Grand National 2003 PreviewBEHRAJAN (IRE)8-11-12A really top class bay gelding this, as his fifth place in this seasons Gold Cup position shows. He was third in the Edward Hanmer in 2001 and that was a good race. He has also the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase over 3m 1f and the cantorsport.co.uk Silver Cup Handicap Chase at Ascot. He also put up a good run to win the at Cheltenham. Thos is a big horse that looks well made for Aintree. He does not do anything very quickly but is a relentless galloper who will be running on when many have called time. He has every chance but the stats are against him as the last top weight to win was Red Run in 1974, however big weights do get into the places.
Kingsmark10-11-11*NON_RUNNER* A fine grey gelding this who last year put up a brave run to come 4th. He travelled really well and coming to three out his jockey, a former winner of the race, thought that Kingsmark would win. He seemed to loose his action however and his jockey clearly thought there was a problem but the horse still ran on. He now has that experience of these fences under his belt, and has won at Aintree before. He has also won at Haydock 3 times and is making the Edward Hanmer race his own; this is also good form for Aintree as Haydock also has drop fences. Last Year I did say that he can make jumping mistakes and can run the occasional bad race however in the last two seasons he has been a model of consistency. He has the stats against him, as he looks to be carrying too much weight but he is a fine horse who could easily run into a place once again.
Gingembre9-11-9Gingembre is a French chestnut gelding is coming into this race with a good chance. He is another who is high in the weights as in the last 14 running of the race no winner has carried 11st or more to victory. He should have not problems getting the trip however as he showed when he was a good winner of the Scottish equivalent of this race in 2001, that day he had Ad Hoc and the Welsh National winner Supreme Glory 5 and 7and a half lengths behind. Another point in his favour is that he carried 11st 2lbs in that race and more critically the ground was good to firm. There are not too many horses this year that like fastish ground and we are in a dry spell at the moment (written on 30/03/03), so if the ground comes up like this then 11st 7lbs may not be too much. Gingembre has also won on heavy ground. He is also a past runner up in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury.
Shotgun Willy9-11-9Shotgun Willy is a fine Chestnut-gelding coming from one of the best training yards in the country. He has not been over campaigned in recent years, He only had 4 runs last season and only added one to that this year. His credentials in this race are good. Last season he was a very good half a length second in the Scottish Grand National to Take Control. He has also some form at Aintree, as he was second to last year's National runner up What's Up Boys in the Mildmay Novices' Chase in 2001. He is highly thought of by his connections and last year he contested the Gold Cup at the festival, he was pulled up in the race, as he seemed to find the pace of the race too fast. His connections are very shroud and are now giving him longer races and therefore he will need more time between his races. It looks like he has had this race in his sights all season and is strongly fancied as he is now second favourite for the race, if only he had a little less weight?
First Gold10-11-9*NON_RUNNER* This bay gelding is a fine proven top class chaser. Under his belt he was victories in Pertemps King George VI Chase in 2000 where he had Beau, See More Business and Florida Pearl behind, The 2001 Martell Cup where he had his nearest rivals 10 and 8 lengths behind. As he is French trained but he has run in France Ireland as well as here in England. He is well thought of and his owner is J.P.McManness who is well known for his big bets. If this horses price falls significantly in the market this should be taken as his well-being.
Fadalko10-11-9Fadalko is a horse whose best distance seems to be around 2m5f. Many people think that chasers won act wrong this distance do well at extremes but I'm not sure that this is a proven fact. To be fair to this bay gelding he has not been asked very often to try 3m and the last time was in the high class King George at Kempton in 2001. He came 6th that day but looked out of sorts long before the distance came into question. Of his last four wins two have been in small fields (3 runners). Fadalko comes from a very good stable and I guess would not be running if they thought he did not have some chance.
Chives8-11-5To win the national you need to stay, jump well and travel well in your races. Chives a big bay gelding does all these well. He is still only 8 years old and the last 8 year old to win the national was another very big horse, Party Politics in 1992. ChivesHe looks every inch a National horse but his trainer says he needs soft ground even though he has won on good ground. Another thing in his favour is that his jockey is a winner of the National in 2001 where hid rode one of the races of his life to get Red Marauder around on bottomless ground to win. It therefore is no surprise to find him low in the betting. A good horse with a good chance if a little high in the weights.
