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The 2025 Grand National

I have just got back from the course, I can report it was sunny and breezy this afternoon. I have heard that the times of the races were slower, which would indicate quite a bit of water has been sprinkled šŸ˜ƒ. Perhaps they won't need to water this evening.
 
Desert Orchid said:
Edit - on a side note, GN day hasn't been the same since the pandemic. We no longer have family get-togethers to watch it, mainly because my siblings and I feel we are too old to be hosting a couple of dozen people when the youngest generation (the grandchildren) aren't interested in the race. Orchidette, while she likes winning it (and has done a few times), doesn't really bother about watching it and is developing an aversion to crowds (so she takes after me in that respect) and last year Mrs O, who doesn't get into it either, and I watched it in our hotel room in Spain.

It's honestly not the same when the banter is being exchanged via WhatsApp rather than seeing the whites of the eyes as it is delivered.
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Update on this: one of the nieces - bless her - has decided we need to reinstate the big family get-togethers. She hosted the Christmas do and has offered to host the National one tomorrow so we're all off to her spread for the afternoon/evening. I'm really looking forward to that.

Last night I did a 'pinstickers guide' for the nieces and their families. I enjoy doing it as it gives me another chance to sum up what I think of each horse's chances and I have to say I couldn't bring myself to award any runner just the one star and even the two-star 'award' was quite restricted. It is an incredibly strong race in terms of class and handicapping.

Last year there were something like 20 in with chances two out and I can see the dame thing happening tomorrow.
 
Yes, it's a completely different race now.

No one would be surprised to see 20 still within ten lengths of each other at the bushes in the Cesarewitch on the Flat, or two out in the Coral Cup over hurdles, and that's the way the Grand National has to be viewed nowadays.

Still a great - and profitable - race in my view, but a different race.

But sadly some will carry their "it's not the race it was" dogma to the grave with them and that's their loss as they're backing the wrong sort of horse for the modern Grand National while being unable to enjoy the race itself for what it now is.
 
Disappointing that Blackmore I assume chose Minella Indo (didnā€™t see it out last year & cant imagine at 12 will do any better) so D. O'Keefe is up on Senior Chief, cheek pieces have been kept, still think this is well in.
 
Jayhawk said:
Many Clouds won the 2015 GN in 8m 56.8s when the race was run over 4 miles three and a half furlongs. Its current distance is over a furlong shorter so the winning times should be getting quicker which suggests that watering the course for safety reasons is slowing the field down to a large extent.
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I'm just re-reading the entire thread and this reminded me that I read the other day that the 4m3.5f trip was remeasured at under 4m3f.
 
Personally, I am happy with how the Grand National is shaping up, could it finally be my year šŸ˜†. I am even tempted to try and bet the first 4 home, is there such a bet ? Does anyone offer such a bet ? (I have googled it in Australia it's called a Superfecta boxbet).
 
Thank for the reminder, gentlemen, one does rather love a freebie!

However, I've got Fil D'Or and, unless they allow him to start now, I won't be collecting on that particular minute of my life I can't get back. šŸ˜‚
 


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