Entries announced today and the big news is that Denman is NOT entered. His inclusion would have had a major effect on the weights and would probably have given Don't Push It a better chance of being the first back-to-back winner since Red Rum in '74.
Will start cruching the stats after the weights are announced on 15th Feb.
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Comments
Bring it home Mr Peanuts!
;-)
Your boys are gonna take a hell of a beating.
2) NEPTUNE COLLONGES (FR) 11-10
3) TIDAL BAY (IRE) 11-09
4) MIDNIGHT CHASE 11-08
5) DEEP PURPLE 11-07 Paul Green Evan Williams
6) TRANQUIL SEA (IRE) 11-07
7) SYNCHRONISED (IRE)
8) VIC VENTURI (IRE) 11-06
9) WHAT A FRIEND 11-06
10) MAJESTIC CONCORDE (IRE) 11-05
11) OR NOIR DE SOMOZA (FR) 11-05
12) DOONEYS GATE (IRE) 11-04
13) LITTLE JOSH (IRE) 11-03
14) SCOTSIRISH (IRE) 11-02
15) BIG FELLA THANKS 11-01
16) BALLABRIGGS (IRE) 11-00
17) TARANIS (FR) 11-00
18) TATENEN (FR) 11-00
19) THE TOTHER ONE (IRE) 11-00
20) NICHE MARKET (IRE) 10-13
21) THE MIDNIGHT CLUB (IRE) 10-13
22) BACKSTAGE (FR) 10-12
23) CHIEF DAN GEORGE (IRE) 10-12
24) SILVER BY NATURE 10-12
25) FAIR ALONG (GER) 10-11
26) I'MSINGINGTHEBLUES (IRE) 10-11
27) NOTRE PERE (FR) 10-11
28) CALGARY BAY (IRE) 10-10
29) KILLYGLEN (IRE) 10-10
30) TRICKY TRICKSTER (IRE) 10-10
31) JUST AMAZING (IRE) 10-09
32OSCAR TIME (IRE) 10-09
33) SNOWY MORNING (IRE) 10-09
34) BALLYTRIM (IRE) 10-08
35) BECAUSEICOULDNTSEE (IRE) 10-08
36) COMPLY OR DIE (IRE) 10-08
37) NEDZER'S RETURN (IRE) 10-08
38) NORTHERN ALLIANCE (IRE) 10-08
39) QUINZ (FR) 10-08
40) QUOLIBET (FR) 10-08
41) FROM DAWN TO DUSK 10-07
42) GRAND SLAM HERO (IRE) 10-07
43) ROLL ALONG (IRE) 10-07 Bryan
44) APT APPROACH (IRE) 10-06
45) GULLIBLE GORDON (IRE) 10-06
46) KING FONTAINE (IRE) 10-06
47) STATE OF PLAY 10-06
48) DREAM ALLIANCE 10-05
49) HELLO BUD (IRE) 10-05
50) IN COMPLIANCE (IRE) 10-05
51) QUISCOVER FONTAINE (FR) 10-05
52) SANTA'S SON (IRE) 10-05
53) WEST END ROCKER (IRE) 10-05
54) BLUESEA CRACKER (IRE) 10-04
55) CAN'T BUY TIME (IRE) 10-04
56) CHARACTER BUILDING (IRE) 10-04
57) ORNAIS (FR) 10-04
58) PIRAYA (FR) 10-04
59) SURFACE TO AIR 10-04
60) THAT'S RHYTHM (FR) 10-04
61) ARBOR SUPREME (IRE) 10-03
62) FRANKIE FIGG (IRE) 10-03
63) MOBAASHER (USA) 10-03
64) NICTO DE BEAUCHENE (FR) 10-03
65) ONE COOL COOKIE (IRE) 10-03
66) OUR MONTY (IRE) 10-03
67) ROYAL ROSA (FR) 10-03
68) ALWAYS WAINING (IRE) 10-02
69) GOLDEN KITE (IRE) 10-02
70) MEANUS DANDY (IRE) 10-02
71) SKIPPERS BRIG (IRE) 10-02
72) BELON GALE (IRE) 10-01
73) FAASEL (IRE) 10-01
74) LE BEAU BAI (FR) 10-01
75) MERIGO (FR) 10-01
76) PUTNEY BRIDGE 10-01
77) QUEZAC DE LA ROQUE (FR) 10-01
78) ASKTHEMASTER (IRE) 10-00
79) DEV (IRE) 10-00
80) GILES CROSS (IRE) 10-00
81) SADDLERS STORM (IRE) 10-00
82) STARZAAN (IRE) 10-00
83) AMBOBO (USA) 9-13
84) DUERS (IRE) 9-13
85) SAGALYRIQUE (FR) 9-13
86) TOBY JUG 9-13
87) CANE BRAKE (IRE) 9-12
88) GALANT NUIT (FR) 9-12
89) JUNIOR 9-12
90) THE SAWYER (BEL) 9-12
91) KHACHATURIAN (IRE) 9-10
92) BALLYFITZ 9-09
93) I'MONCLOUDNINE (IRE) 9-09
94) POMME TIEPY (FR) 9-09
95) BURREN LEGEND (IRE) 9-08
96) CARRONHILLS (IRE) 9-08
97) THE SLIOTAR (IRE) 9-08
98) TINAKELLYLAD (IRE) 9-07
99) NOBLE CONCORDE 9-04
100) TREACLE (IRE) 9-04
101) REGAL HEIGHTS (IRE) 9-02
;-)
