2011 Grand National is almost here...

[kyanya]

Is there a grand national preview programme on TV soon? I thought there normally was one, but I've not found it in my TV guide

 

[TelH]

Racing from Aintree is on BBC 2 today and tomorrow as well as Saturday so although I don't know if there is a preview as such you are bound to be able to pick up tips from that.

 

[kyanya]

And another question - do many pubs normally show the race? We're thinking of having a trip out tomorrow afternoon, but only if we can catch the race!

 

[Lolo]

Some do... If you watch, cheer for What A Friend please! He's our horse's half-brother

 

[SavingGrace]

I have What A Friend and Don't Push It on the works sweep stake (is that what you call it?)

Not sure if I will put on a bet or not... Does anyone have any reccomendations?

 

[blackcob]

I have a few pennies on What A Friend!

I imagine any pub with a TV will have it on, ours certainly will, I'm staying on after the lunch shift to watch it with a beer (and be bought a round by anyone who wins, LOL)

 

[Kenzo]

Hello Bud and Tidal Bay for me, I just hope they all come home safely.

 

[kyanya]

Hollysmum, were they give to you at random? Sounds like a decent pair to me!

 

[SavingGrace]

Yes picked out a hat Everyone did say I was lucky I might put a small bet on each of them both ways aswell...

 

[SavingGrace]

Being a betting virgin what do I actually do? Do I just go in and ask to put say £5 on each of them?

 

[kyanya]

Yup, that's all I did last year. Though I didn't have any need to go back and claim winnings, so who knows if it really worked, but they definitely took my money!

 

[royal]

Being a betting virgin what do I actually do? Do I just go in and ask to put say £5 on each of them?

Decide if you want to back them to win or just place....if just place you need to do an Each Way bet which would be £5 e/w = £10 total stake (odds are shortened for a place but generally means you could get a bit back even if they don't win!). (A general guide given by a lot of race pundits is if its 5/1 or less bet to win...greater than 5/1 should be an e/w bet)

Also you can "take the prices" which means if the odds are good when you place your bet, you can take those odds....or just leave it and you get the price at the finish of the race.....

HTH!

 

[Lolo]

Yay- What A Friend jumps like our horse too... Unusually high head carriage and slightly confused face.

 

[Taffyhorse]

The BBC coverage at Aintree just said there will be a National preview tonight on 5 live at 7pm

I haven't really picked out a fancied runner this year but would be nice to see What a Friend do well - as ever just hope they all come home safely. Some nasty falls in the Topham today but all horses reported as ok.

 

[Magicmillbrook]

I have Comply or Die in our works sweep stake.

I too have never been in a betting shop - too scary. I normaly pick by something that is the same colour as one of our horses - past or present, dont get too many skewbald TB's - I think the GN is great fun

 

[moosea]

If you want to lose your 'betting virginity' ! tomorrow is the perfect day.

Most book makers will have plenty of staff available for first timers.

Betting on the grand national can be as simple as putting cross next to the name of the horse you want to bet on and handing over your money. Go on, be brave and have a go!


Think tomorrows race will probably be fast due to the ground.

 

[RuthnMeg]

Due to an on going joke between myself and some friends, 'my' horse in the National is;
'BecauseIcouldntsee', he is number 20 I think.
Hope he doesn't trip over the fences 'due to his eyesight!' Or maybe I am the blind one in picking him!! lol

 

[criso]

I'm going for family ties and betting on Quinz because it's Frankie's little brother. He's a bit young though at 7.

 

[jasmine123]

My mOneys on ballabriggs as he's trained by the mc cains whIch was red rums trainer! I think it has a good chance

 

[Maesfen]

Yes picked out a hat Everyone did say I was lucky I might put a small bet on each of them both ways aswell...

If you draw a horse you should always put a small bet on it as well for luck. Last time I drew a horse was Last Suspect, the day I finished at Tesco; were they all sick when it won! But I hadn't had time to get a bet on so I was a bit sick too, he was a good price.

Big Fella Thanks (spl!) for me and McCain's as they're just over the hill from here.

 

[LadyRascasse]

i have Quinz, Or Noir De Somoza, State Of Play and Piraya on the work sweepstake.

 

[AprilBlossom]

I've got a couple of quid each way on silver by nature, as he is a superb beast but in all honesty I think the going will be too fast for him, and then a couple of each ways on some outsiders - becauseicouldntsee (advert for the film the blind side came on as I was placing my bets!!) and grand slam hero, as going should suit him...and at 66/1 worth a punt!!

OH put money on the favourites...YAWN

Heres hoping they all come home safely

 

[Shysmum]

whooopeeeee doo !!! More horses to run to their deaths.

