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Having watched re runs of last seasons national, one of the most striking aspects of that race was the ease with which Tom Taaffe's Slim Pickings travelled throughout and the rythym he got into. If anything it proved to be his undoing as he raced a little free, hit the front too earlyleaving himself a sitting target for Silver Birch and the charging McKelvey. Guts alone saw him edge back into contention appraoching the elbow and while connections had to settle for third, it will have left them wondering what they could achieve this year if he arrives in similar form. This season, as is the way with National winners these days, has been a quiet one. He had a chase outing over an inadequate trip at Naas in November followed by a close second in the handicap hurdle at Navan the following month, where he finished second and might well have won but for jockey Tom Ryan losing his irons two out. Slim Pickings is running off just a 7lb higher mark than last season, and Tom Taaffe has declared himself happy with a weight of 11st. The instructions this year will be to ride him with a bit more restraint and try to get a lead at least unutil the last fence, possibly longer. If the brief is adhered to, theres every chance the 25/1 is definitely worth taking. Another horse worth looking at comes in the shape of David Pipe's Madison Du Berlais. He's not one that is going to get trends fans purring, as he has 11st 4lb to carry and no seven year old has won since Bogskar in 1940. However, as a French bred with plenty of experience behind him, the age aspect isn't too much of a worry, and he does bring some extremely good handicap form with him. The pick of his efforts this season came in the Hennessey, where he finished fourth behind Denman and was the only horse aside from the winner who came home strongly. The slow early gallop there wouldn't have suited him, and it was more evidence that he now wants further than the 2m 4f over which he has done the majority of his racing. He jumps and travels very well and his normal pilot, Tom Scudamore believes he will be ideally suited to this race. If Scudamore can switch him off and bury him, its not inconcivable he could make the frame, with his current price of 40/1 too big a price for a horse of his ability. |
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