stodge

It's also entirely possible SIR DELIUS will, if he goes to the Cox Plate, match up with CALANDAGAN, the best we have in the Northern Hemisphere. That will be a race to savour.

I'll talk more about the Craven meeting at Newmarket in due time but Thursday's Group 3 Craven Stakes for the 3-y-o colts over the full Guineas mile looks an intriguing race albeit with only seven runners. BOW ECHO, the current 2000 Guineas favourite, galloped at Newmarket this morning and apparently pleased connections and they have HANKELOW in the Craven who has a chance. Aidan O'Brien supplies the favourite in HAWK MOUNTAIN who won the Beresford at The Curragh and the Futurity at Doncaster on his last two starts as a juvenile. I just wonder if he's going to be more a middle distance type and some of Aidan's have needed their first runs. The Godolphin runner is HIDDEN FORCE and he has won twice on the synthetic at Kempton - that didn't of course stop NOTABLE SPEECH two years ago - the level of the bare form isn't anywhere near good enough but this is his chance. AVICENNA from the Varian yard but HANKELOW anose when they met in the Flying Scotsman at Doncaster and you could certainly argue they are closely matched on that. I think @chiknsmack mentioned OXAGON on another thread - he's 10s for the Gosdens and could be the each way play. He was second in the Champagne and fifth in the Dewhurst and I think you can excuse his flop behind HAWK MOUNTAIN at Doncaster as the ground was awful. They've put cheekpieces on which is something the Gosdens don't usually do so I suspect they think the headgear will bring some improvement and he doesn't have to find much to be right in this if he's fully ready. Back to last Sunday and Leopardstown staged, if you like, Ireland's equivalent of the Craven meeting. Aidan O'Brien unleashed a number of his 3-y-o and in the Group 3 Priory Belle over 1400m, TRUE LOVE, who had won the Cheveley Park at Newmarket before failing at the Breeders Cup, looked very good on her return. She had a tricky outside draw but came to the stands side and was too good for a decent bunch of fillies. She's 8s for the English 1000 Guineas and while there'd still be a slight question about her seeing out the mile, she certainly looks more than a sprinter on this evidence. MAGNY COURS shaped well in second - she was placed in Group 3 company in France but ran above that level here. The Ballysax over 2000m is a race with history and a stellar roll call - the likes of Galileo, High Chaparaal, Yeats, Harzand, White Birch and last year Delacroix have all won it and PIERRE BONNARD was the pick for Ryan Moore and looked the most likely of Aidan's runners to add to that list but he failed badly running well below par. Needless to say, Aidan O'Brien still collected but with CHRISTMAS DAY who earned a 12/1 quote for the English Derby. The winner is by Camelot out of a Sea The Stars mare called Beauly making him a half to a useful galloper in England and America called MISSED THE CUT. He comprehensively reversed juvenile form with his stable mate ENDORSEMENT but didn't quite see out though is still 33s for Epsom. One for the notebook from this race was Joseph O'Brien's JAMES J BRADDOCK (Zarak - Burkina Faso ex Mukhadaram). We know what a good trainer Joseph is becoming and the thought he could both ride and train an English Derby winner isn't beyond the realms of possibility. He's 100/1 for Epsom but the way he ran home strongly and the fact of his very shrewd connections (he's joint owned by Kevin Blake, who is the analyst for Josephm and Aziz Kheir, who will be known to you all in NZ) makes me wonder if this one will end up in Australia later in the year.

It's a really busy time of year. Having only just finished Aintree, the Flat starts to come back into prominence and we have the opening three day Craven meeting at Newmarket. It's not a quality card - only Group 3 races. The key races are the two Classic trials, the Nell Gwyn for the fillies over 1400m on Wednesday and the Craven for the colts over the full 2000 Guineas mile on Thursday. There are also plenty of 3-y-o maidens including the Wood Ditton for unraced 3-y-o which often throws up a decent one. I'll do a review of the whole meeting later in the week. At Haydock on Wednesday, we have the Grade 2 Silver Trophy Chase over 4000m. The ground is currently Good and eleven are scheduled to go to post. It's not a strong renewal and the current favourite is the Irish challenger ZURICH from the Henry de Bromhead yard, who was fifth in a warm 4200m handicap at the Cheltenham Festival. OUTLAW PETER is from the Nicholls yard and has course and distance form - like many of the Nicholls runners, he swerved Prestbury and we know trip, track and conditions all work well for him. You can't rule out anything from the Olly Murphy/Sean Bowen combination and THE BLUESMAN has solid claims despite only running seventh in the 4050m novices handicap chase at Cheltenham. One that interests me stepped up in trip is JOUR D'EVASION who won three before flopping in a 3200m Handicap at Cheltenham. He did win a hurdle over this trip and this could be a shrewd move by trainer Henry Daly. Looking further ahead, we have two big meetings on Saturday. At Ayr,where the ground is currently Soft, we have the Scottish Grand National over 6400m for which 25 have been entered and they go 5s the field. The Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle has 18 entries. It's a Limited Handicap for which Champion Hurdle eighth TUTTI QUANTI heads the weights and connections will be hoping the rain comes again. The main Flat action is at Newbury where conversely the ground is Good to Firm, Good in places (watered). It's an unusual card because of the seven races, only one is a handicap. There are three Group 3 races and two of them are classic trials, both over the straight 1400m, the Fred Darling for the fillies and the Greenham for the colts and it was a surprise to see ALBERT EINSTEIN given an entry for the latter but Aidan seems to think the decent ground will be ideal for his colt who could well take on ZAVATERI, who won the Vintage at Goodwood and the National at The Curragh before running fourth to the ill-fated Gewan in the Dewhurst. The third Group 3 is the John Porter over 2400m for the older horses - it normally starts the card but it's been moved to the third race because of the possible presence of CONSTITUTION HILL and the attendant media circus. The only problem is the horse might not turn up. Nicky Henderson has said today he won't run the horse if the ground is too quick which leaves the Newbury Clerk with a dilemma - with no rain forecast, does he over water to provide ground suitable for one horse or does he say he's only going to water to prevent any jar even if that means CONSTITUTION HILL is a non-runner? I know what I would do. As further evidence of the collective insanity this horse has caused, he was put in originally at 10s and backed down to 3s against the likes of CONVERGENT. PRIDE OF ARRAS and AL AASY who are all Group winners rated in the mid-110s while CONSTITUTION HILL has won two novices and is rated 101. 10/1 was in my view skinny - I'd have had him at 20s. More on these races later in the week.

