National on Saturday - anyone having a go? Got any tips?

I am going to put a bet on the female rider Carrie Ford on Forrest Gunner - purely because Ginger McCain apparantly dismissed Carrie Ford as a "broodmare" You go gal.

I had Forrest Guner last year, can't remember where it came....I always have a bet love the National!

Haven't seen the line up yet, i seem to have lost touch with the racing this year, but i will be having a small flutter.
The kids an i normally go through the papers in the morning and i let them pick two horses each and off we got to the bookies, they love it and i must say they seem to do better than me!!!
karen.

Isn't she the jockey who won the Foxhunter just a few weeks after having her baby?

Yep - ten weeks after!

Yep i will be having the normal 50p each way bets on a couple of horses lol

Yes I will be having a flutter !

Somebody mentioned that the horse with 'Royal' in it's name (can't remember the full name :) ) is been backed heavily, something to do with an event happening earlier in the day? :rolleyes:

Not sure yet as have got to look at the form and the odds and then decide. ( does that sound although I know what I am doing ? :D

Lucy
xx

Royal Auclair.

I will have a wee flutter too!  Probably on "Longshanks" cos I like the name, possibly another.  I would love to see Carrie Ford win, but to get round would be a HUGE achievement.
Dawn.

I dont like the national it upsets me when a horse falls and dies or has to be shot I 'm not against horse racing in general but the national doesnt appeal to me at all I think too many horses are put into the race I cant even watch it.
I live in Liverpool and we get a lot of visitors during this weekend and it is very popular.

Is it just me!!!! :)

Starryeyes i cant watch it either :( It is cruel imho,i dont want anything to do with it! They run the horses to near death exhaustion,i dont know how any animal lover would  condone and actually enjoy watching it

Some of us just are softer than others when it comes to animals :)

<They run the horses to near death exhaustion>

Funny when I saw Red Rum the day after he won he didn't look near to death & he wasn't even bred to run in the distance races

You cannot make a horse run or jump if it doesn't want to as a certain well known jump jockey found out when he hit Desert Orchid & Dessie chucked him off at the next jump & carried on without him !

Come to think of it when Aldaniti won he didn't look near death when he stood on my foot in the stables afterwards

More horses die from accidents in fields & stables than on the racetrack  & the steeplechasers are a whole different ball game to the flat horses

Have one every year, except last yr ;(
Have a look at the names pick 3/4 I like & do £1 each way :D Used to be 50p but couple of yrs ago decided to up it cos OH refused to put bet on for me, couldn`t believe it, so did it myself & bookie looked at me like, well I`ll leave you to imagine but I gave her some looks back!!!!. Now I`ve upped to £1 everyone is more happier, OH still has a moan but puts it on for me & I usually get one of the first 4 :D

Christine, Spain.

Are those posters who are against long distance steeplechases also against eventing?

I will admit, I am a lot more supportive of the National now than in previous years.

Ultimately, horses suffer and die in all circumstances and are kept inappropriately - at least these horses are well looked after, racing fit and bred for it. As opposed to the middle aged cob, stuck in a field, dragged out by its owner once every few months to gallop round a ten mile "fun ride" whilst unfit, probably unsound and with badly fitting tack!

No digger I am not against horse racing I just dislike the National because I think too many horses are entered ,theyre falling over each other one usually end up getting shot or breaking its neck.
I know this can happen at any race but it seems quite common place at the national.
So we'll just have to wait and see :D

(Also admit to know nothing about horses  just my humble opinion before I get shouted at by all you horsey people !!!!  :)

in fact only get to see the police horses where I live as thier stables are around the corner!

