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| Aintree Grand National Weights 14th April 2007 |
Irish Challenge Grows For John Smith’s Grand National
23/02/07
Following the publication of the weights for the £700,000 John Smith’s Grand National on February 13, two more Irish trainers have revealed that they are aiming horses at the famous contest, run over four and a half miles at Aintree on Saturday, April 14.
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Ballingarry trainer Charles Byrnes, whose only previous John Smith’s Grand National runner, Super Franky, fell in the 2002 renewal won by Bindaree, believes he has a live contender for this year’s race in the shape of talented front-runner Cloudy Bays.
The 10-year-old, a regular in top company over the past few seasons, has a victory to his name this season at Tramore, when charging home late in the Listed Wilf Dooly Chase on New Year’s Day, and was last seen finishing a decent eighth to Adamant Approach in a three-mile handicap hurdle at Leopardstown on January 14.
Byrnes said this morning: “I am planning to run Cloudy Bays in the John Smith’s Grand National. He’s been allotted 11st which is okay - I thought maybe he might get in a bit lighter, although he won’t get dropped now so that’s it!
“He will run at Cheltenham first in the Pertemps Final but if he performs well there he will definitely go to Aintree. He ran well in a qualifier the other day and showed a bit of sparkle and he seems to be in good form.
“Cloudy Bays is a funny horse - if he’s on a going day then he can stay the trip. It depends on whether or not he settles, but if he gets into a nice rhythm then he could go well. His jumping won’t be a problem - he’d take on a stone wall and is a lot braver than a number of jockeys!
“The going would not be too much of a concern either as he handles most ground. He certainly wouldn’t be going to Aintree to make up the numbers and at least he is guaranteed to get a run.”
Ted Walsh, who sent out Papillon to land a huge gamble in the world’s
greatest chase seven years ago, has two entries this year - Southern
Vic (11st 3lb) and Jack High (10st 3lb) - and the latter, who unseated
at the Chair in last year’s renewal when a well-supported 9/1
chance, is the most likely runner this April.
Walsh revealed: “Jack High will be going for the John Smith’s
Grand National if he gets into the race. The weight he has (10st 3lb)
is similar to last year and won’t make any difference to him
- he’s the same horse he was a year ago.
“He’s generally a good old jumper and there aren’t
many other options for him at this stage of his life. Our ambition
is to go for the John Smith’s Grand National and if he is well
in the week of Aintree then that’s where he’ll be.
“The ground won’t bother him as he’s won a Betfred Gold Cup on good ground and a Troytown Chase on heavy. He handles everything.
“He is what he is - at 12 years of age he’s in as good
shape now as he was this time last year, but that still might not be
good enough. He’ll most likely run a couple of times before Aintree.
“Southern Vic is unlikely to run in the John Smith’s Grand National. He’s only eight and a bit inexperienced and is one for the future.”
Over the past few seasons, the quality of the John Smith’s Grand
National has continued to go from strength to strength.
The number of horses in the handicap (ie on 10st or above) at the
time of the weights lunch reached a record 74 per cent this year. This
makes it virtually certain that all horses who line up for the world’s
greatest race on April 14 will race from inside the handicap. In both
the 2005 and 2006 renewals of the John Smith’s Grand National,
all 40 runners on the day were in the handicap.
Another area which demonstrates the continuing development of the
John Smith’s Grand National is the median rating of horses entered.
The median has risen every year since 2004 - in 2004 it was 130, 134
in 2005, 135 in 2006 and 137 this year.
In 2005 and 2006, horses needed to be 75 or 76 in the list of weights at the day of lunch to make the cut for the race itself. In 1999 and 2004, horses in the 90s at the time of the weights lunch obtained a run, but the overall average since 1999 is 81.
THE 2007 JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL
Class 1, Grade 3, £700,000 total Prize Fund.
