Grand National runners
With just 15 days to go until the Aintree meeting with the world’s most famous steeplechase, lets have a look at some of the runners.
Character building – a 9 year old grey horse, has good credentials for this years race.
- February 2007 – finished second to Butler’s cabin in the National hunt chase at the Cheltenham festival.
- December 2007 – finished third behind Denman (another national runner) in the Gold Cup at Newbury
- February 2009 – disappointed at Haydock when poor finish behind Rambling minster in the Gold Cup – but this was on “heavy” ground.
Character Building has however posted some good results, winning over hurdles at Towcester in November 2008 and was in the frame in competitive handicap chases at Cheltenham in December 2008 and January 2009
His weakness is heavy ground, he prefers fast ground, so if the course is good – good to firm, he could well be in with a shout.
Another one to watch, if the ground isn’t heavy, is the currently top weighted horse Exotic Dancer.
Aimed at the Cheltenham Gold Cup (in which he finished third) which was an improvement on his 2008 finish of fifth.
He has won the Lexus Grade 1 chase in leopardstown back in December 2008, where he beat another Aintree contender, War of attrition by 20 lengths.
I’ve got my eye on Hot Weld the Scottish National winner in 2007.
Butler’s cabin who won the 2007 Irish National, was going well last year at Aintree until falling at Bechers Brook second time around. Again, just a 9 year old, he is joint favourite for the Grand National 2009.
Priests leap could be a “dark horse” as he has beaten Chelsea Harbour back in January in a handicap chase, Chelsea Harbour was running at Cheltenham as preperation for the National, after finishing 9th in last years Grand National.
All in all it is hotting up, ready for the world’s greatest race!