Hmmm, well, apparently there are more injuries in flat racing because of the increased speed than in jump racing... ;)

I used to look forward to watching the National every year but not any more.  I found it very upsetting when horses fell and I didn't see them get up again.
I know that, generally, racehorses have good lives and are well cared for but seeing them fall onto their necks or heads from a great height just became too much for me.
Let's hope they all get round safely this year. :)

I think, if I was a horse, I'd rather run a steeplechase, with my 'mates',having been trained in a yard that allows me to go out for a portion of the day to kick my heels up in a field, than be forced to do a dressage test, then the roads and tracks (including a steeplechase), then a cross country which in itself is nearly as long as a National course, then be walked all night to stop me going stiff when I really would just like to lie down, so I 'pass' the vets exam, then be expected to jump a show jumping course.................  But then would that be preferable to being kept in a stable 24/7, groomed, and ridden for a couple of hours a day by a novice or two who didn't know what to do make their weight easier on my back and didn't use the reins like handlebars, and then being put back in the stable with nothing to do except eat or sleep......  More horses kept in riding schools and flat racing stables exhibited signs of stress than those kept in steeplechase yards or travelling circuses!

Yep. I'm with Digger on that one!

i dont mind the GN,but dont bet anymore as my horse allways falls & has died before, felt i jinxed them

guys,does phillip hobbs have a runner this year? he lives just down the road from me,about 10mins

Yes, Double Honour. List of runners here.

thanks,darent have a bet on him though! :(

Just in Debt sounds synonimous.

I have an incredible errational fear of horses. I take the little one to a horse retirement home, send her off with a bag of food and Ille sit on the furthest side of the car park, with the key in the ignition, just incase. Incase of what Im not sure.

I just put my bet on Forrest Gunner - COME ON CARRIE - show them how to do it!

Just watched the Foxhunters & the horse that won certainly wasn't exhausted , but his jockey looked absolutely k***kered even tho' it was a"family"horse & win & it's over the national jumps

Chloe - you were dead against it last year, what made you change your opinion of the race?
Sarah :)

Aw Sarah, I'm dead against a lot of things when I feel like it :D :D Spent a lot more time understanding racing and TB's this year so changed my mind :D

;) - Don't know who to back this year.  Had two topical winners in the past, Seagram - who won the Seagram grand national back in '91 (i think) and Party Politics who won the election year ('92?)  May go for Clan Royal??
Sarah :)

doesnt anyone think that too many horses are entered?

Roni

No, forty is an okay number for a course that size.
:)

joyce, dont worry too much as most horses that fall & dont get straigfht up are simply winded & in a few minutes they are able to get up & are fine. In fact most of the "fatal" falls in a horse race (any type of horse race) often get straight up again....the injury is leg related & I have seen a horse canter with a broken leg!!!!

Thanks for the info, Sam. It still concerns me though that 29 horses have died at Aintree since 1997.
Also I've read that racehorses are stabled for up to 20 hours a day - is this true ?

Rose said......It is cruel imho,i dont want anything to do with it! They run the horses to near death exhaustion,i dont know how any animal lover would  condone and actually enjoy watching it
sam says  !!!!!?????? really.....when was the last time you led a racehorse up then?????? me thinks too much propaganda been read :)

come on then Sam - who are you going for? :)

Ive put mine on Forest Gunner too Chloe - im relying on your tip :D :D

I've been a big fan of dear old Red Rum in my time, and it was amazing to see him triumph in spite of his difficult start in racing. I saw him once and he looked straight at me and I swear it was a meeting of minds

I have very mixed feeling about the National: it is thrilling but the fact is that horses have died. Is it worth even one horse dying? I also dislike horses being whipped - not fanning of the whip, but actually hitting the horse. If only that was stopped I would enjoy it much much more :).

Another concern is what happens to those that don't make the grade (not just steeplechasing but racing generally). I suspect many go for meat :( 

I think my fav. sport (although not really a spectator one) with horses would be endurance riding ; stems from  my interest in Arabians who are  renowned for their endurance.

