Two Aintree Runners

There are just three meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Aintree and Sedgefield as well as a flat card from Kempton.  David has two runners at Aintree on the second day of their Grand National fixture; Eamon An Cnoic and Rathlin Rose.  Eamon An Cnoic (pictured above) runs in the 1.45pm race, a 2m4f handicap hurdle with 20 runners.  The Post make us a 12/1 chance following two wins over fences and a very creditable ninth at Cheltenham last time in a race where he clearly did not get the trip.  This distance should suit better and the ground cannot be soft enough for him, while the switch back to hurdles should not inconvenience.  With only 10-8 on his back, he looks to have solid claims under Tom Scudamore.  Rathlin Rose contests the Topham Chase at 4.05pm.  It is a fiercely competitive handicap chase over 2m5f of the Grand National track.  Rathlin Rose has been in good form this season, winning twice.  He travels well so the drop back in trip should not be a problem and he is another with place claims.

What a riding performance yesterday from Robbie Power to get Finian's Oscar up in the Grade One novices' chase.  He looked well beaten three out and I bet you could have named your price on the exchanges.  The most impressive winner of the day was We Have A Dream in the novices' hurdle, while Might Bite followed up his excellent Cheltenham run with a resounding success in the Bowl.

I see that one of my old mates, Frank Conlon is 78 today.  He was head lad at Henry Cecil's yard for years before taking a position at the British Racing School.  Frank always looked after us extremely well when we would visit Newmarket.  Many happy returns...

It was good to see Liverpool legend Kenny Dalgleish at the races yesterday.  How much would a player like him cost in the transfer market nowadays?

Anyway, on to our fun Grand National quiz and the answers from yesterday...

* How many runners have been ridden by female riders in Grand National history?  27 (Nina Carberry, 6 and Katie Walsh, 5 account for nearly half of them)

* Which are the two fences jumped only once in the Grand National?  The Chair and The Water

* Who was the shortest priced winner of the Grand National?  Poethlyn, 11/4 in 1919 (ridden by Ernie Piggott, grandfather of Lester)

Today's questions...

* In 1956, which horse fell without apparent reason, with victory seemingly assured, yards from the line?

* Who played the lead role in the 1983 film Champions portraying Grand National winning jockey Bob Champion?

* Which holiday tycoon owned the 1971 National winner Specify?

*****

Arsenal had a scare in Moscow last night when they drew 2-2 with CSKA.  They were 2-0 down at one point which meant they were only 4-3 ahead on aggregate.  A couple of late goals made it 6-3 on aggregate.  Aston Villa play Leeds at home tonight and Villa look the likeliest winners at 8/15.

*****

After winning a race, a jockey was found to have given his animal drugs and was disqualified.  I bet that took him off his high horse!  Keep smiling...

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