Who's Your Tip For The Grand National?

[LitNetIsGreat]

Yes it's that time of year again, when the entire national goes wild in losing a load of money in the name of tradition. So who's your choice for this year’s Grand National?

I'm due a win this year because I think it was 1990 when I last won the race. Mrs Neely wins all the time (and is obsessed with the race) and even the kids beat me, but this time, this time, it is my turn for victory. And the horse that is going to do it for me:

Backstage. 18-1, (but go to Betfair for the amazing odds of 38-1 - I have already!)

And a very small retainer EW on King Johns Castle (because of the name of course).

You have heard it from me first, nudge, nudge.

http://sports.williamhill.com/bet/EN/betting/e/1039582/4%3A15-Aintree---The-Grand-National.html

I'm not really a gambling person, but a day or two a year of decadent gambling and excessive beer sounds cool, anyway, who are you punting for? :)

[Scheherazade]

What is the Grand National?

:p

[Niamh]

State of Play or Kings Johns Castle would be my bets. Better remind the folks the Grand National is on. we do an in house thing amongst the family every year. :)

[qimissung]

Isn't it a horse race? Isn't it the one that Velvet and the piebald raced in and won in "National Velvet"?

[Lokasenna]

The horse Dream Alliance is the one that's splashed all over the news, but that seems more to do with its unusual history than anything else.

I'm think I might put a bet on the General Election instead - that looks like its going to be a close race!

[Wilde woman]

Black Apalachi...because I simply love his bold, almost suicidal front-running style. Plus, I like his pedigree (though it seems like half the entries have some Sadler's Wells in them) and I've a weakness for dark(-colored) horses.

I usually only play the ponies in flat-racing (and only when the American classics are on); I don't know a thing about steeplechasing, but it seems like all racing is luck anyways. :D

I'm surprised by how high the odds are, even for the favorites. Past winners are only 12-1! :eek: How many entries are allowed, anyway?


Isn't it a horse race? Isn't it the one that Velvet and the piebald raced in and won in "National Velvet"?

Why yes! The Pie! One of my childhood favorites!

[TheFifthElement]

Lower the jumps. That's my tip.

I'll be hoping no horses die this year, for the sake of our entertainment.

[kasie]

Keep your money in your pocket - only bookies get rich.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Keep your money in your pocket - only bookies get rich.
Of course, but that would be too sensible...


What is the Grand National?
:p
What don't our American friends watch the Grand National?


How many entries are allowed, anyway?
40 horses in total is maxium, plus there are a couple of reserves for non-runners so it is usually always run with 40 runners, in modern times anyway.


I'm think I might put a bet on the General Election instead - that looks like its going to be a close race!

That looks harder to call than the Grand National!

[wessexgirl]

Lower the jumps. That's my tip.

I'll be hoping no horses die this year, for the sake of our entertainment.


Good tip. I don't bet on this race anymore, but as a youngster I was like most people, and had a bet with the family, as it's the one race of the year where even those who don't usually bet have a go, after all, it's a lottery. You don't need to know anything about form, as there are, (or used to be), so many fallers that it could be anyones. I stopped betting on it years ago, when I had chosen a beautiful horse, who subsequently fell and died, one of the many over the years.

[Scheherazade]

What don't our American friends watch the Grand National?I have no idea. Let's ask an American!

:p

[LitNetIsGreat]

I have no idea. Let's ask an American!

:p

Oh yes, I always think of you as an American for some reason, just ignore me.

[Niamh]

So we pulled our horses out of the hat at home. Five each (few less people doing it this year!) and i got the following;

Cloudy Lane, Madisun Du Berlais, Maljimar, Comply or Die and.... STATE OF PLAY! I'm happy with the last one. :nod: I think i got Cloudy Lane last year....

[wessexgirl]

Any winners? I noticed one of yours didn't even start Neely :smilewinkgrin:

Now for the real sporting contest..........

GO VILLA, GO VILLA, GO VILLA........ I don't think there will be a repeat of a few weeks ago :blush:, Martin O'Neill will have hopefully given them a good old rollicking, and they will be out for revenge......mwahaha

Let's hear it for them GO VILLA GO VILLA GO VILLA..........

Surely all the neutrals will be rooting for us, after all, we don't have Terry or Cole in our side :smilielol5:. What a nice pair......:rolleyes: I believe Terry's dad has just been arrested for drug dealing!!!!!:yikes:

[Niamh]

In first place was "Dont push it"
Second Place "Black Apalachi"
And in Third was "State of Play"

[LitNetIsGreat]

Any winners? I noticed one of yours didn't even start Neely

Yes, and the other one fell.:arf: AND Mrs Neely won again AND took double odds!!! So she gave us a family profit. :sosp:

Narr, not interested in the Villa match (Mrs Neely's brother is marrying Martin O' Neil’s niece) but Wednesday lost and United won so that is something fine too - though I'm not too taken with football anyway, though the rest of the family is.