As @Ohokamanhad thoughtfully started this, I'll continue. Not sure which feed you saw in NZ - Racing UK or ITV. As you say, another enthralling renewal. Those who were on the well fancied GRANGECLARE WEST and PANIC ATTACK knew their fates quite early and Patrick Mullins threw his helmet on the ground in disgust after coming off the former at the first - oddly enough, that's what happened to Bob Champion after he won on Aldaniti in 1981 - the next year, out at the first fence. The second race had been run in a downpour and I just wonder if that had an impact on the National - only 16 of the 34 starters completed and there were more mishaps than we've seen in previuous years. Paul Townend rode a superb patient race on I AM MAXIMUS who was quite well back and for me not jumping as well as he has done round here but he was travelling well enough crossing the Melling Road the second time and in the end won fairly easily. I AM MAXIMUS was backed from 8s to 9/2 and it takes a lot of money to do that including, as you may have heard, a £100,000 win bet at 8s (some one will be happy). He's the first horse to regain the title since, I think, the immortal Red Rum in 1977 and could he seek to emulate that legend by going for a third win in 2027? You wouldn't argue against him - those who chased him home this year will be higher in the weights so you're looking for something off a low weight who can surprise as NICK ROCKETT did last year. IROKO was five lengths behind I AM MAXIMUS and halved that deficit despite being 2 lbs worse off in the weights so ran a huge race in defeat. JORDANS was sent for home by Ben Jones after the Melling crossing and arguably it was about 250m too early but I imagine he felt he had no option. He had been hampered when GERRI COLOMBE had fallen at the seventh but that made little difference but while he was getting 18 lbs from I AM MAXIMUS this year, I suspect he won't be as well handicapped next year. JOHNNYWHO also ran a blinder from the foot of the handicap to make it a 1-3-4 for J P McManus and I'm sure connections will want another go next year but he will also likely have more weight. HIGH CLASS HERO ran a huge race in fifth at 66s - he was with the pace most of the way but made a couple of jumping errors which didn't help. The two cross country chasers - FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU and FINAL ORDERS - both ran with credit in sixth and seventh respectively without ever really threatening the leaders. MONTY'S STAR faded from two out and HAITI COULEURS never threatened either. The race time was 9 minutes 9.69 seconds (3.69 second slower than the median) suggesting it was a true run race and the ground was just on the slow side.