Aintree, Saturday, April 14. For six-year-olds old and upwards which
are allotted a rating of 110 or more by the Senior BHB Jumps Handicapper
following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of
races run up to and including February 11, 2007. Horses which are not
qualified for a rating in Great Britain or Ireland at January 31, 2007,
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 11, 2007, 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 11, 2007. At the Handicapper's discretion such horses may be
allocated a rating. The decision of the Senior BHB NH Handicapper shall
be final. No penalties after publication of the weights. Entries closed
January 31, entries revealed February 1 (119 entries), weights revealed
February 13, first forfeit stage March 6, second forfeit stage March
27. Six-day confirmation stage April 9, final declaration stage 10.00am,
April 12. Form figures supplied by Wetherbys and are correct up to and
including the racing of Monday, February 12.
Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer
F-21121 EXOTIC DANCER (FR) 7-11-12 Sir Robert Ogden Jonjo O'Neill
04222-5 HEDGEHUNTER (IRE) 11-11-12 Trevor Hemmings Willie Mullins IRE
1135-114 FORGET THE PAST 9-11-09 Sean Mulryan Michael O'Brien IRE
1222-56 FOTA ISLAND (IRE) 11-11-09 J P McManus Mouse Morris IRE
06-2223 LOUPING D'AINAY (FR) 8-11-09 Jean-Paul Senechal Francois Cottin
FR
P/411P-1 EUROTREK (IRE) 11-11-08 Paul Green Paul Nicholls
243-5342 L'AMI (FR) 8-11-08 J P McManus Francois Doumen FR
11151-1 STATE OF PLAY 7-11-08 Mr & Mrs William Rucker Evan Williams
405-U40 OLLIE MAGERN 9-11-07 Roger Nicholls Nigel Twiston-Davies
2643-34 MONKERHOSTIN (FR) 10-11-06 Martin St Quinton Philip Hobbs
P63-22U3 ARMATURK (FR) 10-11-05 Trevor Hemmings Paul Nicholls
14/3F-25 THISTHATANDTOTHER (IRE) 11-11-05 Graham Roach Paul Nicholls
410U-51 BILLYVODDAN (IRE) 8-11-04 Trevor Hemmings Henry Daly
14PP-2P CROZAN (FR) 7-11-04 Trevor Hemmings Nicky Henderson
221-644 LACDOUDAL (FR) 8-11-04 Carol Skan Philip Hobbs
P3-42F3 OUR BEN 8-11-04 Trevor Hemmings Willie Mullins IRE
0-13P20 SIR REMBRANDT (IRE) 11-11-04 Alan Hordle Robert Alner
B4431-40 NUMBERSIXVALVERDE (IRE) 11-11-03 Bernard Carroll Martin Brassil
IRE
1-1525F SOUTHERN VIC (IRE) 8-11-03 Mrs B Graham Ted Walsh IRE
30P-P01 CORNISH REBEL (IRE) 10-11-02 Graham Roach Paul Nicholls
324-26U IDLE TALK (IRE) 8-11-02 Mrs M J George Tom George
42-FF21 LADALKO (FR) 8-11-02 Maggie Findlay & Paul Barber Paul
Nicholls
F00-6503 ROYAL AUCLAIR (FR) 10-11-01 Clive Smith Paul Nicholls
252-1P2 TURPIN GREEN (IRE) 8-11-01 Trevor Hemmings Nicky Richards
3/-0FP10 CLOUDY BAYS (IRE) 10-11-00 Cloudy Bay Syndicate Charles Byrnes
IRE
1F2230 KNOWHERE (IRE) 9-10-13 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
211UU-3 BOLD BISHOP (IRE) 10-10-12 Gay Smith Jonjo O'Neill
