Grand National - Aintree - 2024

Wow , that’s early doors Mathew . I done my two ,weeks ago so hope they run and going is soft . Threeunderfive @33-1 is my pick at the moment . Cheltenham first tho . 

Well it's good to see you a racing enthusiast. But there is Cheltenham to come first. Anyway the Grand National is a horses for courses race so my money will be on Corrach Rambler to win again

Unfortunately, in a routine gallop this morning, Constitution Hill was very disappointing, and it transpires, after the vet has scoped him, that there is evidence of mucus,” Henderson said on Tuesday

I’m old enough to have been of betting age during the Red Rum era though regrettably, I never backed him once! However, I was on Hegehunter when he won for the second year (I was actually in Roscrea at the time) and I also had Royal Auclair each way. But these instances of horses doing the double are very rare indeed so I must oppose your selection. I’d be interested though to hear which female ridden entry you have in mind as I backed Minella Times when the lovely Rachel hacked up.

I will inform of my Grand National selections before the race. I think that there are so many imponderables and more ponderables that informing now would be folly. I’ll publish my Cheltenham Festival picks and naps in advance too. But bear in mind I’m doing this for pure fun and sport and so no big money is involved. 

But, watch Devo’s choices; he has more National Hunt info than I.

Yes Matthew, I did catch your drift on the initial post re fun bets so maybe I should quit this thread. I have as much as a fiver each way on the National. Foolish, I know, but I just can’t help it! 

Ah TS love it . I’m the sort of fool that keeps betting on a certain horse called Young Dev , who finally won at Navan I forgot to tell Mathew it was running again . 12-1 daughters somehow got 18-1 . He is10 year old now so getting a bit long in the tooth like me . Looks like the Irish trainers will sweep the board again at Cheltenham. Safest bet is Constitution will run .

Please don’t quit this thread. Note I wasn’t aiming towards you re fun bets only. Like Devo I’m a bit long in the tooth and I tend to overload on “safety.” Apologies if I inadvertaintly offended.

Champion juvenile City Of Troy is among the initial list of 72 put forward at the first entry stage of the Betfred Derby.

Aidan O'Brien’s Justify colt was unbeaten in three runs as a two-year-old, taking his maiden, the Superlative Stakes by six and a half lengths and then the Dewhurst by three and a half lengths.

His rating of 125 has left him at the top of the pile ahead of the new season, with stablemate Henry Longfellow third on the list on 119 and also nominated for the Epsom Classic.

There are 17 O’Brien-trained horses in the mix, including Diego Velazquez, winner of the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes, and Criterium de Saint-Cloud scorer Los Angeles.

City Of Troy – who will be seen first in the Qipco 2000 Guineas – heads the market, with Henry Longfellow behind him, after which Charlie Appleby is represented by Futurity Trophy winner Ancient Wisdom and Zetland Stakes victor Arabian Crown.

There are 46 British entries, 23 from Ireland and one each from France, the USA and Japan.

The next entry stage for the £1.5m showpiece, which takes place on 1 June, is on 24 April.

Regards