Grand National Day at Aintree remains one of the iconic moments of British sport. A crowd estimated at 65,000 – a sellout – gathered for the latest renewal of this great race, born in 1839 and won ironically in its first edition by a horse called Lottery. It used to be the only race that mattered on the card but nowadays the Grand National Festival has become if not a second Cheltenham, then a championship meeting in its own right. Three more Grade 1 events before the National itself. The card opened with the Maghull Novices Chase over 3200m. This looked a very weak race with lots of ifs, buts and maybes about these. SALVATOR MUNDI had been turned over at 1/7 on his chasing debut having been a very good novice hurdler last season but with little or no serious Cheltenham form on offer, was sent off 4/5 to win. I thought this race “smelt funny” in the preview and so it proved with a right boil over as 50/1 shot MIRABAD gave young Tristan Durrell, the second jockey at the Skelton yard, his first Grade 1 win. In truth, the winner was lowest in on the ratings and had been beaten at1/4 on his last outing in a little race at Bangor so how he’s found this improvement I don’t know. The winner was bred by the late Aga Khan and is by Gleneagles out of a Cape Cross mare so this probably wasn't they thought would happen with this breeding. SALVATOR MUNDI just doesn’t convince as a chaser and I wonder if they’ll put him back over hurdles. BE AWARE looks more of a chasing type and I’m not dure forcing the pace here was a good idea – as you might expect, he’s still a bit novicey in his jumping but I think he could be a nice prospect next year. I was left seething as I thought KALA CONTI had every chance and had been given an excellent ride by Jack Kennedy when falling three out. The Mersey Novices Hurdle over 4000m had thirteen runners and looked an interesting heat. The Turners form from Cheltenham was represented by fourth placed SOLDIER REEVES, sixth placed BOSSMAN JACK and tenth placed BALLYFAD and the view was the last two would be better suited by the much sharper and flatter Aintree circuit and the two went off 11/4 joint favourites. There was also support for MONTEMARES and the unbeaten SCORPIO RISING from the in-form Olly Murphy yard while there was a rare French raider in the form of ROOSTER CROWING ridden by Bryony Frost. The horse had placed in French Grade 2 events at Auteuil which isn’t unlike Aintree. Another win, indeed a 1-2 for the Skelton juggernaut but this time the right way round as Harry Skelton steered home BOSSMAN JACK for a decisive win. The winner, who would have finished a little closer at Cheltenham but for a mistake at the last, clearly appreciated the very different track. SOLDIERB REEVES, on the other hand, didn’t seem quite as happy here as he had at Prestbury but ran a blinder and both look exciting chasing prospects for next season. BALLYFAD ran much better here – Ruby Walsh on ITV opined the horse hadn’t enjoyed being crowded on the inner at Cheltenham and Jack Kennedy deliberately kept him wider but he had no answer to the winner from the second last who was clearly the best. One to note just behind the leaders was LORD BYRON, who had raced for Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith when with Aidan O’Brien as a 2-y-o and early 3-y-o but had come over to the Faye Bramley yard. Bramley is one of the newer trainers, this being only her second season at Lambourn but this was an interesting move to send the 4-y-o LORD BYRON here rather than to other races – he had run fifth in the Triumph and was fourth here suggesting there’s plenty of ability here and it will be interesting to see where he goes next season. The race before the National was the Liverpool Hurdle over 4850m. This again looked interesting with surprise Stayers Hurdle winner HOME BY THE LEE rematching with the likes of HONESTY POLICY and IMPOSE TOI who he had beaten easily at Cheltenham. Nicky Henderson saddled JINGKO BLUE who had won a warm 4200m handicap at Cheltenham and was having his first attempt at Grade 1 company. He went off 7/2 second favourite with HONESTY POLICY narrowly preferred at 5/2. A division which had looked open earlier in the season has an unlikely clear leader as the season nears its end - HOME BY THE LEE seems to have found a new lease of life as an 11-y-o and having been pulled up in both 2023 and 2025, won this even more convincingly than he had the big race at Cheltenham. For Joseph O’Brien and J.J Slevin, another big winner at the meeting and though I thought earlier in the season the younger horses would take over this division, that’s simply not happened. TAKE NO CHANCES was beaten seven lengths into second – she’s run well over this track before and was a decent third in a Grade 2 at Newbury last November – she does seem to like decent ground. HONESTY POLICY was third in the Long Walk and fifth in the Stayer and third here and I hoped the tongue tie might help but he ran to about the same level – he’s only a 6-y-o and with another summer on his back he could be a big player in this division. AIR OF ENTITLEMENT had won a 4000m handicap at the Cheltenham Festival and this was his first run at this trip and he acquitted himself well and he’s another for whom next season could be the breakthrough. It was a bit too much for JINGKO BLUE in sixth while IMPOSE TOI was beaten when coming down two out.

