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Ladbrokes Grand National Overview (probably written by Nick Millard from sportsliveradio (don't quote me)


Comply Or Die looks the most likely winner of this year's National although Slim Pickings, Cloudy Lane and Bewleys Berry are all likely to attract their supporters.

David Pipe's charge won the Eider in fine style earlier in the season and from a form book perspective, still looks to be unexposed. He has had problems in the past in relation to fitness but David Johnson has very much played the long game and he can gain due reward today.

Slim Pickings looked a likely winner of the National last year. He's seven pounds higher but one year more experienced.

Cloudy Lane has been all the rage over the ante-post betting. Vouchers of 25/1 look appealing now and while he is technically well in versus when the weights were published; he is unproven over the trip and this is a unique race where things can happen.

Bewleys Berry has a degree of class about him. He and Mr Pointment ran brave races in the Becher. The latter has burst blood vessels since so remains a questionable betting proposition as a consequence. Howard Johnson's horse has a nice racing weight and should be a factor if securing a passage.

Hedgehunter won in 2005 and looks to be coming back to himself. Ruby Walsh elected to ride him ahead of Turko.

Simon stays well and has obvious claims.

Snowy Morning has been highly tried this season and is here off the back of a poor fencing performance.

Butlers Cabin was selected by Tony McCoy and while he has a bit to do, that won't stop the housewives money going on.

Knowhere has had a fantastic season and owes connections nothing.

Of the outsiders Vodka Bleu makes some appeal if he gets the trip.

Black Apalachi isn't straight forward but he is entirely workmanlike and if he takes to the track and first time visors, he could represent massive value.

L'Ami was quietly fancied for this last term but hasn't shown much sparkle this term.

Fundamentalist has run well at Aintree over shorter.

Naunton Brook is always dangerous if getting the run of the race but that is not guaranteed here.

Summation:
Comply Or Die looks to have plenty of positives in this race and we take him to pick up the season's premier prize.

 Sandracer @ 9:18 pm, April 04, 2008  

I gather Ian Brindle wrote the Ladbrokes form guide from the National.

He also picked the winner by the way.

Comply Or Die, 7/1.

 Sandracer @ 3:40 pm, April 05, 2008  

How They Ran In The National

4:15 John Smith's Grand National Handicap Chase (grade 3) Race 1 4m 4f


1st 7/1 4P/0P21 Comply Or Die (IRE) (42)
D Pipe
T J Murphy 9 10-9

tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, led 2 out, stayed on strongly




2nd 20/1 4 2P-2221 King Johns Castle (IRE) (27)
A L T Moore
P Carberry 9 10-11

held up in mid-division, headway 5 out, tracking leaders approaching 2 out, ridden and effort last, stayed on to go 2nd flat




3rd 16/1 1.5 4-F1133 Snowy Morning (IRE) (42)
W P Mullins
D J Casey 8 11-1

close up, headway to join leader after 4 out, challenged 2 out, ridden and kept on same pace flat




4th 10/1 16 53-62S5 Slim Pickings (IRE) (34)
T J Taaffe
B J Geraghty 9 11-3

held up towards rear, headway 23rd (Foinavon), tracking leaders 3 out, effort next, one pace flat





5th 12/1 8 429F-2P Bewleys Berry (IRE) (49)
J Howard Johnson
Denis O'regan 10 11-0

held up in touch, headway to lead after 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last





6th 7/1 3 1U-5111 Cloudy Lane (35)
D McCain Jnr
J M Maguire 8 10-11

mid-division, outpaced 5 out, rallied and effort approaching 2 out, no impression after





7th 125/1 13 F-713P7 Nadover (FR) (17)
C J Mann
R M Power 7 10-9

towards rear, struggling from halfway





8th 66/1 9 F176P0 Baily Breeze (IRE) (34)
M F Morris
P W Flood 9 10-11

chased leaders to 6th (Bechers Brook), lost place after, rallied briefly after 3 out, no impression





9th 14/1 1.75 3F6514 Chelsea Harbour (IRE) (34)
Thomas Mullins
D N Russell 8 11-2

held up in touch, headway to lead 24th (Canal Turn), headed after 4 out, weakened





10th 28/1 1.5 434-P36 Mon Mome (FR) (25)
Miss V Williams
A Coleman 8 10-11

mid-division, headway 18th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon beaten





11th 100/1 3.25 625142 Hi Cloy (IRE) (12)
M Hourigan
T Doyle 11 11-12

mid-division, outpaced 5 out






12th 80/1 1.25 726-2P8 Cornish Sett (IRE) (100)
P F Nicholls
Mr N Scholfield 9 10-10

always behind






13th 10/1 13 99-P572 Hedgehunter (IRE) (42)
W P Mullins
R Walsh 12 11-12

held up in mid-division, headway 25th (Valentines), tracking leaders when hampered 4 out, ridden 3 out, gradually weakened





