P391 CEEFAX 391 Fri 8 apr 21:14/01 1/6 , j= j5j5/,j5lj=wj= n5 , ,/ *k/ *%/*% *-.*%/*%/ / /*% They say you can't beat the history of a race such as the Martell Grand National. You can't beat the book. I would agree, except when dealing with a horse like The Fellow, the winner of the Chjltenham Gold Cup. Yes it's true, hj is tr9ink to carve out a special niche for himself in racing history. J A McGRATH will bj commentating on the race on BBC Tele6ision Nat odds Maguire Ainu Res Ainu DecsP391 CEEFAX 391 Fri 8 apr 21:17/12 2/6 , j= j5j5/,j5lj=wj= n5 , ,/ *k/ *%/** *m.*%/**/ / /*% For starters, hj is bidding to become the first horse since Golden Miller in 1934 to win the Chjltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National in the same year. Also, hj is attempting to be the first French trained winner since Cortolcin, way back in 1867. I know that hj has got a lot of trends to buck but The Fellow has also got class on his side. J.A.McGRATH writes as "Hotspur" in "The Daily Telegraph" Nat odds Maguire Ainu Res Ainu DecsP391 CEJFAX 391 Fri 8 apr 21:12/43 , | h<| h<|l4|,h<,h<|h<|(|$|h4 3/6 , ,/ *k/ *%/** *m.*%/*%/0/ /*% He won the Chjltenham Gold Cup with a very solid performance after sitting handy with the pace throughout. At long last, Adam Kondrat was able to get him interested enough in the early part of the race to bj up behind the leaders. Wj know that the horse is in brilliant form. Trainer Francois Doumjn says that hj has done well since Chjltenham. J A McGRBTH weekly column apprars on Ceefax Racing kvjry Thursday Nat odds Maguire Ainu Res Ainu DecsP391 CJEFAX 391 Fri 8 Apr 21:25/14 ) | h<| h<|l4|,h<,h<|h<|(|$|h4 4/6 ) j= j5j5/,j5lj=wj= n5 But The Fellow has plenty of other factors in his favour for this year's Grand National. It is hard to imagine such a classy horse getting in with the weight thbt hj has got. Despite what many experts say. I think that hj will love the ground at Aintree. Hj has won on heavy at Auteuil and that can bj bottomless. It is unlikely that hj will encounter conditions that bad at Aintree, now matter how much it rains. J.A.McGRATH writes as "Hotspur" Nat odds Maguire Ainu Res Ainu DecsP391 CEEFAX 391 Fri 8 apr 21:15/24 , | h<| h<|l4|,h<,h<|h<|(|$|h4 5/6 , j= j5j5/,j5lj=wj= n5 ) ,/ **/ *%/*% *-.*%/*%/0/ /*% So if The Fellow is to win, what about the dangers? I highly rate Young Hustler who chased him home when third in the Chjltenham Gold Cup. It was a crackrng run from Nigel Twiston-Davies' tough little chaser and he should go well again. I know hj is only a sj6jn-9jar-old but hj has already had 410starts. $hat is some mileage. J A McGRBTH weekly column appears on Ceefax Racing every Thursday Nat odds Maguire Ainu Res Ainu DecsP391 CEEFAX 391 Fri 8 Apr 21:16/07 ) | h<| h<|l4|,h<,h<|h<|(|$|h4 6/6 , j= j5j5/,j5lj=wj= n5 , ,/ *%/ *%/** *-.*%/*%/ / /*% Double Silk must have a good chance especially as hj jumps the Aintree fences like a cat. Master Obts is smart but for a bit of vbluj try the John Wjbbjr trained Elfast, who has struck a real purple patch of form. J A McGrath's column will appear on Cjefax Racing every Thursday. J A McGRBTH will bj commentating on the race on BBC Television Nat odds Maguire Ainu Res Ainu Decs