Grand National 1998 Preview

Suny Bay

Suny Bay was second in last years Grand National, He was in with a very good chance until he made a bad mistake at the 5th last (Valentine's) he was outpaced from then on, However Suny only carried 9st3lbs last year and has a large burden of 12 stone this year, The winner of the National has only once since 1936 carried 12 st and that was Red Rum in 1974 when he won the second of his three Nationals. He is a good horse and we may have not seen the best of him yet, He had broken blood vessels in the past and he injured his shins in this years Gold Cup so that may explain his below par performance, He acts well on good and soft ground so unless it turns out firm the ground should not be a worry and if there is a little cut then that would boost his chance. Trained by C.Brookes

Couldnt Be Better

Couldnt Be Better is a high class chaser who needs cut in the ground, He races well on soft or heavier ground. He has won at a group 2 chace at Newbury over 3 m 2.5 f in 1995 . But in 96/97 we had too good weather and the horse was unable to show his best, He has also won over Haydock at 3m and This course has the closest fences to Aintree so that is also a boost however he has lost in the past to Suny Bay but the 7lbs he gets from him over this extreme distance may even out the difference. Trained by C.Brookes

Cyborgo

This horse was pulled up badly in the Gold Cup and will not be running this year.

Senior El Betrutti

This grey horse has been impressive in snatches this year however he only seems to do well when he gets things in his favour and he surly will not be able to in what will be 40 runner race. He seems to handle any ground from g/s to g/f and has plenty of ability. He prefers right handed tracks and Aintree being left handed and having a lot of fences to jump this may be a problem. However in his favour he has a reasonable racing weight and at 9 he should be at the top of his form. Trained by Mrs. S.Nock

Addington Boy

This is a high class chaser who acts on soft to g/f. He had a very good win strike rate when a novice chaser. He has won some valuable chases and also has in his favour the fact that he has won at Cheltenham, Haydock and more importantly at Aintree. He has been disappointing of late and has run at distances between 2m4f to 3m2f but is not in good form it would seem . At his best he would have a good chance but you would be taking a chance on recent form Trained by G.Richards

Rough Quest

A former winner of this race in 1996 Therefore has a lot in his favour as he will handle the course and also the distance He is 12 yrs old now and must be beyond his best but 12 yr. olds have won in the recent past Royal Athlete being the last in 1995. He obviously is a class act as he also was second in the Gold cup in the same year but has suffered leg problems But his trainer will not run him if not spot on. Carried 10st7lbs when he won but should be able to carry the extra o.k. if he is on form. Acts on soft to good ground Trained by T Casey

Challenger Du Luc

If ever a horse needed to win a valuable race it is this horse. He just does not to seem to want to do the business when it gets to the winning post but runs well all through the race. In my opinion he would be the one to back with confidence if you could guarantee him to try when the end is in sight. He travels very well through a race but seems to give up Tony Mc coy is a Marvellous jockey but just can’t seem to get this horse to win. he is a high class chaser and he handles all grounds he also has the champion trainer in his favour Both Mr.Pipe and Mr. Mc coy are on top form but can you risk it ?????? Not certain to get the trip Trained by M.Pipe

Belmont King

Was a non-runner in last years event this useful chaser is lightly raced but has won some very good events in the past including the rehearsal chase at Chepstow and this race is well supported in the ear season. He has also won the Scottish National and has also beaten another runner in this race in the form of Samlee soon after coming to this country from Ireland. Acts on good ground but best when there is some cut in the ground. His wins do seem to come few and far between but then he has been lightly raced over here. With some cut he must have a chance. Trained by P.Nichols

Scotton Banks

Has won a good amount of races and therefore knows what the game is about He has won at Aintree in the past when he beat Barton Bank and Unguided Missile to win the Martel cup in 1996 seemed to go astray last year running five times and only getting a third place . Handles soft to good ground and is fairly handicapped in this race. Trained by T.Easterby

Banjo

A useful chaser a couple of seasons ago but has been out of sorts for some time also comes from a stable that seems to be out of form seems to handle any ground but I would like to see him win a number of races before betting the one with any confidence. Trained by D.Nicholson

Earth Summit

This horse has had some Problems in the past but is a genuine and tough sort of horse . He does need plenty of driving but he is an out and out stayer. He has Carl Llewellyn on board who has won the National before on party Politics. In his favour this year he has won the Coral Welsh National so he looks in good form he also has a good racing weight after winning the Welsh equivalent of this when carrying 10st13lbs. There is no doubt that he would like the ground to be soft but should be able to handle good ground Trained by N.Twisten Davies

Bells Life

Bells Life was a good hurdler and has turned into a good chaser he likes left-handed tracks and does well at Chepstow and Newton Abbott this is not surprising as his trainer P.Hobbs trains in the west country . He has a good strike rate and has also won at Aintree over the national fences in the John Hughes. acts on heavy to good ground and should go close if the ground is not too firm. He probably will not be of top class but in handicap company should do well if he stays. Trained by P.Hobbs

