Blue Square Gold Cup Form
The Blue Square Gold Cup is run at Haydock in February over 3m4f and its timing in relation to Aintree and the fact that it was run over the old Haydock fences made it a popular choice with trainers planning a tilt at the Grand National. Since 2008 Haydock has been using portable fences and there was some concern that this may change the type of horse participating in this race but the 2008 and 2009 renewals have been just as competitive as previous years. Previously known as the De Vere Gold Cup, The Greenalls Gold Cup and latterly the Req Square Vodka Gold Cup this race has long been associated as a Grand National trial and still had the words 'Grand National Trial' in its title until 1999. In 2009 the name of the race changed to the Blue Square Gold Cup.Recent Grand National Runners who ran in the Blue Square Gold Cup
Since 1988, three Grand National winners have run in the Blue Square Gold Cup in the same season, including 2009 winner Mon Mome:2009 Grand National winner Mon Mome finished 7th at Haydock
1998 Grand National winner Earth Summit finished 5th at Haydock
1992 Grand National winner Party Politics finished 5th at Haydock
The winner of the Haydock race in 2009, Rambling Minster, went on to be joint second favourite at Aintree and the race also included the well fancied Character Building who looked set to be one of the favourites at Aintree before injury intervened. This seems to suggest that this race is a race to watch very closely when looking for a horse to go on to run well in the Grand National.
2010 Grand National Tips from Blue Square Gold Cup
With three horses having won at Aintree after competing at Haydock, horses who perform well in the Blue Square Gold Cup could be interesting betting prospects. Silver By Nature won this race in 2010 but he is not entered for the Grand National this year. He had Grand National entrants Our Vic, Le Beau Bai, Ballyfitz, Mon Mome, Coe, and Hello Bud behind him that day. Mon Mome finished sixth in 2010, one place better than he did in 2009 so he could still be on course for a good run in grand national 2010.
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