The Fancied Gee-Gees.
Here's a very rough guide to the fancied steeds who, in theory if not reality, should be the best chance you've got of winning this thing and walking off into the sunset with a fic in your victorious hand. Of course, doing this has instantly guaranteed that it's going to be a year for the outsiders, about whom you'll know nothing... ;)
Joe’s Edge - Scottish National winner, big race winner at Cheltenham last month. Likes to come with a late run so you’ll need to bite your fingernails with tension, and don't panic if you don't hear about him on the commentary for a while. But, obviously, do if you never hear about him. ;) Has very little weight, but he did run in this last year (when not in such good form) and he was only seventh…
Point Barrow - Big Irish horse, with a white noseband, who is very classy and seems to be their best chance to win. Likes good ground (tick), big fields (tick), and is used to carrying lots of weight (tick). May be a huge gamble on it if the whole of Ireland decide to back him. Ridden by an eccentric nutcase called Paul Carberry, who is a brilliant jockey when he’s not in trouble with the stewards and everyone else.
Numbersixvalverde - Another Irish horse, ridden by Niall “Slippers” Madden, who likes to sneak quietly round in races and win, almost without being noticed till the very last minute, and last year they won this one. Might well do it again, but he likes the mud, which is conspicuous by its absence, and he has more weight to carry. Slippers may be down to his socks or stockings this time around.
Dun Doire - the name is currently pronounced Done Dora, but that may change when an Irish commentator puts the English commentators right. He’s trained by a very, very shrewd trainer who has been building up to this one day all year, but some of his horses are running badly, and Dun Doire also seems to relish a mudbath, which he isn’t going to get.
Hedgehunter - See previous post dated 3/04 about the winner in 2005, who has his own fan website.
L’Ami - Elegant, French, chestnut (think Weasley auburn) horse who can run a lot faster than most of the others on an ordinary course, but will he like these jumps or think je ne sais quoi? He is trained by Francois Douman, who has a hairstyle and an accent to die for, so it’d be quite nice if he won just for the interviews afterwards. Owned by a millionaire who likes to buy football teams and was rumoured to spend many francs buying L'Ami.
Idle Talk - Seems an intelligent horse because he got rid of his jockey early on in last month’s Gold Cup, but continued riderless to finish second, as though he knew this was his prep race. Horses that fall in their prep races often seem to run very well in the National where the fences are supposedly much more difficult. He is also trained by the son of the most famous National trainer of recent years, Donald, whose father Ginger McCain trained Red Rum, who won it three times.
Billyvodden - Blinkered front runner, who likes to tear off in front and play catch me if you can. There’s a few front runners around so he may not get things his own way, but I’ve got him in the draw so I’m hoping he doesn’t get caught!
Simon - See previous post dated 3/04.
Bothar Na - Another Irish horse; a newspaper claims the name translates as something like “top of the road” but it wasn’t a very reliable newspaper, so possibly not. Trained by a very shrewd man called Willie Mullins, who isn’t saying very much about this horse. Which could be a good sign. Or not. ;) Betting will be interesting if everyone starts backing this.
Eurotrek - At different times in his life, this horse has had heart trouble, chest trouble and leg trouble. But when he’s fit, he’s very good; he’s being ridden by the youngest jockey in the race, he should like the good ground, and he’s won over these fences already. Lots of pluses, apart from the fact that his trainer has no luck whatsoever in this race.
McKelvey - He likes to front run as well, he’s a young horse and very enthusiastic. He’s being ridden by Tom O’Brien, who has taken the racing world by storm this year, riding over 100 winners when hardly being known at all at the start of it. He's also young and enthusiastic, and the trainer fancies them both to go very well.
Monkerhostin - Very good horse, who has won some very good races in his time, so has lots of weight to carry. Also has to carry Richard Johnson, who is the number two best Britsh jockey and also used to date Zara Philips, Princess Anne’s daughter. Lots and lots of gossip there, so the press will be praying he wins. And the horse.
Bewley’s Berry - He’s not very fast but he’s a very good jumper and he keeps going, which is the sort of horse you want on your side as it’s a long, long way. He’s also owned by a millionaire who bought a few racehorses for himself and his wife; they both adore their horses and she’s refusing to watch the race till she knows Berry is back ok.
Clan Royal - If ever a horse deserved to win, it’s him. Has been third when his jockey nearly lost his way on him, was in the lead when a loose horse stopped him in his tracks, and then finally managed to finish third again. Now has a very low weight, ground he likes, but he’s getting older - will the luck finally change?
Liberthine - If you’ve got her, congratulations - the owners think she’s pregnant. Only just, though, and it’s like human female athletes, they can run in the first few months and it often seems to improve them. She’s regarded very much as a family pet - she’ll be retired after this - but she’s won the shorter version of this race, and she’s got a plucky amateur rider called Sam Whaley-Cohen on board. This could be the fairy tale story.
Longshanks - See previous post dated 3/04. His dodgy foot is now ok and he has a special plastic shoe to wear!
Homer Wells - Trained by the shrewdie who trains Bothar Na, who isn’t really saying anything about this one either. This is a fairly young horse, who has never run on good ground so may just love it. He’s won his last two races and looks to be getting better and better, and there's lots of rumours around that he's going to go well…
Jack High - I think he’s about average horsey height really, but he’s a lovely old Irish horse who always seems to run a good race. He’s won lots of money but he does like the mud and he’s approaching retirement. Trained by Ted Walsh and if he wins it’s worth sticking around for the interviews - this man can talk for ever. He'll still be going by next year's race, but hopefully the horse won't.