06-10302 KELAMI (FR) 9-10-12 Halewood International Ltd Francois Doumen
FR
1-P04B1 POINT BARROW (IRE) 9-10-12 Mrs P Clune Hughes Pat Hughes IRE
U-16P0P TAKE THE STAND (IRE) 11-10-12 David Robbins Frank Ridge Peter
Bowen
124420- CELTIC SON (FR) 8-10-11 David Johnson David Pipe
6/51251- LITTLE BRICK (FR) 8-10-11 Thomas Barr David Pipe
103/534- NED KELLY (IRE) 11-10-11 Sue Magnier Edward O'Grady IRE
11-5261 SIMON 8-10-11 Mercy Rimell John Spearing
5123F-11 FAR FROM TROUBLE (IRE) 8-10-10 J P McManus Christy Roche IRE
U20P5P BALLYCASSIDY (IRE) 11-10-09 Roddy Owen & Paul Fullagar Peter
Bowen
313-6FP CLAN ROYAL (FR) 12-10-09 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
1125-13 GALLANT APPROACH (IRE) 8-10-09 Byrne Bros (Formwork) Limited
Charles Egerton
504422 LIVINGSTONEBRAMBLE (IRE) 11-10-09 Favourites Racing Willie Mullins
IRE
110-0F25 DUN DOIRE (IRE) 8-10-08 Dunderry Racing Syndicate Tony Martin
IRE
F-F60P0 INNOX (FR) 11-10-08 J P McManus Francois Doumen FR
0410-01 KANDJAR D'ALLIER (FR) 9-10-08 Let's Live Racing Alan King
1/P020P-0 LORD OF ILLUSION (IRE) 10-10-08 Sharon Nelson Tom George
406045 NIRVANA DU BOURG (FR) 6-10-08 Trevor Hemmings Nicky Henderson
2-33P3F SLIM PICKINGS (IRE) 8-10-08 Doubtful Five Syndicate Tom Taaffe
IRE
540-232 ZABENZ (NZ) 10-10-08 Michael Watt Philip Hobbs
236P-42 BEWLEYS BERRY (IRE) 9-10-07 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard
Johnson
2P06340 GROUND BALL (IRE) 10-10-07 J P McManus Charlie Swan IRE
P146/0-1 LONGSHANKS 10-10-07 Alan Halsall Kim Bailey
246-114 URSUMMAN (IRE) 8-10-07 J P McManus Niall Madden IRE
5115UP BOTHAR NA (IRE) 8-10-06 Mrs Michael O'Dwyer Willie Mullins IRE
2163-53 GRAPHIC APPROACH (IRE) 9-10-06 Mr & Mrs Peter Orton Charles
Egerton
233-0F1 HOMER WELLS (IRE) 9-10-06 Margaret McMahon Willie Mullins IRE
U5014-40 LIBERTHINE (FR) 8-10-06 Robert Waley-Cohen Nicky Henderson
40-3464 NIL DESPERANDUM (IRE) 10-10-06 Mike Shone Venetia Williams
1/4PPF-02 SILVER BIRCH (IRE) 10-10-06 Brian Walsh (Co Kildare) Gordon
Elliott IRE
1312-45 OSSMOSES (IRE) 10-10-05 Don Forster Don Forster
BP21P6- PHILSON RUN (IRE) 11-10-05 Gale Force One Nick Williams
0/60-552 PUNTAL (FR) 11-10-05 Terry Neill David Pipe
3-41R21 THE OUTLIER (IRE) 9-10-05 P J Murphy Venetia Williams
2000-044 TIKRAM 10-10-05 Mike Charlton And Rodger Sargent Alan King
1P-00000 CHURCH ISLAND (IRE) 8-10-04 Joe Craig Michael Hourigan IRE
132P0-50 GARVIVONNIAN (IRE) 12-10-04 Angela Long Ned Mitchell IRE
111221 KERSTINO TWO 10-10-04 Mrs L Suenson-Taylor Charlie Longsdon
0-22006 MAURICE (FR) 7-10-04 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain Jnr
U2-4106 MCKELVEY (IRE) 8-10-04 N Elliott Peter Bowen
041153 NAUNTON BROOK 8-10-04 David Langdon Nigel Twiston-Davies
0F5P-2U IRIS ROYAL (FR) 11-10-03 Sir Robert Ogden Nicky Henderson
U0-00040 JACK HIGH (IRE) 12-10-03 Brenda Ross M McShane D Montgomery
