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Latest News / Paul Nicholls / 16 April 2012 / 1

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Neptune nabs it!

"I have targeted him at this race all season – and he has a lot going for him."
Paul Nicholls in his Saturday column

Neptune Collonges won Paul's first Grand National on Saturday afternoon and the great man gave Betting.Betfair readers a solid steer on his horse's chances in his regular blog. Joe Dyer reports on a momentous day for the Ditcheat team...

A hearty congratulations to Paul Nicholls and all the team at Ditcheat following Neptune Collonges' stunning Grand National win on Saturday.

It was Paul's first win in the Aintree showpiece and almost certainly ensures he retains his champion trainer crown for another year, holding off the challenge of Nicky Henderson.

In one of the most exciting Nationals ever, Neptune Collonges - who went off at an SP of 43.43 - won by a short head from Sunnyhillyboy, who was matched at [1.03] to win in-play on Betfair.

And some shrewd punters were able to get matched at prices as high as [75.0] on Paul's 11-year-old chaser.

Regular readers of Paul's Betfair blog only have themselves to blame for not backing Neptune as Paul gave a bullish bulletin on his horse's chances on the morning of the race...

"Everyone knows that I don't have the best of records in this race, and it may be asking too much to expect 11yo Neptune Collonges to break my Grand National duck. But I am very surprised that he is trading at 50+ on Betfair. I see Giles Cross is half of that price and I can't work that out at all. He certainly looked the stronger stayer of the pair when just unable to reel in the winner by a neck at Haydock last time and we are 2lb better off here. This race has not been an afterthought for Neptune - I have targeted him at this race all season - and he has a lot going for him. He jumps and stays well (though, admittedly, he has fallen twice in his career), should find the going ideal (he goes well on the soft but I think he prefers good ground these days), is a Grade 1 winner and races off a very fair mark of 157, 2lb lower than at Haydock. You obviously need all the luck going to win this race and I am clearly not saying that he will win or even be placed, but I think he has a far better chance than his current Betfair odds imply."

There are only a few weeks left of the National Hunt season but Paul will continue to supply regular bulletins from Ditcheat until the Flat takes over

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Andrew | 17 April 2012

I was lucky enough to be at the Ditcheat parade on Sunday; and despite all the post-race hoohah, Neptune looked fantastic. You would never have know what he had done the afternoon before, and is a real credit to the caring and sensitive training from Paul, Clifford and the team. We know the National is dangerous, but by the look of the wonderful Neptune, that properly trained steeplechasers can get through the ordeal and prosper. Leave the modification of the race with the professionals - and don't ignore the incredible performance of Neptune & Daryl.