Cloth Cap. It will take this one to under-perform or be brought down in traffic for it not to win. Backing anything else is hoping for an accident. 11/2 is more than fair. My Drogo (2.25) and Paisley Park (3.35) are strong fancies in the other races.
I'm thinking you're using an old Jedi mind trick and have had the house on sumat else lol . It can't be that certain. You're feeling how I did about Tiger Roll in 2019.
It's the National Mr D - 4.5 miles and 30 fences to be negotiated. So scope for misfortune, but sometimes it pays to keep things simple. If this runs to form and avoids misfortune it wins. Simple as.
1:45 Tea Clipper, Champage Platinum and Southfield Harvest all e/w. 2:25 Ballyadam win. Pipesmoker and Adrimel e/w. 3:00 Funambule Sivola e/w. 3:35 Thyme Hill win and Roksana e/w. 4:15 Top Notch, Cloudy Glen and Ofalltheginjoints all e/w. 5:15 Cloth Cap win. Acapella Borgeis, Kimberlite Candy, Burrow's Saint, Canelo, Class Conti and Shattered Love all e/w. 6:20 Balco Coastal win. Knapper's Hill and Stage Star e/w. Best of luck folks.
O/T backed some crap at Kempton. I know the all weather is supposed to be fair but any horse that goes for the cut away and doesn't wait for a gap or take it's medicine gets beat anyway. That strip of ground just doesn't ride as quick. I thought it was in my head but I've watch it unfold time n' time again. Rant over. I've spunked my money lol
For what it's worth.... 1.45 Southfield Harvest e/w 2.25 Ballyadam 3.00 Shishkin 3.35 Paisley park 4.15 Lalor e/w 5.15 After some consideration, bearing in mind it's the National, with numerous twists and turns, impeded runs, unseated riders, unknown distances, bumping, barging, poor jockeyship and numerous other variables I have decided to go each way with FARCLAS. Effectively a Gordon (I've no respect for dead animals) Elliott horse, he looks like the best improver in the race to me. Ran a good race behind the Shunter last time out, effectively giving a stone in weight to him, and looks like he's getting better all the time. The handicapper also said he would have raised him in the weights if he'd been able to after that Shunter run. He's relatively young for a potential National winner but he's also a Triumph hurdle winner and you don't win that unless you have turn of foot. He ticks one or two other boxes too. He has the distance of 4 and a half miles to contend with but many of the others have as well and in some respects his youth and potential improvement may be beneficial. Cloth Cap is the correct favourite I think but given the relative prices and the scope for a better than average price in the place market I'll have Farclas. N.B. He is now suffering from the KCP kiss of death and will probably refuse at the first. I have got small riders on one or two others as well - just a few pennies. On another point, regarding Mr C's comments above, I have given the issue of horse racing some thought over this last year or two and although I love the spectacle I do now think jumps racing should be abolished. There are two many deaths of horses for it to be defended in my opinion. I don't want to detract from the thread as such because people are discussing the big race but as I say I am just responding to Mr C's post. Maybe this sort of comment is for another thread.
I agree. They can mince them all if they lose lol ( I don't mean that). For all the detractors there was a lovely piece on the opening show with the handler of the Big Breakaway. A beautiful horse, well groomed and looked after. It's important to remember in spite of the barbarism shown in the media if it weren't for national hunt or flat racing a far worse fate would befall these wondrous creatures of such beauty.
A few each way pokes for me today. Out with the dog, so you'll have to trust me on the whys and whynots.... 1.45 - Tommy Rapper. 3.35 - If The Cap Fits 4.15 - Hold The Note Discorama, Anibale Fly and Magic Of Light in the Main Event. Cloth Cap is 11/2 now, so if you're climbing on then now is the time. Not for me though. Good luck all.
2.25 Dreal Deal E/W 3.35 Thyme Hill 4.15 Spiritofthegames E/W 5.15 Cloth Cap, Mister Malarky, Any Second Now,,Discorama all E/W Happy punting folks.
Points for Mr Dawson and MHTR! Well done chaps! Sadly, the National eluded us all. But what a fantastic story. For racing to lead the charge as a sport where men and women can compete on equal terms is just brilliant, to my way of thinking. And Rachael Blackmore is not just a great female jockey - she's a great jockey full stop. Well done to her and to Henry de Bromhead.
I had Bako Des Flos each way in the national. Feeling pretty smug considering I had absolutely no reason to back it.