W Moore Ted Walsh IRE
42-03200 KERRYHEAD WINDFARM (IRE) 9-10-03 James Browne Michael Hourigan
IRE
2F3-232 PREACHER BOY 8-10-03 Hunt & Co (Bournemouth) Ltd Ron Hodges
11PP0-51 SONEVAFUSHI (FR) 9-10-03 Brian Dice Venetia Williams
100-635 INCA TRAIL (IRE) 11-10-02 Halewood International Ltd Donald
McCain Jnr
4006-00 JOES EDGE (IRE) 10-10-02 Chemipetro Limited Ferdy Murphy
134111 KILBEGGAN BLADE 8-10-02 K Doocey & Mrs A Doocey Tom George
2UU-004 LE DUC (FR) 8-10-02 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
2SR550-3 RISK ACCESSOR (IRE) 12-10-02 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
PS3344 DUNBRODY MILLAR (IRE) 9-10-01 Dundon Else Partnership Peter
Bowen
21P6P-0 KYMANDJEN (IRE) 10-10-01 Martin Doran Paul Nolan IRE
2214//33- PATRICKSNINETEENTH (IRE) 10-10-01 The Large G & T Partnership
Paul Webber
1-U2P00 UNDENIABLE 9-10-01 Keith Nicholson Sue Smith
34252-6 WITHOUT A DOUBT 8-10-01 Malcolm Denmark Carl Llewellyn
33-03524 A NEW STORY (IRE) 9-10-00 Storey's Over Syndicate Michael
Hourigan IRE
11222-F HAKIM (NZ) 13-10-00 T N Siviter John Spearing
51-0506 JOUEUR D'ESTRUVAL (FR) 10-10-00 Violet O'Leary Willie Mullins
IRE
00-1210 LOU DU MOULIN MAS (FR) 8-10-00 The Eight Amigos Racing Syndicate
Paul Nicholls
044002 SYBELLIUS D'ARTAIX (FR) 7-10-00 Fergus Wilson Richard Chotard
FR
1-13F33 DIX VILLEZ (FR) 8-9-13 Gigginstown House Stud Paul Nolan IRE
51P-000 G V A IRELAND (IRE) 9-9-13 Exors Of The Late Donal O'Buachalla
Francis Flood IRE
F111-00 IVOIRE DE BEAULIEU (FR) 11-9-13 I Todd, F Murphy, C Leigh,
S Holman Ferdy Murphy
021536 MARBLE GARDEN (USA) 6-9-13 Fergus Wilson Richard Chotard FR
F-34P60 ROSS COMM 11-9-13 Kevin Treanor Sue Smith
260-20P COLJON (IRE) 9-9-12 Mrs Kay Browne Paul Nolan IRE
3136B22 COWBOYBOOTS (IRE) 9-9-12 David Gower Lawrence Wells
P1554U0 IRON MAN (FR) 6-9-12 Roddy Owen & Paul Fullagar Peter Bowen
04-1F15P LATIMER'S PLACE 11-9-12 Sir Christopher Wates Nick Gifford
202-154 PARSONS LEGACY (IRE) 9-9-12 R A S Offer Philip Hobbs
5P1-134 RANSBORO (IRE) 8-9-12 Mr & Mrs Duncan Davidson Nicky Richards
23-106P6 NITRAT (FR) 6-9-11 Peter Hans Vogt Francois Doumen FR
0501-PP THE BANDIT (IRE) 10-9-11 Richard Lavelle Emma Lavelle
16-660P2 DUBLIN HUNTER (IRE) 11-9-10 Woodlawn Racing Syndicate Dessie
Hughes IRE
1331//1P- FAIR PROSPECT 11-9-10 D G Pryde Lucinda Russell
0F-263P JUST IN DEBT (IRE) 11-9-10 Gill and Bill Hazeldean Martin Todhunter
00-043P IRIS BLEU (FR) 11-9-09 Martin Pipe David Pipe
40-P40P MODEL SON (IRE) 9-9-06 P J Hughes Developments Ltd Alison Thorpe
51P0/-PP SOLARIUS (FR) 10-9-06 Fergus Wilson David Pipe
3PP-00P KORELO (FR) 9-9-05 Northern Bloodstock Racing Steve Gollings
13/1P6/-P MARK THE MAN (IRE) 10-9-03 J P McManus Noel Meade IRE
10/0/UPP- EXIT SWINGER (FR) 12-9-02 Sandicroft Stud Richard Ford
R0032P DAUPHIN DES CARRES (FR) 9-9-01 Prof Judith Wilson David Pipe
