grand national

[Karabiner]

A real shame that the biggest race of the season appeared to be decided by the new whip rules. The jock on Sunnyhillboy having seemingly used his quota as they were on the run in and the jock on the winner Neptune Collonges having enough hits left to hit the horse several times near the line.

surely any sane jockey takes the ban to win the national?

Thats what I am asking myself too mate. The jock on Sunnyhillboy stops hitting it, the jock on the winner has enough hits left to make the difference it seems.

I agree with you that finish just didn't look right for a National.

[bobby1]

I still don't get it but it might be me that doesn't understand. 9 or 10 whacks after the last and hitting the winner with no real time between some of the hits would have seen it fall foul of the whip rules but I might be wrong. I think they are now allowed 16 during the race too so he can't have hit it much before they jumped the last. On the second I can only imagine he has hit it around the allowed mark, I can't think of any other reason he wouldn't hit it again inside the last half furlong.

[Karabiner]

I reckon poor old Synchronised knew what he was doing when he unshipped McCoy and ran off before the start.

I have a feeling although I've not checked it that the last Gold Cup winner to contest the same year's National also perished, well the last one that I can remember, Borough Hill Lad.

[Karabiner]

I still don't get it but it might be me that doesn't understand. 9 or 10 whacks after the last and hitting the winner with no real time between some of the hits would have seen it fall foul of the whip rules but I might be wrong. I think they are now allowed 16 during the race too so he can't have hit it much before they jumped the last. On the second I can only imagine he has hit it around the allowed mark, I can't think of any other reason he wouldn't hit it again inside the last half furlong.

You would also think that there should be a little extra leeway for an abnormally long run-in like Aintree too.

But Sunnyhillboy didn't appear to have been hard-ridden to get to the lead unless I missed some driving, it's possibly just a case of a young jockey not wanting to blot his copy-book having seen what has happened to others during the last daft few months of controversy and downright idiotic bans handed out.

[redarmi]

SHB is a horse that needs a bit of jousting along and was pushed a bit earlier on in race so possible he had used whip earlier for sure but agree seemed not to push too hard late. 

On a slightly different note Sunnyhillboy is the unluckiest horse ever for me.  He was one of four tickets I had on my own in the last leg of a scoop6 at the paddy power meeting at Cheltenham when there was a £1m+  rollover a few years ago.  This year at Cheltenham I though I had backed him only to realise I hadn't put it on and I was on again today......win only.

[bobby1]

SHB is a horse that needs a bit of jousting along and was pushed a bit earlier on in race so possible he had used whip earlier for sure but agree seemed not to push too hard late. 

On a slightly different note Sunnyhillboy is the unluckiest horse ever for me.  He was one of four tickets I had on my own in the last leg of a scoop6 at the paddy power meeting at Cheltenham when there was a £1m+  rollover a few years ago.  This year at Cheltenham I though I had backed him only to realise I hadn't put it on and I was on again today......win only.

Blimey mate, that's some run.

[The Camel]

I reckon poor old Synchronised knew what he was doing when he unshipped McCoy and ran off before the start.

I have a feeling although I've not checked it that the last Gold Cup winner to contest the same year's National also perished, well the last one that I can remember, Borough Hill Lad.

Borough Hill Lad never ran in the National.

I guess the horse you are thinking about is Alverton. Fell and died at Bechers.

I can think of three Gold Cup winners since Alverton who ran in the National.. Garrison Savannah, The Fellow and Master Oats. There may be more.

[Karabiner]

I reckon poor old Synchronised knew what he was doing when he unshipped McCoy and ran off before the start.

I have a feeling although I've not checked it that the last Gold Cup winner to contest the same year's National also perished, well the last one that I can remember, Borough Hill Lad.

Borough Hill Lad never ran in the National.

I guess the horse you are thinking about is Alverton. Fell and died at Bechers.

I can think of three Gold Cup winners since Alverton who ran in the National.. Garrison Savannah, The Fellow and Master Oats. There may be more.

You're right Keith it was Alverton. Did those other three all run the same year as they won the GC?

[The Camel]

I reckon poor old Synchronised knew what he was doing when he unshipped McCoy and ran off before the start.

I have a feeling although I've not checked it that the last Gold Cup winner to contest the same year's National also perished, well the last one that I can remember, Borough Hill Lad.

Borough Hill Lad never ran in the National.

I guess the horse you are thinking about is Alverton. Fell and died at Bechers.

I can think of three Gold Cup winners since Alverton who ran in the National.. Garrison Savannah, The Fellow and Master Oats. There may be more.

You're right Keith it was Alverton. Did those other three all run the same year as they won the GC?

MO and GS definitely were in the same year.

Not sure about The Fellow. Think so though.

[tikay]

I reckon poor old Synchronised knew what he was doing when he unshipped McCoy and ran off before the start.

I have a feeling although I've not checked it that the last Gold Cup winner to contest the same year's National also perished, well the last one that I can remember, Borough Hill Lad.

Borough Hill Lad never ran in the National.

I guess the horse you are thinking about is Alverton. Fell and died at Bechers.

I can think of three Gold Cup winners since Alverton who ran in the National.. Garrison Savannah, The Fellow and Master Oats. There may be more.

I well remember it, as if it were yesterday. Think it was the last time I ever backed a horse in the GN.

A happier memory is Alverton - a very good animal indeed - winning the Gold Cup after Tied Cottage fell at the last. I was actually stood by that fence, inside the track, that day.

Here's that Gold Cup, with Alverton hacking up, & the golden voice of P O'S.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAxfhaccjOM

[Ironside]

Wasn't syndicate trainer the jockey on alverton when it won gold cup and died in the national?

[Karabiner]

I reckon poor old Synchronised knew what he was doing when he unshipped McCoy and ran off before the start.

I have a feeling although I've not checked it that the last Gold Cup winner to contest the same year's National also perished, well the last one that I can remember, Borough Hill Lad.

Borough Hill Lad never ran in the National.

I guess the horse you are thinking about is Alverton. Fell and died at Bechers.

I can think of three Gold Cup winners since Alverton who ran in the National.. Garrison Savannah, The Fellow and Master Oats. There may be more.

I well remember it, as if it were yesterday. Think it was the last time I ever backed a horse in the GN.

A happier memory is Alverton - a very good animal indeed - winning the Gold Cup after Tied Cottage fell at the last. I was actually stood by that fence, inside the track, that day.

Here's that Gold Cup, with Alverton hacking up, & the golden voice of P O'S.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAxfhaccjOM

I remember that race well too.

I also remember being delighted when Tied Cottage came back the following year and did make all to win.