NATIONAL WEEK’S FAIRYTALE START: The Irish gave warning for Aintree, landing a fairytale Easter Monday plot in their own Grand National yesterday.
TOMORROW: AINTREE NEWS AND STATS: The story of the Fairyhouse National below will be followed tomorrow by Daqman’s Aintree stats and facts. His ‘hidden horse’ runs on Saturday.
POETRY BY NEW NOBLE YEATS
‘Hidden horse’. That’s Daqman’s favourite expression for a runner that might suddenly recapture its old form.
But yesterday’s fairytale at Fairyhouse asserts a new tag to describe one with little or no form in a Grand National, the horse that could come from ‘nowhere’.
The Emmet Factor was given birth in the 2022 Liverpool Grand National when the trainer of that name produced Noble Yeats to win at 50–1 after just ONE success over jumps in a beginners’ chase six months earlier.
Emmet Mullins had won only ONE chase with Soldier In Milan before he captured yesterday’s Irish Grand National by 16 lengths, same age – seven – as Noble Yeats but no way the same SP.
Soldier In Milan had raced just six times in his life but the whole of Ireland seemed to be ‘on’, backing him down to 6-1 favourite. His jumping was ‘sheer poetry.’
Where is the Emmet Factor in Saturday’s Grand National? Emmet himself doesn’t have a runner (but he’s sure to have one in 2027!)
He has declared four over the three days at Aintree and has three in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr on April 18.
A two-day Spring ‘heat wave’ prompts watering at Liverpool ahead of Saturday’s National, for which Ultima winner Johnnywho sneaked into the bottom of the handicap at yesterday’s stage.
He’s one of seven for owner J P McManus, and Emmet’s uncle (a trainer called Willie Mullins!) could saddle up to nine.
SALARIA TO SHINE
⭕ 3.27 Pontefract today Salaria has done the bulk of her racing so far on the all-weather where she has won three of her 10 races but is also a turf winner here at Pontefract over 10 furlongs on today’s same good to soft ground.
Judging by her all-weather form, the step back to a mile seems to be her optimum trip and despite a 5lb hike in the handicap for her Lingfield win last time out she might prove hard to beat in this company.
Biggest danger on the Betdaq Betting Exchange market is Rajapour but he has become unreliable since winning at Wolverhampton last December and comes into this on the back of a disappointing effort at Southwell last time out when only beating two home.
Mount King looks a more viable threat. Tim Easterby’s runner goes well here but it’s mainly a question of race fitness with him after a 158 day absence and he’s often needed the race after a break previously.
DRAWN TO EVERYBODY
⭕ 5.35 Pontefract A terrifically competitive finale over the minimum trip and a race where I think the draw may prove a major factor.
A high draw enjoys an advantage here on the forecast ground and my two against the field are Get Up Everybody (drawn 9) and Harb (drawn 8).
Get Up Everybody is having his first start since wind surgery but it wouldn’t need to improve him much for him to have a leading chance.
He ran particularly well when second to Sole Spirit at Thirsk last August and whilst that was over six furlongs the drop back to a stiff five furlongs here shouldn’t be viewed as a negative.
Harb is fit from the all-weather and seems better over five furlongs than the six he faced at Newcastle last time out. He brings plenty of experience to the table and Cian Horgan takes off a handy 5lb.
UNITING SUPPORT
⭕ 7.00 Southwell This class 2 handicap is the race of the night at Southwell and Moonjid is too short in the market for my money.
He may well have needed the run after finishing fifth at Chelmsford last time out but nonetheless this represents a big step up in class.
Commander Of Life is consistent but is 0/10 here and is another up in grade.
I’ll chance the ultra consistent Tonal and Uniting who at least has some experience at class 2 level.
DAQMAN’S BETS
on Betdaq Betting Exchange
★ 3.27 Pontefract (win 10, nap)
BET 5.0pts win SALARIA
5.35 Pontefract (both win 10)
BET 2.0pts win GET UP EVERYBODY
BET 2.0pts win HARB
7.00 Southwell (both win 10)
BET 1.9pts win TONAL
BET 1.0pts win UNITING
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