Tuesday, March 31, 2009

A Twitter Guide to the Grand National entries

The beauty of Twitter is its 140 character limit. Here are my notes on the entries for this year’s Grand National - with no more than 140 characters per entry…

Cloudy Lane Small horse, big weight
Chelsea Harbour Ninth last year, prefer some cut
Snowy Morning Third last year, out of sorts this year
Knowhere Near enough when falling at Valentine’s (second time) last year; 66/1 looks big
Comply Or Die Last year’s winner ran decent trail at Cheltenham after two poor efforts; each-way claims
Ollie Magern Front runner who likes Wetherby; not the biggest individual - others preferred
Black Apalachi Won The Becher over National fences in November; needs soft
Hear The Echo Won the Irish National last year and aimed at this; interesting
Preists Leap Wants plenty of rain before the off
My Will Fifth in Gold Cup, first in the betting, no value
Eurotrek At thirteen probably too old now
State Of Play A chance at his best but has disappointed too often before for my liking
Big Fella Thanks At seven probably not experienced enough
Mon Mome Tenth last year; each-way shout if in the mood
Silver Birch Won the 2007 running but been off injured a long time
Butler’s Cabin Good chance if he can get past Becher’s where he fell last year; needs McCoy in the plate
Offshore Account Unexposed dark horse at around 40/1
Parsons Legacy Chance if he’s in the mood but not for me
Reveillez Unlikely
Fundamentalist His best years appear behind him
Golden Flight Formerly with Guillaume Macaire; beaten long way at Cheltenham Festival three weeks ago
L’ami Gave Mick Fitz horror fall last year; now with Enda Bolger who may have worked the oracle
Battlecry Not really built on last season’s achievements as a novice
Cornish Sett Bit of a character who finished twelfth last year and could run well; 33/1 shot
Fleet Street Has stamina doubts
Musica Bella Long time since a French horse won this
Can’t Buy Time Fourth in the Cheltenham four miler, not getting up the hill; take the hint if AP rides
Darkness Considered good prospect once but picked up an injury. Each-way chance if jumping holds out
Irish Invader Good form, prefer soft, each-way claims providing he stays
Rambling Minster Ticks the right boxes, the percentage call (if there is such a thing in a race like this!)
Southern Vic Ruby Walsh prefers My Will
Kilbeggan Blade Has nice racing weight and should stay but I think he prefers going right-handed
Brooklyn Brownie Second over National fences in Grand Sefton last November; not guaranteed to stay
Himalayan Trail Won Midlands National for Sue Smith; reasonable each-way claims at 33s
Arteea Hard to fancy
Cerium 500/1 chance sums it up
Idle Talk Never been the best of jumpers but finished fourteenth last year; of limited appeal
Kelami Fell at the eleventh last year and has shown no form since
Zabenz Twelve year old who looks past his prime

No comments: