and giving a fine display of front-running having taken up the running at halfway. In 2012, racing off a 7lb higher mark and coming into the race off a fair effort when seventh to Quantitativeasing in the Grade 3 Spinal Injuries the Atlantic 4 Gold Cup at Cheltenham in December, Thornton’s mount again took up the running some way from home and after kicking clear at the fourth last came back to his field at the second from home and was headed by David Pipe’s I’msingintheblues. Those following the best ante-post horse racing betting online will have been impressed.

Determined not to go down without a fight, Tatenen rallied going to the final fence and in a ding-dong battle on the run-in eventually forged to the front in the last couple of strides to score from the brave runner-up by a head. There was a sting in the tail for both Thornton and Conor O’Farrell, rider of the runner-up, who both received five-day bans for excessive use of the whip.

Plans are now afoot for Tatenen to have a crack at the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 14, the Mildmay track at the Liverpool circuit having been a happy hunting ground for the horse in previous seasons, winning a listed novice chase there in October 2008 then running a massive race in finishing an eight-length second to Kalahari King in the Grade 1 Maghull Chase at the track a year later. If he takes to the giant spruce fences Tatenen, (a horse with more than a touch of class), could be an interesting outsider.

The Willie Mullins-trained 11-year old finished sixth in the big race in 2011 after going off at the top of the market at 15/2, following a strong gamble on the Ruby Walsh ridden runner.

The Midnight Club was one of only 19 runners to complete the course in a controversial race where two fences were omitted for the first time in history.

Last season’s experience over the big obstacles will certainly have benefited Mullins’ horse and he is likely to have support once again if two-time winner of the race Walsh opts to ride the mount once again. Those looking for Grand National free bets will be keeping an eye on his decision.

The Midnight Club has had two runs so far this season. He started his campaign back in December at Leopardstown over hurdles but was unfortunate to be brought down during that race when going well.

His second run this season was also in Ireland at Tramore where there were a smaller field of six runners in a Listed Race over fences. The Midnight Club finished fourth in the race won Art Approach over 2m5f.

Five out of the first six home in last year’s Grand National are likely to run again in April. The only exception is 2010 winner Don’t Push It who retired earlier this month after not impressing back at home.

Ballabriggs is aiming to become the first horse since Red Rum to win back-to-back races, whilst the connections of last year’s second Oscar Time will be hoping to go one better than 12 months ago under amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen.

The David Pipe-trained runner is well fancied for the big race at Aintree and will be looking to give Pipe his second success in the 4m4f steeplechase after Comply or Die’s victory in 2008.

Junior proved his adaptability when winning the Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting. He then went on to complete an extraordinary double by winning the Kim Muir by 24 lengths after one of the biggest gambles of the 2011 Cheltenham Festival.

The Grand National trial at Haydock on February 18 is a possibility for the nine-year-old’s next appearance, after which connections will have to decide his next path. Anyone following the Grand National betting should keep an eye on his efforts.

If Junior does skip the race at the Lancashire track, he could run in the Grimthrope Chase at Doncaster, which would arrive after the weights for the Grand National are revealed.

The Middleham Park Racing LI-owned horse does have an entry in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, however, their racing manager Tim Palin has admitted that it would be unlikely that Junior would go to the festival this year.

“We gave him the Gold Cup entry mainly in case something happens to one or both of the big two,” he said. “If that were to happen, the race would obviously be thrown wide open.

Pipe would go into the blue riband event double-handed if Junior was to run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Novice chaser Grand Crus could provide his best chance in the race if they skip the RSA Chase and go for the big prize at the festival.

The Irish Grand National is one of the great National Hunt chases in the racing calendar. Held annually on Easter Monday at the Fairytown racecourse, in County Meath, Republic of Ireland, it was first run in 1870 when inaugural winner, Sir Robert Peel, picked up the grand prize of 167 guineas. Last year’s winner, by comparison, took home prize money of over £120,000.

Since 1870, the race has been staged over the marathon distance of 3 miles and 5 furlongs (3 miles and 4 furlongs prior to 1991), or 5,834 meters, with only two exceptions. The 23-fence race was cancelled in 1919 and 1941 due to the small matter of the two World Wars.

The race is open only to horses aged five years or older, but the majority of winners have been aged between 7 and 11. Prior to Organisedconfusions win in the 2011 race, at 6 years old, the last winner who was under seven years old was back in 1985, when legendary chaser Rhyme ‘n’ Reason romped home. Last year’s winner also made history for being ridden by Nina Carberry, the first female jockey to take the title, and only second in the race’s history, since Ann Ferris in 1984. Her winning ride made such an impact that she went on to claim the Irish Times/Irish Sports Council Sportswoman of the Year title off the back of her victory.

