Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Sports World

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National hope Alliance in race to be fit for Saturday Posted: 20 Apr 2011 03:44 AM PDT Northern Alliance, the intended mount of Barry Geraghty in Saturday's feature John Smith's Grand National at Aintree, is by no means a certain starter having suffered a stone bruise in training earlier this week, writes Elliot Slater. The Tony Martin-trained ten-year-old is reportedly no better than 50-50 to make the big race as connections wait and see whether or not the bruise will heal in time to allow the Naheez gelding to take his chance and race again with horse racing Ireland betting favourites. Martin has suggested that he might not make a final decision until the day of the race itself giving the gelding every chance to be sound, and confirmed that in terms of fitness there are no worries with the horse spot on having been trained to the minute for the big event. Northern Alliance is generally a 33/1 shot to land the Aintree marathon (having been 50/1 for a hot betting tip only last week) and represents a trainer who is a master at laying a horse out for big handicap races. Third to In Compliance in the Cashel Chase at Thurles in February, the winner of six of his 32 career starts had previously chased home Dooneys Gate at Clonmel and comes into the Aintree race having generally performed well this term without managing to get his head in front. Should Martin wait until the day of the race and then withdraw Northern Alliance his late defection would not allow for any of the reserves to get a run, a point that could cause some controversy, but Martin is perfectly within his rights to give his charge every chance of overcoming the minor setback and run in an event his trainer has been eyeing for him for well over a year. If he decides not to declare Northern Alliance at the final stage then Howard Johnson's Royal Rosa would most likely be the principal beneficiary in sneaking into the race in 40th position.

Concorde set for lift off at Aintree on Saturday Posted: 20 Apr 2011 03:24 AM PDT Dermot Weld's talented Majestic Concorde is amongst the last horses to be confirmed a definite runner in Saturday's eagerly anticipated John Smith's Grand National at Aintree having delighted his handler with an impressive schooling session under amateur jockey Robbie McNamara, the man who will take the ride in the Liverpool marathon, writes Elliot Slater. McNamara was in the saddle when Majestic Concorde put up a tremendous weight carrying performance to land the valuable Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown in late-December where he ran on bravely after the final fence to hold another Aintree fancy, racing tips favourite Becauseicouldntsee by two-and-a-half-lengths. Weld has taken his time before giving the green light to the Dr Ronan Lambe-owned eight-year-old who had initially been an intended runner in the Thyestes Chase but didn't recover in sufficient time from his Leopardstown exertions. Following his latest training session Majestic Concorde looked in great shape and Weld had no hesitation in allowing him to take his chance in 'the world's greatest steeplechase' to show him to horse racing Ireland. The tremendously versatile Definite Article gelding will round off a varied 12 months with his bid for the four-and-a-half-mile contest having last May gone within a length of winning the prestigious Chester Cup on the Flat. After a two month break the Irish gelding ran another fine race to be a close third to Finger On The Pulse in the Galway Plate at the end of July, and then switched back to the level for his next outing when finishing in midfield in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket. Following the news that he will be allowed to take his chance at Aintree the 40/1 ante-post odds available about Majestic Concorde soon dried up with some firms now going as short as 25/1, whilst others still offer 33/1 in places.

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