Racenews Newslink Archive - Sunday, April 10, 2005

Sunday, April 10, 2005

FOREST GUNNER FIFTH COSTS TOTESPORT Ł1/2 MILLION

After the dust has settled following Saturday's Grand National totesport have calculated that the decision to bet each-way to five places has cost them over Ł500,000.

Spokesman Damian Walker said: "Forest Gunner's fifth was very costly for us. Almost 80% of the money we took on Forest Gunner was each-way and instead of keeping all those stakes had we gone the usual four places, we effectively ended up paying out on a 1-2 winner. We also caught a cold in the Topham when we went five places and the big gamble Impek came in fifth.

"But against that we have had our best ever National in terms of turnover and smashed all previous records. We handled 150,000 calls in our Call Centre on Saturday compared to 47,000 on National day in 2004. This additional and new business made all the difference and justified our decision to go the extra place in the big race."

McCOY ODDS-ON FOR NATIONAL BLANK

Tony McCoy is long odds on not to ride a Grand National winner after his desperately unlucky exit from Saturday's race.

Walker added: "McCoy is now zero from 10 Grand National rides and realistically the odds are against him breaking his duck. Champion jockeys Jonjo O'Neill, John Francome and Peter Scudamore never rode a National winner and Tony may join that unlucky list."

1-2 Tony McCoy not to win an Aintree Grand National?
6-4 Tony McCoy to win an Aintree Grand National?

2006 Grand National

20-1 Hedgehunter, 25 Clan Royal, 33 Royal Auclair, It Takes Time, Simply
Gifted

AINTREE TOTEPOOL TURNOVER

On-course totepool turnover at Aintree three days 2005 Ł4,445,655

On-course totepool turnover at Aintree three days 2004 Ł4,401,656

toteplacepot pools up 5.9% (+15.5% on Grand National day)
totequadpot pools up 57.7% (+117.2% on Grand National day)
totetrifecta pool up 48.1% for the Grand National
toteexacta 'outpaid' CSF 16-5 on the three-day meeting--resulting in a +69.5% surplus (+121.4% on the Grand National itself)

The Grand National totetrifecta was only won to 10p so there is a rollover of Ł62,435, plus any totetrifecta rollovers this week. It is likely to go to the Scottish National at Ayr on Saturday.

PIPE STILL ODDS ON FOR CHAMPIONSHIP AS NICHOLLS CLOSES THE GAP

Reigning champion Martin Pipe remains odds on at 4-11 (from 1-6) with Coral to retain his trainers' crown despite rival Paul Nicholls closing the gap to just 53,000 pounds following Royal Auclair's second place in the Grand National. Nicholls is 2-1 (from 7-2) to win his first title.

"With just two weeks to go, Martin Pipe remains the one to beat, but with both camps expected to take strong hands to the big meetings at Ayr and Sandown, for the first time in years this race is not over at this stage of the season," said Coral's David Stevens.

**National Hunt Trainers Championship
4-11 M Pipe, 2-1 P Nicholls

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