Has Anyone Got A Gee-Gee For The National ?

[atalanta]

Has anyone got the name of a gee-gee for the National ?

[frugalfred]

I predict that the winner will be the bookmaking fraternity.

[wolf63]

I wanted a pony when I was a kid ~ I never got one :-(

[Sam1960]

can't guarantee you a winner atlanta, but Monbeg Dude, and Teaforthree should give you a run for your money !!

[BlueToffee]

If you have £1 each way on all of them, and an outsider wins, then you'll be a winner, otherwise only the bookies win.

Haven't bet on the National now for about 20 years, in fact the only gambling I do now is when it's a massive roll over on the Euro lottery.

[Ken4155]

With rain forecast for Liverpool before the big race, i would wait, atalanta, until tomorrow evening when the going forecast will be far clearer. Some of those declared will want to hear their hooves on the ground, others will prefer plenty of cut.

[Sycamore3House]

The names will be printed in the papers tomorrow and Saturday. Take a pin, close your eyes and stab into the page of names. It's the National anything can happen. But I do hope old timer Tidal Bay comes home safe.

[RATTER15]

I hope the race is cancelled and banned!!

[ELVIS68]

Raz De Maree 50/1

Why'd you say that Ratter?

[Ken4155]

Sycamore3House says just to stick a pin in a newspaper because "anything can happen." That may be true but i prefer to stick to the trends which surround big races of long standing - i did alright today with 3 good winners. Here are 3 things to take into consideration when making your selections. 19 of the last 20 winners were aged 9 or over. (That gets rid of 8 of the 40 runners and 3 of the reserves). Every winner since 1970 has won over 3 miles or more. And only 1 winner (Neptune Colonges 2 years ago) in over 30 years has been off the racecourse for more than 50 days prior to running in the National. (11 of the 40 runners and 1 reserve have been absent for longer). Following the stats is not an exact science but it is a starting point and, in my very humble opinion, beats the pants off sticking a pin in a newspaper.

[RATTER15]

The race is cruel, if the horses understood that that if they break a leg they will be shot where they fall they would never race!

[askyourgran]

Mine usually has three legs anyway.

[ELVIS68]

Ratter they are not shot if they break a leg, you obviously don't understand the welfare of racehorses, have a read up and then come back.

[RATTER15]

There have been many shot for breaking legs on the course. Its a cruel race!

[RATTER15]

Admittedly it is better than it used to be.

[ELVIS68]

Like I said, they are not shot just because they break a leg.

Have a read up and then come back

[RATTER15]

OK Elvis. If you want to split hairs, but they are still shot!

[tamborine]

If a galloping horse breaks a leg anywhere its shot. Race horses are bred for racing; no racing = less quality horses.

[tamborine]

Read Safety Changes here

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Grand_National

[RATTER15]

Tambo, you present a very poor argument in defence of a cruel race.!!

A galloping horse has evolved to gallop, if it has an accident and is put down, thats life. It did not evolve to gallop with a person sat on its back and jump high fences and being whipped.

//no racing = less quality horses.// what nonsense! it just means less racing horses. there are plenty of horse breeds around that are not related to race horses and if there was still the demand for that type of horse then horse breeders will still breed them.

Sorry you will not convince me that horse racing is humane but I am sure that people that support horse racing will justify it in their own minds.

[pixie373]

They love it, ratter. It's what they've been bred and trained to do. Unfortunately, it is a high-risk sport, but you're unlikely to find better looked-after and spoilt horses anywhere else.