THE 2012 GRAND NATIONAL;DAY OF LEGEND

The greatest steeplechase race of the year is here and for around ten minutes around 4.15pm there is no need to be anywhere else other than in front of the telly, thats if your not there, that is.

The Grand National is under pressure from all angles and whilst there are a lot of issues to deal with, it is surely the greatest spectacle in racing. Last year was a bad year for the race with horses sadly killed and the bad press, but no stone has been left unturned to make the race as safe as possible. Enjoy it for what it is, ten minutes of drama, dreams, excitement, pleasure and hope, hope you might win a few bob.

I have loved the National ever since 1977, when one of my dad's mates put a bet on for me. I gave him £2 of my paper round money to put on his choice and watched the race with the whole family. His selection was the legendary Red Rum and when the great horse roared in to win the race for the third time, the buzz was amazing. The £20 winnings bought a hell of lot of subbuteo teams,most notably Liverpool & Barcelona, the grandstand & floodlights and I have been hooked ever since.

The once a year punters will be out in force, the old grannies will be clogging up the tills in the bookies and old mates will be coming out of the woodwork looking for tips.

The race is like no other and whilst it is a lottery and you need a lot of luck, it has fallen to the classier types in recent years. This year's Gold Cup winner Synchronised has got a great chance, as has last year's winner Ballabriggs and both will go close, but picking either one of those is too easy.

I like to find one with a story, so for what its worth heres my three against the field.

1.PLANET OF SOUND;10yo Trainer P.Hobbs
Three years ago at Aintree I had the first five winners on the first day of the Aintree meeting and was in line for the jackpot and placepot. The final leg was Planet Of Sound. The favourite fell at the first and this one was cruising along, I was watching it in the Corals in the town with a couple of old boys  and they were of the opinion I had it in the bag. Planet Of Sound hit the front and I nearly had a coronary, however he hit the last fence and faded into third.
I had the placepot up which paid £79, but the agony of how close I was, was when the jackpot dividend came up......£20K and change.
Phil the ex-jockey in the bookies laughed and said
"You'll have a long white beard down to your knees, before you get that close again!"
Needed that comment, it was like a knife into my gutted gut!
Anyway this horse has a serious chance, is a Grade 1 winner has been laid out for the race, has run two good trials in the Hennessy and King George and the stable is flying. Likes a flat track on goodish ground and if getting into a nice rythymn will go close and pay me back, its karma I tell you.

2.ALWAYS RIGHT 10yo Trainer J.Wade
This one has been a long term fancy of mine for the race after he ran a blinder in last year's Scottish National when beaten only a length into 3rd. Showed he had the stamina as that trip was over 4 miles and is a strong fancy. Has since been disappointing since, but has had a little operation to help his breathing and if that works he has a major chance. Looks like hes been laid out for the race too and can go close. Always Waining won The Topham over the big fences yesterday, what price the double?
Also when it comes to National, I'd like to think I am ....always right.

3.RARE BOB 10yo trainer Dessie Hughes
This one has a great chance despite his silly odds.Have had a bit on at 40's and when he drifted to 50's had to have a little more. Has run well at Aintree before and looks to have the right profile for the race. Has won a Grade 1, has been placed in an Irish Grand National, has hammered the fancied Organisedconfusion in the past, is the right age and looks like hes been laid out for the race. Caught the eye last time when staying on nicely and would have given the one time favourite for this race Prince de Beauchene a fright at last year's meeting but for unseating late on. Trainer Dessie Hughes has gone close in the past and is due a change of fortune. Whether he will stay well enough to win is one thing, but he will give us a good spin for our money. Likes to race up with the pace so hopefully can keep out of trouble and who knows what may happen on the second circuit. The final piece of the jigsaw is that hes the only one of the field I have captured in action and Tom Segal, Mr Pricewise, has tipped him up too....great minds and all that!

The legendary late Ginger McCain, trainer of Red Rum and father of Ballabriggs trainer Donald holds court in 2010. This year's Grand National meeting won't be the same without him. It's somewhat ironic it's the Beebs final coverage.

Calgary Bay is another fancy, but you can have ten stabs at this race and not back the winner.

Enjoy the spectacle, hopefully both human and equine participants return home safely, a new legend will be borne. 