Iris Bleu7-11-3A nice horse this who really had the stats against him as no 7 year old has won the race since 1940. However he comes from a stable that does well with young horses. Even though he is only 7 he has national experience as he ran last year when unfortunately he fell at the first fence. That was the only fall he has suffered. This chestnut gelding is very consistent, and has made the frame 11 times in his last 14 runs. This season he has won twice and is looks like to be coming to himself. Yes he has age against him but his trainer M.Pipe has been breaking the rulebook for years now and it would not be such a big surprise to see this horse putting up a big race.
Ad Hoc9-11-1Ad Hoc is a good type of horse who seems to have been chasing for a long time. This 9-year-old bay gelding had a good start to his career winning three from his first 4 starts before falling twice. He is a consistent sort of horse who is another who was tried in this race last year, when running well before being brought down four from home. He is a class horse as his win in the 2001 Whitbread proved what he demolished his field winning by 19 lengths and it was a further 15 lengths back to the third horse. He could be another who could go well and if the weights do not go up is below the "magical 11st " barrier that has been in evidence in recent years. He must have a chance and I'm sure will put up a good show.
Ballingclay King9-10-12A pretty consistent sort this bay gelding really who was a bit of a character in his early days. He did suffer a few problems towards the back end of last season and was pulled up in two races. He was then pulled up again in his first start this season and was reported distressed, but thankfully seems back to form now. He is a previous winner of the Martell Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree and that was back in April 2001. He obviously has talent but it is not easy to access his full potential, however he comes from a stable that seems to do well with distance chasers so it is surprising that he has not won over 2m 5f.
Carbury Cross9-10-12This bay gelding was a nice hurdler who turned into a nice novice chaser but since then has not fulfilled his potential. He may bee one that showed too much and therefore the handicapper has been one step ahead of him since, however he seems to have lost his way just recently and has not put up the performances one would like to have seen on his way to the National. He loves really good ground and does not run well when the ground is soft and could be pulled out if the ground gets that way as his connections have done this in the past. He looks as if he could be better than his bare form and his stable often pulls out a very good run from a horse after a series of poor runs.
Bindaree9-10-11BindareeLast years winner this chestnut gelding has it all to do again this year. He has been given a racing weight however, but his stable has been unfortunate to have Equine Flu in the yard. Bindaree is however in a separate yard from the outbreak and hopefully has had no problems. With these problems it would be another fair story if this horse could win again and give his trainer his third win in the race. He has the stats against him however because Red Rum was the last duel winner back in 1974 but it's back to 1936 to find another. Bindaree could well be the horse to do this however as he is still young enough at 9 and looks to have retained plenty of talent as his fine run in the John Hughes Rehearsal Chase at Chepstow back in December shows. You may think his form figures of 7,F, UR, 2,4,8 does not show well for him but he is not the most prolific winner and last year had form figures of 7,5,3,3,6 and 7 before going on to win the race. He is one you may find difficult to leave out of your calculations.
Take Control9-10-9*NON_RUNNER* This Bay gelding is a fine long distance chaser. It is good to see him take his chance on the back of two fine Scottish national runs, the first in 2001 where he was a good 9th in ground too firm for him (it was good to firm that day) and he followed that up with winning the race last year. That day he had a lot of his rivals behind and was carrying 10st 6lbs. He has also run twice in the Welsh national in 2001 he was only 9th and this season unfortunately he fell for the first time in his career. His is a good horse and is carrying a reasonable weight, and has a chance despite the stables main jockey choosing another mount.
YOULNEVERWALKALONE (IRE)9-10-11A young consistent genuine horse this bay gelding who in his last 12 runs has only missed the frame once and that was a race at last years festival where he stumbled and was then intelligently eased by his jockey. He has class and a good strike rate. He comes here on the back of two good wins the first in the Pierse Leopardstown Handicap Chase over three miles and a very good win at Cheltenham in the William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase. He has a good chance in the race and does not have too much weight but 5 lbs less would have been perfect. He is owned by J.P. McManus and therefore a move in the betting market would be significant.
The Bunny Boiler9-10-10Another fine long distance chaser this bay gelding who's credentials stand up. He is a winner of the Irish Grand National Chase last season and that came on the back of 20 length win in the Midlands version of the race. An Irish horse who does most of his running over there. He is a good horse from a respected Irish stable and on past form has a chance.
