Hi all,
It looks like spring has finally arrived. The week is set to be dry & sunny with increasing temperatures.
That’s music to my ears as I will be at Ripon for its opening flat meeting on Thursday for an afternoon of racing with Darren Power from On Course Profits. I haven’t had a day at the races with Darren for nearly four years and it will be great to catch up.
Ripon is known as the ‘garden racecourse’ and on a sunny summer’s day there’s no nicer place to watch the sport. It’s a few years since I went to Ripon so I’m hoping that the course is as good as ever.
Inside today’s main piece you can read my thoughts on a dramatic Aintree Grand National.
Drama at the start and carnage during the race
I was transported back in time 30 years on Saturday. Those of you with long memories will remember that animal rights protesters caused mayhem before the subsequently voided 1993 Grand National.
Fast forward to Saturday and self-proclaimed animal rights group Animal Rising attempted to stop this year’s Grand National. Thankfully their actions were dealt with, and the race was run after a short delay. Mind you I’m not sure the delay was beneficial to all the horses. At least two horses Hill Sixteen & Galvin got very upset before the start and ironically both horses came down at the first.
The drama and tense atmosphere at the course were a portent of a dramatic race and we got it. Indeed, the race made for uncomfortable viewing, for me and I say that as someone who loves the race.
The winner Corach Rambler was one of my final three selections in the race. However, I have to say the race was carnage from the start. It really didn’t make for good viewing with Hill Sixteen losing his life at the first.
In addition to the fatality, we had injuries and loose horses causing chaos like it was a pre modifications National. It can’t be proved but its ironic that protestors actions may have played their part in horses coming to harm. Sadly, the way it will be reported means the wider public won’t realise this.
The protesters might not have stopped this year’s race, but they will be back for future renewals. There will be more of them, and they will be better organised, and they might get lucky one time.
How long for jumps racing?
Those in the media wanting an end to the Grand National will be all over the fatality. We witnessed the ghoulish behaviour of photographers taking pictures of the last moments of Dark Raven after his fall in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle.
The protesters got their win a death of horse and a couple of others injured. Some on ITV racing were naively suggesting the sport should engage with the protestors and show them how the sport cares for its equine participants. Well, I’m afraid that’s not going to work there’s no appeasing this small group of activists. What the sport must do is keep most of the rest of the population on board. If it starts to lose them then it really is race over.
There’s one positive
If there is a positive, it’s the animal rights activists are focused for the moment on one race that’s held only once a year. So far, they haven’t attacked the sport at of its very weak spots that of horse wastage.
Outside the racing bubble the world has changed. It’s not for the good but there’s no denying its changed and we can’t get away from that stark fact. I know I sound like a broken record, but I don’t think jump racing will be with us in 30 years’ time. I sincerely hope I’m wrong. However, I suspect future sport historians will look back on Saturday’s race as the beginning of the end.
As for the short term. Expect calls for more modifications to the Grand National, like a reduction in the field size to 30.
It will be interesting to see how the BHA reacts to Saturday’s events. Will they stand up for the race or concede more ground?
Hopefully the BHA won’t make any knee jerk reactions about the race. Yes, sometimes doing nothing is the best course of action.
Yes, you can get rid of the pre-race parade there's just no need for it. Maybe we need a standing start to the race. These are small tweaks that could be implemented but any major changes in say the field size won't do anything to appease the activists. Their ultimate goal is the banning of horse racing and nothing the BHA does to the Grand National changes that.
Whatever the BHA decide there are even tough times ahead for the Grand National and jump racing in general.
Grand National Review
Incredibly after all Friday’s rain Aintree was closer to good than the officially described good to soft on Saturday. That said the surface was still perfect for jump racing with plenty of spring in the ground which meant it didn’t inconvenience those horses who needed a bit of ease in the ground.
Before the race I feared that Corach Rambler might be ridden to far back, but those tactics weren’t used. He was always well positioned and travelled supremely well through the race. Coming to the last he headed Mister Coffey and soon scooted clear of his field. However, he’s a horse who tends to pull himself up when he hits the front.
