Big Fella Thanks

Big Fella Thanks went off at 14/1 in the 2009 Grand National, but unfortunately only managed to come 6th, proving yet again that seven year old horses don’t tend to win the National – the last one was Bogskars in 1940.

He came in twenty-three lengths behind winner Mon Mome, and he had weakened from the second last. He has had very little racing experience, so having achieved 6th place in the National he may prove to be top of the list for quite a few punters this year, already having antepost odds of 32/1.

Prior to the 2009 National he showed himself to be a promising stayer, when he got off the mark the first time over fences with a wide margined victory in a competitive handicap at Doncaster. The National is a whole different ball game for racehorses, so having achieved 6th place in 2009, it is likely that he will be campaigned by his stables and trainer Paul Nicholls, and pushed to rise up the handicap for 2010.

He came so close to winning the 2010 Grand National that many speculate, that but for Ruby Walsh’s injury he may even have won it.

So hopes were high for the 2011 Grand National but Ruby Walsh opted to race with The Midnight Club for Willie Mullins and Big Fella Thanks was moved from Paul Nicholls stable to that of Ferdy Murphy and was ridden, on the day, by the very experienced Graham Lee who only managed to bring him home in seventh place.

The 2012 Grand National could make up for the last few though as Big Fella Thanks will be the optimum 10 years old, has already gotten around the course very successfully three years in a row and if handicapped favourably this could be his year!