14th 66/1 28 28U575 Idle Talk (IRE) (23)
D McCain Jnr
B Harding 9 10-9

mid-division, headway 19th to track leaders, ridden 3 out, soon beaten





15th 125/1 dist 385-547 Milan Deux Mille (FR) (35)
D Pipe
T J Malone 6 10-9

led 1st to 4th, led 6th until headed approaching 16th, soon weakened, finish tailed off




PU 25/1 122-416 Mr Pointment (IRE) (35)
P F Nicholls
S Thomas 9 11-11

close up, led 4th to 6th (Bechers Brook), led again approaching 16th until 24th (Canal Turn), weakened after next, behind when pulled up before last





PU 20/1 0-01105 Vodka Bleu (FR) (49)
D Pipe
Paul Moloney 9 11-2

towards rear, struggling halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 19th





PU 25/1 080403 Point Barrow (IRE) (19)
P Hughes
A Dobbin 10 10-13

behind, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 17th





PU 100/1 22-360P Bob Hall (IRE) (25)
Jonjo O'Neill
N Fehily 7 10-11

towards rear, struggling halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 19th





PU 66/1 104329 Naunton Brook (21)
N A Twiston-Davies
A Tinkler 9 10-10

soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 19th





PU 33/1 51P-062 Dun Doire (IRE) (19)
A J Martin
R McGrath 9 10-7

mid-division, struggling halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out




F 33/1 7P-P123 Turko (FR) (23)
P F Nicholls
R Johnson 6 11-10

mid-division, fell 25th (Valentines)





F 66/1 73-4425 Madison Du Berlais (FR) (70)
D Pipe
T Scudamore 7 11-9

in touch, fell 8th (Canal Turn)





F 66/1 412183 Fundamentalist (IRE) (23)
N A Twiston-Davies
P J Brennan 10 11-4

mid-division, blundered and fell 4th





F 10/1 011-373 Butler's Cabin (FR) (49)
Jonjo O'Neill
A P McCoy 8 11-3

held up in touch, headway to track leaders 19th, close up when fell at 22nd (Bechers Brook)





F 33/1 0-63003 L'ami (FR) (25)
F Doumen
M A Fitzgerald 9 11-1

towards rear, fell 2nd





F 100/1 0459-0P Contraband (22)
Paul Murphy
K Mercer 10 11-0

in touch, fell 11th





F 66/1 P-20037 Joaaci (IRE) (98)
D Pipe
J W Farrelly 8 10-13

in touch fell 20th






F 25/1 P2-P014 D'Argent (IRE) (49)
A King
R Thornton 11 10-12

raced wide, chased leaders until blundered badly and fell 4 out





F 125/1 0-434P2 No Full (FR) (7)
Eoin Doyle
J R Barry 7 10-12

led to 1st, in touch when fell 6th (Bechers Brook)





F 100/1 P24/0-14 Backbeat (IRE) (62)
J Howard Johnson
K Renwick 11 10-9

towards rear, fell 2nd






F 66/1 4398F2 Kelami (FR) (42)
F Doumen
F Keniry 10 10-9

held up towards rear, headway and in touch when mistake and fell 11th






F 66/1 564420 Black Apalachi (IRE) (34)
D T Hughes
A J Mcnamara 9 10-8

close up, fell 2nd






F 25/1 P6/84-2B Philson Run (IRE) (49)
Nick Williams
D Jacob 12 10-8

towards rear, hampered and fell 8th (Canal Turn)





F 100/1 166P0P Ardaghey (IRE) (23)
N A Twiston-Davies
David England 9 10-7

towards rear, fell 4th





UR 66/1 135P16 Knowhere (IRE) (22)
N A Twiston-Davies
J Tizzard 10 11-11

mid-division, blundered badly, unseated rider 25th (Valentines)






UR 11/1 1F-52U4 Simon (42)
J L Spearing
D Elsworth 9 11-7

tracked leaders, blundered and unseated rider 25th (Valentines)





UR 50/1 16F5PP Iron Man (FR) (22)
P Bowen
Christian Williams 7 11-5

towards rear, blundered and unseated rider 3rd





UR 25/1 7612-80 Mckelvey (IRE) (21)
P Bowen
T J O'brien 9 11-0

mid-division, weakened halfway, blundered and unseated rider 20th





UR 100/1 4-57626 Tumbling Dice (IRE) (41)
T J Taaffe
T G M Ryan 9 10-10

tracked leaders, blundered and unseated rider 3rd

 Sandracer @ 6:58 pm, April 05, 2008