Avro Anson

This horse was 6th in last years race and run well but for a mistake when weakening 4 out off a weight of 10st 2lbs . Given that he only has to carry a pound more that may give him a chance if he can stay the distance this year. There has been some money for this horse. He was a good hurdler in the past and won the stayers hurdle at Cheltenham but lost it in the Stewards room That was in 1994. at 10 should be at peak and this year might be his best chance likes left handed tracks and good or firm ground. If the ground turns out firm side of good don’t write him off too quickly. Trained by M.Comacho

Mudahim

This horse was a high class hurdler and has good form over fences. Won the Irish National last year and also the Racing Post chase. It is always a worry for me to see 12 yr olds in this race but his trainer Mrs. Pitman is the master at preparing horses for long chases and because of her you can also be sure that he will be well and healthy on the day as she would never run a horse in a race if there was some doubt. He is another who would like cut in the ground so any last minute rain would help but last year he did win on good ground Trained by M.Pitman

Nahthen Lad

Another from the Pitman stable this horse was 9th last year after making a mistake at the 22nd and then again at the 26th but he was weakening by then.When I have heard Mrs. Pitman speaking on the T.V. about this horse it would seem that she has a soft spot for this horse (could you say that of all her horses?) He is a useful chaser and has some class you could not leave him out of your reckoning He has won a sun Alliance at cheltenham but does need softer ground than good to show his best although he does like left handed tracks Trainer J.Pitman

General Command

This is a useful sort of horse who has won the Great Yorkshire Chase in the past acts on gd/sft to gd/fm but real like good ground .Has had problems in the past and if over these has a good racing weight here Trained by G.Richards

Fantus

A point-to-pointer who has won twice at the festival in the Foxhunters Chase Has been used to carrying bigger weight that 10st 3lbs . I would however normally be happy to rule out this type of horse but given Cool Dawn’s ( another point-to-pointer ) win in the Cheltenham Gold Cup this year who knows Like good ground but has also won on gd/sft Trained by R.Barber

Young Hustler

A good horse this that seems to have been around for 20 yrs but he is still only an 11yr old. Has won over This course in the past. He is a genuine free running sort of horse and I feel he has not got home in the past in this race however with only 10 st 2 lbs this year he should have an outstanding chance to win . He has not run up to form lately and seems to have lost some of his speed but given that he seems to handle any going and has handled the fences he will give another good account of himself again this year Trained by N Twisten Davies

Egypt Mill Prince

This horse was a very useful chaser in the past but seems to have lost some of his sparkle of late and would seem to be becoming disappointing however he is trained by Mrs.Pitman and she has the habit of getting her older horses to run well in their later years acts on good to heavy ground Trained by J.Pitman

Buckboard Bounce

This horse was fourth in last years race and put in a good performance, He chases the leaders all the way but never got closer than his finishing position but he did stay on at the end . he is a good performer and can handle ground from heavy to gd/firm.Has only had one outing this year and finished unplaced however his race in the National last year was his best performance of the year so I would not let that put you off him. Trained by G.Richards

Wylde Hide

This horse ran in last years race and unseated hid rider he was also in the 1996 race. He is a useful chaser and acts on heavy and will be a danger on this ground but he would seem not to get the trip and on heavy this must make it more difficult but his owner is the very successful gambler J.P.Mcmanus so even given he has a better horse running in the form of time for a run leave this horse out of your calculations at your own risk. Trained by A.Moore

Dun Belle

A good horse last year when he won some good races however in better events at the end of the season he was found to be not quite up to the mark. He acts on good ground and is a good jumper but is difficult to fancy given this years form. Trained by P.Fahy

General Crack

A good horse who won a good amount of races in previous years but the key to this horse is that he likes good to firm ground an given this he would stand a good chance but his chance degrades in any ground softer than good. Maybe still has some improvement to show. Trained by P.Nichols

Mcgregor the Third

This ex-eventer is a very good jumper, he has won cross-country events at Cheltenham in the past and looks an absolute dream horse for this race,However he has been found wanting over four and a quarter miles at Uttoxeter last year and was behind Seven towers and last years winner Lord Gyllene. Horses often loose their chances over longer distances early in the race so it is possible that this the case then, At a big price he could be worth an each way bet. Trainer by G.Richards

Amtrak Express

A good chaser who has seemed to loose his way lately after suffering some injury problems But I would not let that put you off as his trainer would not let him run if she did not think he was fit enough to finish, Has won some good races and at 11 is still lightly raced. He will act on g/s to g/f so unless there is an extreme of going this will not deter from his chance. Trained by J.Pitman