The second day of the Aintree Grand National Festival is known as Ladies Day and the local Liverpool lasses compete to glam up for the afternoon though very often the abiding maxim seems to be “less is more”. As for the racing, the ground remained Good to Soft - further overnight watering had taken place (4mm generally) despite light showers and the weather was much improved for the second day though still breezy and on the cool side. Four more championship races starting with the Mildmay Novices Chase over 5000m. This looked a tight little puzzle though GOLD DANCER just went off favourite at 3s in front of SALVER, who had run well in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham and MIAMI MAGIC who were both 7/2. It was a race of drama and ultimately tragedy. MIAMI MAGIC was going backwards when falling at the cross fence four out and bringing down JORDAN’S CROSS (all parties well) and hampering WENDIGO who was also beaten. GOLD DANCER had mastered SALVER from the second last but made a horrendous blunder at the last landing very awkwardly and clearly sustaining an injury. Adrenaline, I suspect, got the horse across the line though it looked very bad on television and immediately Paul Townend dismounted. Unfortunately, GOLD DANCER had sustained a broken back and was euthanised - needless to say, this wasn’t what anyone wanted but it was handled professionally enough for all many thought Townend should have pulled up immediately after the fence. ITV interviewed the Equine Safety Officer, James Given, later on and Given claimed GOLD DANCER had run straight from the last -perhaps - but from the side on you could see he was wrong the moment he started to move away from the last fence. I won't put up the race video though it is available on YouTube if you want it. The Top Novices Hurdle over 3250m looked an ideal opportunity for Supreme runner up SOBER GLORY to go one better at championship level but the pre-race betting market suggested there could be an upset. Early 4/7 drifted to 4/5 at the off -both BARON NOIR, who was fourth at Cheltenham and SINNATRA from the Skelton yard, had their supporters. One of those races which, to use the vernacular, “smelt funny” and that’s how it turned out. STORMING GEORGE give Neil King his first Grade 1 as a trainer but wasn’t unfancied having been 33s in the morning and going off 16s. The only clue was while he had only won a novice handicap at Newbury last time, he had run well in a Bumper at Aintree last year which suggested the track would suit. SOBER GLORY never looked happy and I suspect neither he or SINNATRA did themselves any favours taking each other one and setting too strong a pace. BARON NOIR ought to have been the beneficiary but he also looked short of pace (he had been staying on at Cheltenham) in the final 300m. I’m not sure this race told us very much other than OLD PARK STAR is at the top of the speed novice hurdlers division. The Melling Chase over 4000m looked an intriguing battle with three separate strands of Cheltenham form in opposition. HEART WOOD went off 5/4after his comprehensive win in the Ryanair but faced GREY DAWNING who had run fourth in the Gold Cup over 5000m and L’EAU DU SUD who had run third in the Champion Chase over 3200m. Trainer Dan Skelton has already won the British jumps trainers’ championship and is now marching toward £5 million in win and place prize money and trousered another £140,325 as GREY DAWNING put up an exemplary round of jumping to win. He had to be at his bravest to hold off SOLNESS, who we know hates Cheltenham but loves flat tracks like Leopardstown and ran a career best over this trip. Harry Skelton was more tactically astute here taking advantage of the tendency SOLNESS has to jump slightly to the right to nab the inside on the run down to the last. The two fought a sustained duel up the run in and GREY DAWNING prevailed by just a neck. The others were well beaten off – HEART ONE never looked comfortable on this sharper track, GIDLEIGH PARK tried to go with SOLNESS and couldn’t while L’EAU DU SUD sulked at the rear and was pulled up three out. The Sefton Novices Hurdle over 4850m looked a competitive race. Albert Bartlett winner JOHNNY’S JURY faced this very different test aided by the late withdrawal of NO DRAMA THIS END. JOHNNY’S JURY went off the favourite at 11/4 but there was support for Turners third ZEUS POWER in to 3s. You’ll often hear me saying jumping is key to winning jump races. ZEUS POWER put in one of the sloppiest rounds of hurdling I’ve seen and still won this championship race comfortably. He relished the step up in trip from 4200m and clearly as they say up here “has an engine”. Another win for trainer Joseph O’Brien who seems to be his father’s son but his dad never rode a Derby winner nor has he (yet) trained a Melbourne Cup winner. One of the powers behind the throne is analyst Kevin Blake who has one of the sharpest racing minds at present. It may be ZEUS POWER will treat fences with more respect – he’ll have to – and if he does, he could be a serious novice chase talent next season. CATCHINTSAVO ran a blinder from the front – Liverpool can be a front runner’s track if you get the fractions right. It’s not the ideal track for JOHNNY’S JURY for whom it was all happening too fast. Back at a more galloping track, I’m sure we’ll see plenty of JOHNNY’S JURY at the top-level next winter. FRANKIE JOHN outran his odds for fourth but the four were well clear of the others.

