2012 Grand National Ante-Post Preview

Grand National

Horse Racing
Published: 20/02/2012

The all-important weights have been published for the 2012 Grand National and ante-post trading is now very much in full swing.

Many backers form an idea of who they might fancy for the biggest steeplechase of them all long before the runners and riders go to post at Aintree – however the weights offer the final piece to the punting jigsaw as the handicap is often so crucial over the gruelling four-and-a-half-mile trip which consists of thirty punishing fences.

As expected, the top weight for the 2012 renewal is Synchronised who stepped up from handicap class to win the Grade One Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Top weights are usually overlooked by many backers due to the effect of the heavy burden over such a long distance however it would be impossible to ignore Jonjo O’Neill’s stable star - who could even prove to be well handicapped if the Lexus Chase form works out over the Cheltenham Festival.

Synchronised is a best priced 20/1 and at the moment the nine-year-old seems just about the most solid each-way runner in the field as his class should see him home even if he lacks the stamina to win under 11-10.

Last year’s hero Ballabriggs is next down the list on 11-9, but it is unlikely that he can repeat the feat after being raised the best part of a stone.

Trainer Donald McCain will have his charge spot on for the race and he should be there or thereabouts but it will take something quite special to buck the rare trend of horses defending their crown in this famous race.

Burton Port out of the Nicky Henderson yard is extremely interesting as he returned with a cracking run in behind Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Long Run at Newbury just days after the fixed weights were published.

The eight-year-old has been allotted 11-7 and the aforementioned effort could easily make Burton Port the best handicapped horse in the race – particularly as further improvement is possible after such a long lay-off from the track.

Leading jockey Barry Geraghty looks set to partner the horse should he participate and at 33/1 he represents outstanding value and should be readily taken.

As well as Burton Port, Phillip Hobbs’ Planet Of Sound is another classy animal who is available at 33/1.

The nine-year-old also holds massive claims based on his Hennessy Gold Cup second off a big weight and on his best form he looks well in on 11-5.

Hobbs has been holding on to his charge since that run and he has been specifically trained for a tilt at Aintree glory after once looking like a Gold Cup contender.

Both Burton Port and Planet of Sound should provide punters with a decent little ante-post portfolio for the Grand National and it would be to great amazement if either were to go off at their current odds.

It would be hard to deter anyone from adding Synchronised to that duo on the proviso that the ground should be good at Aintree – whilst Paul Nicholls’ Niche Market, who has form in the National, also catches the eye off a featherweight 10-5.

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Any odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of publishing (20/02/2012) but are subject to change.

20/02/2012     © Frixo 2024

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