I'll give you 6/4 lol ;-)
Definitely on the radar
Big Fella Thanks is 20-1 with Ladbrokes
haha
BTW Synchronised allotted 11st 6lbs (I think). At first glance he would have an outstanding chance (35/1 on Betfair, 28/1 with VC) BUT Jonjo has said they want soft ground for him and I've been hurt twice with ante post bets on JPMcManus horses that had all the right credentials and were withdrawn.
Got to get crunching (and getting my bets on before the entire North Stand moves the market). ;o)
(Don't Push It 11-10, Synchronised 11-06, Quolibet 10-08, Can't Buy Time 10-04):
"Don't Push It is in good form, it's a shame he's got top weight but there's not a lot we can do about that.
"There are a lot of better-handicapped horses in there, but it's more about getting him in the mood than what weight he's got.
"He really did enjoy it last year, it was a fantastic performance and let's hope he can do the same again.
"Synchronised (11st 6lb) has plenty of weight and he wouldn't be as good a racehorse as Don't Push It. He really needs soft ground as well.
"Can't Buy Time has a nice racing weight and he would have a live chance. He definitely likes better ground and is a good jumper, although he's not had a lot of luck.
"I don't know a lot about Quolibet. He can be a lazy horse but he seems a pretty good jumper.
"It looks like he likes soft ground but the good thing is at least he'll get in."
Paul Nicholls
(Neptune Collonges 11-10, What A Friend 11-06, Taranis 11-00, The Tother One 11-00, Niche Market 10-13, Tricky Trickster 10-10, Just Amazing 10-09, Gullible Gordon 10-06, Ornais 10-04, Meanus Dandy 10-02)
"I'll probably have about four runners, of which Niche Market would be the main one.
"He's going to run over two and a half miles at Newbury on March 5. The other one I've really trained with the National in mind is Ornais and he'll have another run in a hunter chase at Fontwell.
"I knew Neptune Collonges was never going to get in off a light weight and the plan is to go for the Gold Cup, after that I'll have a chat with his owner.
"What A Friend (11st 6lb) was just in there in case something happened, I suspect he'll go to Newbury and then the Gold Cup.
"Meanus Dandy (10st 2lb) would run if he got in but I'm not sure about Gullible Gordon or Just Amazing."
Howard Johnson
(Tidal Bay 11st 9lb, Santa's Son 10st 5lb, Royal Rosa, Frankie Figg 10st 3lb, Belon Gale 10st 1lb): "The main aim for Tidal Bay is the Gold Cup so we'll see.
"I have schooled him over National fences before and he jumps them like a buck. There's nearly a month between them and he's 10 now but we'll see. He wants a marathon trip these days, which is strange for an Arkle winner.
"If he ran, we'd know our fate early. He'll either take to it or tail himself off.
"Santa's Son should get in and at this stage he'd be my main hope. He's won a Castleford Chase so he's got a bit of class and he came out of his win at Musselburgh in very good shape. He'll stay.
"The others might struggle to get in but we know Frankie Figg loves it there.''
Dessie Hughes
(Vic Venturi 11st 6lb, In Compliance 10st 5lb):
"He's got the same weight as last year. We'll have to put up with it, but I'd have liked to see him with a couple of pounds lower. He'll run in the Bobbyjo next Wednesday.