Go Universal

A fair hurdler on his day but is a better chaser than his hurdle form would have suggested , Will go on gd/to soft but is better suited by good ground he like left handed tracks and has won at Aintree in the past. Another that has been out of sorts of late and has not run this year, Would he be good enough ? well it is difficult to give him the thumbs up and also he has not run this year yet it would be a brave man to bet this one without the benefit of seeing a previous run. Trained by C.Brookes

Time For A Run

A difficult horse to rate as most of his runnings are in Ireland,However he has won this year and was very strongly backed for the event last year but a set back forced him to miss the race Owned by J.P.Mcmanus ( see above ) so don't rule him out. Acts on soft to good ground and like going left handed given the good show of the Irish horses at Cheltenham He could be anything. Trained by e.O'Grady

Ciel de Brion

A French horse this trained by F.Douman . I know nothing about this horse but he is quite young to be in this race however the French horses seem to go chasing at a younger age than ours and also seem to like heavy ground Trainer by F.Douman

Court Melody

A nice horse with two wins under his belt this year Acts on heavy to good and often wears blinkers Has won over a distance greater than three miles and likes going left handed would be serious in the heavy ground but does just not seem to have the class for this race. Trainer by P.Nicholls

Son of War

Good looking grey gelding and that may by enough for some people to back him but has been out of form in last two years . He unseated his rider in the 1996 National when quite fancied but was rested last year after February after his form went astray . Good to soft is his ground and has worn blinkers he would need a big upturn of form to win this year and is not getting any younger at 11. Trained by P.Mcreery

Celtic Abbey

Hit the third fence hard last year and played catch up until he unseated his rider at the 15th. He acts on gd/fm but is best on good and likes long distances. He has broken blood vessels in the past , It would not be a great surprise if he showed a good run this year of a minimum weight. Trained by V.Williams

Superior Finish

Injury put paid to perhaps his best chance in this race last year after finishing a good fourth in 1996. A good chaser who will get the trip and acts on soft to gd/sft Ran a good second in only appearance this year if in good form may just do it in what must be his last chance. Trainer by J.Pitman

Him of Praise

A good chaser who has been running very well this year likes a bit of cut in the ground And has The champion Irish jockey C.Swan in the plate for this race and that must say something for his chances. I would be worried about the trip however this might be his first crack at this race as at 8 he must still have some improvement in him. Trained by O.Sherwood

River Mandate

Showed very good form back in 94 But has had injury problems was off the track for two years and has won since, it would not be impossible for him to win but again would need to show significant improvement but his owner and trainer combination has won this race before in 85 with Last Suspect. Another who like some cut in the ground would not be worth considering on ground better than good. Trained by Capt T.Forster

Another Excuse

Another of the Irish raiders Has won twice this year and also been placed twice.Won the midlands National in 96 and had good horses like Morecroft Boy, Willsford and Miinnehoma behind Acts on any ground and any track likes extreme distances looks the type to go well in this type of race. Must be respected .But well down the handicap His latest price to date is 50/1 and he may run into a place. Trained by E.O’Sullivan

Into the Red

An Aintree regular and has usually runs well enough but at 14 yrs old it would take a minor miracle for this horse to win . However he does put his best foot forward at Aintree as he likes the course and acts on good to gd/sft ground. He will probably get around o.k. but surly only at his own pace. Trained by M.Reavley

Tartan Tradewinds

A decent chaser who has won at Aintree in the past. He seems to be past his best now although he has been lightly raced this year and was pulled up on last start. acts on gd/sft to good ground Difficult to see him with a real chance. Trained by G.Richards

Glemot

Ran well last year until he was hampered His saddle then slipped and he unseated his rider. It is impossible to rate that run Has run many times this year and has always been in the frame except once and unfortunately has always had one or two too good for him. Acts on gd/soft to firm. not without a chance of a place. Trained by P.Webber

What a Hand

Has not run well in the recent past but last year he was third in the foxhunters at Cheltenham. Started as a hunter in this country before going to Ireland. Needs gd/sft to show best but looks out of his depth here. Trained by P.Nicholls

St Mellion Fairway

A decant Horse who must have at least soft going if the ground turns out to be bottomless he may have a chance otherwise he will not get to the frame on past form Trained by P.R.Webber

Samlee

Has run well and won two races this season. Acts on soft to firm ground. This is a good horse who may well have won the Scottish National if not for some poor jumping last year. his is one who love extreme distances, If he handles the Aintree fences I think he will run into a place despite being a long way out of the handicap. Saw the horse run well at Chepstow earlier in the year but looked as if he was doing his best work at the end. It is a great boost to the horse to have the best jump jockey in the business in Richard Dunwoody on his back and I think this horse will win the National if not this year then in the future and if he runs well could have Richard on board for a long time. Mr. Dunwoody has don’t forget won this race twice before on Miinihomma and also West Tip. Trained by P.Hobbs