Stan James PR guru Charlie McCann looks at the Grand National betting following key trials at the weekend.
The Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse on Saturday appeared the better Grand National Trial of the weekend with winner Vic Venturi and runner up Black Apalachi both being cut in the betting by Stan James for the 2010 John Smith’s Grand National.
Grand National Update from Charlie McCann of bookmakers Stan James
Both horses are in the care of Dessie Hughes and both have winning form over the Grand National fences having won the last two renewals of the Becher Chase. Black Apalachi will meet Vic Venturi on 5lb better terms than in the ATR sponsored race on Saturday at Aintree and he was going well when coming down at Bechers 2nd time in Mon Mome’s race last year. Whilst it is too soon to say what the outcome would have been he would surely have gone close but for unseating Denis O’Regan. He also came down at the 2nd in the 2008 Grand National won by Comply Or Die when a 66/1 outsider.
Vic Venturi won a modest Becher Chase renewal ( 8 went to post) run on desperate ground in 2009 when he jumped carefully albeit safely. He has winning form on good ground but seemed to find things happening too quickly at Fairyhouse in the Irish National last spring. Vic Venturi is now 14s from 25s for Aintree with Black Apalachi 16s from 20s and there is no doubt that trainer Dessie Hughes has a strong hand but they now look too short in the betting although they would be much shorter on the day if the ground was soft….but it’s got to stop raining eventually hasn’t it?
Mon Mome was pushed out to 33s in the wake of his run behind Silver By Nature (not engaged) in the Blue Sq Gold Cup at Haydock. That might have been an overraction and he has subseqently been cut to 25s. Remember good ground is the key to him and I’m sure we’ll see a different proposition in April. Big Fella Thanks has been taken out of the Racing Post Chase this weekend and with plenty of rain forecast on soft ground that race will be be a real war of attrition.
The hope is that Mouse Morris sees sense and gives War Of Attrition the green light to run at Aintree as he certainly makes plenty of appeal. Despite the fact that StanJames.com are not quoting him in the wake of his handler’s comments post announcement of the weights he and State Of Play remain my two against the field at this stage, although Possol puts his National credentials on the line at Kempton at the weekend and his first run over the bigger obstacles since the StanJames.com Festival Chase last spring is eagerly awaited.
Grand National 2010 ~ Outright Ante Post, (place terms: 1/4 the first 4)
10 Tricky Trickster (from 12)
14 Vic Venturi (from 25)
16 Black Apalachi (from 20)
16 Big Fella Thanks
16 Niche Market
16 Backstage
20 State Of Play
20 Possol
25 Comply Or Die
25 Mon Mome
25 Character Building
25 Ballyholland
25 Snowy Morning
33 Bar
Paul Nicholls 6/1 to train the Grand National Winner