Blowing Wind10-10-9Blowing WindThis brown/bay gelding in another of the 2 and a half-mile chaser who is being tried at the larger distances. I say this because the horse has never won beyond 2.5 miles. However he has run with credit in the last two nationals. In 2001 in absolutely bottomless ground he unseated his rider but it was not his or his jockey's fault as a loose horse got in their way however his jockey remounted and came in 3rd. Last year he surpassed this performance despite not bettering his position in coming third again but he ran really well and was just not good enough to get passed the first two. He has run with credit therefore on two occasions and it would be great if he made the frame again. But winning may have passed him by now and the stats show that the only one horse (Red Marauder) has won the national after having had run in a previous national since Little polvier won in 1987.
You're Agoodun11-10-09You're AgoodunA nice horse whose two best wins have been at Ascot in the same race, the Modern City Living Handicap Chase. This chestnut gelding is not a prolific winner but does seem to prefer the park courses like Aintree. He has run twice in the national in 2001 he was brought down ( All but 2 of the field were brought down, fell or pulled up) at the 8th. In 2002 he was a creditable 7th.
As his stable mate above the stats are against this horse winning as all the winners since 1997 have run in the race for the first time.
Katarino (FR)8-10-08A good bay gelding who's winning form is up to 2m4f. He has only been tried over a three-mile trip three times and his best effort was a thirds in the Pertemps Learning Feltham Novices' Chase. He obviously has potential but in the past has had wind problems and has had to undergo a breathing operation and was not seen out for the whole of 2002. He is only 8 and is lightly raced and therefore is one difficult to access for this race but comes from a very good stable and has one of the best jockeys in the country, the past Grand National winner Mick Fitzgerald in the plate. Perhaps one of the darker horses in the race.
Red Striker9-10-08This Chestnut gelding a one who takes a little time to come to himself in a season but looks to be on the top of his form at the moment, His trainer Richard Guest has won the Grand National as a jockey two years ago on Red Marauder, and who is riding in the race again but not on this horse but on Chives. A ten times winner who best result was last year in the Bet Direct Peter Marsh Chase where he battled well. That was his last win but he has ran two good races recently to finish runner up twice. He is a good horse with potential and with cut in the ground would have a live chance of making the frame.
Southern Star (IRE)8-10-08The last two years this stable has sent out the winner of the gold cup and send out this chestnut gelding to try at the national. A reasonable novice chaser back in 2000/2001. He has won up to three miles and looks as if he may stay further and has run up to 3m4f. He has Aintree form and was second in last years Martell Mildmay Novices' Chase but not over these fences but has not shown anything that would suggest he would not take to them.
Monty's Pass (IRE)10-10-07This 10-year-old bay gelding looks the right type of horse for the National and has been very well supported in the betting. He was at this meeting last year and was second in the Martell Topham Chase For Sport Relief Showcase Handicap that seemed to be the race that horse balloted out contended. He is not a prolific winner but that is probably as he always runs well and makes the frame very regularly. He is well supported and may be another of the dark horses.
Majed (FR)7-10-05Still only 7 this bay gelding but he has already run in this race before, He fell last year at the 22nd fence after running well enough.
He is a winner of 6 hurdle races but has never won a chase that said he has only ever run in 3 in this country but started his career in France over fences. He comes from a stable that does well with young horses but looks as if he has it all to do.
Amberleigh House (IRE)11-10-04A nice big brown gelding this who has winning form over the National fences. He won the Tote Becher Chase in 2001 and was strongly fancied by his trainer for last years race but was balloted out. To date that was his best win and although not a prolific winner his trainer Ginger McCain thinks very highly of his chances and as he won three nationals with Red Rum he knows what it takes to win the National.
Maximise (IRE)9-10-04This bay gelding is a classy jumper, well he should be he is an ex-eventer who has only been racing 3 years. In that time he has run well enough without being exceptional. He is from a good stable and the jockey is last year's winner Jim Culloty. He likes to run up with the pace and this is not a bad thing in the national and acts of genuine good ground and if it comes up like this he could be a live contender. Will be expected to run well and with a jockey who is at the top of his trade he could run into a place and who knows if everything goes to plan?
