I’ve been disrespected by BHA handicapper Martin Greenwood – Nassalam’s weight for the Grand National is absurd
THE BHA’S handicapper got one thing right at the Grand National weights reveal earlier this week.
Yes, Martin Greenwood, I’m not happy — not one bit.
He went onto Sky Sports Racing after the weights were revealed, joking that I’m not happy with him, which I found very disrespectful.
Nassalam won a Welsh Grand National that fell apart and rather than being given a fair chance, he’s been slapped with an absurd weight.
I have a few choice words I would love to pop in my column but I would probably get in trouble.
If I told you after Chepstow that he’d be GIVING weight to last year’s winner Corach Rambler, you’d have laughed me out of the building.
I do wonder whether he actually watched the race.
If he did, I struggle to understand how he came up with 161.
Even if the ‘compression’ of weights is ‘well and truly over’ as was claimed on the day.
It very much feels like horses are not handicapped on their merits anymore — the handicapper just wants to stop them winning.
I still think Nassalam will run a good race, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t deflated — he’s been trained all year with this in mind.
Anyway, hopefully we can have some winners at Kempton on Saturday to put some pep in my step.
It’s a ‘win and you’re in the Triumph’ day for PEKING OPERA (1.50), who goes in the Adonis.
Last year’s Irish Derby fourth got the job done on debut at Sandown and I was happy to see him jump and travel with plenty of zest.
It’s a tricky race against other unbeaten ones, but I’ll always back my boys and on his Flat form, he should be going close.
As for LE PATRON (2.27), I’d be disappointed if he doesn’t win the Pendil Novices’ Chase.
He’s already done me proud this season by winning a Grade 1 at Sandown and had excuses in the Scilly Isles.
Thankfully Nickle Back’s not running, so they’ll go a sensible gallop, and he’s the one to beat on ratings.
I’m hoping for some deja vu with MARK OF GOLD (1.15), who fell in the Lanzarote when last seen.
He fell in that Kempton race last year too before winning his next start by 14 lengths.
Off his current rating, he’ll be hard pressed to do that, but I think he has a big race in him.
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