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Paul Nicholls Dominates John Smith’s Topham Chase
27/03/07

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls is responsible for five of the eight top-weighted horses for the 2007 John Smith’s Topham Chase, run over two miles, five and a half furlongs of the Grand National course at Aintree on Friday, April 13. The 84 entries and weights for the £100,000 event are revealed today.

Hoo La Baloo
© racing-images.co.uk

The John Smith’s Topham Chase is being run as an open handicap for the first time in recent years, and Phil Smith, the senior British Horseracing Board jump handicapper, has used his discretion to frame a special handicap for the race, rather than having to rely solely on the ratings. The race has also changed this year to become an early-closing contest.

Nicholls’ entries include top weight Nozic (11st 12lb), who has progressed with each outing this season and followed wide-margin victories at Chepstow and Uttoxeter with a fine second under top weight in the VC Casino.com Gold Cup at Newbury on March 3.

Thisthatandtother (11st 10lb), last seen running seventh behind stable companion Taranis in the Grade Two Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham on March 15, and Le Volfoni (11st 2lb), fourth to Idole First in the Grade Three Racing Post Plate at Prestbury Park the same day, are other entries for the Ditcheat handler.

Four times Grade One winner Hi Cloy is among a 20-strong Irish-trained entry. The classy 10-year-old, trained in Co Limerick by Michael Hourigan, captured the Grade One John Smith’s Melling Chase at Aintree in 2006, and could make his debut over the big fences next month in the John Smith’s Topham Chase, for which he has been allotted 11st 5lb.

Other Irish entries include the Mouse Morris-trained Fota Island (11st 9lb), who chased home compatriot Hi Cloy in the John Smith’s Melling Chase last year, while Willie Mullins, who landed this prize in 2002 with Its Time For A Win, has three entries, including Our Ben (11st 5lb), a good third to star mare Celestial Wave in a Grade Three hurdle at Gowran Park on January 25.

Other interesting contenders include the Henry Daly-trained Palarshan (10st 7lb), who made an excellent return after two years on the sidelines when runner-up to Idole First in the Racing Post Plate at Cheltenham. McKelvey (10st 5lb) returned to winning ways over hurdles at Bangor on March 24, and is one of four entries for Peter Bowen, and Tysou (10st 9lb), trained by last year’s winning handler Nicky Henderson, was a never-nearer eighth to Andreas in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase at Cheltenham on March 16.

John Spearing’s Hakim (9st 9lb) chased home Liberthine in the John Smith’s Topham Chase last year, having captured the totepool Grand Sefton Chase at Aintree in 2005.

Charles Barnett, Managing Director at Aintree Racecourse, said: "We’re delighted that the conditions changes we have made to the John Smith’s Topham Chase have worked so well in year one."

THE JOHN SMITH’S TOPHAM CHASE (HANDICAP)

Class 2, £100,000 Total Prize Fund. Aintree, Friday, April 13. For 5yo+, two miles, five and a half furlongs (over the Grand National course). Entries closed March 21 (84 entries), entries & weights revealed March 27. Penalties: after March 24, a winner of a chase 4lb (no penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 12lb). Six-day confirmation stage April 7, final declaration stage, 10.00am, April 12. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, March 26.

Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer

122112 NOZIC (FR) 6-11-12 S Mcvie Paul Nicholls

3F-2520 THISTHATANDTOTHER (IRE) 11-11-10 Graham Roach Paul Nicholls

3-22U30 ARMATURK (FR) 10-11-10 Trevor Hemmings Paul Nicholls

222-565 FOTA ISLAND (IRE) 11-11-09 J P McManus Mouse Morris IRE

653236 HI CLOY (IRE) 10-11-05 Susan McCloy Michael Hourigan IRE

P3-42F3 OUR BEN 8-11-05 Trevor Hemmings Willie Mullins IRE

632-364 LE VOLFONI (FR) 6-11-02 A F Banks Paul Nicholls

335301 HOO LA BALOO (FR) 6-11-00 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls

112220 DAVENPORT DEMOCRAT (IRE) 9-10-12 P M Racing Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE

1/-2P040 VODKA BLEU (FR) 8-10-09 David Johnson David Pipe

P-36P40 TYSOU (FR) 10-10-09 Bill Brown Nicky Henderson

442250 LIVINGSTONEBRAMBLE (IRE) 11-10-09 Favourites Racing Willie Mullins IRE

63403 GROUND BALL (IRE) 10-10-08 J P McManus Charlie Swan IRE

125-130 GALLANT APPROACH (IRE) 8-10-08 Byrne Bros (Formwork) Limited Charles Egerton

431532 ON THE NET (IRE) 9-10-08 A M O'Grady Eoghan O'Grady IRE

111130 MILAN DEUX MILLE (FR) 5-10-07 Fergus & Judith Wilson David Pipe

5036P/-2 PALARSHAN (FR) 9-10-07 Sumner Wellesley Henry Daly

163-53U GRAPHIC APPROACH (IRE) 9-10-07 Mr & Mrs Peter Orton Charles Egerton

15R-R40 ALWAYS 8-10-05 Mrs A Long John Long IRE

21201U IRISH RAPTOR (IRE) 8-10-05 Caroline Beresford-Wylie Nigel Twiston-Davies

2-41061 MCKELVEY (IRE) 8-10-05 N Elliott Peter Bowen

1/104-02 BROOKLYN BREEZE (IRE) 10-10-05 Ashleybank Investments Limited Len Lungo

22006F MAURICE (FR) 7-10-04 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain Jnr

02-1043 BRIERY FOX (IRE) 9-10-03 Vicky Reed Helen Plumbly Jane Trafford Henry Daly

020P-00 LORD OF ILLUSION (IRE) 10-10-03 Sharon Nelson Tom George

502224 LIGHT ON THE BROOM (IRE) 11-10-01 John Stafford Gerard Stack IRE

0-5520P PUNTAL (FR) 11-10-01 Terry Neill David Pipe

5211-1P UMBRELLA MAN (IRE) 11-10-00 Mrs J Dollar & Mrs M Hall Emma Lavelle

435-6F0 TURTHEN (FR) 6-10-00 Clive Smith Paul Nicholls

13F330 DIX VILLEZ (FR) 8-10-00 Gigginstown House Stud Paul Nolan IRE

5F1505 DARBY WALL (IRE) 9-10-00 Matthew Cahill Enda Bolger IRE

4F0-143 WELL TUTORED (IRE) 8-9-13 M F Bailey Arthur Moore IRE

P0-5120 SONEVAFUSHI (FR) 9-9-13 Brian Dice Venetia Williams

PP03-F1 SCOTS GREY 12-9-13 Henry Ponsonby Nicky Henderson

252-6F5 WITHOUT A DOUBT 8-9-12 Malcolm Denmark Carl Llewellyn

0PU45P MACS FLAMINGO (IRE) 7-9-12 Craith Syndicate Pat Fahy IRE

3-20P30 NO FULL (FR) 6-9-12 Patrick Delaney Jnr Paul Webber

0F-263P JUST IN DEBT (IRE) 11-9-11 Gill and Bill Hazeldean Martin Todhunter

P00551 UNDENIABLE 9-9-10 Keith Nicholson Sue Smith

54U000 IRON MAN (FR) 6-9-10 Roddy Owen & Paul Fullagar Peter Bowen

4P600U ROSS COMM 11-9-10 Kevin Treanor Sue Smith

214//33-P PATRICKSNINETEENTH (IRE) 10-9-10 The Large G & T Partnership Paul Webber

1F15P6 LATIMER'S PLACE 11-9-10 Sir Christopher Wates Nick Gifford

31B114 TOMMY SPAR 7-9-10 Ralph Morgans Peter Bowen

21U03-P KASTHARI (IRE) 8-9-10 Elliott Brothers Howard Johnson

222-F50 HAKIM (NZ) 13-9-09 T N Siviter John Spearing

1P/-1P3 KENZO III (FR) 9-9-09 Killinghurst Park Stud Nicky Henderson

443P61 PATMAN DU CHARMIL (FR) 5-9-09 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies

P4P6P5 WRAGS TO RICHES (IRE) 10-9-08 No Illusions Partnership Chris Down

56200P KELREV (FR) 9-9-08 Len Jakeman, Flintham, King & Roberts Venetia Williams

r550-33 RISK ACCESSOR (IRE) 12-9-07 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill

F4/-S344 OUT THE BLACK (IRE) 9-9-07 James Drummond Philip Hobbs

P23-131 SILVER JACK (IRE) 9-9-07 B Batey Martin Todhunter

40/11/P-5 YOUNG COLLIER 8-9-06 Wally Sturt Jim Old

0-61015 WHEREAREYOUNOW (IRE) 10-9-06 Mrs S Maxse Brendan Powell

05-0100 FLORIDA DREAM (IRE) 8-9-05 D J & S A Goodman Nigel Twiston-Davies

452244 TURGEONEV (FR) 12-9-05 David Sills Tim Easterby

12-0222 COSSACK DANCER (IRE) 9-9-05 The United Front Partnership Mark Bradstock

001U63 NEWBAY PROP (IRE) 8-9-05 W A Moffett Tony Martin IRE

6/0111-4 FIRST LOVE 11-9-04 The Queen Nicky Henderson

3P1000 EAST TYCOON (IRE) 8-9-04 Gay Smith Jonjo O'Neill

04-0PP2 LOST TIME (IRE) 10-9-04 J P McManus Christy Roche IRE

F-25050 ALMOST BROKE 10-9-04 Lucy Horner Gary Brown

4-41053 NELTINA 11-9-02 Jill Scrase Jill Scrase

P23FP2 GLENGARRA (IRE) 10-9-00 Starlight Racing David Gandolfo

20-333P ESPOIR DU BOCAGE (FR) 12-8-12 Judith Wilson & T E Wilson Michael Scudamore

P-62332 LORD RODNEY (IRE) 8-8-11 Estio Racing Peter Beaumont

251323 JIMMY BOND 8-8-11 P Chapman and Mrs J Higgins Kate Walton

232426 FLIGHT COMMAND 9-8-10 Nick Bannister Peter Beaumont

450400 PETERTHEKNOT (IRE) 9-8-09 Valerie Courtney Thomas Cooper IRE

334440 DUNBRODY MILLAR (IRE) 9-8-09 Dundon Else Partnership Peter Bowen

3-31354 THEATRE KNIGHT (IRE) 9-8-06 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson

0-02130 ALAM (USA) 8-8-06 Dr Richard Newland Dr Richard Newland

35025P STAR PERFORMANCE (IRE) 12-8-05 Mrs C McKiernan Oliver McKiernan IRE

4P50-40 FIORI 11-8-05 Wilson Imports I Patrick Haslam

25/P/F0-1 ABBEYTOWN (IRE) 10-8-04 Mike Futter Jeanette Riordan IRE

5040-P0 HIGH MOON (USA) 11-8-03 Fergus Wilson P T J Murphy

0500PP- SAFE ROUTE (USA) 9-8-03 Saferoute Syndicate Colm Murphy IRE

124503 SHANNON'S PRIDE (IRE) 11-8-02 JAS Partnership Richard Guest

26325 PHELANS FANCY (IRE) 9-8-01 John Phelan Michael O'Connor IRE

5UU111 CLEARLY IN MOTION (IRE) 10-7-12 Group Clean Ltd Charlie Mann

453214 FINZI (IRE) 9-7-09 The Meld Partnership Michael Scudamore

6543P0 CASSIA HEIGHTS 12-7-07 B Ridge & D Hewitt Steve Brookshaw

54/0U-32 PILLAGING PICT 12-7-06 Messrs F T Walton Jimmy Walton

84 entries

20 Irish-trained