HAYLEY TURNER: I’m taking on a Marathon of my own tomorrow, not the sort of you’re thinking of however! My Marathon starts when Aintree kicks off at 1.45pm with a friend who is doing lunch so I’m heading round there with a few mates to watch the racing together.
We plan to keep going all day and finish off watching the Anthony Joshua fight. I’m not sure what time that will be starting at but, seeing as it’s in the O2 Arena I cant imagine it will be much later than 11pm… so just the 9 hours. If anyone sees me about on Sunday approach with caution!
I’m in the At The Races Sweep-stake again and drew Hadrians Approach this year. Twelve months ago, I won it when I drew Many Clouds and a charity that I’m very fond of, Headway Cambridge, received the winnings that day. Although, I’m not as convinced that’s going to be the case this year.
Hadrians Approach (pictured) can make mistakes and he’s a 60-1 shot with BETDAQ, which probably reflects his chance. He has a good engine and was well thought of in his younger days but it’s a long time since he won a race, despite having very few runs and, as I say, his jumping isn’t the best. His preparation for the race looks to have gone smoothly. He had a nice introduction back after a long break so that would have cleared the airways so you could maybe have a little each way bet on him.
Although I didn’t draw Many Clouds this year, he’s the one that I’d like to see win. Back to back Grand Nationals doesn’t happen every day with the last one being Red Rum in 1973/74. His jumping was flawless last year, he was a pleasure to watch and I really hope that we see something similar again tomorrow. It would be amazing if he could pull it off and we could say we were in the ‘Many Clouds era’. Leighton Aspell winning three in a row would be another incredible feat.
Holywell is another I like and I felt that he just lacked acceleration a little at Cheltenham. He was a very classy novice chaser and he bounced right back into the picture for the National with that second behind Un Temps Pour Tout who runs today in the Grade 1 Novice. The conditions of the National is sure to bring out the best in Holywell and he will hopefully run well.
A couple of Each Way bets is a good way to take on the National. The shortest priced winner in the last 10 years was 7-1, 100-1, 50-1 winners are not uncommon and there’s generally one or two in the top 5.
At the bigger prices, the one I like the Romford Pele, who isn’t out of it on the ratings. Rebecca Curtis’s horses are in cracking form at the moment and he’s had a couple of nice pipe-openers over Hurdles this year. His Chase form needs to improve but at a bigger price, he’s not without his chance.
Or, you could just do what my sister does…pick a nice name or pretty silks. She has been jammy enough to win using this method before so you never know!
If you do happen to end the day with a few quid in your pocket, get it out and put it ALL on Anthony Joshua to win!
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