Grand National Preview 2009
Denman
The 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner would be the highest rated horse to run in the Grand National for many a year and would set the handicapper a real headache if he does take part. An amazing jumper of Park fences so should be a sight to see if he does turn up at Aintree and could outclass the field even if given a massive weight.
Comply Or Die
David Johnson's Comply Or Die had been off the track with injury from December 2005 until October 2007 - not exactly the ideal preparation for a Grand National but he had a couple of warm up races, won the Eider Chase at Newcastle and then won the Grand National by a comfortable looking four lengths under a great ride from Timmy Murphy. History is against him retaining his title but he has the ability to go very close again in 2009.
Snowy Morning
Surprisingly didn't record a victory over fences in the 07/08 season but went some way to silencing his critics when third in the Grand National, beaten just over five lengths by Comply Or Die. Followed that run with a fine runner-up spot behind Neptune Collonges in the Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown and now faces the prospect of running in the 2009 National off a much higher mark than in 2008. Has the potential to deal with that hike in the ratings but may need to find a touch more consistency in his jumping to really threaten to win the great race.
Butlers Cabin
Was as short as 10/1 to win the 2008 National and his supporters were no doubt getting very excited about his prospects until his exit at Bechers second time round. In truth, that was the only shred of his old form in a season that suggested to some that Butlers Cabin's best days were going to remain in 2007 when in the space of around three weeks he won the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham and the Irish National at Fairyhouse. Those who wish to support him for 2009 will probably have to do so on trust as if last season is anything to go by he is unlikely to give any indication of his true form until the day of the race itself.
Iris De Balme
Appeared to come almost from nowhere to make headlines at the backend of the 2008 season when recording a shock 66/1 win in the Scottish National. Showed that performance was not just a fluke
from an outsider out of the handicap, when finishing a close up fourth to Monkerhostin in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown. In so doing he indicated that he can be a force to be reckoned with in the big staying chases of 08/09 but can he play a part in the Grand National? Stamina shouldn't be an issue with wins already registered over 31f and 33f and his trainer is certainly shrewd enough to exploit every ounce of ability but perhaps a watching brief is the best course of action until he has shown he truly has continued to improve over the summer.
iris de balme will not be running
King Johns Castle
How many horses tune up for the Grand National by winning a 2mile 3furlong hurdle race? How many then go on to finish second in the Grand National when the furthest they have ever won over is 2miles 3furlongs? King Johns Castle certainly breaks most of the Grand National moulds and as he crept into the 2008 race under a typical Paul Carberry ride, those who seriously doubted his stamina must have started to have second thoughts. As it turned out, Comply Or Die was good value for his four length victory and whilst King Johns Castle will have this season geared to the National, he will also have to accomodate a deal more weight and may struggle to replicate a performance to match his effort of 2008.
king johns castle will not be running
Hear The Echo
Hugely impressive winner of the 2008 Irish Grand National for Mouse Morris and Gigginstown House Stud. The trainer has already stated that Aintree is the plan for 2009 and that helps to give ante-post punters a bit of reassurance. However, this is still a very young horse (he will be eight in 2009) and he has had a tendency to make a number of mistakes in his races and has occasionally looked like a weak finisher, although obviously not at Fairyhouse! This horse obviously has the potential to carry on improving and he should be monitored closely in 08/09 with close attention paid to his jumping in his first few races of the new season. If he jumps well then perhaps this area would be less of a worry at Aintree and he will become a very serious Grand National candidate.
 | Hear The Echo is 25-1 with VC Bet |
Slim Pickings
Tom Taaffe's chaser has turned in two excellent performances in the last two runnings of the National but in 2007 he looked to be the most likely winner for nearly all of the final mile. Eventually he finished third to Silver Birch after hitting the last fence but he had travelled really well under Barry Geraghty and gave his supporters a very near miss. He ran another fine race when 4th, beaten just over 20 lengths in 2008 but this time his doubtful stamina was much more apparent and it looks as though his best chance of victory was probably in 2007. No doubt he will continue to receive plenty of market support and will become an Aintree stalwart.
| Slim Pickings is 33-1 with VC Bet |
Simon
Connections will have their hearts in their mouths if Simon makes it to Valentines on the second circuit in the 2009 National as he has come to grief at that fence in both his previous attempts at the race. On both occasions he was still in with a chance in the race so Mercy Rimell's gelding is due a change of luck. He looked particularly unlucky in 2007 when he was making eyecatching progress behind the leaders when taking a nasty fall. John Spearing has done a good job since the nine year old came over from Ireland in 2005 including winning a Skybet Chase and a Racing Post Chase with the horse. That success may mean he is just a bit too high in the weights at the moment to be one of favourites for the National but if he was to drop a few pounds this season and perhaps encounter a bit of cut in the ground at Aintree he could well run into a place.
Irish Raptor
Trained by dual Grand National winning trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, Irish Raptor will definitely know his job if he makes it to Aintree and he has been gaining valuable experience of the Aintree fences with a run in the Becher and two runs in the Topham in the last couple of seasons. He has completed on all three occasions and showed his best form on his last outing at Aintree when just failing to catch Gwanako in a driving finish. The longer distance of the National could play much more to his strengths as he is by stout staying stallion Zaffaran and has winning form over 3m 3f. Now on a mark of 138 he should have no problems making the race (he has failed to make the final forty runners for the last two years) and given his experience and connections he looks as if he has the potential for his price to shorten considerably for his current best quote of 40/1.
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