Ask and ye shall receive, my friend. The opening day of the Grand National Festival brought a large crowd to Aintree Racecourse on the outskirts of Liverpool. The weather was chilly and blustery with passing showers but they did little to change the ground which was officially Good to Soft (watered). Four championship races made for a very strong card which opened with the Boodles 4-y-o Hurdle over 3200m. This looked a trappy heat but the market concentrated on those who had run well at Cheltenham – MAESTRO CONTI had finished second in the Triumph Hurdle, MINELLA STUDY was third and the mare SELMA DE VARY was fourth. The other two for whom there was support were WINSTON JUNIOR who had run second in the Juvenile handicap hurdle at Cheltenham and MANGE TOUT who had finished a length and a half behind SELMA DE VARY at the Dublin Racing Festival and who had missed Cheltenham. A shrewd ploy by Gordon Elliott to swerve Prestbury as MANGE TOUT won this in a tight finish with SELMA DE VARY on whom, I think, Paul Townend didn’t have his best ride. He got pushed out wide by both Jack Kennedy on the winner and by Harry Skelton on MAESTRO CONTI and the second undoubtedly covered more ground than the three quarters of a length by which she was beaten. Credit though to the winner who reversed Leopardstown form and Elliott in the post-race interview stressed she seems happiest on a tight flat track and Cheltenham wouldn’t have suited. INDIAN RIVER out ran his odds in third though those who had got on each way at 50s in the morning did well as he was returned at 22s. He didn’t take to Cheltenham either but ran much better here. I thought MAESTRO CONTI was travelling well two out but when Harry Skelton asked there was no response and he faded to fifth while MINELLA STUDY never looked happy. The Manifesto Novices Chase over 4000m had just five runners but Arkle third LULAMBA was well clear on the figures and went off 8/15 against KOKTAIL DIVIN from the Henry de Bromhead yard. Nico de Boinville will probably not want to watch this race again – LULAMBA gave him what the ITV caller Richard Hoiles described as a “soft unseat” down the far side. The horse overjumped, nibbled the turf and gravity did the rest. KOKTAIL DIVIN had gone for the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham -the old 4200m novice chase championship race has been dropped -and he clearly didn’t stay the 5000m.This is his trip and he screams as a Ryanair possible for next year. BLUEKING D’OROUX has frankly disappointed over fences but this was his best effort for some while but I’m noting the third, MAMBONUMBERFIVE especially when back over 3200m next year. He looks one that will develop physically even further over the summer and I look forward to seeing him in the speed championship races like the Tingle Creek. LULAMBA will doubtless be back after this mishap – he could well be a 4800m horse next winter. The Racing Welfare Bowl over 5000m saw Gold Cup runner up JANGO BAIE attempt to emulate his stable companion Might Bite from several years ago who was also runner up in the Gold Cup before winning this. He faced the enigmatic Irish runner IMPAIRE ET PASSE who ran a shocker in the Ryanair but has very good form at Aintree including a win in the Manifesto last year. Would JANGO BAIE have won had IMPAIRE ET PASSE stood up? That’s a question which will occupy many minds – mercifully the faller got up unscathed to fight another day and this was a much better effort than we saw at Cheltenham. JANGO BAIE won comfortably in the end and post- race Nicky Henderson agreed the King George and the Gold Cup would be on the agenda and a rematch with GAELIC WARRIOR who sits clearly on top of the staying chase tree currently. The veterans PROTEKTORAT and PIC D’ORHY took the minor places – both are stars and a credit to their connections. I imagine there will still be wins for both of them but neither are top class these days. The ground was too quick for SPILLANE’S TOWER. The feature Aintree Hurdle over 4000m saw the second, third, fourth and fifth from the Champion Hurdle do battle over this longer trip and very different track. The market spoke for BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD, who was second at Cheltenham, and was sent off at 15/8 to confirm the form with THE NEW LION (9/4), ALEXEI and GOLDEN ACE. It’s rare you see form upheld quite as precisely as that. The four were split by three and a quarter lengths at Cheltenham but this time it was four and a half lengths but they still finished in the same order so they ran the Champion Hurdle form almost to the ounce. BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD prevailed with THE NEW LION perhaps not given a vintage ride by Harry Skelton who got caught trying to go up the inside of Jack Kennedy on BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD approaching the last – the path was blocked and Skelton had to switch round losing vital momentum and then made an error at the last by which time the bird had flown. BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD is a very talented mare and post-race trainer Gordon Elliott spoke of her versatility from 3200m to 4800m and indeed the option of going chasing with her next season was very much in his mind. THE NEW LION is the best there is currently this side of the Irish Sea but he was no match for the Elliott mare. ALEXEI might be the coming force after another summer and you could easily see him going past THE NEW LION especially over the shorter trip. GOLDEN ACE ran well but this is probably as good as she is against the Irish mares and British geldings. A word on BARTON SNOW who bolted up in the Foxhunters over 4400m of the National fences. He won the equivalent race at Cheltenham and is clearly the best of the amateur hunters about but the plan apparently is to professional next season and head for the2027 Grand National. Hunters used to have a good record but that was a different race and BARTON SNOW is trained by John O’Shea who has said he will retire if the horse wins the Hunter Chase Trophy at Stratford at the end of May.

The review of the first day at Aintree is in the works and we've had a wonderful and dramatic second day with the big race tomorrow. The one attracting money today has been MONTY'S PASS from the Henry de Bromhead yard who has been clipped from 16s to 10s. He's frankly been poor this season - he was fourth in the 2025 Gold Cup which would put him right in this as he gets 7-10 lbs from the higher weights but the trip is a complete unknown though he has the class to win this if he's on a going day. The ground has improved to Good to Soft, Good in places but rain is forecast overnight. On the level, there's an interesting card at Leopardstown on Sunday - not a high quality offering in and of itself but the Group 3 Ballysax over 2000m is a long standing trial forthe middle distance classic 3-y-o - DELACROIX won it last yearand past runners include such luminaries as Galileo and High Chapparral and I think Harzand won it on his way to Epsom glory. Nine go to post in an O'Brien family gallop -Aidan has four, Joseph two and Donnacha two leaving poor old Henry de Bromhead to saddle the other runner. Ryan Moore rides PIERRE BONNARD who is 4/5 for this and 7/2 for the English Derby. He won the Criterium de Saint Cloud last autumn and Aidan gave him a strong report at the pre-season press day. TRUE LOVE and COMPOSING were both entered for next Wednesday's Nell Gwyn at Newmarket but ran in the Priory Belle over 1400m. The former won the Moyglare and the Cheveley Park but failed in the Juvenile Sprint at the Breeders Cup. Looking further head, next Thursday at Newmarket sees the Group 3 Craven over the Guineas distance. Ten have been entered with Aidan putting in CONSTITUTION RIVER and HAWK MOUNTAIN but Godolphin have HIDDEN FORCE and the Gosdens have entered OXAGON. However, the entry which catches my eye is HANKELOW from the Karl Burke yard who won a Group 3 over this course and distance last October.

Indeed and obviously the Club will be grateful for the delay. Hopefully the attendance won't suffer too much with the postponement and the truth is a lot of racegoers (unlike we lunatics on here) are "fair weather" fans. Watching racing in someone else's storm or blizzard isn't what they want. The British invented the weather as we all know and given we go out in the midday sun (allegedly), a small typhoon, cyclone or hurricane isn't going to deter us from enjoying a Class 6 Seller at Windsor even if the Thames is flooding and the water is coming across the track. In Ireland, they often race on standing water - they call it "Good to Yielding".

