Grand National Lucky Dip

Samcro started his career with eight consecutive victories from a point to point through two bumpers and then four hurdle wins that culminated in him taking the Ballymore Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. At that stage of his career, he looked to have the racing world at his hooves, but four consecutive defeats followed over hurdles (all of which he was favourite for), and the decision was made to switch the gelding to fences. Samcro’s career over fences got off to a good start with a seventeen length victory but then he fell in a Grade One novice chase at Fairyhouse and then was well beaten at odds on by Faugheen in another Grade One at Limerick. These were unexpected reverses and, as a result, he was allowed to go off at 4/1 third favourite for the Golden Miller Novices’ Chase at the 2020 Festival. This time however Samcro dug deep and was victorious by a nose from Melon with a further length back to his old foe, Faugheen. After his second Cheltenham Festival win, the Samcro bandwagon looked to be back in top shape and plans were made for a tilt at the Ryanair or the Gold Cup. A number of niggling injuries meant that the horse was restricted to just two outings prior to his third run at the Festival where he finished third behind Batteloverdoyen and was pulled up in the Savills Chase. The same outcome occurred in the Ryanair where his jumping seemed to unravel. This season saw Samcro get back on the winning trail with a hard-fought victory over Cilaos Emery at Killarney in May but since then he has put in five very lacklustre performances. For a career that started so well, it looks as if there is something either physically or mentally wrong with Samcro as he appears to be a shadow of his former self. Optimists will point to the fact that the horse has been rated as high as 160 over fences and gets to line up here off 152. The downside to that is Samcro has previously run in two handicaps and was beaten seventy-one lengths and sixty-nine lengths, respectively. Samcro's best days look behind him and he can surely only be backed by his most die-hard fans.