Latest news with #TenFromSeven
Telegraph
05-04-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Bookmakers fear bashing from grey horses in today's Grand National
The Grand National will be the 'greyest' in living memory with seven grey runners accounting for more than 20 per cent of the 34-runner field. Only three greys have won the National since it was first run in 1839; The Lamb in 1868 and 1871, Nicolaus Silver in 1961 and Neptune Collonges in 2012. But with Irish National winner Intense Raffles, Kandoo Kid, 2023 runner-up Vanillier and Hyland all prominent in the betting, there is an outside chance that greys could fill a number of the places. Previously five greys have run in the race twice, the last time in 2002, but that was when there were 40 runners. This year, with Duffle Coat having squeezed into the field in the 34th berth, the National trumps anything which has gone before. The once-a-year punters, who come out in force on Grand National day, have a penchant for greys and in the 177th running of the race, they will be spoilt for choice. Ladbrokes go as short as 5-2 for a grey winner, 5-2 a grey to lead over the last, 12-1 greys to finish first and second and 50-1 greys to fill the first three places. It is only 6-1 that they all complete the course. Alex Apati, Ladbrokes spokesman, said: 'With grey horses making up over 20 per cent of the likely field, this is without doubt the strongest 'grey' challenge for the Grand National in living memory. 'The betting public love grey horses, the great Desert Orchid being the most famous example of a supremely popular grey racehorse, and every year backing a grey racehorse is voiced as one of the most popular ways to pick a horse amongst Grand National punters, so we are bracing ourselves for an avalanche of bets on this strong team of greys. 'Make no mistake, if grey horses fill the first three places at 50-1 it will be a very grey day indeed for British bookies.' Paul Nicholls, who trained Neptune Collonges, continues to give an upbeat assessment of Kandoo Kid, the second shortest-priced British runner after Iroko. 'When he finished third, running on, in the Topham Chase over the fences last year I said we'd train him for two races this year; the Coral Gold Cup, which he won, and the National. He had a nice run round Newbury last time and I think he's fairly handicapped because we've minded him.' Were Kandoo Kid to win it would put Nicholls only £100,000 behind his former assistant Dan Skelton, who was just pipped by Willie Mullins last year, in the trainers' title, which would make the last few weeks of the season interesting. 'Putting the title aside,' added Nicholl, 'it would be nice to win the National again with another grey.' Perhaps most, however, is riding on the novice Hyland's shoulders. Nicky Henderson has been training for nearly 50 years and has never come closer to winning the race than his first attempt with Zongalero who was runner-up to Rubstic in 1979. Nine of his 40-plus runners since have come a cropper at the first. Hyland, who is owned by the Ten From Seven syndicate which includes several octogenarians, is a good ground specialist who will appreciate a dry week, which will mean the course should be nearer his favoured good ground than soft for the brigade of runners who like it that way. How many grey horses are running in the 2025 Grand National? There are a record seven grey horses running in this year's Grand National. Intense Raffles (trainer Tom Gibney), 7-1 Winner of last year's Irish National, kept to hurdling this season until he warmed up for this with an excellent second when all wrong at the weights in the Bobbyjo Chase. Vanillier (Gavin Cromwell), 12-1 Runner up to Corach Rambler two years ago, 14th last year but arguably coming into this year's race in better form than 12 months ago after finishing an unlucky third in the cross-country at Cheltenham. Appears transformed by blinkers. Kandoo Kid (Paul Nicholls), 16-1 Winner of the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in November and had a nice warm-up over too short a trip last month. Trainer sent out the last grey to win the National. Hyland (Nicky Henderson), 25-1 Novice chaser who might be well in at the weights. Runner-up in a Grade One novice chase at Christmas and good second at Kempton carrying top weight on last start. Will like the ground. Big chance. Coko Beach (Gordon Elliott), 66-1 Has been round the course in three Nationals finishing eighth, pulled up and 11th. Safe jumper but evidence suggests he does not quite get the trip. Fil Dor (Gordon Elliott), 66-1 Rarely out of the money but biggest claim to fame remains finishing second to Vauban in the 2022 Triumph Hurdle. His illustrious stablemate Tiger Roll won that race. Duffle Coat (Gordon Elliott), 100-1 Mayo National winner who will enjoy the ground. Was not beaten when brought down at the second last in the National Hunt Chase on his last start. One of the better 100-1 shots. How many grey horses have ever won the Grand National? Only three grey horses have ever won the National, although the Lamb won it twice. The Lamb (1868 and 1871) Nicolaus Silver (1961) Neptune Collonges (2012)
