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| John Smith's Grand National - 14th April 2012 |
Grand National Going Changed on Friday
13/04/12
Grand National course - Good, Good to Soft in places (from Good to Soft, Good in places)
GoingStick reading: - 6.7
Mildmay course - Chase & Hurdle - Good, Good to Soft in places (remains the same)
GoingStick readings:- Chase (6.7), Hurdle (6.5).
Watering is likely to take place after racing today.
On the Mildmay course, all bends have been moved in four yards to provide fresh ground on the inside today, while all hurdles have also been moved in four yards.
There will be further movement after racing today to provide more fresh ground tomorrow.
The weather forecast is:
Friday - Cloudy with sunny spells, possible showers. 11C.
Saturday - Dry and sunny morning, possible showers later. 10C.
PERFECT PRACTICE FOR GILES CROSS
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Leading John Smith’s Grand National candidate Giles Cross had his first taste of Grand National-style fences on Tuesday, April 10, in a schooling session under his big-race jockey Paddy Brennan.
The 10-year-old’s trainer Victor Dartnall liked what he saw at his Devon yard and his morning’s satisfaction was completed by news of soft going at Aintree.
“The horse is in great form,” said Dartnall. “And we were delighted with him this morning. We’ve rigged up a couple of National lookalike fences and he jumped them beautifully. Paddy was very pleased with what he felt and we’re all looking forward to Saturday.”
Brennan, who had not ridden Giles Cross before, gets the chance to partner him in the big race because regular rider Denis O’Regan would struggle to do the weight of 10st 1lb. “He’s not a complicated ride,” added Dartnall.
Giles Cross, bred by his owner Kay Birchenhough, will be Dartnall’s first John Smith’s Grand National runner and, with the ground on the National course now soft after 15 millimetres of rain yesterday and with showery weather set to continue, is likely to get his preferred underfoot conditions.
“The softer the better for him,” added Dartnall. “He’s a heavy-ground horse, which is one reason why he’s run only 16 times in his life; he doesn’t get his conditions that often. If he gets his ground, he’ll run well. He travels, he jumps, he stays, he’s straightforward and very genuine.”
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