Grand National - All go for Joe (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Grand National - All go for Joe

9:29am Saturday 14th April 2007 in

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THE FLARED Nostril - our horse-racing blogger gives his Grand National tips.

WHAT a day at Aintree for some of the horses that we have been following yesterday - Chief Dan George from Jimmy Moffatt's Cartmel stable achived a magnificent 20-1 win in the stayers' hurdle race to make up for his Cheltenham Festival disappointment.

It was a tremendous training feat by the Moffatts to get Chief back to his peak and top jockey Mick Fitzgerald did an excellent job in confirming that this bonny individual is the best staying hurdler in the North - maybe even the country now!

As this column had also waxed lyrically about Dunbrody Millar in the past (another big-price winner about 25-1), let's hope we have not used up all our luck.

We have been a strong supporter of JOE'S EDGE for the National ever since the weights were published and when we posted our long-range tip for this race, he could have been backed at around 25-1, maybe even 33s.

Now 8-1 favourite, the value has gone since a last-gasp Cheltenham Festival win which put him bang in the National frame, but Ferdy Murphy's horses are in tip-top shape and a big race is expected.

This horse will fight all the way up the run-in and has ticks in all the boxes. Faster ground than usual at Aintreet puts some of the Irish horses at a disadvantage, but last year's winner NUMBERSIXVALVERDE can run into a place again despite a hike of 11lb in the weights as he looks a class act.

There are numerous dangers but for a fun long-shot (we seem to be good at these) try GRAPHIC APPROACH, who has had this mission pencilled in some some time and is a progressive handicapper who is better than rated.

Good punting and keep any eye out for GREAT QUEST, another of the Moffatt's team on the flat at Newcastle card.

NATIONAL TIP: Joes Edge - each-way Graphic Approach.