grandnational2017.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 6m 50.14s

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Selected odds by:

Ballyhenry²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 119

7/2

Beat the useful Label des Obeaux over hurdles last season but has not looked the same horse since. Checked out early last time and hard to recommend until offering more encouragement.

Form: 613P-38

Grace Tara¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: T Scudamore| T: M Scudamore| OR: 115

5/1

Easy to back last time when dropped in trip. Came up against an improving mare that day and this looks easier. Handicap mark is undemanding if she gets the trip.

Form: 311/1

Popelys Gull¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Kielan Woods| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 110

11/2

Has improved with each run and needs to do so again. A 3lb rise for his defeat in a weak race last time makes his prospects less attractive. May have more to come but others appear better treated.

Form: 484222-

Malapie⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: A Pogson| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 109

6/4

Undoubtedly flattered by his proximity to Lady Buttons last time but that mare has bolted up again since. The way he was finishing that day suggests this trip is worth a try. That was his first run in 21 months so improvement can be expected.

Form: 21F/B-21

Seven Kingdoms^p,t⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: David Dennis| OR: 107

10/1

Cheekpieces and a step up in trip failed to inspire any progress last time. Continues to tumble down the weights but needs to show positive signs before he can be recommended.

Form: 696441-

Fresh By Nature²²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Danny Cook| T: H Bethell| OR: 104

20/1

Distant third in this last year off a similar mark. This looks a better renewal and his recent form is not encouraging.

Form: 6P5R1-3

Non-Runners

Ossie's Dancer²⁹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: Martin Smith J: Tom Cheesman

Lough Salt³¹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: M Walford J: Jake Greenall

Forecasts

Malapie (6/4), Ballyhenry (7/2), Grace Tara (5/1), Lough Salt (5/1), Popelys Gull (11/2), Seven Kingdoms (10/1), Fresh By Nature (20/1), Ossie's Dancer (25/1)

GRACE TARA is a winning point-to-pointer in heavy ground which suggests she may come into her own over this sort of trip. She came up against a useful sort last time and gets to race off the same mark here. She is the only in form contender who has not been penalised by the handicapper and she is taken to account for Malapie. The lightly raced nine-year-old came up against a well handicapped rival last time, He was noted staying on well but a 4lb rise in the weights has made his task harder since the handicapper has taken a more lenient view with the selection. Popelys Gull is steadily improving and makes more appeal than the remainder who have been out of sorts lately.