Montifault (FR)8-10-04In or out would sum up this chestnuts geldings form. His recent figures are, 1,2,1,1,PU,1,PU,PU,2. It would seem where he finishes the race he does so very well. Indeed since coming over to this country from France where he has finished a race he has never been out of the frame. He has class as his close second in the Doubleprint Novices' Handicap Chase and his win in the 2001 Badger Brewery prove. He has been aimed at this race. He has not got many miles on the clock and comes from a very interesting stable. This horse if he finishes could go very close.
Polar Champ10-10-04This bay gelding is another of Martin Pipes runners. At 10 he has only won lower class novice events in the chase field that said he is very late to come to chasing as most of his racing has been in hurdle races. He has run 34 times on the flat and won 5 times. Although he is well exposed it is difficult to access his form for this race. You could say he is out of his class here but he has one piece of form in the Miles Gosling Handicap Chase over 4m 1f where he was second, but he was very tired at the end.
Cregg House (IRE)8-10-03A chestnut gelding who has only run twice out of his native Ireland and then only at Cheltenham the latest run was at this years festival at Cheltenham where he was 4th in the Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup. In his native land he has some good form, his win in the Tom Dreaper Handicap Chase 2001 and his 2nd in the Duggan Brothers Porterstown Handicap Chase shows he has some form. Add to this his second in the Cathcart Challenge Cup Chase in 2002 and you can see he has ability. His horse has not got a good strike rate but the Irish have a good recent record in the race and both recent winners were well backed on the day so the market may be the best guide to this horses chance.
Good Shuil (IRE)8-10-03This bay gelding is now trained in England, and was previously with Tom Taffe in Ireland. A winner of 3 from 23 he has run some good races and the most recent was at Cheltenham in November in the Intervet Trophy Handicap Chase where he would have finished closer than his 3rd but for a few jumping errors. A difficult horse to access, could be something or nothing, but with Only 1 chase win under his belt it is difficult to get excited about his chances.
Mantles Prince9-10-03A model of consistency this chestnut gelding. An ex-flat horse since going chasing has only run once outside Ireland and that was at Aintree in the 2000 Martell Aintree Hurdle where he was second. He has run two good chase efforts recently in the Baileys Arkle Perpetual Challenge Cup Novice Chase where he was third and also second to Moscow Flyer in the Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase over 2m. His stamina must come into question as he has only won up to a distance of 2m1f. and has never been in a race over 2m 6f. this is too much to take on faith I think. Only acts on soft.
Torduff Express (IRE)12-10-03This bay gelding is an ex point-to-pointer and who has recently been running in hunter chases. He does have some reasonable for as his 2nd in the Chubb Chase Showcase Handicap at Cheltenham in 2000 and his Fine win last year at this course over these fences in the Martell Fox Hunters' Chase where he had Gunner Welburn behind. He has contested the national before in 2000 and was fancied but fell at the 13th. It is not unknown for 12 year olds to win the race as recently it has been done in 1995, 1989,1980,1977 and 1975. But you have to ask is he passed his best now. Well probably yes but if the ground firms up he will be one of the few who will handle it.
Goguenard (FR)9-10-02Another of the 2m-4f contenders this bay gelding. He has some good form over the shorter trips however, he best probably his most recent in the Favourites Racing Handicap Chase where he was a good winner. He has run ay Aintree however his first was in the 2000 John Hughes Trophy Chase where he was second, this is probably his best run at the course as next time was in last years national and he fell. He came back at the start of this season however in the Tote Becher Chase where he unseated his rider. Another who is difficult to access and is one that has more going against him that for him.
Gunner Welburn11-10-02Gunner WelburnThis chestnut gelding is an ex pointer/hunter and looks every inch a Grand National horse. He is consistent and does not have many miles on the clock. He was fancied in the Welsh National but was only third and it was said that it looked as if the 3m5f may have been too far I am not convinced of that however. his maximum winning distance s 3m2f but this is usually enough to get you around Aintree. He has good form around the National fences as he won the Martell Fox Hunters' Chase last year. He has a good weight good form and looks to be one of the main contenders.
Gunther McBride (IRE)8-10-00*NON_RUNNER* A lovely young bat gelding this who has good steady form. His is genuine and consistent. He contested the Scottish Grand National last season and despite making a mistake early on in the race he stayed up to his work and finished 3rd. A horse to be backed with confidence on any occasion as he will give you his best. He comes from a good stable and has a real live chance of this low weight even if the weights rise a little. He was found to be bleeding after his win in the 2002 Home On The Hill Handicap Hurdle at Kempton but this was found to be a sinus problem and not a lung problem.