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Five potential Grand National fairytale endings
The Grand National fences may have been modified but it retains its mantle of being the most famous steeplechase in the world (Oli SCARFF) The winner of the Grand National, the world's most famous steeplechase, has a habit of providing a fairytale storyline and Saturday's renewal has the potential to supply another one. Down the years there has been Rachael Blackmore becoming the first woman to ride the winner, Minella Times, in 2021, and Bob Champion riding Aldaniti to victory in 1981 after recovering from cancer. Advertisement Such is the National's appeal -- first run in 1839 and won appropriately given the unpredictability of the race by Lottery -- an estimated 600 million will watch around the world. AFP Sport picks out five horses from the 34 runners that could provide the fairytale ending to the 30-fence marathon and pick up the £500,000 ($650,000) winners cheque (horse, country trained in): Hewick (IRL) Trainer John 'Shark' Hanlon's stable star has bite as he showed in winning the 2023 King George VI Chase. Bought for just 800 euros ($865) a win for him would restore some of the lustre to Hanlon's reputation after he served a ban this season for "gross negligence" in the removal of a dead horse from his yard. Advertisement Hewick warmed up for the National with a victory in a hurdles race at Thurles, but Hanlon -- whose nickname comes from his days playing hurling -- says he is in prime form to take the first prize and have a knock on effect on his stables. "It was a tough time, but the public kept me going," said Hanlon after the win at Thurles. "We are back to half the numbers we had, but if we win the National we'll fill it back up!" Hewick was rewarded with a visit to his local pub -- where he drank a pint of Guinness -- when he won the 2022 US National, a Black Velvet (Guinness and champagne) surely on the cards if he wins on Saturday. Advertisement Nick Rockett (IRL) One of six runners for two-time winning trainer Willie Mullins, including last year's winner I Am Maximus, if it wins there won't be a dry eye on the racecourse. It is the last horse that Sadie, the Irish wife of owner Stewart Andrew, watched win five days before she died in 2022. "Out of such sadness, such joy has been born," said Andrew. Andrew was in floods of tears when Nick Rockett won The Thyestes Chase in late January at Sadie's former local track, Gowran Park in County Carlow. "It's such an inner feeling of consolement to me because it's what she always wanted," said Andrew. Advertisement Hyland (ENG) English training great Nicky Henderson has won all the great races but 43 runners in the National have yielded just two runners-up in Zongalero (1979) and The Tsarevich (1987). The 74-year-old Old Etonian -- who speaks with an endearing west country burr -- runs talented grey Hyland and the outsider Chantry Bay. There might be a good omen in the birthdate of one of the members of the Ten From Seven syndicate that own Hyland. "I was born on the same day as Red Rum (the three time winner), so if that's not an omen I don't know what is and it's been in the blood ever since a young age," said Paul Humphreys. Advertisement Hyland would be a rare grey to win -- only three have won it before, Neptune Collonges, whose trainer Paul Nicholls has a grey in this year's edition Kandoo Kid, in 2012 the last to do so. Minella Indo (IRL) The 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup champion is the last one still running of trainer Henry de Bromhead's remarkable quartet of winners inside a month that year. Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase and Grand National victors Honeysuckle, Put The Kettle On and Minella Times are lolling around in well deserved retirement. The understated 52-year-old Irishman has had a quieter season this term but Minella Indo, a fine third in the National last year, has had him purring saying he has been showing "lots of spark". Advertisement Perceval Legallois (IRL) Progressive type who won a prestigious race at Leopardstown last Christmas and represents this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup winning team of trainer Gavin Cromwell and owner JP McManus. He has not run since which is of no concern for his trainer. "He goes well fresh, so that is definitely a positive," said Cromwell. Poker-ace McManus -- who could become the most successful owner in National history with four winners -- opted not to run Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin, but has other runners with different trainers. Cromwell dominates the betting market -- Mullins and Gordon Elliott for once playing second fiddle in that battle -- with three of the top fancies, Vanillier runner-up two years ago and Cheltenham Cross Country Chase winner Stumptown. pi/nr