We have the final declarations for Saturday at Aintree. Eight go in the Maghull Novices Chase over 3200m and this will probably be the weakest Grade 1 run all season. SALVATOR MUNDI is clear favourite and top rated. Last year, he won the Top Novices Hurdle at this meeting but his chasing career has been less distinguished. He was no match for ROMEO COOLIO at Leopardstown over Christmas and for all he won well at Thurles last time, that was a nothing race. In most other years, he'd be an outsider but this is a dreadful renewal. Second favourite is MIGHTY BANDIT who has won handicaps at Doncaster but has never run in a Graded race, let alone a Grade 1. KALA CONTI from the Gordon Elliott yard has the best form - she beat KARGESE at Cork and the latter went on to win the Arkle. As for KALA CONTI, she was well beaten by SIXMILEBRIDGE in the Scilly Isles at Sandown and I have to wonder whether a sharp 3200m on decent ground is really what she wants but her form is well ahead of everything else. She's my selection in a race which reminds me of an English wine, well worth laying down and avoiding. 13 go in the Mersey Novices Hurdle over 4000m. Five stand out in the betting but argualby only three on the ratings. SOLDIER REEVES was fourth with BOSSMAN JACK sixth and BALLYFAD tenth in the Turners at Cheltenham yet it's BOSSMAN JACK who is the favourite. SOLDIER REEVES was flying up the hill over 4200m and for all it's a decent straight at Aintree, this isn't such a stamina test and it's quite likely they won't be stopping for SOLDIER REEVES as they did at Prestbury. BOSSMAN JACK, on the other hand, only weakened from the last and it's more likely he can still be in contention at the business end but BALLYFAD will also likely prefer this track to Cheltenham - he had a wretched run round in the Turners and on the basis of his Leopardstown performances at Christmas and at the Dublin Racing Festival, I think he has a chance of upsetting BOSSMAN JACK. 12 go in the Liverpool Hurdle over 4850m. Stayers Hurdle winner HOME BY THE LEE had his day in the sun at Cheltenham but I don't see him following up over this very different track. The McManus pair, HONESTY POLICY (fifth) and IMPOSE TOI (pulled up) are likely to do better here, you'd imagine with preference for the former. STRONG LEADER won this in 2024 and was second to HIDDENVALLEY LAKE last year.He's had wind surgery since a poor run in the Cleeve at Cheltenham in late January and if back to his best is a big player on a course that suits him well. There's no doubt HIDDENVALLEY LAKE has been laid out for this - he's had just the one run when beaten a long way at Navan in February in a bog. This is his day and if anyone can have him cherry ripe for this, it's Henry de Bromhead. It wouldn't be the biggest surprise to see the first two from 2025 battle out the finish again but I'm going to oppose them both with HONESTY POLICY who won the Mersey last year at this meeting and ran well at Ascot. We know the course, trip and ground are ideal and I note the first time tongue tie which looks significant. Selections - Aintree Day 3: Maghull Novices Chase: KALA CONTI Mersey Novices Hurdle: BALLYFAD Liverpool Hurdle: HONESTY POLICY What then about the big one, the Grand National itself? 34 runners, £500,000 to the winner, 30 fences and 6850m. It's as iconic a race as there is in British racing and while we may not have the much-lamented Hill at Ellerslie, there's more than enough history at Becher's Brook, the Canal Turn and The Chair. It's not the race it was for various reasons and as such the higher weights (the better horses) tend to come to the fore. The big news this morning was the late scratching of 2025 winner NICK ROCKETT who beat 2024 winner I AM MAXIMUS. The latter is 13/2 favourite and rightly so - he was very good in defeat in the Savils at Christmas and off 168 would get in to a Gold Cup field. Last year's third GRANGECLARE WEST won the Bobbyjo at Fairyhouse which has produced any number of past winners and is third in at 10s behind the British mare PANIC ATTACK for the Skeltons who is currently 8s. Last year's fourth IROKO comes into this lightly raced and with serious claims. He was favourite last year but just didn't quite get home. Incredibly, I AM MAXIMUS is better off with both GRANGECLARE WEST and IROKO though whether that means anything in a race like this I'm not sure. HAITI COULEURS has won both Irish and Welsh Nationals and will doubtless give plenty from the front. MY each way selection is GERRI COLOMBE - in March 2024, he was second in the Gold Cup but it's fair to say he's had more bad days than good ones since. He shouldn't reverse Bobbyjo form with GRANGECLARE WEST but we know he likes decent ground and the trip should be fine. He's 25/1 but if you can get him in the first six you'll make a few squid. At a much bigger price, I like the lightly raced TOP OF THE BILL for the father/son team of Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies. You can get 66s about him but he ran well over 5600m at Haydock last time and we know decent ground suits.

Really sad news broke this morning with the death of 2025 Dewhurst winner GEWAN who suffered a fatal injury when galloping at Kempton. He had won the juvenile championship race at Newmarket last October beating GSTAAD and was being prepared for the Greenham at Newbury on Saturday week and was generally 5s for the English 2000 Guineas. Still on matters flat, it's the three day Craven Meeting at Newmarket starting next Tuesday. The ground is currently Good, Good to Firm in places (watered). It's not ameeting of great quality in and of itself but there are two significant classic trials and the first is on the Wednesday where we have 19 entries for the Nell Gwyn over the 1400m. Aidan O'Brien has entered three -COMPOSING, TRUE LOVE and BEAUTIFY while David Menuisier has INIS LOVE and Charlie Appleby has ACT OF KINDNESS. With PRECISE doubtful, the English 1000 Guineas looks wide open. With Cheltenham out of action, Haydock has stepped up to stage a jumps card featuring the Grade 2 Silver Trophy Chase over 3950m. 19 entries and it looks very competitive. I'll discuss these more with the final declarations on Monday next week.

