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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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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It seems that lately, Paul Nicholls can do no wrong when it comes to training high profile winners and he’s odds on favourite to be be top trainer for Cheltenham in a couple of weeks with notable runners such as Tricky Trickster, Denman and Kauto Star all under his guidance.
His challenge for the Totesport Cheltenham [...]
Things are really hotting up for 2010 Grand National, now the Cheltenham Festival is over all eye’s turn to Aintree for this years big race on April 10th. And luckily for us things are really moving along with all entries and weights now declared for the race.
Generally the final line-up of 40 horses are based [...]
Mouse Morris is not a happy camper these days especially as his main contender for the Grand National 2010, War of Attrition, was given a particularly high weighting of 11st 1lb on Tuesday by the official handicapper.
Morris has advised that he is “more than a bit baffled and very disappointed” with the allotted weight which [...]
The day we’ve all been waiting for since the entries were announced is finally here and yes, the weights have now been declared giving us all a better picture of the potential line up for the Grand National 2010 on April 10th.
There were some surprises, not least of which is the fact that three horses [...]
