Grand National Guide

The Hairdresser Who Won The National Twice

Simone — Fri, 24 May 2013 11:01:57 +0000

Aintree always has a story to tell. This one’s about a camp hairdresser with a fake French accent who went on to become Britain’s first celebrity crimper and the owner of not one, but two Grand National winners. During the early fifties over 30,000 ladies hairdressers sprung up in towns and cities all over the [...]

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Farhh Slashed For Ascot After Stylish Lockinge Romp

Simone — Thu, 23 May 2013 07:17:21 +0000

Bookmakers were taking no chances on Farhh in the ante-post market for the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot next month after the Godolphin star blasted a high-class field apart with an authoritative success in the Group 1 JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on his seasonal reappearance. Saeed bin Suroor’s five-year-old was the [...]

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The Story After The Glory – Where Are The Grand National Winners Now?

Simone — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:03:05 +0000

The Grand National has produced some of the greatest horseracing winners of all time, horses whose names live on in the minds of once-a-year punters long after the race has been run and the betting slips discarded. Few horses win this great race more than once and for many their Grand National career is a [...]

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Maguire Gets The Jump On McCoy

Simone — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:12:59 +0000

For the last 18 years A.P. McCoy has dominated the racing world, in 2013 McCoy landed the Champion jockey title once again with a total of 185 wins at a strike rate of 22% from a total of 848 rides. Hot on his heels was Jason Maguire with 144 wins from 747 rides, Maguire finished [...]

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Marengo Being Prepared For Epsom Derby

Simone — Fri, 10 May 2013 11:56:45 +0000

Aidan O’Brien’s tremendously exciting prospect Battle of Marengo will continue his build-up to an expected crack at the Group 1 Investec Derby at Epsom on June 1 with a bid for the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown on May 12 likely to prove the acid test of his abilities, writes Elliot Slater. Currently on [...]

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Bet365 Gold Cup Winner And The Grand National

Simone — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:49:48 +0000

Saturday sees the final big race of the jumps season when Sandown hosts the Bet365 Gold Cup, known to many as the Whitbread and many will be looking for betting tips to narrow down the field. The race is run over a testing extended 3m5f making the trip only six furlongs shorter than the Aintree [...]

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Unraced Achtung Attracts Derby Market Interest

Simone — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:31:58 +0000

In what appears to be one of the most open Investec Derby markets for some years, with no outstanding candidate having as yet emerged from the pack, there has been interest at 40/1 in the unraced Jeremy Noseda-trained Achtung, a full-brother to the 2005 Epsom Derby winner, Authorised. It is very rare for a horse [...]

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Across The Bay

Simone — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 13:29:48 +0000

Trainer Donald McCain said of Across The Bay prior to the 2013 Grand National “It seems strange that Across The Bay won a Grade Two Hurdle at Haydock and didn’t move in the betting. Yet you win a bad hurdle race in Ireland and you become favourite.” And he wasn’t wrong for that’s indeed what [...]

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Always Waining

Simone — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 07:33:03 +0000

Back in November 2011, Peter Bowen decided that Always Waining would take what was probably his last go at the Grand National in 2012. Bowen said that then eleven year old gelding probably would not get another chance at the big race because of his age, but that he wanted to give him a few [...]

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Scottish Grand National Odds

Simone — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:59:07 +0000

The last Grand National of the season and it’s at Ayr Racecourse in Scotland and takes place on Saturday, 20th April 2013 at 15.50pm. It’s run over 4m 110 yards and is just as gruelling as any of the other Nationals but with less runners, in fact this year there will be 26 of them [...]

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Quel Esprit

Simone — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:48:49 +0000

A classy horse, Quel Esprit is trained by Irish Champion trainer Willie Mullins and did have an entry in 2012 but was withdrawn before the final stages and didn’t run. He had three more runs, one of them in a hurdle in France, before the 2013 National. Quel Esprit is a French runner with a [...]

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What A Friend

Simone — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:37:12 +0000

A 10 year old jointly owned by Sir Alex Ferguson and Ged Mason, he is half brother to My Little Lady a winning pointer. He is trained by Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls who was looking for back-to-back wins in the 2013 Grand National. What A Friend is already a Dual Grade 1 winner and ridden [...]

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Viking Blond

Simone — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 13:58:40 +0000

Viking Blond was just seven years old when he had his first go at the national in 2012. He went off at 80/1 with Sam Twiston-Davies on board and barely made it to the first fence before he fell. Another year older, and hopefully a little bit wiser, he was given another entry and lined [...]

