Definitly Red was one of the major disappointments at the 2017 Grand National as the Irish horse pulled up at the ninth fence of the race. The eight-year-old was considered one of the leading contenders for the crown, but he failed to rise to the occasion, ending his campaign on the lowest of notes.
The Chestnut Gelding has the talent to win the race, although he will face stiff competition once again from the rest of the field. He was won half of his 20 races so there's always the possibility that a win is just around the corner.
However, trainer Brian Ellison will be hopeful that his charge saves his performance for Aintree in 2018 - the Irish horse is a strong competitor therefore tracking his odds and the other challengers for the title at https://www.grandnational.fans/ in the build-up to the contest at the of the 2017-18 National Hunt term.
As per his career statistics at https://gg.co.uk/racing/, Definitly Red had a strong start to his career, winning five out of his opening eight races. On his debut at Cheltenham Festival he was an outside candidate to triumph at the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, but pulled up at the last fence.
He made a strong return for the start of the 2015-16 season, finishing second at Haydock Park in the Handicap Hurdle. That display provided momentum for his sixth victory of his career on New Year's Day at Catterick, winning the Novices' Chase by a comfortable margin.
Two second-place finishes sent the Irish horse into his second Cheltenham Festival on another surge of strong form, but the big stage of the occasion at the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup. Definitly Red fell two fences from the finish line, although he was not on course to place anywhere near the top three.
Ellison's charge ended his season on a high note with a winning outing at the Handicap Chase at Ayr by one length ahead of Orbasa. After a lengthy break over the summer, he returned to action to secure back-to-back victories with a fine run at Carlisle, triumphing by a comfortable margin.
Despite being favourite for a meet at Newcastle, he could only muster a third-place finish, lacking the pace to close on the leader in the dying stages. However, the Chestnut Gelding bounced back with a brilliant performance against a talented field in his next outing at the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase.
With Henry Brooke in the saddle, the Irish horse made his way gradually through the field before surging into the lead with four fences remaining. He grew stronger towards the end of the race to win by seven lengths ahead of his compatriot Wakanda and Blaklion. Brooke and Definitly Red were not able to sustain their success in their next race, however, as the eight-year old unseated the jockey at the 10th fence of the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase at Haydock Park.
In his final race before the National, Ellison's charge had to face off against The Last Samuri at the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase. However, he triumphed with an outstanding performance to dominate the rest of the field with Danny Cook in the saddle, sending him to Aintree with confidence.
At Aintree, Cook and Definitly Red made a bright start to the race, but lost their rhythm at Becher's Brook. Cook tried to get the Irish horse back in stride, only for the eight-year-old to pull up at the ninth fence - Valentine’s Brook - to end his meet.
Ellison's charge has undoubted quality with excellent wins over strong competitors. However, his performances at the big meets have not been good enough. He's well worth tracking over the course of the season, especially at Cheltenham, to see whether he's worthy of a punt at the National in 2018.
The Chestnut Gelding has the talent to win the race, although he will face stiff competition once again from the rest of the field. He was won half of his 20 races so there's always the possibility that a win is just around the corner.
However, trainer Brian Ellison will be hopeful that his charge saves his performance for Aintree in 2018 - the Irish horse is a strong competitor therefore tracking his odds and the other challengers for the title at https://www.grandnational.fans/ in the build-up to the contest at the of the 2017-18 National Hunt term.
As per his career statistics at https://gg.co.uk/racing/, Definitly Red had a strong start to his career, winning five out of his opening eight races. On his debut at Cheltenham Festival he was an outside candidate to triumph at the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, but pulled up at the last fence.
He made a strong return for the start of the 2015-16 season, finishing second at Haydock Park in the Handicap Hurdle. That display provided momentum for his sixth victory of his career on New Year's Day at Catterick, winning the Novices' Chase by a comfortable margin.
Two second-place finishes sent the Irish horse into his second Cheltenham Festival on another surge of strong form, but the big stage of the occasion at the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup. Definitly Red fell two fences from the finish line, although he was not on course to place anywhere near the top three.
Ellison's charge ended his season on a high note with a winning outing at the Handicap Chase at Ayr by one length ahead of Orbasa. After a lengthy break over the summer, he returned to action to secure back-to-back victories with a fine run at Carlisle, triumphing by a comfortable margin.
Despite being favourite for a meet at Newcastle, he could only muster a third-place finish, lacking the pace to close on the leader in the dying stages. However, the Chestnut Gelding bounced back with a brilliant performance against a talented field in his next outing at the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase.
With Henry Brooke in the saddle, the Irish horse made his way gradually through the field before surging into the lead with four fences remaining. He grew stronger towards the end of the race to win by seven lengths ahead of his compatriot Wakanda and Blaklion. Brooke and Definitly Red were not able to sustain their success in their next race, however, as the eight-year old unseated the jockey at the 10th fence of the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase at Haydock Park.
In his final race before the National, Ellison's charge had to face off against The Last Samuri at the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase. However, he triumphed with an outstanding performance to dominate the rest of the field with Danny Cook in the saddle, sending him to Aintree with confidence.
At Aintree, Cook and Definitly Red made a bright start to the race, but lost their rhythm at Becher's Brook. Cook tried to get the Irish horse back in stride, only for the eight-year-old to pull up at the ninth fence - Valentine’s Brook - to end his meet.
Ellison's charge has undoubted quality with excellent wins over strong competitors. However, his performances at the big meets have not been good enough. He's well worth tracking over the course of the season, especially at Cheltenham, to see whether he's worthy of a punt at the National in 2018.
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