Chelsea Harbour
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A beaten favourite on his debut in a bumper at Punchestown in April, 2005, Chelsea Harbour switched to hurdles for his next two starts but failed to land the spoils, finishing ninth and sixth. Reverted to bumpers, he was sixth again before being returned to hurdles and coming second at Tramore on New Year’s Day, 2006. Another two sixth place finishes in January were followed by success in a two mile and six furlong handicap hurdle at Thurles on February 23. He ran poorly on his next outing in the two and a half miles John Smith’s No Nonsense Handicap Hurdle at Aintree, while he returned for a similar event over three miles at Punchestown later that month but unseated his rider at the fifth. He ran there two days later and finished a close second in a novices’ hurdle. Chelsea Harbour returned to the County Kildare track on May 20, 2006, when he landed a two and a half mile hurdle. Campaigned over fences the following winter, Chelsea Harbour ran in four beginners’ chase before getting off the mark in a two and a half mile handicap chase at Naas on January 7, 2007. Back at Naas on January 20, he landed a Grade Two novices’ chase before finishing fourth in the Grade One Dr P J Moriarty Novices’ Chase at Leopardstown the following month. He travelled to Cheltenham that March for a crack at the Grade One Royal & SunAlliance Chase but was well held when unseating his rider five from home. He ended last season with 10th place in the Irish Grand National. This season began in a amateur riders’ Flat race at Galway in October, but he was well beaten. His following two starts in chases failed to result in success, while he ran a good third in a Navan handicap hurdle in which fellow John Smith’s Grand National hopeful Slim Pickings was second. He took a heavy fall at the first in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, before filling being sixth and fifth on his next two starts in valuable handicap chases. He dug deep to land the Grand National Trial over three and a half miles at Punchestown on February 3, 2008. On his most recent outing, he finished fourth in a two mile and three furlong handicap chase at Leopardstown on March 2.

Race Record: Jumps Starts: 30; Wins: 5; 2nd 2; 3rd 1; Wins and Place Prize Money: £74,543

Frances Duffin
Like most racehorse owners, Dubai-based Irishman Paul Duffin and his wife Frances have always wanted to have a runner in the world’s most famous chase, the John Smith’s Grand National. A long-term patron of the Mullins yard, Paul has also enjoyed numerous Flat successes, including in Dubai, while the pair have been involved in a number of other horses. He is chief executive officer of the PK Group, which includes PK Properties, PK Rent and PK Retreats, with his partner Keith Cox. Duffin has seen his colours carried to glory many times, most recently with Chelsea Harbour, Court Leader and Made In Taipan, while Time Electric, owned in partnership with Sean Corby, was the ante-post favourite for this year’s Cheltenham Festival bumper before connections decided to keep him for Punchestown. Although Chelsea Harbour carries Duffin’s bright orange colours, Shango Corby and Pat Brady are joint-owners. Duffin also owned a share in Blue Dakota, a smart performer on the Flat and winner of the 2004 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.

John Smith’s Grand National Record: No Previous Runners

Tom Mullins
Tom Mullins, born in May, 1964, is a son of the legendary trainer Paddy Mullins. Along with riding successfully as an amateur rider for almost 10 years, Tom completed the Thoroughbred Breeding Course at the Irish National Stud and spent some time in America before returning home to assume the role of assistant trainer to his father. Together the father and son team enjoyed great success until Tom branched out on his own and saddled his first runner in April 2004 ahead of Paddy’s retirement the following year. In the early part of Tom’s career, Asian Maze was the stable star, winning five races - four Grade Ones, including the John Smith’s Sefton Novices’ Hurdle and the Scottish & Newcastle Aintree Hurdle, and one Grade Three. John Smith’s Grand National hopeful Chelsea Harbour has also been a good servant to the yard, winning five races including a brace at Grade Two level. He is based at Doninga, near Goresbridge in Co Kilkenny, from where his father trained. John Smith’s Grand National Record - no previous runners