Grand National Preview 2012

After his tremendous staying performance to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup, it is no surprise that Synchronised has bounced to the fore of the Grand National betting ahead of the famous race on Saturday April 14.

Jonjo O’Neill’s nine-year-old will be officially ‘well in’ the handicap despite having to harbour top weight and the partnership of A.P McCoy will be an obvious bonus around the Aintree course which the champion jockey managed to conquer for the first time two years ago.

The extra week between the Cheltenham and Aintree Festival’s will also aid Synchronised who bids to become the first horse since Master Oats in 1995 to complete a famous double.

And many believe that such a triumph is possible amongst a field which certainly lacks strength in depth in terms of top class horses.

Synchronised should go off as a well backed favourite come race time but with 30 daunting obstacles and a gruelling four-and-a-half-miles in front of him, it would be foolish to suggest that something further down the handicap cannot potentially come through and win.

Planet Of Sound’s participation is largely uncertain however Phillip Hobbs’ charge must be in with a chance given a run.

The former Punchestown Gold Cup winner naturally stands out, like Synchronised, as one of the few classier types amongst the entries and the ten-year-old should relish the staying test providing his allotted weight of 11-5 is accurate based on his current wellbeing.

Hobbs’ yard has been out of form for the majority of the season – a worry for sure in a race of this kind however connections are unlikely to risk the horse unless he is in fine health.

Planet Of Sound is around 28/1 in the betting and Calgary Bay takes up a similar position in the market.

Henrietta Knight’s nine-year-old has shot back up the handicap following a couple of impressive victories this year but the Grand National has always been on the horizon for him and Aintree should be right up his street as he is a big, bold type who jumps fluently from fence to fence.

Nicky Henderson has not enjoyed a great deal of success in the National but Burton Port looks more than capable of potentially giving the trainer a maiden success based on his fine fourth in the Gold Cup.

That was only Burton Port’s second run back from a long absence and there could be further improvement to come off a fairly decent mark.

Seabass appears to be the main challenger from Ireland after racking up a seven timer over the past few months but the trip may be a problem for Ted Walsh’s raider who has been campaigned largely over two-and-a-half-miles.

Nevertheless, Walsh has to be respected based on his reputation in the National and a weight of 10-12 could turn out to be very lenient if the nine-year-old proves himself to be a true stayer.

Of the rest, Junior makes great appeal from the David Pipe yard and the handicap specialist has targeted his dual purpose runner at the race since he won the Kim Muir at Cheltenham last year.

Chicago Grey and Shakalakaboomboom are two other runners mid-way down the handicap who are expected to go well.

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09/04/2012     © Frixo 2024