A tip for the Scottish Grand National and another one for Aintree too
Jumps season 2021-2 “max bets” 42 & 43
KITTY’S LIGHT is a horse who has crammed an awful lot of racing into his six years on the planet.
Some National Hunt horses don’t see the racetrack until they are five or six and then progress from hurdles to chases later in their career.
Kitty’s Light has already run 20 times under rules, winning four and being placed in eight of those starts. He has been jumping fences since the tender age of four.
So, in short, this admirably consistent gelding has plenty of experience despite his youth and he can land the Coral Scottish Grand National on April 2 for his talented Welsh handler Christian Williams.
The gelding was rated 149 in October and then went off the boil over the early winter months. But he ran a rock-solid race to be second to his stable companion Cap Du Nord in the valuable Coral Trophy at Kempton last month.
Now he is racing off a rating of just 143, and the Scottish National looks the ideal opportunity for him to land another big prize.
The trainer has also entered Win My Wings in the race, and since Williams never minds going in double-handed to try to land a big pot, this nine-year-old mare might well make the final declarations at Ayr, with a fair chance of a big run too.
But I will stick with just Kitty’s Light as the sole tip in the race. Take the 14-1 each way with bet365, Betfred, Coral or Ladbrokes, all paying four places.
The more I look at the entries for the Randox Grand National on April 9, the more I am drawn to DISCORAMA but the reasons for liking his chances need a bit of explanation, so bear with me.
If you watch a replay of last year's Aintree National, Discorama has a huge chance approaching the second last and then fades badly into seventh, beaten 45 lengths by the winner Minella Times.
At first glance, he looked a non-stayer and definitely one to avoid for this year's race because non-stayers never win a modern Aintree National.
But it was puzzling me why he faded, because three years ago he was a half-length second in what was just about the most attritional National Hunt Chase ever run – then still over four miles – in bottomless ground (officially "soft" but undoubtedly “heavy” in reality).
Then I read an interview with the horse’s Irish trainer Paul Nolan last month, in which he said that last season Discorama had suffered a setback shortly before the Aintree contest. The horse was short of work and missed his prep race. So my conclusion is that he failed to stay last year through lack of fitness, not because he lacks stamina.
Therefore take the 33-1 paying five places with lots or bookies including William Hill, Paddy Power, Betfair and BetVictor.
I have already put up four bets for the National but I am not embarrassed by that at all. They are at odds of 50-1, 50-1, 40-1, 20-1 and, now, 33-1. Since they should all – barring late setbacks – make the line-up with a chance, there will not be too much damage to the bank balance provided at least one of them makes the frame. As always, we are hoping for a big-priced winner.
One for the horse tracker
Trainer Nicky Henderson enjoyed a mixed week at the Festival, but one horse who put in a top performance was Mister Coffey in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup for amateur riders. This seven-year-old gelding was badly hampered by a faller at the second fence, but made ground steadily to finish second to Chambard. He clearly thrived on the step up in trip to beyond three miles. If campaigned over this distance or further and brushing up his jumping, he looks certain to land a big handicap later this season or next. It’s not impossible he could end up being a Grand National horse for his trainer in April 2023.
Bets record for the 2021-2 jumps season
Pending:
1 point each way Kitty’s Light at 14-1 for the Scottish Grand National, ¼ odds, four places.
1 point each way Any Second Now at 20-1 for the Grand National, with bet365, ¼ odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Dingo Dollar at 50-1 for the Grand National, ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Good Boy Bobby at 40-1 for the Grand National, with William Hill, ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Mighty Thunder at 50-1 for the Grand National, with William Hill, ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Discorama at 33-1 for the Grand National, 1/5 odds, five places.
Settled:
1 point each way Spyglass Hill at 20-1 for Grand Sefton Chase, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unseated rider. – 2 points.
1 point each way Coole Cody at 20-1 for the Paddy Power Gold Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places. Fell. – 2 points.
1 point each way Manofthemountain at 20-1 for the Paddy Power Gold Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points
1 point each way Potterman at 16-1 for the Ladbrokes Trophy, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Silver Streak at 12-1 for the Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle, 1/5 odds, 3 places. Unplaced – 2 points.
1 point each way Mac Tottie at 12-1 for the Becher Chase, ¼ odds, 4 places. Fell. – 2 points.