Carberry’s name was added to an impressive roll of honour. As well as Rhyme ‘n’ Reason, such legendary horses as Arkle and Desert Orchid, in 1964 and 1990 respectively, have won at Fairytown. Also, while Red Rum was winning the English Grand National three times in the mid-to-late 1970s, it was Brown Lad making history in County Meath. This record-breaking ride picked up three wins in 1975, 1976 and 1978. The race’s leading jockey is Pat Taaffe, who won six times in the 1950s and 1960s. In addition, the all-time leading trainer is Tom Dreaper, whose ten wins from 1942 to 1966 included a spectacular seven-in-a-row in the early 1960s – with Taaffe in the saddle for three of those seven! The winning blood is obviously strong in the Dreaper family, with Tom’s son Jim training four winners himself in the 1970s, including all of Brown Lad’s victories. Two of those historic victories saw Nina Carberry’s father Tommy riding the winner.

It is still a rare achievement for an Irish Grand National winner to go on to achieve victory in the Aintree Grand National. The feat has still never been achieved in the same racing year. The first to complete the double was the 1904 Irish winner, Ascetic’s Silver, who won the English National in 1906. The achievement has since been completed just other three times in the 140 runnings of the race, by Rhyme ‘n’ Reason, Bobbyjo and Numbersixvalverde.

For some people April may seem months away but for others it is just right around the corner. That is right. It is time to get ready for the 2012 Grand National. This horse race is a most exciting time for horse lovers and race fans both. There are three days of fun and exciting things to do. From women and children to the racers themselves there is something for everyone. It holds appeal too many people and now is the time to purchase your tickets for the anticipated three day event in April.

The first Grand National Championship was held in 1839. It was one by a horse named Lottery. It is now a three day event starting with Liverpool Day on April 12, Ladies Day on April 13, and Grand National Day on April 14. These three days are full of music, fashion, racing, and fun. The race itself is the highest quality of jump racing in the UK. Forty horses will line up and jump 30 fences in four and a half miles. This is a test of the toughest horses and jockeys in the world. You will find many people betting on their horses each year, whether they study the horses and jockeys and their abilities or whether they just pick names and place bets. It is a great tradition and race to watch and will leave you wanting more.

Liverpool Day is in its third year and provides entertainment off the track for this wonderful event. There are concerts held on this day, parades, and sporting legends have also been known to make an appearance. This year on April 12, 2012, Liverpool Day is supposed to be bigger and better than ever.

For the ladies of the races, Ladies Day will be held on April 13. This second day of the three day entertainment package is going to be more stylish than ever. A flourish of fashion shows, make up samplings and giveaways, and grab bag giveaways are going to make up the best Ladies Day ever held. There will be splashes of color in the Red Rum Garden that will be sure to spice up the excitement.

Last, but certainly not least, there is Grand National Day. It only happens once a year and only lasts approximately fifteen minutes. It is that fifteen minutes that will leave you coming back year after year. If you are simply watching the race on television with millions of other people, or if you are one of the lucky ones that can actually be at the Aintree Racecourse in person, it is an experience you are not likely to forget.

So, everyone mark your calendars. April is not too far away. The three day event is quickly approaching and it is time to prepare. The festivities, the entertainment, and the racing are definitely not something that you want to miss. Tickets for this festive three days went on sale in August. It will be a rush of fun and flash for these memorable few days. It is not something that you are going to want to miss.

Generally on offer at 33/1 in the ante-post list for the 2012 John Smith’s Grand National, the 10-year-old did little wrong at Kelso in finishing a brave second to the progressive Always Right in the Monteith Memorial Champion Handicap Chase, suggesting there was better to come as he built up towards another tilt at the world’s greatest steeplechase, an event in which he finished a creditable 9th behind Ballabriggs in this year’s renewal. The ante-post Grand National betting suggested he would be in with a shout this year.

On the strength of his seasonal reappearance run Richards had been keen to send the gelded son of Zaffaran to Ireland over the Christmas period to take his chance in the Grade 1 Lexus Chase, but now all plans are on hold for the horse who has been notoriously difficult to train having had a series of leg problems over the years both with Richards and with his previous trainer Lennie Lungo.

In all Skippers Brig has won nine of his 19 outings and last season proved himself as good as ever, finishing in mid-division in Leopardstown’s Paddy Power Chase after a year off the track before winning a Pertemps Hurdle Handicap qualifier at Haydock in game fashion under 11st 11lbs. He followed up over fences back at Kelso causing a shock when lowering the colours of hot favourite Ballabriggs, a performance that won him plenty of admirers and saw him head to Aintree as a genuine candidate for honours. He raced prominently in the big race itself, being right of the heels of the leaders until hampered by a faller at the fourth last, after which he eventually faded to finish out of the money.

