Nicholls aiming for Scottish National glory
It is fourteen years since Paul Nicholls won the Scottish Grand National for the one and only time in his career when Belmont King carried a massive 11st 10lbs to victory under a tremendous ride from a young Tony McCoy, writes Elliot Slater. The Ditcheat-based handler is keen to get his hands on the trophy once again, and having failed to land the spoils with his quartet of runners in last Saturday’s John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree, Nicholls is hoping that his Neptune Collonges...
April 13th, 2011
Ascot Gold Cup hope Manifest to miss whole of 2011 season
Henry Cecil’s talented stayer Manifest, a popular choice for honours in this summer’s Ascot Gold cup at the royal meeting, has been ruled out for the season after sustaining a major setback in his training and won’t be seen again on a racecourse until 2012, writes Elliot Slater. A best priced 16/1 in the Royal Ascot betting, Manifest went wrong when sent off a 7/2 second favourite for last year’s renewal of the prestigious contest being virtually pulled up in the home straight...
April 11th, 2011
West End Rocker Set To Roll
Anyone looking for a bit of an outsider with a big chance in the Grand National 2011 should definitely take West End Rocker into consideration. Why? Well first the basics; the horse is the ideal age, 9, and is carrying a very attractive weight of just 10-05 which looks generous given his credentials. Currently priced around 33-1, West End Rocker looks exactly the type of horse which is an ideal each way bet for the shrewd punters out there. Counting against him is the fact that he pulled up in his...
April 7th, 2011
Nicholls finalises Grand National jockey bookings
Champion jumps trainer Paul Nicholls has very few omissions left on his racehorse training CV, but the one race he would love to win that has so far avoided his grasp is the John Smith’s Grand National, which takes place at Aintree on April 9, writes Elliot Slater. Nicholls has now finalised riding arrangements for his quartet of runners in this year’s renewal of the Merseyside marathon, with the last two mounts up for grabs, The Tother One and Ornais, set to be partnered by Ryan Mahon...
April 5th, 2011
Elliott priming Backstage for starring role
Young Irish trainer Gordon Elliott hit the big time when bursting onto the racing scene in 2007 by saddling the Paul Nicholls cast-off Silver Birch to win the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree in tremendously brave fashion from the ill-fated McEldowney, and is very hopeful that his Backstage can put him back in the National spotlight for the second time in just five years, writes Elliot Slater. The nine-year-old was quietly fancied for last year’s Liverpool marathon and was in the...
April 1st, 2011
Mullins hoping Walsh gives Midnight Club the nod
Although he didn’t say it in so many words, there was no hiding the fact that leading Irish jumps trainer Willie Mullins will be very disappointed if his The Midnight Club, ante-post favourite for the John Smith’s Grand National, will not be ridden by Ruby Walsh in the Aintree feature, writes Elliot Slater. Walsh was on board the 10-year-old for a routine piece of exercise work and both he and Mullins expressed themselves very satisfied with the condition of the recent winner of the Grade...
March 25th, 2011
As they cross the Melling Road…
“As they cross the Melling Road with two to jump…” Hearing the Grand National TV commentator’s voice stirs the blood of millions of armchair racing fans throughout the UK and all around the world on the second Saturday in April each year. As the horses cross the famous Aintree Melling Road for the final time with just two more fences to jump, your selection needs to be there or thereabouts; up with the leaders and within striking distance to have any chance of winning the...
March 25th, 2011
Gold cup fifth Midnight ruled out of National bid
Midnight Chase, who ran a cracker to be fifth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, has been ruled out of an Aintree Grand National bid this year. Trainer Neil Mulholland has instead opted to run his nine-year-old in the Aintree Bowl over the Mildmay fences, where he could meet Gold Cup winner Long Run in a rematch of the Cheltenham event. Having contested handicaps prior to his sterling Gold Cup run, connections where understandably delighted with his Cheltenham exploits and believe there could be further...
March 22nd, 2011
Tricky Trickster misses National after sustaining fracture
The Paul Nicholls trained Tricky Trickster, a 33/1 shot to win next month’s John Smith’s Grand National, has been ruled out of the big race after sustaining a hairline fracture to his neck as the result of a fall at Uttoxeter on Saturday, writes Elliot Slater. The talented eight-year-old only got as far as the second fence in the Midlands Grand National at the weekend, taking a heavy fall from which he failed to rise for some time. Indeed, the fence had to be bypassed twice during the...
March 22nd, 2011
125 horses left in Epsom Derby
With little more than 12 weeks left before the runners are sent on their way for the Investec Epsom Derby, the latest declaration stage has seen some 125 of the original entrants stand their ground and still have prospects of winning the coveted mile-and-a-half Group 1 contest, writes Elliot Slater. Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O’Brien has left 21 of his blue blooded colts in the race, including Roderic O’Connor, winner of the Group 1 Criterium International at the end of last season and...
March 18th, 2011