1 point each way Alnadam at 10-1 for the Racing Post Gold Cup, ¼ odds. NR – 2 points
1 point each way Silver Hallmark at 12-1 for the Racing Post Gold Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places. NR – 2 points.
1 point each way Lake View Lad at 12-1 for the Rowland Meyrick, ¼ odds, 4 places.4th+2 points.
1 point each way Highland Hunter at 14-1 for the Welsh Grand National, ¼ odds, 4 places. 2nd +2.5 points.
1 point each way Hold That Taught at 12-1 for the Welsh Grand National, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Galahad Quest at 9-1 in the Paddy Power New Year’s Day Chase, ¼ odds,, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Notachance at 9-1 for the Classic Chase, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. - 2 points.
1 point each way Quinta do Mar at 16-1 for the Lanzarote Hurdle, ¼ odds, 4 places. Fell. – 2 points.
1 point each way Annsam at 16-1 for the Sky Bet Handicap Chase, ¼ odds, 4 places. NR – 2 points.
1 point each way Green Book at 7-1 for the Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle, 1/5 odds, 6 places. 1st 7-1. + 8.4 points
1 point each way I Like To Move It at 12-1 for the Betfair Hurdle, ¼ odds, 4 places. 2nd + 2 points.
1 point each way Onemorefortheroad at 12-1 for the Betfair Hurdle, ¼ odds, 4 places. NR -= 2 points.
2 points win Annsam at 11-1 for the Coral Trophy Handicap Chase. Unplaced – 2 points.
1 point each way Zanza at 20-1 for the Coral Trophy Handicap Chase, 1/4 odds, 4 places. Unplaced – 2 points.
2 point each way Caribean Boy at 10-1 for the Coral Trophy Handicap Chase. NR – 2 points
1 point each way Cormier at 14-1 for the Morebattle Hurdle 1/4 odds, 4 places. 1st +17.5 points.
1 point each way Magic Daze at 16-1 NRNB or the Arkle Chase 1/5 odds, 3 places. Unplaced – 2 points
1 point each way Full Back at 20-1 NRNB for the Ultima Chase, 1/5 odds, 5 places. Unplaed – 2 points
1 point each way Epatante at 10-1 NRNB for the Champion Hurdle, 1/5 odds, 3 places. 2nd + 1 point.
1 point each way Saint Segal at 12-1 NRNB for the Boodles Hurdle, 1/5 odds, 5 places. Unplaced – 2 points.
1 point each way Too Friendly at 16-1 NRNB for the Boodles Hurdle, 1/5 odds, 5 places. 5th + 2.2 points
1 pint each way Gowel Road a 16-1 NRNB for the Coral Cup, 1/5 odds, 5 places. – 2 points.
1 point each way Buzz at 20-1 for the Stayers’ Hurdle, 1/5 odds, 3 places. NR – 2 points
1 point each way Shady Operator at 14-1 for the Cross Country Chase, 1/5 odds, 3 places. Unplaced – 2 points.
1 point each way Elixir de Nutz at 20-1 NRNB or the Grand Annual, 1/5 odds, 5 places. Unplaced – 2 points
2 points win Amarillo Sky at 10-1 NRNB for the Grand Annual. Unplaced. -2 points.
1 point each way Global Citizen at 50-1 NRNB for the Grand Annual Chase 1/5 odd, 5 places. 1st + 60 points.
1 point each way Fanion D’Estruval at 25-1 NRNB for the Ryanair Chase, 1/5 odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way The Glancing Queen at 20-1 NRNB for the Paddy Power Plate 1/5 odds, 5 places. Unplaced – 2 points.
1 point each way Global Citizen at 40-1 NRNB for the County Hurdle 1/4 odd, 4 places. NR Stake returned.
1 point each way The Glancing Queen at 10-1 NRNB for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase, 1/5 odds, 3 places. NR. Stake returned.
1 point each way Royale Pagaille at 20-1 NRNB for the Cheltenham Gold Cup , 1/5 odds, 3 places. Unplaced – 2 points.
1 point each way Jersey Bean at 14-1 for the Midlands Grand National 1/4 odds, 4 places. NR. - 2 points.
2021-22 jumps season running total + 38.6 points.