Good morning all,

After a history making Grand National, it’s back to more moderate fare today. However, it gets better as the week goes on with flat really starting in earnest this week.

Tomorrow see’s the start of the three Craven Meeting at Newmarket which for me is the real start of the flat season. I know it’s hard to believe but we are less than three weeks away from the Guineas Meeting. In addition to Craven Meeting on Saturday we have two Guineas Trials in the Greenham & Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury

Inside today’s main piece I have had a look back at the Grand National. Plus, I have had a look at a couple of races at Windsor & Redcar.

Grand National Review

It might not be Cheltenham but the Aintree Grand National Festival provided plenty of highlights and it was a good three days of sport which culminated in a history making ride in the big race.

On a personal level it was also a profitable meeting for myself and Victor Value subscribers. Which of course tends to colour your views on what makes for a good meeting.

Rachel’s Day

The latest chapter in the long history of the Grand National was written on Saturday. As Rachel Blackmore became the first woman to ride a Grand National winner. When she steered Minella Times to success in the world most famous horse race.

To win a Grand National in the modern era, a horse must have a touch of class, plenty of stamina and a sound jumping technique.

Before the race I thought Minella Times' jumping was fine but I wasn’t sure about his stamina for the National distance. He was always in a nice position with his jockey giving him a ground saving ride on the inside and he barely touched a twig all the way round.

Jett, Cloth Cap & Yala Enki duelled for the early lead. Yala Enki was first to crack. The bold jumping Jett went clear of hot favourite Cloth Cap and the rest of the field by ten lengths at the 17^th.  The favourite made mistakes five and four out and that was his race run and he was quickly pulled up.

Unlucky Any Second Now

Jett gave Sam Waley Cohen a fantastic spin and he was only headed coming two out by Minella Times, Balko Des Flos and Burrows Saint. The latter had jumped and travelled powerfully for most of the race but he started to come under pressure after the second last. Coming to the last Minella Times just led his stablemate Balko Des Flos and good jump at the last sealed it for him.

Balko Des Flos who had been long out of form was rejuvenated by the National fences and out ran his 100/1 odds in finishing second.

Back in third was the well fancied Any Second Now. The 9-year-old had been badly hampered at the 12^th by the fall of Double Shuffle. However, he gradually worked his way back into the race and might well have won but for that earlier mishap. Burrows Saint eventually finished a well beaten 4^th with Farclas back in 5^th.  The latter's effort was noteworthy as he's only a 7-year-old and having only eight starts over fences.

You need a bit of luck in running in race like the National. Sadly, Any Second Now was out of it on Saturday.

The Irish dominated the race having the first five home with the best of the home team Blaklion back in 6^th. And you had to go back to Hogan’s Heights in 12^th for the next English trained finisher.

Besides Any Second Now. I thought the third De Bromhead runner Chris’s Dream was still going nicely when unseating his rider four out. His stamina had yet to be tested. He had taken well to the big fences and the tempo of the race and could be one to note for next year’s race.

What a month for Henry De Bromhead

What a month it’s been for trainer Henry De Bromhead. He saddled the winners of the Champion Hurdle, the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the first two home in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham and now he’s had the first two in the Grand National.  Its been one hell of an achievement. However, this will go down in National history as Rachel’s Day.

In tomorrow’s column. I will be looking back at Sunday's Leopardstown card which contained a number of interesting 3-year-old’s running in the two Guineas trials and the Derby trial.

Monday Racing

Windsor

2:10 – Mister Bluebird progressed gradually in maiden/novice company and continued that trend when finishing 3^rd of 9 on his Lingfield nursery debut last September. First run since and he should be capable of a bit more improvement this season. The 3-year-old gets first time cheekpieces today and William Buick has been booked for the ride.

Redcar

5:30 – Briardale returns from 433-day absence in this 1m 2f handicap . The 9-year-old won on reappearance at Haydock in 2019 and is back down to his last winning mark.  Hard to know what to expect today but Danny Tudhope is a positive jockey booking for the former C&D winner whose best turf form has come on good or quicker ground.

Monday selection:

Redcar

5:30 – Briardale – 10/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes

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Good luck with your Monday bets.

John