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Treacle

Simone — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:53:41 +0000

2013 was the second year that Treacle aimed for the Grand National having run in the 2012 renewal. Unsuccessful then, he fell at the 10th fence despite some good odds when he went off at 22/1. Owned by Bjorn Neilsen, a United States financier, Treacle had two runs since then – at Thurles on February [...]

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Weird Al

Simone — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:15:54 +0000

Trained by Donald McCain Jnr, Weird Al was the fourth highest weighted horse in the 2012 Grand National having been given 11-08 by the BHA Handicapper. Despite this he still ran on the day, going off at 28/1, and was so close to making it all the way around before he fell at the 27th [...]

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Any Currency

Simone — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 07:55:33 +0000

Any Currency is the 10 year old Irish horse trained by Martin Keighley and owned by the syndicate Cash Is King. Throughout his career, Any Currency had never unseated his rider but that unfortunately happened in the Becher Chase at Aintree on December 8th 2012. But true to his consistent form he has never fallen [...]

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The Rainbow Hunter

Simone — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 15:54:25 +0000

Trainer Kim Bailey’s only entry into the 2013 Grand National was The Rainbow Hunter, a nine year old bay gelding owned by the uniquely names ‘May We Never Be Found Out’ Partnership. The Rainbow Hunter just sneaked into the top 40 due to the number of horses scratched at the second stage and with the [...]

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Tatenen

Simone — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 14:01:07 +0000

Tatenen was a French nine year old from the Richard Rowe yard who made his first appearance at the Grand National in 2012. He went off at 100/1 and didn’t make it around the course successfully however, and instead unseated his rider Andrew Thornton at the Canal Turn on the first circuit. From 24 chase [...]

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Swing Bill

Simone — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 13:47:51 +0000

Swing Bill was the 12 year old from the David Pipe yard who was 10th in the 2012 National, which was won by Neptune Collonges, and so with hopes high that he could do better he was given an entry to the 2013 Grand National. Since the 2012 renewal he put another six races under [...]

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Sunnyhillboy

Simone — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 09:05:39 +0000

Sunnyhillboy caused some head-scratching when he was pulled up in the Spinal Research The Atlantic 4 Gold Cup at Cheltenham in December 2011 when he went off at favorite odds of 7-2, but was pulled up by jockey Tony McCoy before the second to last fence. At the time his owner JP McManus‘ racing manager [...]

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Tarquinius

Simone — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 08:50:24 +0000

Trained by Gordon Elliott, Tarquinius was 10-years old and as a result of a round of withdrawals finally secured himself a spot in the starting line-up of 40 2013 Grand National Runners and given that he originally started in 63rd spot, that was quite an achievement. A solid horse, as most of Elliott’s are, Tarquinius [...]

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Soll

Simone — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 08:32:19 +0000

Until October 2012 eight year old Soll was trained by Irish Champion Trainer Willie Mullins but at that point he moved to the yard of Jo Hughes and due to two very last minute withdrawals he got a run in the 2013 Grand National. Soll was a decent horse and much fancied by many as [...]

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Roberto Goldback

Simone — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 12:08:46 +0000

Roberto Goldback was entered for the National in 2012 but following a hefty weight of 11-04 by the BHA Handicapper, the Nicky Henderson trained horse was subsequently withdrawn. Back again in 2013 and 11 years old, he was given another shot at the Grand National and had faired just slightly better by getting 11-02 to [...]

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Ballabriggs

Simone — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 09:05:22 +0000

Ballabriggs was the Irish, 12 year old that headed to the Grand National for the third consecutive year in 2013. Trained by Donald McCain, he was aiming for his second win at the National having already won it in 2011. Ballabriggs, hardened as the 2011 ante-post National favourite after winning over hurdles at Ayr in [...]

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Saint Are

Simone — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 09:01:51 +0000

Trained by Welsh trainer Tim Vaughan, Saint Are just made it into the top 40 for the starting line-up for the 2013 Grand National, due to a number of horses ahead of him being withdrawn at the scratching stages. Saint Are was only seven years old and as had just run in the Fulke Walwyn [...]

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Seabass

Simone — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 08:54:33 +0000

When aimed for the 2012 Grand National, the Ted Walsh trained, Irish runner Seabass gained huge attention due to his unbeaten record in his previous seven starts. Just prior to the 2012 National he won at Naas on February 26th 2012 and before that won the Leopardstown Handicap Chase in a field of 22. Ted [...]

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2013 Grand National Result

Simone — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:22:24 +0000

Auroras Encore won the 2013 Grand National giving long shot backers across the nation something to celebrate as Ryan Mania guided the 66/1 shot home past the finishing post first with Cappa Bleu and Teaforthree left to battle it out for second and third place. A huge win for trainer Sue Smith and a debut [...]