Lindsay
X

Oh I couldn;t resist this one! :)  Starry Eyes I have an ex racehorse and you are more than welcome to come and try to force him to run for miles at a flat out gallop using a whip - you might get 5 yards :D  Digger my horse is not forced to do a dressage test and once again try putting a whip to him and you might last 2 seconds.  Even the Top Level competition horses who compete at Dressage on our yard just love it.  Remember Ex racers like mine are the lucky ones - the majority end up in your dogs food.  So please don't knock other equine disciplines as without them more of these beautiful horses would end up suffering a far worse fate than a dressage test!

Just as an afterthought for anyone interested - I am a member of an excellant web based group who all own ex-racehorses.  Anyone horsey interested in joining (and you do not have to own an ex racehorse) PM me and I will let you have the link.

Even in you pop in and have a look at least it will demonstrate the hard work, tears and pure love that go into giving these beautiful animals a second chance.  The TB's love is to run and that is why they do it, not because they are forced so lets keep the National, Gold Cup etc but try to educate people to look long term for these horses ........... as what you should be concerned about as Lyndsay pointed out is what happens after they can no longer race.

As I said in my first post I know nothing about horse racing also I am not against horse racing dressage or whatever else (see how ignorant I am)  in the least I just think that TOO many horses are entered into the NATIONAL.
I decline your offer to come and whip your horse thank you  :) this is just my opinion.
(I couldnt resist this one )
Roni

You miss the point completely - A horse weighing half a ton with a mind as sensitive as a Thoroughbred would not run and jump purely because somebody held a whip to it.  I know as I have first hand experience and I have seen many more injuries in eventing, Xcountry, Hunting, Showjumping and even Dressage than I have ever witnessed in the one horse race that people suddenly deem as cruel. What is cruel is the fate of some of these horses should they not make the grade however over the years both trainers and owners are now becoming more responsible but not everyone is.  A huge setback to the rehabilitation of these horses is the ridiculous hunting ban as many left the track to go off and hunt which played a major part in their rehabilitation by giving them valuable life experience and exposure to life outside of a racing yard.

As for the invitation to come and whip my horse - I was using that as an analogy to explain my point.  It might work with some horses but certainly not my exracehorse!

Well did anyone win ?

5th! Cracking race though - well done to Carrie.

Didnt even get to watch it :(
But then again, I never bet as wouldnt have a clue what to do LMAO
Had to go to work for a few mins, but was made better by cuddling a 10 week old shitzu!!!!!!!!
Lea :)

no wins OH put a bet on!! i hate watching it especially when the horses go down it must hurt!!

Well done to Ruby Walsh & Hedgehunter
He said this about his horse <Beacher's Brook frightened the heart out of me, but it was some thrill," said the Irishman who was given trainer Willie Mullins' ride. Whatever happened, I thought 'I'm not going to move until I get to the elbow'. I got the elbow and said 'come on'.
"He's a proper horse. He's brilliant." >

The BBC have been focusing on Tony McCoy all week & Ruby took the opportunity & won. when McCoy's horse was brought down

The Jump jockeys are brave men I wouldn't fancy jumping any fences at the speeds they go at !

lindsay...have you ever seen the amount of "meat" on a TB?????? Take it from me its not an option!!!! :)
Most ex racers end up as hunters plus some go P_P-ing & heaps end up as eventers etc. etc. There is no reason to imagine they end up as meat.

ROFLMAO Chloe Have you ever met Ginger I was lucky to visit his stables in the time of Red Rum & he haa a very dry sense of humour He ribs everyone & it's part of his make up. He has the greatest of respect for ALL jump jockeys whatever sex they are & even greater respect for the horses

Well I backed the VERY unlucky Clan Royal and Tony McCoy - He wasn't brought down though MM, he was blocked by the loose horse which decided to cut in front of him just before the jump - McCoy was then unseated and ended up landing on the posts   This then left Hedgehunter to take up the challenge.  Poor 'ol Tony, his saddle was slipping back prior to that little incident and Clan Royal was really up for it from where I was sat - GUTTED....And a fiver down!
Sarah