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| Aintree Grand National Meeting 2009 |
88 Go Forward for 2009 John Smith’s Grand National
18/03/09
The 2009 John Smith’s Grand National, worth a record £900,000, has 88 acceptors going forward following the passing of the second scratchings deadline, details of which are revealed today.
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Several horses that ran well at the Cheltenham Festival could head for the John Smith’s Grand National, at Aintree on Saturday, April 4, including My Will, the current 10/1 joint-favourite with Aintree’s official betting partner, totesport, and Roll Along who both ran well when fifth and sixth respectively in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday, March 13.
My Will is one of five possible contenders from the yard of champion trainer Paul Nicholls, who is still seeking his first John Smith’s Grand National success. The other acceptors from Nicholls’ Somerset yard are Nozic, the 2006 totesport Becher Chase victor Eurotrek the progressive Big Fella Thanks and Cornish Sett.
Tom George has his string in fine form this season and is looking forward to running Kilbeggan Blade in the John Smith’s Grand National. The 10-year-old has won three of his four starts this season, scoring twice at Towcester and at Sandown, and completed his John Smith’s Grand National preparation by finishing second in a novices’ hurdle at Warwick on March 8.
The Gloucestershire-based handler said: “I see that Kilbeggan Blade is now set to carry 10st 4lb and it looks like we will definitely get into the John Smith’s Grand National. The race has been the plan since he won his second London National (at Sandown) in December.
“That was his only start over fences this term and we not only did this to protect his mark but also because he seems to run better over fences after a spin over hurdles. His two victories at Sandown came on the back of hurdle appearances and he really enjoys a bit of a change.
“His run at Warwick should have put him just right for Aintree and it was a matter of getting a run into him rather than expecting him to win. He’s only had four starts all season and he’ll be going into the John Smith’s Grand National a fresh horse which is the key to him.
“He looks like he stays all day and he’s a great jumper. The reason he likes Sandown so much is because there is such an emphasis on jumping and I think he will enjoy the Grand National fences.
“The one thing we really need to look at is who will ride him on the day but I think the fact that we have 10st 4lb makes it a lot easier.”
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Currently sharing favouritism with My Will is the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Butler’s Cabin, an eye-catching fifth behind Character Building in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase at Cheltenham last week. Another horse to run at the Cheltenham Festival was last year’s John Smith’s Grand National hero Comply Or Die, who performed well for a long way when seventh in the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase.
Horses trained in Ireland have won the John Smith’s Grand National no less than half a dozen times since 1999 and another strong challenge is in prospect this year with a total of 25 Irish contenders still engaged. Prominent among these are the Dessie Hughes-trained Black Apalachi, who proved his ability over the course with an authoritative victory in the totesport.com Becher Chase at the Northwest Racing Masters in November, the 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition, last year’s runner-up King Johns Castle, who recently returned to action with a promising effort over hurdles at Naas, and Snowy Morning, who finished third in 2008. Other leading contenders from the other side of the Irish Sea include last year’s Irish Grand National victor Hear The Echo, Southern Vic, who represents Ted Walsh, successful with Papillon in 2000, and Chelsea Harbour.
Also included among the acceptors are Rambling Minster, who put himself firmly in line for a crack at the world’s most famous chase with a superb display of jumping when successful in the Blue Square Gold Cup at Haydock Park on February 14, the 2006 Hennessy Gold Cup victor State Of Play and Cloudy Lane from the stable of Donald McCain, who finished sixth in 2008.
The next acceptance stage for the John Smith’s Grand National is at the five-day stage on Monday, March 30. The maximum field size for the John Smith’s Grand National is 40 runners.
THE 2009 JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL
Class 1, Grade 3, £900,000 total Prize Fund. 4.15pm, Aintree, Saturday, April 4, 2009. For six-year-olds old and upwards which are allotted a rating of 110 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including February 8, 2009. Horses which are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain or Ireland at January 27, 2009, may also be entered. Such horses may be eligible for a weight providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse's racecourse performances to February 8, 2009, would merit a minimum rating of 110. To qualify horses must have run at least three times in Steeple Chases run under the Rules of Racing of the same Recognised Turf Authority up to and including February 8, 2009. At the Handicapper's discretion such horses may be allocated a rating. The decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final. No penalties after publication of the weights. Highest weight 11st 10lb. Entries closed January 27, entries revealed January 28 (123 entries), weights revealed February 10 (61 in handicap, 3 scratched), first forfeit stage February 24 (106 remained), second forfeit stage March 17 (88 remain). Five/six-day confirmation stage March 30, final declaration stage 10.00am, April 2. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, March 16.
Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer
31320PP SNOOPY LOOPY (IRE) 11-11-10 Walters Plant Hire Ltd Egan Waste Ltd Peter Bowen
112/-U1P0 NOZIC (FR) 8-11-08 Sam Mcvie Paul Nicholls
16-0431F CLOUDY LANE 9-11-07 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain Jnr
1/1//2110-4 AFISTFULLOFDOLLARS (IRE) 11-11-06 E McElroy, Linda Shanahan, Sue Magnier Noel Meade IRE
23/-1132 WAR OF ATTRITION (IRE) 10-11-06 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE
61U1F234 CHELSEA HARBOUR (IRE) 9-11-05 Frances Duffin Tom Mullins IRE
332-56F2 SNOWY MORNING (IRE) 9-11-05 Quayside Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
16UP-100 KNOWHERE (IRE) 11-11-04 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
225-13P6 ROLL ALONG (IRE) 9-11-04 Bryan & Philippa Burrough Carl Llewellyn
P211-P00 COMPLY OR DIE (IRE) 10-11-03 David Johnson David Pipe
40-255550 OLLIE MAGERN 11-11-03 Roger Nicholls Nigel Twiston-Davies
4-2P51P04P STAN (NZ) 10-11-03 Paul Beck Venetia Williams
20F2-P151 BLACK APALACHI (IRE) 10-11-02 Gerard Burke Dessie Hughes IRE
501-556U HEAR THE ECHO (IRE) 8-11-02 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE
140-0F10 PREISTS LEAP (IRE) 9-11-02 John D O'Donohue Tom O'Leary IRE
P/22212-0 KING JOHNS CASTLE (IRE) 10-11-01 J P McManus Arthur Moore IRE
32023/-55 MY WILL (FR) 9-11-01 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
411P/1P/- EUROTREK (IRE) 13-11-00 Paul Green Paul Nicholls
2560-14 STATE OF PLAY 9-10-13 Mr & Mrs William Rucker Evan Williams
2-322U13 BIG FELLA THANKS 7-10-12 Paul Barber & Maggie Findlay Paul Nicholls
00-210200 MON MOME (FR) 9-10-11 Vida Bingham Venetia Williams
F/02421/-0 SILVER BIRCH (IRE) 12-10-11 Brian Walsh (Co. Kildare) Gordon Elliott IRE
03F-0005 BUTLER'S CABIN (FR) 9-10-10 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
1111F-00 HOBBS HILL 10-10-10 J P McManus Charles Egerton
1111/U2-2 OFFSHORE ACCOUNT (IRE) 9-10-10 Brian Polly Charlie Swan IRE
23/54-1P PARSONS LEGACY (IRE) 11-10-09 R A S Offer Philip Hobbs
F0612/-P0 REVEILLEZ 10-10-09 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
00146P6P FUNDAMENTALIST (IRE) 11-10-08 Colin Cornes Nigel Twiston-Davies
1/P133/3-0 GOLDEN FLIGHT (FR) 10-10-08 John & Barbara Cotton Nicky Henderson
03F0-4212 L'AMI (FR) 10-10-08 J P McManus Enda Bolger IRE
332-245P BATTLECRY 8-10-07 Trevor Hemmings Nigel Twiston-Davies
P00-F120 CORNISH SETT (IRE) 10-10-07 Peter Hart Paul Nicholls
042-P610 FLEET STREET 10-10-07 Henry Ponsonby Nicky Henderson
1222100 MUSICA BELLA (FR) 9-10-07 Jean-Paul Senechal Francois Cottin FR
63-111314 CAN'T BUY TIME (IRE) 7-10-06 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
113P//-3P1 DARKNESS 10-10-06 Lady Lloyd-Webber Charles Egerton
