The 2008 John Smith's Grand National hero Comply Or Die should definite signs of an imminent return to form when running well for a long way before fading in the closing stages of the gruelling Totesport.com Classic Chase at Warwick on Saturday, writes Elliot Slater.
David Pipe's tremendously popular staying chaser was having only his second out of the season having run poorly at Wincanton when finishing well down the field on his first outing of the term at Wincanton in November. Ideally suited by a much better surface, his Warwick run was all the more noteworthy and suggested that the 12-year-old gelding is on very good terms with himself at present.
It had been looking as though Comply Or Die might be feeling his age after a number of below-par efforts last term, although he did run well for a very long way at Aintree in April before fading out of contention from three out in the race famously won by Tony McCoy on Don't Push It.
A real Aintree specialist, owner David Johnson's son of Old Vic also ran a tremendous race in the 2009 renewal when finishing an excellent second to Mon Mome as he bid to become the first horse since Red Rum in the 1970s to win back-to-back renewals of the great race. Bookmakers weren't quick to react to the pipe runner's effort and he still is available at up to 40/1 in the Grand National betting odds to win back the crown, a feat that would be unequalled in the long history of the race.
West End Rocker, trained by Alan King, who won the Warwick event from Minella Boys, seems to have been of more interest to bookies and punters being cut to just 25/1 for Aintree glory after his three-quarters-of-a-length victory.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment