Friday, April 08, 2011

A Twitter Guide to the 2011 Grand National final declarations

Please find below, as requested (by one person only), the updated Twitter Guide to take account of this year's Grand National final declarations. Comments compiled on each runner using Twitter's 140 character limit. You may wish to note that, at the time of writing, amongst those bookmakers *not* offering a quarter the odds five places are Betfred, Coral, William Hill and Ladbrokes... Tut, tut.

DON'T PUSH IT Gave McCoy his first National victory in this race last year. Top weight makes it a tough task this time
TIDAL BAY Quirky customer with plenty of ability. Sixth in the Gold Cup, not guaranteed to stay or take to the fences
VIC VENTURI 2009 Becher Chase winner looked unlucky to be brought down when going well last year
WHAT A FRIEND Part owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, failed by a nose to take third from Kauto Star in the Gold Cup. Decent ground essential
MAJESTIC CONCORDE Won the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown on his first try at three miles; will he stay?
OR NOIR DE SOMOSA Ninth in the 2008 Grande Chase de Paris. Now registered with Pipe yard - 50/1 in places and could be anything
DOONEYS GATE Fourth behind Always Waining in the Topham last year; prefers cut underfoot
BIG FELLA THANKS Sixth in 2009, fourth last year. Now with new trainer and new owners. Place prospects
THE TOTHER ONE Quirky inidivdual who woudn't be one to trust implicitly. Last won October 2008
BALLABRIGGS Trevor Hemmings owned. One time favourite for this before going down to the smart Skippers Brig at Kelso
THE MIDNIGHT CLUB Willie Mullins trains the current market leader; Ruby Walsh booked to ride
NICHE MARKET 2009 Irish National winner had this race as target all season. Lost his place after Canal Turn on second circuit last year
SILVER BY NATURE Hacked up under top weight in Haydock National trial. Lucinda Rusell's grey is easy to spot, as is @petescu. Wants soft
BACKSTAGE Well in contention when hampered and unseated rider at 20th last year
CHIEF DAN GEORGE Only two winners this season for Cumbrian trainer Jimmy Moffat doesn't bode well
SILVER BY NATURE Hacked up under top weight in Haydock National trial. Lucinda Russell's grey is easy to spot, as is @petescu
CALGARY BAY Jockey Hadden Frost hopes to emulate his father's victory on Little Polvier (1989); a big horse for the fences but stable form poor
KILLYGLEN Pulled up in last year's Scottish National when trained by Howard Johnson
OSCAR TIME Sam Waley-Cohen bids to become the first amateur to ride Gold Cup / Grand National double - horse part-owned by his father
QUINZ Impressive winner of Racing Post Chase. Young horse who may lack thatlittle bit of experience
BECAUSEICOULDNTSEE Suffered injury when second to Majestic Concorde at Leopardstown. Undergone surgery; Davy Russell rides
COMPLY OR DIE Won this in 2008; getting on now but owes nobody
QUOLIBET JP McManus owned grey pulled up in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival
GRAND SLAM HERO Chestnut gelding owned by Dai Walters who has pumped plenty of money into Ffos Las racecourse
STATE OF PLAY Finished 3rd and 4th in last two renewals; will think he's let loose with 10-6. 25/1 looks big - trainer states he can't win
KING FONTAINE Well beaten in the Haydock National trial won by Silver By Nature
IN COMPLIANCE Never won beyond two miles six furlongs
HELLO BUD Commendable fifth last year but now aged 13 and chances are his best days have passed by
WEST END ROCKER Dour stayer who won Warwick Classic Chase before being pulled up in Haydock National trial. Not without a chance if taking to big fences
SANTA' S SON Won Wetherby's Castleford Chase over two miles in 2008 - unlikely to stay
BLUESEA CRACKER Bay mare who won last year's Irish National. Recently purchased by JP McManus
THAT'S RHYTHM Owned by 'Don't Tell Henry'; fell in past two Scottish Nationals
SURFACE TO AIR Won the Summer National in 2008. Off the track until last month - follow trainer's Twitter updates @nhtrainer

PIRAYA Trained by @DavidPipeRacing, pulled up on last two starts
CAN'T BUY TIME Fell at the Canal Turn on the first circuit last year; been out of sorts since
CHARACTER BUILDING Seventh last year and a decent prep in this year's Grimthorpe at Doncaster. Plenty of market interest, Nina Carberry rides
ORNAIS Owned by the Stewart family, has been running in hunter chases recently
ARBOR SUPREME Should handle ground, 8lbs well in, fell at Chair last year
ROYAL ROSA 12 year old owned by Andrea & Graham Wylie. Second in Becher last November, unseated at 14th last April
SKIPPERS BRIG Defeat of Ballabriggs last time reads well but prefers soft ground
GOLDEN KITE Munster National winner trained by former jock Adrian Maguire. Handles ground - there are worse 66/1 shots

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