The Cheltenham Festival juggernaut is still gathering pace but, as it parks up to take on another tankful of hype this weekend, it is the Grand National that diverts the attention briefly.
Both Newbury and Doncaster host races that are likely to have a bearing on the ante-post markets. Those who follow long-term trends would probably run a mile from a horse who is owned by JP McManus, trained by Jonjo O’Neill and ridden by Tony McCoy because these three men have had about as much luck in the Grand National as the drowning man who was rescued by the Titanic.
None of them has ever found themselves in the winner’s enclosure, unless it was to congratulate someone else however, they may have found a live chance with Can't Buy Time who runs in the Raymond Mould Supporting Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase.
Can’t Buy Time developed into a useful staying handicapper last season but he showed that he can handle this shorter two-and-a-half-mile trip when he won at Cheltenham in January. He has been raised 6lbs for that success but the form of that race has worked out pretty well with the second, Private Be, and third, Mister McGoldrick, putting up good placed efforts while the fourth, Razor Royale, won last week’s Racing Post Chase at Newbury.
Paul Nicholls offers the main opposition with Pasco and Big Fella Thanks, but Pasco has seemed to find little at the end of his races recently and Big Fella Thanks, despite all his promise, has won only once in his last 10 starts.
A first glance at Nearby’s seasonal record shows that he has not won in his last four starts but he gives the impression of being a spring horse and if the ground dries up just a little he could have a chance in the Ladbrokes Supporting Greatwood Handicap Hurdle. One bonus of his recent form is that Nearby has dropped 8lbs in the handicap and his useful conditional rider Giles Hawkins takes off another 7lbs.
There are seven Grand National entries running in the sportingbet.com Grimthorpe Chase headed by Possol, who return to fences after two wins over hurdles earlier in the season. However, he is now on a career-high mark and has not run since early December so it may be worth siding with Gypsy George.
He may not have any fancy entries but has some solid form. He ran into what, in time, may turn out to be a well-handicapped when he finished second to the fast-improving Ballabriggs at Ayr last month, and Gypsy George looks on a handy mark.
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