It’s a long run in from the last and I wondered if he might be caught but he had enough in the tank to hold off the strong finishing Vanillier and Gaillard Du Mesni in third.
The winner was 10lb well in at the weights and given he doesn’t do much when hitting the front had more in hand that the final 2 ¼ length margin of victory suggests.
I thought the winner would go off about 6/1 so was happy to leave him alone.at that sort of price However, as soon he drifted out to 10/1 on Friday I was happy to go in.
Vanillier came from further back than the winner and took to the National fences very well and I’m sure he will be back next year.
Gaillard Du Mesnil is a slow old boat, and as expected he stayed the 4m 2 ½ f very well. He just wasn’t quick enough.
Last year’s winner Noble Yeats ran a cracker in fourth given he was 19lb higher than 12 months ago.
How some of the others fared?
The Big Dog gave his supporters a good run for their money in fifth.
Roi Mage another of my selections was still bang there coming to the last before eventually finishing 7th. Softer ground would have suited him better.
Mister Coffey gave Nico De Boinville a great spin. He jumped well and two out he had skipped a few lengths clear of the field. His stamina began to run out coming to the last and he faded into 8th on the run in. He remains a maiden over fences.
Le Milos and Our Power both ran well but didn’t stay.
Ain't That A Shame travelled as well as anything coming to three out but the tank soon emptied. Likewise, my final pick Capodanno travelled well for long way, but he was done two out and his jockey wisely pulled him up before the last. There will hopefully be other days for the 7-year-old.
Galvin who was one of the horses who was stressed out due to the delay to the start unseated his jockey at the first. Stablemate Delta Work was still going well when unseating at the 21st.
Mr Incredible was still in contention when unseating his rider a few strides after the Canal Turn. He’s clearly quirky but has plenty of talent and might be aimed at next year's race.
For those who joined the Victor Value service for the Aintree Grand National Festival. It didn’t look like there was any chance of a profit after a poor Friday. However, wins by Midnight River and Corach Rambler saw a profit gained over the three days. Ok, not as big as Cheltenham but a profits, a profit. And it worth remembering that plenty of winners like Bill Baxter were to be found in the race previews.
Monday Racing
This afternoon’s racing is from Redcar, Kelso (jumps) and Windsor which hosts its first Monday fixture of the new season. Monday’s action is completed by evening fixtures at Tramore (jumps) and an all-weather fixture at Kempton.
The racing gets better as the week progresses and it’s a busy one. Tomorrow it’s the start of Newmarket’s three day Craven Meeting. And later in the week its Newbury’s Greenham Meeting and the Scottish Grand National Meeting at Ayr.
Today’s race in focus is the mile handicap (3:00) at Redcar.
Redcar
3:00 – Young Fire isn’t the most consistent of handicappers, but he was on a going day when winning at Wolverhampton last month before disappointing back at that venue 12-days later. He’s well suited to the mud though and has dropped to a good mark and a reproduction of even last year’s best turf form would see him win this. However, it doesn’t look like he will get the strong gallop he needs, and I can look elsewhere.
Shaladar developed into a consistent handicapper last year winning three times and posted a career best on RPR’s when a ½ length 2nd of 11 at Nottingham on his final start of last season. The 4-year-old goes well on soft ground and should win again this season but may need today’s seasonal reappearance.
Belhaven made it 2-2 over C&D when winning the Final of this series last October. That was a personal best by the filly and although she starts the season off 2lb higher she had a bit in hand last time and remains on a competitive mark. Handles ease in the ground and if she’s ready to roll after a 198-day layoff looks the one to be with.
Belhaven.
Good luck with your Monday bets.
John
Perhaps some of the controversy with fallers and sadly of course, the fatality, could be addressed with ensuring runners have sufficient experience and Class outside of the spotlight of the biggest day in the Jumps calendar? Dark Raven and numerous others for that matter had only a handful of races under rules and even fewer at the Class and difficulty of Aintree’s obstacles, hurdles in the Turner’s naturally but also especially the (albeit toned-down c.f years ago) fences for the GN, ever was the case though. Overall, I would tend to agree with your downbeat future of the event though John.