Royal Predica (FR)9-10-02Can this chestnut gelding only be 9 years old. He seems to have been around a long time. He has form over the Aintree fences he was in the 2000 National where he fell at the 1st. In 2001 he was tried in the John Hughes Trophy but he was pulled up and then last year it was back to the National where he was a good 8th. You could not say that this horse has outstanding form but he does have some ability as his 2nd in the Tote Silver Cup Showcase Handicap and his second in the Tote Scoop6 Anniversary Summer Special Chase and his recent win in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase clearly shows. Does have a chance of improving his placing this year given a clear round.
Supreme Glory (IRE)10-10-02A really good old fashioned chaser this bay gelding. A former winner of the Welsh National in December 2001 but has seemed to have lost his was since then and was pulled up in this seasons event. He is not a prolific winner and has not come to form yet this season. He has the ability to win but it would be nice to see some recent for to boost the confidence. An awful lot of rain would also be a boost as he needs soft ground.
Tremallt (IRE)12-10-02A nice chaser this bay gelding whom if he has a fault it is that he tends to make a mistake in most races and this can spoil his chances. Where he does put in a clear round he does well and his last win in the Pertemps ASAP Handicap Chase showed but that was back in December 2001. That was a big race so he does have talent and if the mistake is early enough he may well get back into the race..
Wonder Weasel (IRE)10-10-02A good bay gelding this 10 yr old horse is lightly raced. An ex-Irish pointer he has a lot to like about him. He has winning form at Haydock which is always a boon for national runners. He ran in the Scottish National last year and went well for most of the race but did get tired towards the end and eventually fell. He could be better than his handicap shows and he comes from the past winning stable of Kim Bailey. Seems to do better in smaller fields.
Djeddah (FR)12-9-13A good strong French horse this bay gelding who is now running in his 4th national at the age of 12. His previous national runs were 2000 Finished a good 9th , 2001 he unseated his rider, this was the race were only two horses got around unscathed. 2002 he was again unlucky to have unseated his rider after a loose horse got in front of him. He has some good runs under his belt but he is not a prolific winner. Ha has had a good run at The Cheltenham festival under his belt on his last run and his stable are now really doing well.
BURLU (FR)9-9-12Another French contender, this chestnut gelding has been running in low class races in France and has recently moved to Martin Pipe who has ran him once at the Festival where he was pulled up after making mistakes in the Kim Muir.
RED ARK10-9-12This chestnut is a nice big chaser from what was the winning yard of Norman Mason. Now run by Richard Guest who rides Chives, the stable is well respected. The horse has run in this race before in 2002 where he unseated his rider. He also ran in the 201 John Hughes and fell so his record over the fences is not good. He won some good races towards the back end of last year in the Mansion House Handicap Chase and the Allied Irish Bank Chase Showcase Handicap at Doncaster and Sandown respectively. He runs in good competitive races.
ROBBO9-9-11A nice enough young bay gelding this, who comes to this race on a poor performance in the midlands national where he was pulled up. He has some in and out form and every know and then seems not to want to be at the races. When he does however he does the job fine. Hi is a winner over three miles and like soft ground.
KILLUSTY (IRE)9-9-10A lot of people gave a sigh of relief when this bay gelding made the cut. He has been heavily backed for this race and it is not difficult to see why he has finished first in all but one of his races where he was second. A lightly raced nine year old whose form looks to be very much like his last Grand National horse Mely Moss who's was also lightly raced and finished 2nd in the 2000 Grand National. He also has the same jockey Norman Williamson on him. He has good form too, if not in the top class races. He like Mely Moss had to take a break in his career and he won on his comeback after a 2-year lay off in the easyodds.com The Price Is right Handicap Chase at Sandown. A live dark horse who has been very well backed.
EMPEREUR RIVER (FR)11-9-10A French bay gelding with no British form. A horse who runs in long distance cross country races and is one who will like the course and distance. However it is very difficult to judge his form.
Bramblehill Duke11 9-10Bramblehill Duke Has just got in with the defection of Kingsmark through injury. This 11year old bay gelding is a nice horse with some good bits of form even if he has not won the big races. He ran a very good 2nd in the Lombard Properties Chase at Cheltenham back in December. He has won up to 3 miles but is one who tends to make the odd mistake even though he has never fallen.
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