24.03.11 - THE GRAND NATIONAL

74 Still on Target for Grand National

Just eight horses were taken out of the race today with the weights continuing to be headed by last year’s hero Don’t Push It on 11st 10lb. The 11-year-old recorded a famous success for owner J P McManus, trainer Jonjo O’Neill and jockey A P McCoy in 2010 and ran an encouraging race at Cheltenham last week when a staying-on 10th in the Pertemps Final, the same race he used for his Aintree preparation last year.

The Irish enjoyed a wonderful Cheltenham Festival with a record 13 winners over the four days and they also hold a strong hand in the John Smith’s Grand National as they are responsible for 26 of the remaining entries.  These include the Martin Lynch-trained Oscar Time, last year’s Irish Grand National runner-up, who could cap a dream season for amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen following his totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup victory on Long Run last week.

Other contenders from Ireland include The Midnight Club, trained by Willie Mullins, who is currently 10/1 favourite with Aintree’s official betting partner totesport. He jumped to the head of the ante-post market with a defeat of stable companion Arbor Supreme in the Grade Two Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse on February 23. Gordon Elliott, who sent out Silver Birch to a memorable success in the 2007 John Smith’s Grand National, has another live contender in Backstage, who confirmed his wellbeing with a point-to-point victory on March 6 and is totesport’s 12/1 second favourite with Oscar Time.

The John Smith’s Grand National is one of the few races to have eluded champion trainer Paul Nicholls and he has four entries going forward including What A Friend, who is part-owned by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and was an excellent fourth in last week’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup. Nicholls also looks set to be represented by the 2009 Irish Grand National victor Niche Market.

The British-trained contingent also includes Silver By Nature, who put himself firmly in the John Smith’s Grand National picture with a storming 15-length victory in the Grade Three totesport.com Grand National Trial at Haydock Park on February 19 while the Donald McCain-trained Ballabriggs has had Aintree as his target all season and completed his preparation when finishing second at Kelso on March 5. Quinz put up an exhibition round of jumping when taking the Grade Three Racing Post Chase at Kempton Park on February 26 and is set to represent trainer Philip Hobbs.

The six-day confirmation stage for the John Smith’s Grand National is on Monday, April 4, with the final declaration stage at 10am on Thursday, April 7. There is a maximum permitted field of 40, plus four reserves.

John Smith’s Grand National - totesport bet: 10 The Midnight Club, 12 Backstage, Oscar Time, 14 Ballabriggs, Big Fella Thanks, Silver By Nature, 16 Arbor Supreme, Don’t Push It, Niche Market, Quinz, What A Friend, 20 Junior, Merigo, Synchronised, West End Rocker, 25 Becauseicouldntsee, Bluesea Cracker, Hello Bud, Majestic Concorde, Midnight Chase, Notre Pere, Skippers Brig, State Of Play, Vic Venturi, 33 Ballytrim, Calgary Bay, Character Building, Chief Dan George, Giles Cross, Imoncloudnine, In Compliance, One Cool Cookie, Our Monty, 40 Ballyfitz, Dooneys Gate, Killyglen, Northern Alliance, Surface To Air, The Tother One, Tidal Bay, 50 Belon Gale, Can’t Buy Time, Comply Or Die, Frankie Figg, Galant Nuit, Golden Kite, King Fontaine, Nedzers Return, Or Noir de Somoza, Ornais, Quolibet, Saddlers Storm, 66 Always Waining, Ambobo, Grand Slam Hero, Le Beau Bai, Pomme Tiepy, Roll Along, Royal Rosa, Sagalyrique, Scotsirish, The Sawyer, Toby Jug, Treacle, 100 Askthemaster, Dev, Duers, Faasel, Piraya, Putney Bridge, Regal Heights, Santas Son, Starzaan, That’s Rhythm.

¼ 1-2-3-4

Specials
9/4 Irish-trained winner
7/1 Paul Nicholls-trained winner
10/1 Ruby Walsh to ride winner
14/1 AP McCoy to ride winner

THE 2011 JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL

Class 1, Grade 3, £950,000 total Prize Fund. 4.15pm, Aintree, Saturday, April  9, 2011, four miles and four furlongs. 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 13, 2011. Horses which are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain or Ireland at February 1, 2011, 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 13, 2011, 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 13, 2011. 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 February 1, entries revealed February 2 (102 entries, 3  subsequently scratched), weights revealed February 15, first scratchings deadline March 1 (82 remained), second scratchings deadline March 22 (74 remain). Five-day confirmation stage April 4, final declaration stage 10.00am, April 7. Maximum field size of 40, plus 4 reserves. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, March 21.