F323111 IRISH INVADER (IRE) 8-10-06 Sackcloth & Ashes Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
46-56511 RAMBLING MINSTER 11-10-06 The Lingdale Optimists Keith Reveley
5F/-06U343 SOUTHERN VIC (IRE) 10-10-06 Brenda Graham Ted Walsh IRE
P641PPP ALWAYS WAINING (IRE) 8-10-05 Mr & Mrs Peter James Douglas Peter Bowen
PPP611/-PP HOT WELD 10-10-04 Simon Hubbard Rodwell Ferdy Murphy
20P-1112 KILBEGGAN BLADE 10-10-04 K Doocey & Mrs A Doocey Tom George
4124021 BROOKLYN BROWNIE (IRE) 10-10-03 P Gaffney & Neil Stevenson Malcolm Jefferson
P/3-143301 CHARACTER BUILDING (IRE) 9-10-03 Mrs E Wright John Quinn
P-2P6006 CONNA CASTLE (IRE) 10-10-03 Kings Syndicate Jimmy Mangan IRE
1-P504P0 Himalayan Trail 10-10-03 Mark Gittins Jimmy Mangan IRE
26U-3443 TUMBLING DICE (IRE) 10-10-03 Lucy Donegan Tom Taaffe IRE
3/00010-0 ARTEEA (IRE) 10-10-02 Judith Wilson David Pipe
0P/50PP-0 CERIUM (FR) 8-10-02 Judith Wilson Paul Murphy
050-2403 IDLE TALK (IRE) 10-10-02 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain Jnr
0F2U6-P0 KELAMI (FR) 11-10-02 Halewood International Ltd Lisa Williamson
0/232P5/- ZABENZ (NZ) 12-10-02 Sarah Hobbs Philip Hobbs
PP541PP ICE TEA (IRE) 9-10-01 Sandicroft Stud Donald McCain Jnr
2U41U-02 MALJIMAR (IRE) 9-10-01 Jane Williams Nick Williams
211-1113 COMPANERO (IRE) 9-10-00 W M G Black & Sue Johnson Howard Johnson
0333P0P IRON MAN (FR) 8-10-00 Roddy Owen & Paul Fullagar Peter Bowen
P2P-P0PP MATTOCK RANGER (IRE) 9-10-00 Banouche Stud Ireland Ltd Noel Meade IRE
U44P-3140 NICHE MARKET (IRE) 8-10-00 Graham Regan Bob Buckler
0U01344 POMME TIEPY (FR) 6-10-00 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
101PP6- BAGAN (FR) 10-9-13 The Centaur Group Partnership VII Martin Todhunter
11P1-3PFP BEAT THE BOYS (IRE) 8-9-13 New Club Ladies Nigel Twiston-Davies
140-306F BIBLE LORD (IRE) 8-9-13 M Tedham Andrew Turnell
64P3-015 DIX VILLEZ (FR) 10-9-13 Gigginstown House Stud Paul Nolan IRE
P2P63-52 FLINTOFF (USA) 8-9-13 Andrew Flintoff & Paul Beck Venetia Williams
4B0-4000F PATSY HALL (IRE) 9-9-13 Thomas Mooney Partnership Tony Martin IRE
3/2F01P- IN THE LOOP (IRE) 11-9-12 Ben-Hill Syndicate Roy Wilson IRE
P121-P50 KING HARALD (IRE) 11-9-12 Piers Pottinger & P B-J Partnership Mark Bradstock
P00-P304 NADOVER (FR) 8-9-12 George Storey Charlie Mann
2/223F0- PAK JACK (FR) 9-9-12 The Pak Jack Partnership Richard Phillips
421101 SEYMOUR WELD 9-9-12 Charles Pogson Charles Pogson
22/-22P43 NINE DE SIVOLA (FR) 8-9-11 The DPRP Sivola Partnership Ferdy Murphy
210123-P TOM SAYERS (IRE) 11-9-11 Capt Bill Edwards-Heathcote Philip Hobbs
0-321230 OODACHEE 10-9-09 Modreeny Syndicate Charlie Swan IRE
12366/-4 KINGS ADVOCATE (IRE) 9-9-08 Conor Clarkson Tom Taaffe IRE
62P-30P0 DUN DOIRE (IRE) 10-9-07 Dunderry Racing Syndicate Tony Martin IRE