U00/-16U3 RIDE THE STORM (IRE) 10-9-01 Nelius Hayes Edward O'Grady
IRE
220-333 ESPOIR DU BOCAGE (FR) 12-8-11 Fergus Wilson Michael Scudamore
021245 SHANNON'S PRIDE (IRE) 11-8-11 JAS Partnership Richard Guest
63-3135 THEATRE KNIGHT (IRE) 9-8-11 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard
Johnson
01P-P11 BANG AND BLAME (IRE) 11-8-10 Edward Wilkin Mick Easterby
00-05124 THE PARISHIONER (IRE) 9-8-09 Fergus Syndicate Michael Hourigan
IRE
24U-PPPP HEROS COLLONGES (FR) 12-8-06 A Peake & West Indies Capital
Company Norma Macauley
025/P/F0-1 ABBEYTOWN (IRE) 10 NQ Mike Futter Jeanette Riordan IRE
2336226 IRIS DE BALME (FR) 7 NQ Mr L M Power Sean Curran
119 entries
33 Irish-trained
7 French-trained
Latest betting (William Hill
23/02/07)
Dun Doire 12/1
Point Barrow 14/1
Numbersixvalverde 14/1
Little Brick 14/1
Hedgehunter 14/1
Nil Desperandum 16/1
Eurotrek 16/1
Liberthine 20/1
L'ami 20/1
Clan Royal 20/1
State Of Play 25/1
Simon 25/1
Longshanks 25/1
Idle Talk 25/1
Ossmoses 33/1
Ladalko 33/1
Lacdoudal 33/1
Kelami 33/1
Homer Wells 33/1
Graphic Approach 33/1
Gallant Approach 33/1
Forget The Past 33/1
Exotic Dancer 33/1
Bothar Na 33/1
Bewley's Berry 33/1
A New Story 33/1
Ursumman 40/1
Turpin Green 40/1
Thisthatandtother 40/1
The Outlier 40/1
Southern Vic 40/1
Royal Auclair 40/1
Puntal 40/1
Preacher Boy 40/1
Le Duc 40/1
Jack High 40/1
Garvivonian 40/1
Billyvoddan 40/1
Zabenz 50/1
Tikram 50/1
Silver Birch 50/1
Ross Comm 50/1
Philson Run 50/1
Parsons Legacy 50/1
Our Ben 50/1
Ned Kelly 50/1
Naunton Brook 50/1
Monkerhostin 50/1
Mckelvey 50/1
Lou Du Moulin Mas 50/1
Livingstonebramble 50/1
Kymandjen 50/1
Killbeggan Blade 50/1
Kerryhead Windfarm 50/1
Kandjar D'allier 50/1
Joes Edge 50/1
Innox 50/1
Inca Trail 50/1
Hakim 50/1
G V A Ireland 50/1
Cornish Rebel 50/1
Ballycassidy 50/1
Take The Stand 66/1
Slim Pickings 66/1
Sir Rembrandt 66/1
Patricknineteenth 66/1
Nitrat 66/1
Nirvana Du Bourg 66/1
Louping D'ainay 66/1
Lord Of Illusion 66/1
Korelo 66/1
Knowhere 66/1
Kerstino Two 66/1
Joueur D'estruval 66/1
Iris Royal 66/1
Fota Island 66/1
Dunbrody Millar 66/1
Dix Villez 66/1
Crozan 66/1
Cloudy Bays 66/1
Church Island 66/1
Celtic Son 66/1
Bold Bishop 66/1
Armaturk 66/1
Without A Doubt 100/1
Undeniable 100/1
Theatre Knight 100/1
The Parishioner 100/1
Sonevafushi 100/1
Shannon Pride 100/1
Risk Accessor 100/1
Ride The Storm 100/1
Model Son 100/1
Mark The Man 100/1
Latimers Place 100/1
Just In Debt 100/1
Ivoire De Beaulieu 100/1
Iron Man 100/1
Iris Bleu 100/1
Ground Ball 100/1
Fair Prospect 100/1
Dublin Hunter 100/1
Dauphin Des Carres 100/1
Coljon 100/1
Abbeytown 100/1
The Bandit 150/1
Maurice 150/1
Exit Swinger 150/1
Cowboyboots 150/1
Sybellius D'artaix 200/1
Marble Garden 200/1
Iris De Balme 200/1
Heros Collonges 200/1
Espoir Du Bocage 200/1
Bang And Blame 200/1
Solarius 500/1
