Other than Balthazar King, (which I had at 20-1!- Ed) this years Grand National brought very little joy and even less profit to us all on Saturday. Except perhaps to those of you who had been fortunate enough to follow this column’s advice to back Peter Hobbs’ runners on an each way basis and who were rewarded with a gratifying 12/1 winner in Duke of Lucca.
So onto better things with other horses and courses. This country’s most promising young trainer, Harry Fry from Seaborough, just south of Crewkerne, is sending two horses up to Scotland on Saturday. Mendip Express is likely to start favourite at 10/1 or thereabouts for the Scottish Grand National at Ayr while on the same afternoon and at the same meeting Bold Chief , a winner last time out , is likely to start at a somewhat shorter price in the three mile chase at 5.05pm.
This same yard has a number of entries for Wincanton on Sunday and should be supported if they run Fair Dreamer and Vauban du Soleil in the 2.50pm , Presenting the Way in the 4.30 and or Oscars Lad in the 5,05pm race. While Sir Ivan may run in the bumper at 5.40pm.
Proper flat racing is usually believed to start with the Craven meeting at Newmarket on Wednesday of the following week from where I shall expect my ever hopeful colleague Swinley Bottom to have gleaned some useful insights into likely future winners when he makes his debut before the Horsington Blog’s faithful readers later in the month.
He hasn’t mentioned Mrs Badger, so it seems that she is probably a non-runner. Many of our readers, (including the editor) are possibly more interested in this match than in the four-legged wonders -Ed.