 

[3Beasties]

whooopeeeee doo !!! More horses to run to their deaths.

Yawn

 

[ha903070]

King Fontaine for me as my filly is his brother!! Cant believe she has a sibling running x

 

[georgiegirl]

Yawn

hehe love it. seriously If you dont agree with it, dont watch, dont bet and dont support it. In ANY aspect of the horse world you will never make 600kgs of animal do something it doesnt want to do.

On another note Im so excited!!! Im going to see the national tomorrow as part of a hen do. Never been before and have always wanted to see it in the flesh!

Think my betting shall go ballabrigg to win, then an each way bet on character building and piraya. fingers crossed!!!

 

[Shysmum]

I saw at a yard I used to help at, horses being "trained" over the most massive jumps.

"If they don't want to do it"........I was terrified of the trainers listening to them from outside, the whips cracking..... some choice. And what happens to the horses that "don't make the grade" ??? have you been there to see it ??

Please don't tell me "they enjoy it". Horses are pack animals, and race in response to their flee instinct - whilst knackering their legs, being whipped to the end, and then (if they're lucky) , get to do it all again. If they're not, then a quick transfer to the EU seems in order. Or an immediate bullet. One minute fawning luxury, the next ......

This makes my blood boil...horse "lovers" supporting this gambling industry that really cares not one iota about the horses.

And as for "yawn", hehehehe, just get over yourselves, eh.

 

[georgiegirl]

Yes I have been there to see the horses that dont make the grade because I have re schooled them for different careers. And from these ex racers I have worked with im serious when I say if there is something they dont want to do they wont do it.

And when you say 'massive jumps' well couldnt this be applied to other horse sports, ie eventing or showjumping - far bigger than what they will be jumping tomorrow. Or 100 mile endurance rides? thats certainly not natural for horses to cover that distance in the time those guys do but rarely do you hear a fuss about it.

 

[Lolo]

I saw at a yard I used to help at, horses being "trained" over the most massive jumps.

"If they don't want to do it"........I was terrified of the trainers listening to them from outside, the whips cracking..... some choice. And what happens to the horses that "don't make the grade" ??? have you been there to see it ??

Please don't tell me "they enjoy it". Horses are pack animals, and race in response to their flee instinct - whilst knackering their legs, being whipped to the end, and then (if they're lucky) , get to do it all again. If they're not, then a quick transfer to the EU seems in order. Or an immediate bullet. One minute fawning luxury, the next ......

This makes my blood boil...horse "lovers" supporting this gambling industry that really cares not one iota about the horses.

And as for "yawn", hehehehe, just get over yourselves, eh.

Here's one unfortunate soul who didn't make the grade- his breeding says he'd be a GN horse as does his speed and scope. However, he made it fairly plain he wasn't.

As you can tell, once he suffered an injury he was cruelly mistreated and thrown aside.

JK- he was turned out for nearly 2 years with top medical care, then loaned to my sister by his adoring owner. Poor little bugger is now being asked to try his hand at proper eventing...

 

[teagreen]

I saw at a yard I used to help at, horses being "trained" over the most massive jumps.

"If they don't want to do it"........I was terrified of the trainers listening to them from outside, the whips cracking..... some choice. And what happens to the horses that "don't make the grade" ??? have you been there to see it ??

Please don't tell me "they enjoy it". Horses are pack animals, and race in response to their flee instinct - whilst knackering their legs, being whipped to the end, and then (if they're lucky) , get to do it all again. If they're not, then a quick transfer to the EU seems in order. Or an immediate bullet. One minute fawning luxury, the next ......

This makes my blood boil...horse "lovers" supporting this gambling industry that really cares not one iota about the horses.

And as for "yawn", hehehehe, just get over yourselves, eh.

An example of them not wanting to do it was Channinbar today and yesterday, and King Johns Castle last year - if they don't want to race, they won't race. Doesn't matter how hard you hit them, how much you throw at them, if they don't want to do it, they won't go.

I have worked in the industry and been involved in it for many years and I can assure you, we cared about the horses very much. The lads and lasses absolutely love their horses, their owners love them too, I can give you hundreds of both high and low profile examples of this. Of course they care about the horses

I love horses. And I love racehorses. And if I was a horse, I'd like to be a racehorses rather than some of the riding school ponies I saw the other day, or the horses standing at the roadside. Treated well, the best vet treatment or a quick end if they are injured - and yes, they do enjoy it. You come along to the yard next to me and try telling the 60 TB's that they're not getting out for morning exercise - they love going up the gallops.