"In Compliance is warming up nicely for it. There's a conditions race coming up for him at Thurles in the next 10 days and he'll probably go there.''
David Pipe
(Or Noir De Somoza 11-05, I'msingingtheblues 10-11, Comply Or Die 10-08, Piraya 10-04, Faasel 10-01, Junior 9-12):
"We know that Phil is going to try to encourage the high class horses to run by compressing the handicap a little. Even so, five of our six entries are in the handicap proper at this stage and three of them are in the top 40 guaranteeing them a run if we so decide. I am pleased with the weight that Comply Or Die has (10-8) as he won the 2008 Grand National carrying 10-9."
Donald McCain
(Ballabriggs 11st, Sagalyrique 9st 13lb Khachaturian 9st 10lb):
"I've no complaints with that for Ballabriggs. He's a Cheltenham Festival winner so it was always going to be around the 11st mark.
"The bonus is that Don't Push It is likely to run so the weights aren't going to change at all. I've no complaints.
"The other two aren't likely to get in and we're going to the Racing Post Chase with Sagalryique and that will decide where we go after that.''
Gordon Elliott
(Backstage 10st 12lb, Nedzer's Return 10st 8lb, Dev 10st):
"That will do. Backstage won his point-to-point at the weekend. He might have one run under Rules before the National.
"Nedzer's Return qualifies for the Fox Hunter's as well so I'll have to discuss that with the owners. Dev won't get in."
Jimmy Moffatt
(Chief Dan George 10st 12lb): ''That's a good racing weight. I'd be happy with that, he's off his correct mark. Don't Push It will run so we'll stay under 11st. We don't want to go through that barrier as not too many win above 11st.
"He'll have a spin over hurdles at Haydock on Saturday, then he'll go to Cheltenham for the handicap chase he won last year then he'll go to Aintree.''
Henrietta Knight
(Calgary Bay 10st 10lb): "I suppose that's not too bad a weight and he'll go straight for the National.''
Martin Lynch
(Oscar Time 10st 9lb): "It looks like he's rated me a few pounds above my Irish mark which I'm not too happy about given that I haven't run the horse over fences since I've had him.
"But, at the end of the day, if he ran he's got less than 11st which is a nice racing weight. After that, you just need all the luck in the world!''
Noel Glynn
(Becauseicouldntsee 10st 8lb): "I'd be happy with that, hopefully we get him there now as we had a setback the other week.
"He's only a week away from going back into work so he's going the right way. We wouldn't have time for a run so it will be straight there.
"I was expecting more so that's a pleasant surprise. He's only eight so hopefully he'll be going back for a few years yet.
"I led in Numbersixvalverde for my cousin (Martin Brassil) and we were drunk for a week after that!''
Malcolm Jefferson (King Fontaine 10st 6lb): "That seems all right. Don't Push It will probably run so it won't be going up either.
"We want to see how he goes on Saturday (at Haydock) first, that will tell us something. If he isn't in he can't run. He's eight which isn't a bad age for the National.
"Everything has to go right between now and then but it would be a handy weight if he ran.''
Alan King (West End Rocker 10st 5lb):
"I'm very happy with that. It's a good racing weight so let's just hope things go according to plan on Saturday (at Haydock). Once we get this weekend out of the way we'll start worry about the National after that.
"You'd hope he'd get in but I'm not worrying about that just yet.''
James Motherway
(Bluesea Cracker 10st 4lb): ''It's a nice racing weight, we can't complain about that.
"She's due to run in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse next week. My owners and myself will probably make a decision after that as to whether she'll go to Aintree or not.
"My main concern is the ground. She does need some cut, that is my one fear. If it came up too fast she wouldn't take her chance. Most of her best runs have been on soft so we might have to put a back-up plan in place.''
Andrew Parker
(Merigo 10st 1lb):
"He's got the same rating (137) as last year. He's not altered us so it's going to be a struggle to get in. There are masses of horses above us in the weights so we will just have to see if we are lucky.
"He's in great form, I've sat on him this morning. If he doesn't get in, we'll go to Ayr instead for the Scottish National. We'll just have to let fate take his course and see what happens.
"He may go to Ayr next week for a novice hurdle just to get that sharpener into him.''
Ha. Shaddap.
ta. xx
It's all relevant info.
*runs after clogging up thread*
: - )
sorry i forgot to put a smiley. too sensitive.