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No Teaforthree For Scottish National

Simone — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:01:46 +0000

The Rebecca Curtis-trained Teaforthree who ran such a tremendous race to finish third in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 6th, will not be asked to turn out again just two weeks later at Ayr for the Coral Scottish Grand National. The nine-year-old had been a top priced 16/1 shot in the [...]

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Quiscover Fontaine

Simone — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:05:12 +0000

Quiscover Fontaine is trained by Willie Mullins and owned by JP McManus and was attempting the Grand National for the second time on April 6th 2013. Usually partnered with David Casey, Quiscover Fontaine has had mixed form with mediocre performances including at Leopardstown and Punchestown and Thurles all in 2013. Having only ran in seven [...]

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Mr Moonshine

Simone — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:33:57 +0000

Nine years old and trained by Sue Smith who also had Auroras Encore running in the 2013 Grand National, Mr Moonshine is a bay gelding with 11 chase starts under his belt. He had been to Aintree twice but this will was his first Grand National run as on the previous occasions he ran in [...]

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On His Own

Simone — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 08:49:16 +0000

In 2011 the owner of On His Own, Graham Wylie, decided to transfer the horse, along with some others, to Willie Mullins‘ yard. The gelding’s first race out for his new trainer in December wasn’t much to write home about, but he came back quickly about a month later to claim the Goffs Thyestes Handicap [...]

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Ninetieth Minute

Simone — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 08:34:32 +0000

Following the surprise withdrawal of some of the more likely 2013 Grand National Runners, Ninetieth Minute made it into the starting line-up for 2013. Trained by Tom Taaffe, he was, at the time, a 10-year old bay gelding with a decent race record. He had 11 chase starts but had only won one of them, [...]

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Mumbles Head

Simone — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:23:57 +0000

Mumbles Head was the second of trainer Peter Bowen’s charges to be guaranteed a spot in the starting line-up in 2013, primarily due to the announced injuries and withdrawals that opened up some spots. He joined stable mate Always Waining on April 6th. It had been a slow season for Mumbles Head and he had [...]

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Lost Glory

Simone — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 08:21:48 +0000

Another of the JP McManus 2013 National Runners, Lost Glory was also trained by Jonjo O’Neill and was one of only two he still had left in contention. A fantastic horse with a terrific win rate, he was only 8 years old so this race, in 2013 anyway, may just have been beyond him. It [...]

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Joncol

Simone — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:21:12 +0000

An experienced chaser with a fantastic record of six wins, two seconds and seven third place finishes from his 18 starts, Joncol was one outsider who was definitely worth a second look. At 10-years of age and having been allocated 10-09 by the BHA Handicapper, which was the lowest weight of his career, he was [...]

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Forpadydeplasterer

Simone — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:50:08 +0000

Forpadydeplasterer represents the dream, the dream that you can be a regular man or woman and get involved in a horse racing syndicate that manages to bag a beauty and that’s exactly with the Goat Racing Syndicate did. Earning his connections nearly £500K during his career, Forpadydeplasterer has had some illustrious wins and came into [...]

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Imperial Commander

Simone — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:45:01 +0000

Imperial Commander was certainly Nigel Twiston-Davies best chance at winning the 2013 Grand National, with his other three entries falling short of the mark and unlikely to get a place on the starting line. And with both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the National potentially on the cards things were going in the right direction [...]

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Major Malarkey

Simone — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:09:34 +0000

At one point trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies was in danger of not having any 2013 Grand National Runners but with the confirmation that Imperial Commander would run and the subsequent withdrawals that left the door open for Major Malarkey he did, thankfully, have two horses in the running. Major Malarkey was 10 years old and his [...]

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Join Together

Simone — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 10:09:02 +0000

Join Together may have only come second in the Becher Chase in December 2012 but if that race had been two feet longer he would have won it. His reserve speed at the end was nothing short of remarkable and if he was able to bring that to Aintree on April 6th it may very [...]

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Big Fella Thanks

Simone — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:53:17 +0000

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. By the time the 2010 Grand National rolled around he was a firm favourite [...]

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Colbert Station

Simone — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:51:01 +0000

Owned by JP McManus and trained by Grand National winning trainer Ted Walsh, Colbert Station looked like JP’s best chance to add a second National win to his collection. He was on great form and had just had two back-to-back wins. The first was in Leopardstown in December 2012 when he romped home in the [...]

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Chicago Grey

Simone — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:10:01 +0000

Late in October of 2011, Gordon Elliot watched Chicago Grey finish third in the Charlie Hall Chase. Soon after, he announced that the grey gelding was a serious consideration for the Grand National. He praised the horse’s effort and said that he came out of it looking better than ever. And he did run in [...]

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