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grand national 2008 /

Order Of Elimination Decided & Nadover Runs
01/04/08

The order of elimination for the 99 horses in the John Smith’s Grand National has been decided by the British Horseracing Authority this morning.

Le Duc is unlikely to make the final 40, being 53rd in line.
© racing-images.co.uk

This is listed below, with the current handicap mark determining who is favoured in each weight bracket from 10st 8lb and below.

A maximum of 40 horses can participate in the £800,000 race over four and a half miles and 30 fences at Aintree on Saturday, April 5 at 4.15pm.

The final declarations are made on Thursday, April 3 when there will be 40 declared runners plus four reserves who can utilised up until Friday morning in the event of any non-runners.

The 41st horse currently is last year’s fourth Philson Run, while Dun Doire, now top of the trio on 10st 7lb, is 42nd. In The High Grass, a recent Cork winner, heads the 10st 6lb quintet and is the 45th horse.

Trainer Tom Taaffe, who will be represented in Saturday’s feature by both Slim Pickings and Tumbling Dice, is hoping that In The High Grass will join them in the John Smith’s Grand National. If not, then In The High Grass will participate Friday’s £110,000 John Smith’s Topham Chase (3.45pm) over the National fences.

Taaffe said yesterday: “If he gets into the National, he will go there. He has a great chance of getting in because he now goes to the top of the 10st 6lb horses.

“He won well at Cork over a slightly different type of fence and there will be a few more runners at Aintree but he has been schooling over Aintree style fences and he is very good in that department.

“I’d like genuine, nice ground. Irish good to yielding or good, safe ground would do me for all my runners over the three days. He has a good competitive weight for both races.”

40) 0-564420 BLACK APALACHI (IRE) 9-10-08 Gerard Burke Dessie Hughes IRE
41) 1P6/04-2B PHILSON RUN (IRE) 12-10-08 Gale Force One Nick Williams

42) 0F251P-062 DUN DOIRE (IRE) 9-10-07 Dunderry Racing Syndicate Tony Martin IRE
43) 62-166P0P ARDAGHEY (IRE) 9-10-07 D & S Goodman Nigel Twiston-Davies
44) 06/001P-U0 JOES EDGE (IRE) 11-10-07 Chemipetro Limited Ferdy Murphy

45) 43-630301 IN THE HIGH GRASS (IRE) 7-10-06 Mrs M Hally Tom Taaffe IRE
46) 146/0/10- LONGSHANKS 11-10-06 Alan Halsall Kim Bailey
47) 312/452-6 OSSMOSES (IRE) 11-10-06 Don Forster Don Forster
48) 10F0/16-0 DROMBEAG (IRE) 10-10-06 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
49) 21-0PF0F DUNBRODY MILLAR (IRE) 10-10-06 Dundon Else Partnership Peter Bowen

50) U0-6000 LIVINGSTONEBRAMBLE (IRE) 12-10-05 Favourites Racing Willie Mullins IRE
51) 65-2FP0FU0 MERDEKA (IRE) 8-10-05 Maurice Clifford Tom Taaffe IRE
52) 3/02-223 PAK JACK (FR) 8-10-05 The Bellflower Pak Jack Partnership Richard Phillips
53) P-2UU4610 LE DUC (FR) 9-10-05 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
54) 3542-4P THEATRE KNIGHT (IRE) 10-10-05 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson

NADOVER RUNS

Nadover, who was withdrawn from Doncaster sales today, will run in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.

The seven-year-old is currently number 39 in the list of five-day confirmations with 10st 9lb and is therefore guaranteed a run. He is set to be partnered by Robbie Power, who was aboard last year’s victor Silver Birch.

Trainer Charlie Mann said: “Nadover was withdrawn from the sale at Doncaster today, but is a definite starter in the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday.

“I am not sure at this stage whose colours he will run in, but Robbie Power is booked to ride him.”

Nadover is currently owned by bookmakers Tony Hayward and Barry Fulton.