A very quick look back to Easter Monday at Fairyhouse. SLADE STEEL won the 2024 Supreme at Cheltenham and I thought back then he would be a jumping superstar. He hadn't won until the Grade 2 Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle. He had six runs over fences and was second four times - add in two long absences and it's been frustrating for those connected to this son of Telescope. However, back over hurdles and in first time cheekpieces, he was back to his very best and beat favourite KAWABOOMGA comfortably. On a day which proved there's often a good tune played on an old fiddle, the 12-y-o ENERGUMENE, running over 4000m for the first time since 2020, won the Grade 2 Fairyhouse Chase defeating BLOOD DESTINY. FOUND A FIFTY'sjumping let him down with a right horlicks at the last costing him a place but SAINT SAM, who set the fractions, barely lifted a leg at the second last and suffered a fatal fall. The Irish Grand National itself produced a sparkling performance by SOLDIER IN MILAN who won on just his fifth chase run and running over 1600m further than he had ever gone before. This was an impressive display of jumping and the turn of foot he shpwed when taking over between the fifth and fourth last fences was reminiscent of a seriously good jumper and indeed you could argue he was thrown in off 142 - I expect to see him at the very highest level next season. He never ran over hurdles going straight from Bumpers - he won his final Bumper at Punchestown in May 2025 by four and a half lengths and the horse he beat into second was the future Turners winner, KING RASKO GREY - to fences. SOLDIER IN MILAN was punted from 12s to 6s and those in the know had it off large (as we say up here). Only ten of the thirty runners completed - the big British hope, THE JUKEBOX KID, was brilliant at the plain fences but hated the ditches ploughing through each and every one and was tailed off when pulling up before, oddly enough, the last ditch.

You'd better believe it's true everywhere. It would be easy to look at the UK racing industry (and that of Ireland and to an extent France) and imagine it's all sunshine and roses. It isn't. We race for buttons by your standards and survive on the historical tradition of our racing (which we do well) and the quality of the commercial bloodstock industry (which again we do well). Racing and going racing is experiencing a wave of popularity - aided by some decent weather, the Easter meetings all reported very good crowds butthe industry can't survive on high days and holidays alone. The bread and butter or tripe and onions meetings are vital but don't get the numbers through the gates. Some of our best horses end up heading to Hong Kong or Australia and we can't compete with Japan or the Middle East in terms of prize money. If it weren't for the likes of Coolmore, Godolphin and one or two other big outfits, we'd be dead in the water. Our governance is very different to yours - the power lies with the triumvirate of the racecourses, the horsemen and the bookies. The racecourses sell the product to the bookies who show it in the shops and via the specialist tv channels and the horsemen get their share via prize money generated from media rights coverage and racecourse income. The BHA (the equivalent of NZTR) is simply the regulatory body. The courses own the product and drive the fixture list. The two big shadows over us currently are a) the decline in the horse population and b) changes in the taxation regime affecting the bookies. What that means is the bookies don't want to pay so much for horse racing in the shops but the horsemen need the media rights income to help with the buttons. The falling horse population either means more uncompetitive racing (for which the bookies won't pay) or fewer races (which hurts the courses and the horsemen). The crunch may come soon if the plan is to cut the number of races by 10% in 2027 - we currently have about 10,000 races per year on flat and jumps and on all surfaces at 1,500 fixtures so you either run more six race fixtures or you drop meetings. Ireland has the same issue but they start with fewer meetings and races so there's more capacity. The problem is everyone wants more racing and more courses - a second synthetic in Ireland and more fixtures in the UK. The big problem in NZ, as I see it, is the clubs don't own the product. They should, they should sell it back to Entain and use the income for track improvements and more prize money as well as creating and controlling a more horsemen-friendly fixture list so you don't get absurdities like small fields in the north and CD while SI horses are getting balloted out.