Joe’s Edge - Scottish National winner, big race winner at Cheltenham last month. Likes to come with a late run so you’ll need to bite your fingernails with tension, and don't panic if you don't hear about him on the commentary for a while. But, obviously, do if you never hear about him. ;) Has very little weight, but he did run in this last year (when not in such good form) and he was only seventh…
Point Barrow - Big Irish horse, with a white noseband, who is very classy and seems to be their best chance to win. Likes good ground (tick), big fields (tick), and is used to carrying lots of weight (tick). May be a huge gamble on it if the whole of Ireland decide to back him. Ridden by an eccentric nutcase called Paul Carberry, who is a brilliant jockey when he’s not in trouble with the stewards and everyone else.
Numbersixvalverde - Another Irish horse, ridden by Niall “Slippers” Madden, who likes to sneak quietly round in races and win, almost without being noticed till the very last minute, and last year they won this one. Might well do it again, but he likes the mud, which is conspicuous by its absence, and he has more weight to carry. Slippers may be down to his socks or stockings this time around.
Dun Doire - the name is currently pronounced Done Dora, but that may change when an Irish commentator puts the English commentators right. He’s trained by a very, very shrewd trainer who has been building up to this one day all year, but some of his horses are running badly, and Dun Doire also seems to relish a mudbath, which he isn’t going to get.
Hedgehunter - See previous post dated 3/04 about the winner in 2005, who has his own fan website.
L’Ami - Elegant, French, chestnut (think Weasley auburn) horse who can run a lot faster than most of the others on an ordinary course, but will he like these jumps or think je ne sais quoi? He is trained by Francois Douman, who has a hairstyle and an accent to die for, so it’d be quite nice if he won just for the interviews afterwards. Owned by a millionaire who likes to buy football teams and was rumoured to spend many francs buying L'Ami.
Idle Talk - Seems an intelligent horse because he got rid of his jockey early on in last month’s Gold Cup, but continued riderless to finish second, as though he knew this was his prep race. Horses that fall in their prep races often seem to run very well in the National where the fences are supposedly much more difficult. He is also trained by the son of the most famous National trainer of recent years, Donald, whose father Ginger McCain trained Red Rum, who won it three times.
Billyvodden - Blinkered front runner, who likes to tear off in front and play catch me if you can. There’s a few front runners around so he may not get things his own way, but I’ve got him in the draw so I’m hoping he doesn’t get caught!
Simon - See previous post dated 3/04.
Bothar Na - Another Irish horse; a newspaper claims the name translates as something like “top of the road” but it wasn’t a very reliable newspaper, so possibly not. Trained by a very shrewd man called Willie Mullins, who isn’t saying very much about this horse. Which could be a good sign. Or not. ;) Betting will be interesting if everyone starts backing this.
Eurotrek - At different times in his life, this horse has had heart trouble, chest trouble and leg trouble. But when he’s fit, he’s very good; he’s being ridden by the youngest jockey in the race, he should like the good ground, and he’s won over these fences already. Lots of pluses, apart from the fact that his trainer has no luck whatsoever in this race.
McKelvey - He likes to front run as well, he’s a young horse and very enthusiastic. He’s being ridden by Tom O’Brien, who has taken the racing world by storm this year, riding over 100 winners when hardly being known at all at the start of it. He's also young and enthusiastic, and the trainer fancies them both to go very well.
Monkerhostin - Very good horse, who has won some very good races in his time, so has lots of weight to carry. Also has to carry Richard Johnson, who is the number two best Britsh jockey and also used to date Zara Philips, Princess Anne’s daughter. Lots and lots of gossip there, so the press will be praying he wins. And the horse.
Bewley’s Berry - He’s not very fast but he’s a very good jumper and he keeps going, which is the sort of horse you want on your side as it’s a long, long way. He’s also owned by a millionaire who bought a few racehorses for himself and his wife; they both adore their horses and she’s refusing to watch the race till she knows Berry is back ok.
Clan Royal - If ever a horse deserved to win, it’s him. Has been third when his jockey nearly lost his way on him, was in the lead when a loose horse stopped him in his tracks, and then finally managed to finish third again. Now has a very low weight, ground he likes, but he’s getting older - will the luck finally change?
Liberthine - If you’ve got her, congratulations - the owners think she’s pregnant. Only just, though, and it’s like human female athletes, they can run in the first few months and it often seems to improve them. She’s regarded very much as a family pet - she’ll be retired after this - but she’s won the shorter version of this race, and she’s got a plucky amateur rider called Sam Whaley-Cohen on board. This could be the fairy tale story.
Longshanks - See previous post dated 3/04. His dodgy foot is now ok and he has a special plastic shoe to wear!
Homer Wells - Trained by the shrewdie who trains Bothar Na, who isn’t really saying anything about this one either. This is a fairly young horse, who has never run on good ground so may just love it. He’s won his last two races and looks to be getting better and better, and there's lots of rumours around that he's going to go well…
Jack High - I think he’s about average horsey height really, but he’s a lovely old Irish horse who always seems to run a good race. He’s won lots of money but he does like the mud and he’s approaching retirement. Trained by Ted Walsh and if he wins it’s worth sticking around for the interviews - this man can talk for ever. He'll still be going by next year's race, but hopefully the horse won't.