The Grand National Meeting Hurdlers
As usual there will be plenty of horses that are trying to follow-up their runs from the Cheltenham Festival at the Aintree Grand National Meeting. The gap between the two meetings is three weeks this year so the majority of horses should be able to take in the two meetings, here are four hurdlers which caught the eye at the Cheltenham Festival who it could pay to support at the Aintree Grand National Meeting.
Nicky Henderson's Grandouet looked for much of the Triumph Hurdle the winner of the race as he fairly tanked along through the race, travelling very strongly. Ultimately Cheltenham proved too much of a stamina test for this speedy individual who can really cruise along at a high-speed. The course at Aintree will suit him much better and he'll be of great interest for the Matalan Anniversary Hurdle on the opening day of the meeting and those looking at the Grand National betting offers should remember this.
Orsippus returns to the scene of his greatest victory, he was placed in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham before coming on to take the Anniversary Hurdle last year causing a 40/1 shock. Well the pattern looks as it could be repeated as Orsippus put in another very solid performance at this year's Cheltenham Festival with a third in the Coral Cup, that run makes him very interesting for the Aintree handicap hurdles that he is entered for and we would be keeping a close eye on him in the Grand National latest odds.
Peter Bowen rarely leaves Aintree without a winner and his runners especially over hurdles should be noted. His Souffleur was taking on a tough task in the World Hurdle in trying to handle Big Buck's; the likelihood is that he will take on Paul Nicholls charge again in the Liverpool Hurdle. He chased home the Champion stayer in the race last year and with the benefit of that prep race at Cheltenham he could do so again this year. We are not saying that he will beat the champion but he would be interesting in place, forecast or without the favourite markets at a course he goes well at.
Viking Blond has run his last five races at Cheltenham and the one at the Festival was eye-catching where he stayed on well to be seventh in the Pertemps Final, that suggested that he was coming to concert pitch and he'll be of interest at Aintree. He has one engagement there over 3M on the Friday and he could well benefit from a run away from Cheltenham, especially as this his time of year to bloom.
We think these four hurdlers have the ability to come on from Cheltenham and run well at the 2011 Grand National Meeting.
