Much speculation surrounds the possible entrants for the 2010 Grand National and one of the horses that seems to have a bit of buzz about it on the ante-post odds is Gone to Lunch.

Foaled in April 2000, Gone to Lunch is the Irish nine year old who is trained by farmer turned trainer Jeremy Scott, who works out of Higher Holworthy Farm, in Exmoor. He is owned by Gary Lever, who owns and has shares in four or five of the horses at Holworthy Farm.

A former Point to Pointer who moved on to Novice Hurdles in 2007, Gone To Lunch is looking likely to run in the 2010 Grand National, with antepost odds of 38/1 on Betfair, having ended last season in great form, going down by just half a length in the Scottish National, to Hello Bud. He then capped off the season with an excellent performance at the Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown, but again he was caught out, this time by Dessie Hughes’ Rare Bob.

He had an exceptional period in 07/08 but recently has a dip in form going from three back-to-back wins at the end of 2008 to his current P2-285. I should point out that during his best periods he has been paired with A.P. McCoy but has recently been taken out by a number of different jockeys including Barry Geraghty and Nick Schofield.

If his trainer can get him back on form and help him shed a few excess pounds he could be favourably handicapped for the Grand National. His current handicap mark would have seen him race off a pound less mark than Comply or Die, the 2008 National winner, so he therefore needs to drop his weight to be competitive in the 2010 Grand National – which shouldn’t be difficult with his bottomless stamina!