Scotia on the National weekend

Big Bucks is out to beat Sir Kens long standing record today

Good morning to the Clan and I am sure many will be glad to see the end of the jump season, so just indulge me for the last time.

Today we have big Bucks running at Aintree going for 17 wins in a row at the generous price of 1/5. In addition the one million pound hero Riverside Theatre is also making an appearance, if you need a double with Big Bucks? take the Ruby Walsh double with Al Ferof.

On Friday we have Finians Rainbow with the in form Barry Geraghty to give us some money for the National.

The National will be run in heavy going and it will be heavy picking a winner, can McCoy win on Gold Cup winner Synchronised? West End Rocker likes the wet, lady jockey on Sea Bass, etc.

The Aintree hurdle should be a cracker between Oscar Whisky, Rock on Ruby and Zarkander.

The Scottish Grand National is on the 21st where Harry the Viking tops the boards and then we can all focus on the flat.

19th May is one for the diary where Frankel should make his reappearance in the Lockinge Stakes, the Investec Derby fav Camelot 5/2 (2nd June), could run in the Dante on 17th May or the 2000gns on the 5th May.

Garrick FINKS racing is so boring but he likes it

This site is still buzzing and its becoming difficult to extract highlights from the superb contributions but if you are interested in the sale of Pierre Jourdan, Champions Day, Racing being boring?, Turf Challenge, Grand National, Soccer, Rugby etc, ABC is the place to be.

As far as Rugby, would be pointless me trying to tell you that the Bulls will beat Crusaders, Stormers and Chiefs to lift the trophy rather check the threads from our expert Garrick.

On the football front Man United may have given City a ray of light last night but remain 1/5 for the League and City after being well into double figures have come back to 5/1. As far as the FA Cup Chelsea and Spurs 5/2 with Pool 3/1 to save King Kenny and Everton 7/2.

In Spain Barcelona 22/10 have also come from no hopers in Primera to having a chance against Real 4/10.

The UEFA has Barcelona 9/10, Real Madrid 3/1, Bayern 11/2 and if you fancy an English team Chelsea 14/1.

Still working on the bucket list and Mrs S is pushing the Thailand trip over Ascot and says plenty specials, so we might get a tsunami facing room at a good rate?

Really looking forward to Champions Day at the end of the month.

Good punting and may your God be with you.

scotia

Going has changed to good ,good to soft in places on both courses

Wonderful stuff

Frankel suffers minor setback during workout
 
BY JAMES BURN 3:49PM 12 APR 2012
 
FRANKEL, the all-conquering star of last year's Flat season and the world's highest-rated racehorse, has suffered a minor injury to his off-fore.

Trained by Sir Henry Cecil for Khalid Abdullah, Frankel suffered the injury during a workout on Wednesday morning and will be monitored in the coming days.

"It was probably during work on Racecourse side yesterday morning," Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said on Thursday.

"I think with a horse like this everything is a concern but at the moment it looks superficial and he'll be monitored and continually checked and we'll see how he goes over the next couple of days."

Unbeaten in nine races, Frankel was set for a racecourse gallop at Newbury next Friday or Saturday before making his seasonal reappearance in the JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 19.

Camelot gambled into 15/10 or shortened

Probably with the scratching of Most Improved?

Owner JP McManus says the Grand National "should not be devalued" in future after the deaths of two horses, including his Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Synchronised.
The nine-year-old, trained by Jonjo O'Neill, was one of two horses put down after suffering injuries at Aintree.
The deaths in Saturday's race have raised criticisms about the safety of horses from opponents.
But McManus said: "We all remain huge supporters of the Grand National."
His statement added: "Despite all the sadness, as it is a truly fantastic spectacle.
"It should not be devalued in any way."
The Irish billionaire has spoken for the first time after Synchronised's death of his "sadness" and "devastation", in a joint statement with O'Neill, jockey AP McCoy and the owner's racing manager Frank Berry.
Synchronised, who was bidding to become the first horse for 78 years to seal a Gold Cup and Grand National double in the same season, fell at the notorious Becher's Brook fence, unseating McCoy in the process.
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Neptune Collonges wins Grand National - race in full
The gelding continued until the 11th fence where he suffered a leg fracture and later had to be put down.
"Jonjo, AP, Frank and I, and all our families, feel a deep sadness and sense of devastation about the loss of the horse," said McManus.
"We will always cherish the memory of how great he was in winning the Gold Cup at the festival the previous month.
"What happened to him appears to be nothing more than a freak accident as his fall did not cause him to lose his life - it was running around loose afterwards.
"It remains difficult to understand how it happened but regrettably it did."
Synchronised's connections have moved to deflect the criticism levelled at Aintree by thanking course bosses for their "helpfulness, kindness and consideration" following the race, which was won by Neptune Collonges.
Synchronised has been laid to rest at his Jackdaws Castle training base and McManus added: "He has left us all with a memory of what a superb equine athlete he was and his name is etched deep in the annals of jumping history as the winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
"We are all very proud of what he achieved for us and the sport as a whole."
According to Pete also died after suffering a fractured leg when he was brought down after jumping the 22nd fence [Becher's Brook second time round].
His trainer Peter Nelson has already indicated he will not enter horses into the race again.