As for the National, better luck next year...

Oh, and the bookies lost this year, around £10 million each!!! :smilielol5:

[wessexgirl]

Yes, and the other one fell.:arf: AND Mrs Neely won again AND took double odds!!! So she gave us a family profit. :sosp:

Narr, not interested in the Villa match (Mrs Neely's brother is marrying Martin O' Neil’s niece) but Wednesday lost and United won so that is something fine too - though I'm not too taken with football anyway, though the rest of the family is.

As for the National, better luck next year...

Oh, and the bookies lost this year, around £10 million each!!! :smilielol5:

Wow, will you be going to the wedding Neely? You could be meeting Martin O'Neill, you will be related to the great one.....:D. There may be a chance for some complimentary tickets to Villa Park :yesnod: My son has gone to Wembley today on the strength of some last minute comps courtesy of a friend. Needless to say he's chuffed to bits.

I'm glad Mrs Neely made some profit for the family. She's obviously a very good judge, and an extremely lovely woman, beautiful and gracious and generous with her complimentaries :hand::hand::hand:.

Good to see the bookies lost out on this one, but do they ever really lose? They'll get it back :).

[Scheherazade]

Congratulations on the profit, Neely. Well, it is Mrs Neely's but one for all, all for one and all that! :p

You can always say that you knew she was a good judge in these things - after all, she married you, right? :D
Oh yes, I always think of you as an American for some reason, just ignore me.Why is that? Is it my in-depth knowledge of all topics open to human mind? Excellent command of English language? Or boundless wit and wisdom?

*takes her hat off to all her American friends*

:smilewinkgrin:

[LitNetIsGreat]

Wow, will you be going to the wedding Neely?
Yes, yes I'm going to the wedding over in Northern Ireland next year - looking at where to stay at the moment. I bet you would be even more impressed if I told you that my second cousin (or something like, that great uncle I think) is Bill Neely the ITV news correspondent? :yikes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmCpEZr1zXU

I'm glad Mrs Neely made some profit for the family. She's obviously a very good judge, and an extremely lovely woman, beautiful and gracious and generous with her complimentaries.
... er, no comment. :)

You can always say that you knew she was a good judge in these things - after all, she married you, right?
Again no comment :hand: but if you say so...:hat:

Why is that? Is it my in-depth knowledge of all topics open to human mind? Excellent command of English language? Or boundless wit and wisdom?
Ha, ha - I don't know, no reason, I just get something in my head and it stays there whether it is wrong on not (usually right).

[Wilde woman]

In first place was "Dont push it"
Second Place "Black Apalachi"
And in Third was "State of Play"

Forgive me but I have to gloat. I believe my pick placed the highest of all the litnetters. :banana: And the best part? I'm American.:patriot: This was my first Grand National.

If Conna's Castle had not led the whole, maybe Black Apalachi would've settled better, set his own comfortable pace, and possibly had enough to hold off Don't Push It for the win. It's obvious to me that Black Apalachi doesn't like having a horse in front of him. Boo to rabbits!


40 horses in total is maxium, plus there are a couple of reserves for non-runners so it is usually always run with 40 runners, in modern times anyway.

Wow. I thought the Derby was a full field. A maximum of 20. No wonder there are so many injuries. Then again, steeplechasing has naturally more dangerous than flat-racing.

NEXT UP, THE KENTUCKY DERBY!

I need to move to the UK because I'm notoriously bad at picking Derby winners. Not one in 12 years! :arf:

[wessexgirl]

Yes, yes I'm going to the wedding over in Northern Ireland next year - looking at where to stay at the moment. I bet you would be even more impressed if I told you that my second cousin (or something like, that great uncle I think) is Bill Neely the ITV news correspondent? :yikes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmCpEZr1zXU

... er, no comment. :)

Again no comment :hand: but if you say so...:hat:

Ha, ha - I don't know, no reason, I just get something in my head and it stays there whether it is wrong on not (usually right).

Ooh, Bill Neely! I like him :yesnod:.

Poor Martin O'Neill :bawling: Villa deserve some luck....yet another Wembley cup match when they should have had a penalty......

To be fair, I didn't watch it all, so I didn't see the interviews, but I heard one of the commentators saying early on, after the incident, that he didn't envy the interviewer having to speak to O'Neill if Villa lost, when they were denied a legitimate penalty again :eek6:.

Enjoy the wedding, and could I ask you (or more probably your wife :D) to give him a peck on the cheek from me?