• REGISTER NOW!! Why? Because you can't do much without having been registered!

    At the moment you have limited access to view all discussions - and most importantly, you haven't joined our community. What are you waiting for? Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join Join Talking Horses here!

The 2025 Scottish Grand National (Handicap Chase)

And also Klarc Kent ( 8th in the same race as Rock My Way ). ( Un De Sceaux was owned by the father of Klarc Kent's owner, Colm O'Connell.) Will be worth watching all the prelims just to see if everyone is kitted out in blue, white and yellow scarves.

1744315978210.png
 
If you're backing Chosen Witness you're only guessing.hes done nothing to make him favourite.

Lucinda Russell took Whistlestoptour out because of the going and runs it earlier in a novice race.wtf.
 
Jayhawk said:
And also Klarc Kent ( 8th in the same race as Rock My Way ). ( Un De Sceaux was owned by the father of Klarc Kent's owner, Colm O'Connell.) Will be worth watching all the prelims just to see if everyone is kitted out in blue, white and yellow scarves.

View attachment 24103
Click to expand...
Eamonn, the father had early onset dementia so they wore the scarves for each to be recognisable to him and him to be found in a crowd, while not making a fuss about it. His car had a GPS tracker while he was able to drive . Poor man , since departed.
 
edgt said:
Eamonn, the father had early onset dementia so they wore the scarves for each to be recognisable to him and him to be found in a crowd, while not making a fuss about it. His car had a GPS tracker while he was able to drive . Poor man , since departed.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Didn't know about that as I don't follow all the stuff between races and usually watch RTV rather than ITV. One of my two main contacts for chats about horse racing has Parkinson's dementia and the other one died last autumn. They are one of the reasons I joined this forum late last year.
 
They seem to be posting slowish times at Ayr so far.

God knows how much water they've been throwing on. I think I read somewhere this morning it's over 100ml over the last wee while. Hopefully they'll give it a miss this evening and have it good for tomorrow.
 
I didn't like to say, Maurice, but, when I saw the sequence of advance stick readings and compared it to previous meetings and the times at those meetings, I stopped thinking it's sure to be on the quick side.
 
Yes, I kept checking them but still kept thinking, 'that can't be right'.

Mind you they weren't kicking up anything in the Hillhouse Quarry.

Edit - 14s slow for 2m4f in that race. I'm usually the first to criticise CoCs for their watering but the ground looks as though it's riding good despite the slow times so maybe they've got things bang on for this meeting, in which case I have to say well done.

(It's easy to be magnanimous when you've just got a nice return!)
 
Last edited:
Spanish harlem was 6th last year and is lower this year.but why hasn't Townsend gone over.?
12/1 5 places
 
Someone suggested Townend was keeping fresh for the Irish National.

I just wonder if the knock he got at Aintree has since been diagnosed as a concussion but they're keeping the lid on it so as not to spark controversy about the dangers of race-riding (or something like that).
 
My take on the race, written on Thursday. Best odds (BO) as they were then.

1744437902349.png

Henry’s Friend will be my main bet in this race. He looks very well handicapped and with scope for further improvement so the others will need to make abnormal improvement to overtake him. That might not be out of the question for the first-season novices, the most likely of which strike me as Olympic Man and Captain Cody. I think Paul Townend is suspended so I’m presuming Danny Mullins got first pick and he has gone with last year’s winner Macdermott but the horse would need to stage quite a return to form – and then some – to hit a mark of 170 on the scale, which is what I think it might take to win. Sail Away is worth considering as it is handicapped to do just that and it hacked up in the 3m novices’ handicap on this card two years ago off a mark 4lbs higher than here, making all and jumping well on good ground. My order of preference would be Henry’s Friend, Captain Cody, Sail Away and Olympic Man but any one of a dozen could win.
 
Liz Doyle doesn’t bring many horses over here, does she? Always makes me think of Mrs Doyle from Father Ted and I get an ear worm of ‘ aargh, go on’ and have to make myself a cup of tea ( which I am currently drinking).
 
Spanish Harlem was taken out by a horse pulling up on his inside just like See More Business (?) in the Cheltenham Gold Cup many years ago. Something went wrong with last year's winner, Macdermott, who was pulled up and then had screens around him a circuit later. Lots of security people on the outside of the course to prevent any disruption.
 
Delighted for you, Outsider, re Captain Cody.

I did get a place return from Two Tempting but other than that was having a bad day until CC.

Just realised that's me backed both Nick Rockett and Captain Cody. Also did both winners in 2023.

How's that for aftertiming :p
 
Last edited:


Write your reply...
Back
Top