We have the final declarations for the second day at Aintree. Four more championship races on ground which is now Good to Soft (watered). The Mildmay Novices Chase over 5000m has eight entries. Not an easy race to call with two different strands of Cheltenham form at play. SALVER was third in the Brown Advisory but was doing all his best work at the end and I'm not convinced this sharper track will be ideal. WENDIGO was beaten when falling two out but I think Aintree will be a better track for him. GOLD DANCER ran well when second in the very warm 4000m novices handicap chase - REGENT'S STROLL was third and has two and a half lengths to find on the former. I'm going to oppose all the above with MIAMI MAGIC who beat REGENT'S STROLL at Cheltenham on New Years Day on decent ground and missed the Festival. That could be a blessing and he's my idea of the winner at 11/2. Just six go in the Top Novices Hurdle over 3250m. SOBER GLORY is 8/15 and is the standout on his Supreme running when he was second to OLD PARK STAR with BARON NOIR six lengths further back in fourth. It's hard to say the form being reversed on this sharper track and SOBER GLORY looks the obvious winner. The Melling Chase over 4000m has seven runners - the betting may suggest it's a straight battle between Ryanair winner HEART WOOD and GREY DAWNING but I'm not convinced. HEART WOOD was impressive at Cheltenham and if he can build on that will take plenty of beating. GREY DAWNING won the Betfair at Haydock last November but was third in the Cotswold and fourth in the Gold Cup. You can argue he doesn't quite see out the 5250m at Cheltenham and that would be fair comment but I'm not sure dropping all the way back to 4000m is the right move. I'm interested in GIDLEIGH PARK who was second in the Manifesto last year and was second to JANGO BAIE in the 1965 Chase before being pulled up in the Clarence House. 4000m on decent ground looks ideal for a horse with few miles on the clock. L'EAU DU SUD was third in the 2025 Arkle and after a nice win in the Schloer at Cheltenham was beaten twice by IL ETAIT TEMPS in the Tingle Cteek and the Queen Mother. Moving him up to 4000m round here is an interesting move and it wouldn't need to bring much improvement to give him a real chance. I fancy GIDLEIGH PARK and he'd be an each way steal with eight runners but with only seven it'll have to be on the nose. The most competitive of the second day Grade 1 races is the Sefton Novices Hurdle over 4850m. Thirteen go to post and again various strands of Cheltenham form meet. JOHNNY'S JURY won the Albert Bartlett and holds MONDOUI'BOY and KRIPTICJIM but this is a very different track as I've said and this will be a very different test. NO DRAMA THIS END won the Challow at Newbury and was strongly fancied to win the Turners but ran a shocker and was pulled up. ZEUS POWER was third and has an obvious chance and it may be the other Nicholls runner, TALK TO THE MAN, could go close but he'll need to improve on what he'sdone so far in much lesser races. DALSTON LAD from the Skelton yard is another with a serious chance and looked very good at Haydock last time. Not an east race to figure out with a lot of ifs, buts and maybes - ZEUS POWER is a tentative selection. Selections - Aintree Day Two: MIldmay Novices Chase: MIAMI MAGIC Top Novices Hurdle: SOBER GLORY Melling Chase: GIDLEIGH PARK Sefton Novices Hurdle: ZEUS POWER

A busy time and the first day of Aintree approaches - it's due to be 25 degrees in London tomorrow and the Aintree Claerk has already said she will water to ensure Good to Soft ground for the meeting. The problem is the quicker the ground the quicker they go and in jump racing it's speed which causes bad falls. We have the final declarations for the opening day championship races. Ten stand in the Boodles 4-y-o Hurdle over 3200m and the field is dominated by the placed horses from the Triumph at Cheltenham. MAESTRO CONTI was second, MINELLA STUDY third and SELMA DU VARY from the Mullins yard was fourth and the three were split by a short head and a length and three parts. As I've said, it's a very different track but we know all three are effective on tight tracks. The betting also suggests there's little between the three but I prefer MAESTRO CONTI. The other to consider is WINSTON JUNIOR but he has six and a half lengths to find with MINELLA STUDY on December form at Cheltenham and while he ran second in the Juvenile handicap hurdle at Prestbury, that's Grade 3 form and I'd be surprised if he could compete with the three principals at the business end in this. Just five go in the Manifesto Novices Chase over 4000m. LULAMBA is 12 lbs ahead on the ratings and 4/7 after his third in the Arkle. Trainer Nicky Henderson said he already wanted 4000m before Cheltenham which he has and for all the ground may be sharp enough, the extra distance will be a huge help. His form is well ahead of the likes of KOKTAIL DIVIN and MAMBONUMBERFIVE and for those who like to play big on shorties this is a decent play in my view. Five also in the Racing Welfare Bowl over 5000m and all five are rated over 160 which means a small but select field. JANGO BAIE is another short priced Henderson runner but it's little surprise after his Gold Cup heroics when second to the new jumping superstar, GAELIC WARRIOR. The question is whether that race has left a mark but this easier track should play to his strengths. IMPAIRE ET PASSE won the Manifesto last year but was pulled up in the Ryanair and the interesting runner may be SPILLANE'S TOWER who goes in this rather than the National. He won the Cotswold at Cheltenham but has little form on decent ground. PROTEKTORAT is a lovely old stick but this will be too much for him while it's the wrong way round for PIC D'ORHY. He's not as far clear in the ratings as LULAMBA but oddly enough I rate JANGO BAIE a more likely winner assuming the Gold Cup hasn't bottomed him. Seven go in the Aintree Hurdle over 4000m and it's a re-run of the Champion Hurdle minus the winner, LOSSIEMOUTH. BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD, THE NEW LION, ALEXEI and GOLDEN ACE filled the minor places with the first two split by just half a length. If you remember THE NEW LION won the Turners over 4000m as a novice, you can see why he's supported but we also know BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD runs well at the trip so choosing between the two is far from easy and the bookies have them priced at 7/4 and 15/8 which tell you all you need to know. EL FABIOLO is also in the mix but his chasing career fell apart so to speak and he came to grief in the Melling at this meeting last year. He was a long way behind BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD in the Irish Champion but on this better ground and over this longer trip should be closer. I worry about ALEXEI but my idea of the winner is THE NEW LION provided his jumping holds up. Selections - Aintree Day One Boodles 4-y-o Hurdle: MAESTRO CONTI Manifesto Novices Chase: LULAMBA Racing Welfare Bowl: JANGO BAIE Aintree Hurdle: THE NEW LION