Sunday April 17th 2022

Mt Leinster won at 7/2

Aucunrisque is one of my horses of the season. This admirable type won his fifth race today for the excellent Chris Gordon. He has been on the go since October and has taken his racing extremely well. He's gone from winning an ordinary bumper to winning a Grade 2 novice hurdle, and even when beaten he has given his best. As the modest Gordon says, when you have horses as genuine as Aucunrisque, training is easy.

Majestic Mel in the 1715 @ Cork - mainly for a laugh, and obvs, EW. NAP.

The Grey Lad in the 14:35 at Fairyhouse

Queens Rock in the Ffos las 4.25 an unconfident nap.

Mt Lenster - 16.20 Fairyhouse

I hope Love Envoi can do it today on the proviso she isn't bullied out of it by all those Mullins Mares.

Nap Plump 1525 Unanswered Prayers

Forgot to say ParisLongchamp.

Some interesting Trials for the French Classics today.

My nap is Raclette in the 14.50.

Bobby Joe Leg 14:32 South EW Nap

NAP Night and Day (the great Cole Porter), 3.10 Fairyhouse. 20/1 or so..........an Easter longshot!

Bashful Boy 4.35 Plumpton is the nap,well done yesterdays winners.

30 runners would sadly be my pick but i think it would be a backward step.

Mr Katanga 3.50 FL.

I am always on the lookout for long odds possibilities. Yesterday, a tipster I watch, Doug Campbell, wrote "

Doug Campbell’s Saturday Best Bets

2.49 Newton Abbot Holerday Ridge1 point each-way @33/1

I thought as it was a long shot I'd go for an extra place and backed it at 20-1. It won.

However, I saw later (I had been planting potatoes) that the winning SP was 80-1! But I did not get BOG as I'd gone for an extra place. Then, even later I noticed that Doug Campbell had tweeted, "Hollerday Ridge is prone to breaking blood vessels ,and a huge drifter in the 2.49 Newton Abbot ..... but 150/1 with Sky looks ridiculously big." I hope he got it!

On a different topic, I'd say on the GN staggered starts would be ones to try. It might be best to take the GN out of the equation altogether although that's what started the train of thought. It would be best to run some trials to see if the concept was workable. The problem, though, is that these would be lacking in quality.

Unfortunately I think it will be a 30 runner National within ten years. There’ll also be a fifth day at Cheltenham and even more poor quality racing added to the calendar. The sport is controlled by the betting companies and unless that changes racing will continue to be bled dry and eventually become insignificant. By that point the bookmakers will have moved on to their next cash cow.

After that, Mine’s A Double - 17.05 Newbury (nap).

Nap 3.10 Fairyhouse - Statuaire (each way)

I haven't been able to contribute the last couple of days so just catching up on the debate. I'd reduce the GN numbers to 30 runners. There were at least two horses that 'started' this year's race that weren't even on the track; they galloped off from the all weather.

Love envoi nap (15:10)

If given that stark choice, I would opt for 30 runners. But would that actually achieve any less injuries or fatalities?

Anyway, Buona Pasqua to all.

Slightly off topic but F1 would be more exciting if drivers had to sprint to the cars at race start like the old days and to make it more interesting...change their own wheels.

Grand National - I'm grateful for everyone's time for reading/responding to Saturday's idea. Perhaps I should have asked a direct question within it - would you rather have a 30-runner National, or staggered starts?