L’Escargot was twelve years old when he won the Grand National he was owned by R.R. Guest and trained by Dan Moore. L’Escargot made four Grand National appearances, his first in 1972 when he unfortunately fell. The next few years saw him improve his finishing position in the race and in 1973 he was placed 3rd, in 1974 2nd, culminating in his win in 1975, ridden by Tommy Carberry.

1975 was not the most exciting year to achieve your goal of winning the Grand National as that year would see the smallest crowd of spectators in living memory, this was attributed to the new owner of Aintree tripling the admission prices. This was the year that the legendary Red Rum was looking for his third consecutive win however, he was beaten into second place by L’Escargot who was priced at 13/2. It would be another two years before Red Rum would achieve his record three wins and become an Aintree legend.

Tommy Carberry who was five times Champion National Hunt jockey and twice overall Champion Irish jockey had previously ridden L’Escargot to victory twice in The Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1970/71. Carberry retired from racing in 1982 and began training and in 1998 with his son Paul riding he won the Irish Grand National. In !999 twenty four years after his winning ride on L’Escargot his horse Bobby Jo won the Aintree Grand National.

Nicky Richards has continued the high standards established by his father and has remained at the training base of Greystoke Castle in Cumbria throughout his career. This season has proved a rollercoaster time for the now veteran handler, having seen his Monet’s Garden win a third Old Roan Chase in sensational fashion at Aintree’s November meeting, before learning that horse was critically ill and fighting for his life, suffering from a hoof infection. After weeks of racing fans hoping and praying, Monet’s Garden survived and returned home, but not before another Richards’ stalwart Money Trix suffered a fatal fall in Grade 1 company in Ireland.

As a young horse Skippers Brig was thought of as potentially top class but he has had his training problems over the years and been relatively lightly raced as a consequence and those looking to place Grand National bets will no doubt take this into account. He remains a horse of serious ability though, as he proved when running third to Poquelin in the 2009 Boylesports Gold Cup at Cheltenham, and when switching to hurdles last month to show a clean pair of heels to his rivals in a qualifier for the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle at Haydock.

At Kelso earlier this month all eyes were on Donald McCain’s Ballabriggs in the Premier Chase, a leading contender for the forthcoming Grand National, but punters reckoned without Skippers Brig who put up a terrific performance to reel-in the horse seeking a six-timer and win by a length-and-three-quarters.

8lbs better in with the runner up at Aintree, it seems bizarre that Ballabriggs is a best priced 14/1 chance, whist his conqueror Skippers Brig can be freely backed at 40/1. Judge for yourself where the value lies.

Although all eyes were understandably focusing on the new champion Long Run getting the better of a tremendous tussle with former champions Denman and Kauto Star, Johnson’s Tidal Bay had become tailed off, but then (as is his wont), suddenly decided he fancied the job and came home strongly to finish with a flourish into sixth position. It is no secret that the 10-year-old is a very quirky performer but he is also endowed with bags of talent and his County Durham-based handler is beginning to warm to the idea that Aintree and the challenge of the John Smith’s Grand National might just be the challenge his horse is looking for. He may be something of an outsider in the Grand National betting, but he could have what it takes.

Johnson reasons that the longer trip of the Aintree marathon could well suit Tidal Bay, a horse who tends to get behind in his races before finishing with a head of steam, much as he did in November when coming from out of the clouds to run the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander to a length in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase. Those looking for Aintree Grand National tipsshould bear this in mind. The Graham Wylie-owned gelding is also reckoned to be a horse who thrives on new challenges, and the former Arkle Chase and Cleeve Hurdle winner might just fancy the job on April 9.

Despite showing that he still possesses bags of ability with his Cheltenham effort, bookmakers have left the son of Flemensfirth at 50/1 behind the general ante-post market leader The Midnight Club (12/1), representing the in-form Willie Mullins stable.

Jonjo O’Neill’s eleven-year-old has been campaigned over hurdles this season and his latest run at Cheltenham suggested he was reaching his peak at the ideal time. A P McCoy settled his mount off the pace and hunted him around in mid-division, before he stayed on well to finish in tenth place to be beaten a shade over twenty lengths. This was a step-up on his previous run at Newbury some three weeks earlier and it will surely have added to the confidence levels that his connections will already be boasting. Anyone with a Grand National free bet to place may want to seriously consider putting it on Don’t Push It.

That run will have put the edge on the Grand National top weight and he will now go to Liverpool with strong claims of retaining his crown. His experience of not only the unique National fences, but also the rip roaring atmosphere and nerve racking parade, will be a huge bonus on the day of the race and with McCoy on his back he will not be short of assistance from the saddle. The Aintree Grand National betting suggests he has every chance of doing well.

With McCoy in the plate there is sure to be plenty of support from the once-a-year punters and the advice is that now is the best time to side with the JP McManus owned gelding.