Grand National Latest
23.02.2010
Having won the race twice before with Earth Summit (1998) and Bindaree (2002), Nigel Twiston-Davies has as good idea as anyone currently holding a training license of the qualities needed to give a horse a chance of glory in the John Smith's Grand National.
Having seen his Ballyfitz slog his way through the Haydock mud to an honourable fourth place in the Blue Square Gold Cup recently, the Gloucestershire-based handler believes that his lightly raced 10-year-old could give a good account of himself over four-and-a-half miles at Aintree in April. And the horse racing tips seem to be in agreement.
A visit to Cheltenham 2010 where Denman betting is hotting up looks next on the agenda however, a meeting at which the son of Overbury triumphed two years ago when landing the ultra-competitive Pertemps Handicap Hurdle. This time Ballyfitz is scheduled to have a crack at Big Bucks and co. in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, (a race for which he is a rank outsider), but that should put him spot on in allowing a three week break before the Grand National itself.
Given a handy racing weight of 10st 9lbs and being a horse who can handle most kinds of ground, Ballyfitz, who jumped well at Haydock apart from one uncharacteristic error on the final circuit, had earlier this term won a competitive hurdles event at Sandown and then shown that he stays well when a creditable fifth to Dream Alliance in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow.
On offer at a tempting 66/1 to provide Twiston-Davies with a third Grand National winner, Ballyfitz fits the profile of the ideal type for Aintree, an invariably sound jumper who stays well and has proved he can put in a big performance on the big occasion.
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