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DAVID CARR |
Weblog: What do you mean the Wi-Fi doesn't work? The life of a Racing Post reporter
Pundits spot-on as Giles Cross powers home
They were right. Richard Lee and Lucinda Russell yesterday. Tony Calvin and Simon Holt again on the Morning Line today.
Sometimes when everyone across the country seems to fancy the same horse, they are actually correct.
And it was finally the day for Giles Cross. Agonisingly beaten in the last two Welsh Nationals but a game, narrow winner of the Grand National Trial at Haydock this afternoon.
Not an obvious trial for Aintree - the ground at Liverpool in April rarely resembles the gruelling mud you get at Haydock in February and Giles Cross does seem to need a bog - but that was of no concern to part-owner and breeder Kay Birchenhough: "You can't get better than that. I don't think."
Not a bad day for quotes, though.
Sandy Seymour would not reveal how much he paid for impressive Grade 2 novice hurdle winner Brindisi Breeze, his first horse, but said: "I put my money where my mouth is, rather than mess around with a five-grand horse and I have been lucky."
After Restless Harry's win, trainer Robin Dickin's wife Claire said: "We took him out of the World Hurdle as we were fed up looking at Big Bucks's' bottom." (Not sure if "Bucks's' is the right spelling though - can you have two apostrophes in the same word?).
And we were not short of Grand National winners.
Mon Mome ran in the big race, albeit not very well - he was reported to have been unsuited by the bad ground here last time and he enjoyed it no better this afternoon.
Ballabriggs worked after racing - though the snow stopped before he came out, the wind chill was killing on the fingers of anyone stupid enough to have forgotten their gloves.
And Hedgehunter earlier dipped his toe into the world of corporate endorsement as he 'officially opened' the owners' and trainers' pavilion on behalf of its sponsor, private bankers Brown Shipley.
A clear sign that racehorses are entering the world of celebrity sports stars - as is the fact that you can also dress up in their colours nowadays.
A memorabilia stall opposite the Whittle Stand was doing a roaring trade. Long Run baseball caps. Kauto Star beanie hats. Scarves celebrating Ballabriggs, Big Buck's and Imperial Commander, to name but three.
But one name dominates the market. Asked what was popular John Edwards, whose Wrexham-based firm Druid Sports and Leisure makes and markets the merchandise, said: 'Everything Kauto Star'.
They also sell Arkle scarves and Edwards said: "They are great if you are looking for a present for your grandfather's birthday."
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