May the horse be with you.

Randy.

Free Tips on Olbg.com http://goo.gl/fsLNa

RITES OF SPRING:THE SPRING DOUBLE

Now that the dust has firmly settled from the fantastic spectacle that is The Cheltenham Festival, the next aspect of "The Rites Of Spring" fall squarely on the shoulders of The Lincoln and The Grand National.

To me The Lincoln, run at Doncaster marks the real start of the flat season and The Grand National marks the end of the jumps, a handover period if you like.

Being an old school punter I can never resist an ante-post poke on both, just for the fun of it.
Fresh from a wonderful Cheltenham punting, one I'm sure will not be repeated for a very long time.
Right from the minute the kind Carol from Racing Uk rang me to tell I'd won two club tickets, Stan James VIP badges and free car parking for the opening day of The Festival, in an online competition I couldn't remember entering, I knew there were strange things afoot.
The ante-post bets posted (http://randyrannracing.foliopic.com/) showed an amazing profit of 122.50 points to stakes asdvised.
The Thursday saw the punt shown on the slip landed, which paid for my week off, and I hope all three of those backed that day run again at the Aintree meeting, as I think they can all win again.
The real icing on the cake, however was landing the Olbg Cheltenham Festival Tipping Competition, with a level stakes profit of +£59.80p over the four days, not bad considering I tipped a horse in every race.
For free tips and the chance to win some prizes on the friendly Olbg site, wannabe tipsters should click on (http://www.online-betting-guide.co.uk/?tx126897)
Anyway, you can't rest on your laurels in this game and a fall normally follows such success so back to the matter in hand of trying to land The Spring Double.

First up is The William Hill Lincoln Handicap on Saturday 2nd April, run over the straight mile at Doncaster which is like a calvary charge from the off.

I like the look of GUNNER LINDLEY trained by Barry Hills, who likes to start the season with a few winners at the meeting. His string is in pretty good form and if this one gets in he must have a major chance off such a low weight. One of my favourite horses from last season he showed progressive form winning on his last start after a narrow defeat on his previous run in decent handicaps. He looks sure to improve as a 4 year old and though fitness has to be taken on trust, the form of the stable is a real positive. At the time of writing Gunner Lindley needs 5 to come out of the race to ensure he gets in and if he does, he rates a cracking ew bet at around 14-1. His trainer will always be linked with the Lincoln as this is the race that set him up with the proceeds of Frankincense's win in 1968.

A week after this we have The Grand National run over a gruelling four and a half miles at Aintree and you need a huge amount of luck just to get round in this race. A special type of horse wins the Grand National and lately classier types have won their fair share, the ability to jump and proven stamina are a must, as is a good level of form, even if you have to dig a bit to find it.

This year I do like the enigmatic TIDAL BAY at around 40-1. He is just the quirky type who could take to these unique fences and run a big race. He is likely to drop himself out and leave himself a lot to do, but with the really long run-in here, after the last, it might just suit him. He was classy enough to win an Arkle and has decent form around Aintree too, a bit of cut in the ground wouldn't go amiss either and if anywhere near the leaders approaching the last, he could reel them in late on. He ran pretty well in this year's Gold Cup again flying at the death, this extended trip, might just be what he's been looking for. Despite looking a dodgy jumper at times he has never fallen and if on a going day 40-1 looks too big a price.

Another one I like at a massive price is David Pipe's FAASEL @ 100-1. I just hope he gets into the race as he needs a few above him to come out. He ran a cracker at Cheltenham in the Kim Muir and that staying chase was always considered a good trial for The Grand National itself. He stayed on pretty well behind his well punted on stablemate Junior in that race and looks an out galloper to me. He is the right age at 10 years old and boasts some pretty good form around Aintree, he even managed to win a Grade 1 Novice

Hurdle in the past. Another one who has been questioned in the past but is a pretty safe ride and might surprise a few. Only had 2 runs this season and come here a fresh horse, I'm hoping he's been plotted up for this! 

The great AP McCoy(right) celebrating his historic win in the 2010 Grand National in the winner's enclosure onboard Don't Push It, who will follow in his footsteps this year?

Happy Punting and Good Luck

Randy.