This Saturday’s Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr might not have the prestige, prize money or quite the class of Aintree’s John Smith’s Grand National, but it nevertheless looks a fascinating contest, and one in which Sue Smith’s Himalayan Trail could go well at a decent price, writes Elliot Slater.
Now that connections of the mighty [...]
The long wait is nearly over and in two days the Grand National 2010 will begin and with all 40 horses standing their ground today we should be in for a terrific race, so much so that trying to determine the outcome if it is proving more and more difficult. In fact, the short list [...]
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As a jockey, Irishman Dessie Hughes scaled the heights, winning the 1977 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Davy Lad and the Champion Hurdle two years later when partnering Monksfield to a famous success over Sea Pigeon. Now, more than 30 years on, Hughes has his best chance of winning the John Smith’s Grand National as the [...]
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Way back in 1982 Grittar became the first hunter chaser of the modern era to win the Grand National when partnered by 48-year-old amateur rider Dick Saunders to a famous Aintree success. This year Trust Fund, a very smart hunter chaser himself, may attempt to be the first this millennium to repeat the feat, writes [...]
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Dessie Hughes is one of Ireland’s most established and skilled trainers, who has had consistent success with numerous horses over the years, most notably with Hardy Eustace. A successful jockey in his own right, he won the 1977 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Davy Lad and he also beat Sea Pigeon, riding Monksfield in his most [...]
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In 171 years of Grand National history only one horse has managed to win the toughest steeple chase three times ~ the legendary, famed and infamous Red Rum. This remarkable jumper became an instant celebrity in horse racing circles after winning the Grand National in 1973, 1974 and 1977. The 2010 Aintree Grand National might [...]
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When multi-millionaire racehorse owner Graham Wylie paid 200,000 guineas for Abbeybraney at public auction in November 2008, he bought the horse specifically with the John Smith’s Grand National in mind, writes Elliot Slater.
A classy performer in his native Ireland, Abbeybraney had only narrowly failed to beat the smart Notre Pere in a Grade 1 event [...]
When the John Smith’s Grand National weights were made public in mid-February trainer Mouse Morris’s reaction was one of barely disguised disgust and he made it clear that the 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner was a very doubtful runner, writes Elliot Slater.
I’m sure we have all said things in the heat of the moment that [...]
Despite the much voiced frustration of Mouse Morris when the weights for the 2010 Grand National were declared on Feb 16th, the prolific trainer has not yet removed his only entry, War of Attrition, from the big race.
The deadline for the first official scratchings for the race was on march 2nd and it transpired that [...]
Big Fella Thanks was always an ante-post favourite with the bookies for the 2010 Grand National but after his winning performance today at Newbury, in the Raymond Mould Supporting Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase, where he romped home, he has now trumped Tricky Trickster with Paddy Power to become the 8/1 horse to beat on [...]
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