Old Vic National Key ?

I mentioned a few weeks back that one sire who has had a big influence in the Grand National of late is Old Vic as his record below shows :
2012 - Sunnyhillboy 2nd (btn a nose) (142)
2011 - Dont Push It 3rd (160)
2010 - Dont Push It 1st, (154) and Black Apalachi 2nd (153)
2009 - Comply Or Die 2nd (154)
2008 - Comply Or Die 1st (139)

This year there are only two by Old Vic in the entries for the race, last years second Sunnyhillboy (152) and the Becher Chase second Join Together (150), but the latter has to cope with the statistic that no 8yo has won in the last 10 years from 61 runners.

Breeding :

Old Vic b h 1986		Sadler's Wells (USA) b 1981 11.4f		Northern Dancer (CAN) b 1961 10.5f
				Fairy Bridge (USA) b 1975
		Cockade		Derring-Do br 1961
				Camanae

In days gone by I was a follower of the Dosage system when picking my National runner and you would normally have avoided the speed influence of Northen Dancer in the pedigree, but as the record above shows this is now old hat as the race becomes more and more centred on speed and quality runners.

I will be off to a Aintree preview night on Wednesday evening which is taking place in Melling Road and hopefully I will be attending at least one day of the racing.

It's been dry, sunny and bright over the Easter weekend so far here in Liverpool and you can keep an eye on going conditions by clicking on "Weather Watch" which will take you to the Racing Post pages.