09 Apr 2016 00:07:01
Day 2 was a bit of a nearly day for me. 1 winner and 4 placed. Pass The Hat was badly hampered and ultimately well beaten. Vatour falling was a massive shock. Anyway, always tomorrow!

13.45 I am going to give Squouateur 10/ 1 another chance. Got backed off the boards at Cheltenham and was probably a bit unlucky early on. He got hampered at the 4th and it may have cost him. Like Apple's Jade a few days back, Squouateur will be better on softer going. He had beaten Mall Dini (Martin Pipe Conditional Jockey's Hurdle winner) by 5 3/ 4 lengths at Fairyhouse leading up to the festival. I think he had an off day and this going and course will see him in better light. He has also been dropped 2 lbs and has a more experienced jockey on this time. Mark Walsh has a win and second place from 2 rides on him.

14.25 The unbeaten Yorkhill at 1/ 4 is obviously going to take a world of beating. Won well at Cheltenham in a much stronger race. Barring a fall it looks his to loose. Le Prezien 8/ 1 for the forecast.

15.00 Likewise, the unbeaten and outstanding Douvan only has to stand up to win, so it's a case of looking for the forecast horse. Going to take a chance with Game Changer 20/ 1. I will most likely have an e/ w bet or w/ o fav bet on him. Taking a chance on the ground but he does have a soft ground win under his belt in his early days at Cork. He was bumped and also pecked during The Arkle. I think he may have challenged Sizing John for second otherwise. That was also his first race for 5 months so he probably needed the run.

15.40 No point dwelling on this. Thistlecrack is the best staying hurdler since Big Bucks and is a future Gold Cup winner. Shaneshill 12/ 1 is a interesting runner back over hurdles. He hasn't ran over hurdles for a year but he was 2nd in the 2015 Supreme Novices to none other than Douvan. He's my forecast and e/ w horse

16.20 Cernunnos 8/ 1. Difficult race this so taking a chance with this novice off a light weight. Tom George is on fire at the minute and has 10 winners from his last 22 runners.

17.15 The Lottery! I bet Many Clouds ante-post at 25/ 1 last year but I am deserting him tomorrow. I have bet 3 in the race as it always takes a fair chunk of luck. My first bet is Saint Are 14/ 1, last years runner up. He went down by 1 3/ 4 lengths. May have won bar a mistake at Bechers second time round. Knows his way around this course, which is a massive advantage. As I mentioned above, his trainer is on fire also and he is running off a feather weight.

My other two are Silviniaco Conti 12/ 1 and Morning Assembly 25/ 1. Both are great jumpers and travel well in their races. SC is the class horse in the race without doubt. Obviously Paul Nicholls feels he will get the trip also. Morning Assembly is lightly raced for his age and made a couple of uncharacteristic jumping errors at Cheltenham when he finished 4th in the Ultima Handicap Chase.

18.10 Finally, Frodon 12/ 1. Paul Nicholls entered him into the JCB Triumph Hurdle on his 3rd start so he must think highly off him. He was outclassed a bit on the day but not totally disgraced. Back down to a Class 2 handicap on soft ground for this. Nicholls always seems to win a handicap with one of these ex-French horses. In this weaker company he has a great chance.

Best of luck tomorrow everyone.

1.) 09 Apr 2016
09 Apr 2016 08:38:50
abighandforjeremybeadle thanks for this a great read and ill certainly have a look at those horses. my last national winner was numbersixvalverde all those 10 yrs ago so hoping for something this year.

2.) 09 Apr 2016
09 Apr 2016 10:12:31
Dave it is a tough race as you need some luck with 40 runners. Your horse could be flying one minute and then bang! Great race to watch all the same.