Form  Horse    Age/Wgt Owner    Trainer

1) 23P1-P000 DON'T PUSH IT (IRE)  11-11-10 J P McManus   Jonjo O'Neill

2) 104-3226 TIDAL BAY (IRE)  10-11-09 Andrea & Graham Wylie  Howard Johnson

3) 1-411115 MIDNIGHT CHASE  9-11-08  Lady Clarke   Neil Mulholland

4) 131-5613 SYNCHRONISED (IRE)  8-11-06  J P McManus   Jonjo O'Neill

5) 501B-0044 VIC VENTURI (IRE)  11-11-06 Seamus Dunne   Dessie Hughes IRE

6) 61/211-524 WHAT A FRIEND  8-11-06  Ged Mason & Sir Alex Ferguson Paul Nicholls

7) U62/1-31 MAJESTIC CONCORDE (IRE) 8-11-05  Dr Ronan Lambe  Dermot Weld IRE

8) 2F1425 OR NOIR DE SOMOZA (FR) 9-11-05  Filsal Stadeg Racing  David Pipe

9) 01F24-41 DOONEYS GATE (IRE)  10-11-04 Jackie Mullins   Willie Mullins IRE

10) 20-35344 SCOTSIRISH (IRE)  10-11-02 Double R Stables Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE

11) 2U14-2F44 BIG FELLA THANKS  9-11-01  Maggie Findlay   Ferdy Murphy

12) 3111-112 BALLABRIGGS (IRE)  10-11-00 Trevor Hemmings  Donald McCain

13) 205-244 THE TOTHER ONE (IRE) 10-11-00 Graham Roach   Paul Nicholls

14) 520P-F50 NICHE MARKET (IRE)  10-10-13 Graham Regan   Paul Nicholls

15) U3133-21 THE MIDNIGHT CLUB (IRE) 10-10-13 Susannah Ricci   Willie Mullins IRE

16) 0BP-500 BACKSTAGE (FR)  9-10-12  MPR & Capranny Syndicate Gordon Elliott IRE

17) 30011-053F CHIEF DAN GEORGE (IRE) 11-10-12 Maurice Chapman  Jimmy Moffatt

18) 5121-001 SILVER BY NATURE  9-10-12  Geoff Brown   Lucinda Russell

19) 4UP-2500 NOTRE PERE (FR)  10-10-11 Tilly Conway   Barry Potts IRE

20) 4-56242 CALGARY BAY (IRE)  8-10-10  Camilla Radford   Henrietta Knight

21) P2P-2536 KILLYGLEN (IRE)  9-10-10  David McCammon  Stuart Crawford IRE

22) 3152-263 OSCAR TIME (IRE)  10-10-09 Robert Waley-Cohen/Sir Martin & S Broughton Martin Lynch IRE

23) 0100-030 BALLYTRIM (IRE)  10-10-08 Violet O'Leary   Willie Mullins IRE

24) 2212-42 BECAUSEICOULDNTSEE (IRE) 8-10-08 Noel Glynn   Noel Glynn IRE

25) 2/000-06P COMPLY OR DIE (IRE)  12-10-08 David Johnson   David Pipe

26) 1-122B0 NEDZER'S RETURN (IRE) 9-10-08  William Elliott   Gordon Elliott IRE

27) P-5500423 NORTHERN ALLIANCE (IRE) 10-10-08 Irish Rover Syndicate  Tony Martin IRE

28) 510-1131 QUINZ (FR)   7-10-08  Andrew Cohen   Philip Hobbs

29) 2F-FF25P QUOLIBET (FR)  7-10-08  J P McManus   Jonjo O’Nell

30) 11FP10P GRAND SLAM HERO (IRE) 10-10-07 Walters Plant Hire Ltd  Nigel Twiston-Davies

31) 3P6/454-P6 ROLL ALONG (IRE)  11-10-07 Bryan & Philippa Burrough Nigel Twiston-Davies

