past winners

grand national 2010 /

Seven to Prove the Doubters Wrong
04/03/10

Many good judges have commented that David Pipe's Seven Is My Number is a doubtful stayer for the Aintree Grand National 2010, and they might well be right. Then again, they might well be wrong as a number of two milers have run tremendously well at Aintree over the years, writes Elliot Slater.

Few will ever forget Crisp's astonishing effort under top weight in 1973 when caught in the dying strides by the legendary Red Rum. Crisp was a two miler, ridden on the day to get the marathon trip, much in the way that other National horses such as Classified and The Tsarevich ran with tremendous credit in the past.

Seven Is My Number has shown his best form at distances up to two-and-half miles, but he did also win a muddling race at Sandown over three-miles-one furlong to suggest that there might well be more stamina reserves in the locker than some people have given him credit for.

A winner of five of his last seven outings and progressing well through the handicap ranks, Pipe's eight-year-old was pulled up at Cheltenham last time out having been hampered by a faller early on in the race, after which he subsequently never got into any sort of rhythm. That run not unsurprisingly signalled alarm bells to those who wonder if the Pistolet Bleu gelding will handle the rough and tumble of the 40-runner Grand National field. It is a worry, and Pipe will make the call as to whether or not he believes his charge is ready to take on the daunting Aintree challenge at this stage.

In much the way that racing pundits are divided on the subject, so too is the bookmaking community. Grand National odds on offer for Seven Is My Number range from as low as 40/1 to as high as 100/1!

The proof is in the pudding and April 10 at Aintree will provide all the answers needed.