Stabletalk: “I think it’s the most open Grand National we’ve seen for a very long time”

4.20 Aintree – Three Musketeers

We’re running him back over hurdles as I felt that he was not quite as committed over fences as he needs to be. The last time he ran in a hurdle he was third in a Grade 1. He’s a horse we’ve always rated highly. We just have to see how he gets on back over hurdles. He won’t be last put it that way but at the same time we need to see where we are with him. He is a “graded” horse, but whether he’s quite a Grade 1 horse that’s the question. He’s only a seven year old so we’ve still got time to find out the answer to that, but he needs to start answering that question now.

5.15 Aintree – GRAND NATIONAL

I think it’s the most open Grand National we’ve seen for a very long time. Horses carrying lots of weight can win the race these days and More Of That is a high class horse. You’d have to consider him. Blaklion looks nice in there off his weight given he was a Grade 1 winner last year. Vieux Lion Rouge must have a massive chance given you know he can jump round there but I just wonder if he’s shown his hand already? If he’s a 160 horse then he’s still well in but he’ll need to be. I still think he’s going to run a huge race. I’d give Definitly Red a chance. At a big price I’d give Houblon Des Obeaux a decent chance. Those are the horses I’m looking at but at the end of the day it’s the Grand National. 100/1 chances have won, 66/1 chances. A maiden over fences won it last year. It’s a great race. It’s frustrating not to have a runner but we’ll have one, it just takes time to make those horses.

6.05 Aintree – Born Survivor

He has to give weight away all round. He did run very well at two and a half miles here in November and every time he’s run over two and a half miles he’s travelled very well, and if you stopped the race at two miles he’d look the winner. He’s conned me in to thinking he’s a stayer. Maybe he’s a shorter distance horse, so we’re having a go over two miles. We expect him to run well and he could win but obviously we are trying a different trip with him. He’ll go chasing next year.

 Dan

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