02P-P4F0 LE TOSCAN (FR) 9-9-07 Judith Wilson David Pipe
U1-52541 OUT THE BLACK (IRE) 11-9-07 James Drummond Philip Hobbs
0P0/03-03P PUNTAL (FR) 13-9-07 Terry Neill David Pipe
P4220-0P WITHOUT A DOUBT 10-9-07 Malcolm Denmark Carl Llewellyn
1P1F//PP-0P YOU'RE SPECIAL (USA) 12-9-06 Diane O' Rourke Ferdy Murphy
21/-2426U ALEXANDERTHEGREAT (IRE) 11-9-05 Six Blokes Venetia Williams
5/5400-P0 MILAN DEUX MILLE (FR) 7-9-05 Judith Wilson David Pipe
41/F400-23P SANDHURST (IRE) 9-9-02 John Duddy Edgar Byrne IRE
5/6P0-42P LORD KILLESHANRA (IRE) 10-9-01 G F Gingell Colin Tizzard
U-2130U63 LYSANDER (GER) 10-9-01 The Piranha Partnership Ian Williams
4213140P MALKO DE BEAUMONT (FR) 9-9-01 David Sturdy Alan Brown
P06-350FP PASS ME BY 10-8-13 Paul Beck Suzy Smith
1110PP MONT MISERE (FR) 13-8-12 Judith Wilson Paul Murphy
88 entries remain after March 17 scratchings deadline
25 Irish-trained
1 French-trained
THE FOLLOWING 17 HORSES HAVE BEEN OFFICIALLY SCRATCHED BY THEIR TRAINERS: EXOTIC DANCER (FR), MADISON DU BERLAIS (FR), STAR DE MOHAISON (FR), NOTRE PERE (FR), IMPERIAL COMMANDER (IRE), ONE COOL COOKIE (IRE), BALLYFITZ, MIKO DE BEAUCHENE (FR), L'ANTARTIQUE (FR), OPERA MUNDI (FR), SIMON, SILVERBURN (IRE), GARDE CHAMPETRE (FR), PIRAYA (FR), LOTHIAN FALCON, OULART, HOOPY (IRE)
Latest totesport betting:
10 Butler's Cabin, 10 My Will, 12 Black Apalachi, 12 Character Building, 16 Big Fella Thanks, 16 Comply Or Die, 16 Hear the Echo, 16 Rambling Minster, 20 Snowy Morning, 20 Southern Vic, 25 Chelsea Harbour, 25 Cloudy Lane, 25 King Johns Castle, 25 State of Play, 25 War of Attrition, 33 Cant Buy Time, 33 Darkness, 33 Flintoff, 33 Himalayan Trail, 33 Hot Weld, 33 Irish Invader, 33 Kilbeggan Blade, 33 L’Ami, 33 Maljimar, 33 Parsons Legacy, 33 Preists Leap, 40 Brooklyn Brownie, 40 Companero, 40 Cornish Sett, 40 Golden Flight, 40 Niche Market, 40 Offshore Account, 40 Roll Along, 40 Silver Birch, 50 Afistfullofdollars, 50 Battlecry, 50 Conna Castle, 50 Dix Villez, 50 Dun Doire, 50 Eurotrek, 50 Fleet Street, 50 Hobbs Hill, 50 Idle Talk, 50 Kings Advocate, 50 Knowhere, 50 Mon Mome, 50 Nine De Sivola, 50 Nozic, 50 Out the Black, 50 Patsy Hall, 50 Pomme Tiepy, 50 Stan, 66 Bagan, 66 Beat the Boys, 66 King Harald, 66 Musical Bella, 66 Ollie Magern, 66 Pak Jack, 66 Reveillez, 100 Alexanderthegreat, 100 Always Waining, 100 Arteea, 100 Bible Lord, 100 Fundamentalist, 100 Ice Tea, 100 in the Loop, 100 Iron Man, 100 Kelami, 100 Le Toscan, 100 Mattock Ranger, 100 Nadover, 100 Oodachee, 100 Seymour Weld, 100 Tom Sayers, 100 Tumbling Dice, 100 Without A Doubt, 100 Youre Special, 100 Zabenz, 150 Lord Killeshanra, 150 Malko De Beaumont, 150 Milan Deux Mille, 150 Pass Me By, 150 Puntal, 150 Sandhurst, 200 Cerium, 200 Lysander, 250 Mont Misere.
Each Way 1/4 the Odds A Place 1-2-3-4
