The steeplechase season has been underway since October and it is during this period that trainers, owners and jockeys get the measure of their horses, run them out and determine if they are in good enough shape to tackle the brutal course that is the Aintree Grand National.
With only a few weeks to declaration day trainers are now evaluating their chances and although they do have further opportunities to withdraw from the race, entering is not cheap so decisions are not made lightly.
Eight year old Arbor Supreme is one such prime candidate who is in with an excellent chance of scooping the title should he be entered. All ante-post odds from the bookmakers suggest that this is very likely so does he really have a chance?
He's a progressive Irish handicapper who had three wins in 2008 and had a fairly great season in 2009 also. He began to show huge promise when he came first in consecutive race entries at the Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa Handicap Chase at Punchestown in April 2008 followed by the Porterstown Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse in November.
His solid form, including a good third place at Down Royal in March where he traveled well on soft ground over 3m 2f, demonstrated to all that he is a game stayer. This achievement provided him with odds of 12-1 for the Irish Grand National Chase, where he was up against several top horses. He only managed to come a disappointing 14th, but made up for it when he came third in the Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase at the Punchestown Festival in May, to Ambobo and Vic Venturi, when ridden by Ruby Walsh.
Unusually, though owned by JP McManus, he is trained by Willie Mullins and not Jonjo O'Neill, so it's difficult to work out who he might be paired with should he be entered. The jockey most frequently associated with JP McManus is, of course, AP McCoy and he generally has his pick of horses on the run up to the big day. Suffice to say that if he chooses Arbor Supreme the odds will be slashed by the bookies as McCoy makes yet another attempt to win the coveted title.
Arbor Supreme's recent form may not be setting the world on fire but he is a reliable horse who has won over solid distances, in Ireland in particular, so his stamina is not questionable, and though he might not be the best on firm ground he has proved himself to be well capable on good and soft ground.
From 14 lifetime chase starts he has won three times, come second once and managed four third places which is a win/place rate of 57%. He may be a fraction too young for the National but other than that he could be a very good each way bet on the day.
He is definitely considered to be an improving young stayer who could become one of Ireland's high hopes for Grand National glory in April 2010.
With only a few weeks to declaration day trainers are now evaluating their chances and although they do have further opportunities to withdraw from the race, entering is not cheap so decisions are not made lightly.
Eight year old Arbor Supreme is one such prime candidate who is in with an excellent chance of scooping the title should he be entered. All ante-post odds from the bookmakers suggest that this is very likely so does he really have a chance?
He's a progressive Irish handicapper who had three wins in 2008 and had a fairly great season in 2009 also. He began to show huge promise when he came first in consecutive race entries at the Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa Handicap Chase at Punchestown in April 2008 followed by the Porterstown Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse in November.
His solid form, including a good third place at Down Royal in March where he traveled well on soft ground over 3m 2f, demonstrated to all that he is a game stayer. This achievement provided him with odds of 12-1 for the Irish Grand National Chase, where he was up against several top horses. He only managed to come a disappointing 14th, but made up for it when he came third in the Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase at the Punchestown Festival in May, to Ambobo and Vic Venturi, when ridden by Ruby Walsh.
Unusually, though owned by JP McManus, he is trained by Willie Mullins and not Jonjo O'Neill, so it's difficult to work out who he might be paired with should he be entered. The jockey most frequently associated with JP McManus is, of course, AP McCoy and he generally has his pick of horses on the run up to the big day. Suffice to say that if he chooses Arbor Supreme the odds will be slashed by the bookies as McCoy makes yet another attempt to win the coveted title.
Arbor Supreme's recent form may not be setting the world on fire but he is a reliable horse who has won over solid distances, in Ireland in particular, so his stamina is not questionable, and though he might not be the best on firm ground he has proved himself to be well capable on good and soft ground.
From 14 lifetime chase starts he has won three times, come second once and managed four third places which is a win/place rate of 57%. He may be a fraction too young for the National but other than that he could be a very good each way bet on the day.
He is definitely considered to be an improving young stayer who could become one of Ireland's high hopes for Grand National glory in April 2010.