Aintree Grand National Meeting

[Maddie Moo]

Just caught up on the racing today, I had Annamix in the Foxhunter. Really pleased with how he stayed on for 3rd!

My (not actually mine but I can dream!) beloved Francky Du Berlais is racing in the Topham tomorrow. He’s jumped round the National fences several times, including in the National, so I’m hoping he’s going to run well. He’s currently 28/1!

Off topic but did anyone see Secret Squirrel win at Taunton today? He’s my childhood dream pony, all ginger and blonde

He’s just so stunning isn’t he

https://twitter.com/x/status/1778403649519010140

 

[Jenko109]

Argh but I want to know why.

Cant someone PM? Is that allowed?

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

Wow just watching the fox hunters and the GN jumps are only up to the horses chests. It looks like a hurdle.

 

[vickyb]

Wow just watching the fox hunters and the GN jumps are only up to the horses chests. It looks like a hurdle.

That was my impression too - I couldn't believe it. They now look substantially smaller than the average chase fence, and it also seemed to me that there was even more loose birch (?) being knocked off the top as they jumped. If they reduce the height of the fences and then make the top, say, quarter of the fence out of material that can be knocked off, it doesn't bode well for the second 'go round' in the National. Horses aren't stupid, they will realise they can take liberties with the fences and just brush through them, (and what height will they be then? About hurdle height or even less?) thus encouraging speed over accuracy. As a spectacle the GN is ruined, it is just a long distance speed race and the fences are no longer imposing. I looked at them and thought I would fancy a jolly over them at my own pace. I never think that when I stand near the fences at say, Badminton!

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

Exactly I should be looking at them and thinking no way in hell I'd jump them

I'm scared of jumping but hell give me something that I could just cling onto a neck strap and I wouldn't mind a go, especially on the second circuit when they're probably even smaller than a hurdle

It's very underwhelming surely keep the height to make them respect them, those barely look like they require respect

Perhaps they should have done the reducing the field size, before they turned the fences into glorified hurdles?

 

[Andie02]

Does anyone know how the jockey is that was taken in the ambulance

He has broken his elbow ...... Ben Sutton.

 

[splashgirl45]

Anyone entered the GN sweepstake, I’ve got Noble Yeats

 

[Kadastorm]

I got Ain’t That A Shame whos owner is the jockey David Maxwell.

 

[Clodagh]

Adamantly Chosen. Never heard of him! Thankfully not GE.

 

[TheresaW]

I have I am Maximus in the work sweepstake.

 

[photo_jo]

I think my feelings are very similar. Absolutely love watching a horse jumping fences - think of a horse getting every railway fence at Sandown spot on and pinging a leap. I grew up with that amazing picture of Pendil which some might know putting in a perfect leap and true poetry in motion

Taken by the incomparable Ed Byrne. Pretty sure he was still working as a bus driver then, that was the photo that made him take up photography full time

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

I've got Galia Des Litaux with Harry Skeleton

Was considering putting a couple of pounds on her anyway

 

[Clodagh]

Horrible fall for Giovinco. I hope he’s ok.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

I had Jango Bai (stupid name) in the 7, so close to getting there

 

[Kadastorm]

Fatal injury for Giovinci

 

[Indieanna6]

Luckily I'm not watching so didn't see the fall but apparently he's been taken in horse ambulance to somewhere on the national course area & not back to the stables area.

Hope he will be ok.

 

[Indieanna6]

Ah, just seen the update.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

Oh no

 

[photo_jo]

You almost wonder whether he'd done something as he took off the way he fell

 

[Clodagh]

Why did the Ricci’s sell Mystical Power? You would have thought they would have kept him.

 

[Andie02]

Why did the Ricci’s sell Mystical Power? You would have thought they would have kept him.

Owned by JP, Magnier and S Ricci.

click on the colours on race card, he runs in JP's colours.

 

[Clodagh]

Owned by JP, Magnier and S Ricci.

Ah! Thank you. Missed that. JP must have the majority share for his colours to be worn?

 

[Andie02]

Ah! Thank you. Missed that. JP must have the majority share for his colours to be worn?

I only know because I follow Willie's a lot (ducks lol , cos I know you not too keen on the Irish)

 

[Kadastorm]

Just knew Mystical Power would win that. I originally had Dysart Enos but he was a non runner.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

I had Mystical in my 7

 

[reynold]

Love that Annie Power's son did so well.

Interesting to know the full ownership

 

[Andie02]

I had Jango Bai (stupid name) in the 7, so close to getting there

He was very unlucky, he got badly hampered, looks to be a decent sort for the future.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

He was very unlucky, he got badly hampered, looks to be a decent sort for the future.

Think he would have won without the hampering, however my one at the non Aintree track has also lost!

 

[humblepie]

Very sad about Giovinci. I have only just started watching for this race. Whoop whoop for Jonbon. I hope Easy Game okay. He’s beautiful.

 

[reynold]

Henderson runners doing well. Glad as it would have been so awful for the whole team to have Aintree as bad as Cheltenham.

Jonbon great!