32) 3211-11P5 KING FONTAINE (IRE)  8-10-06  Trevor Hemmings  Malcolm Jefferson

33) 0/144/P3- STATE OF PLAY  11-10-06 William & Angela Rucker Evan Williams

34) 005P-1P HELLO BUD (IRE)  13-10-05 Seamus Murphy  Nigel Twiston-Davies

35) 566U-3431U IN COMPLIANCE (IRE) 11-10-05 Westerly Breeze Syndicate Dessie Hughes IRE

36) 6-2200010 SANTA'S SON (IRE)  11-10-05 Douglas Pryde & Jim Beaumont Howard Johnson

37) 2P/00-11P WEST END ROCKER (IRE) 9-10-05  Barry Winfield & Tim Leadbeater Alan King

38) 0C21-046 BLUESEA CRACKER (IRE) 9-10-04  Note The Link Syndicate James Motherway IRE

39) 16F-0P5P CAN'T BUY TIME (IRE)  9-10-04  J P McManus   Jonjo O'Neill

40) 000-30563 CHARACTER BUILDING (IRE) 11-10-04 Patricia Thompson  John Quinn

 
41) 1215/1P/-52 ORNAIS (FR)   9-10-04  The Stewart Family  Paul Nicholls

42) 00P-234PP PIRAYA (FR)   8-10-04  Terry Neill   David Pipe

43) PP2/111/-0 SURFACE TO AIR  10-10-04 Tim Urry   Chris Bealby

44) 3010500 THAT'S RHYTHM (FR)  11-10-04 Don't Tell Henry   Martin Todhunter

45) 0U2F-0P2 ARBOR SUPREME (IRE) 9-10-03  J P McManus   Willie Mullins IRE

46) 1F3U-P1U FRANKIE FIGG (IRE)  9-10-03  Andrea & Graham Wylie  Howard Johnson

47) 1P0-053U0 ONE COOL COOKIE (IRE) 10-10-03 Gigginstown House Stud Charlie Swan IRE

48) 013111- OUR MONTY (IRE)  8-10-03  Colland Sand & Gravel Ltd Willie Mullins IRE

49) P5U-42P ROYAL ROSA (FR)  12-10-03 Andrea & Graham Wylie  Howard Johnson

50) 0P1-00600 ALWAYS WAINING (IRE) 10-10-02 Mr & Mrs Peter James Douglas Peter Bowen

 
51) 4210010 GOLDEN KITE (IRE)  9-10-02  Dr Anthony Calnan  Adrian Maguire IRE

52) 41/313-011 SKIPPERS BRIG (IRE)  10-10-02 Ashleybank Investments Limited Nicky Richards

53) 1F4/22-1PP BELON GALE (IRE)  8-10-01  Andrea & Graham Wylie  Howard Johnson

54) 3/402P-02 FAASEL (IRE)   10-10-01 Hush Hush Partnership  David Pipe

55) 3P-02043P LE BEAU BAI (FR)  8-10-01  Glass Half Full   Richard Lee

56) 0D61-0F0 MERIGO (FR)   10-10-01 Raymond & Anita Anderson Green Andrew Parker

57) 321112 PUTNEY BRIDGE  9-10-01  Louise Goldsworthy  Keith Goldsworthy

58) 256-02162 ASKTHEMASTER (IRE) 11-10-00 Carrolle Wall   Robert Tyner IRE

59) 363221-2 DEV (IRE)   11-10-00 Liam Mulryan   Gordon Elliott IRE

60) F123-P22 GILES CROSS (IRE)  9-10-00  KCMS Partnership  Victor Dartnall

 
61) 111U0-660 SADDLERS STORM (IRE) 9-10-00  Billy Moffett/R T & J McLoughlin Tony Martin IRE

62) 11P61/0/- STARZAAN (IRE)  12-10-00 Ben Arbib   Hughie Morrison

63) 60U0-6042 AMBOBO (USA)  11-9-13  Deirdre Brassil   Martin Brassil IRE

64) 05241P6 DUERS (IRE)   9-9-13  Kate Kelly/Kate Ronan  Paul Magnier IRE

65) 31-PP11P SAGALYRIQUE (FR)  7-9-13  Sir Robert Ogden  Donald McCain

66) 311120-P TOBY JUG   10-9-13      Paul & Caron Chapman & Sarah Humphrey Sarah Humphrey

67) 5/2613-PP GALANT NUIT (FR)  7-9-12  David Parry   Ferdy Murphy

68) 3131-321 JUNIOR   8-9-12  Middleham Park Racing LI David Pipe

69) 00-5064260 THE SAWYER (BEL)  11-9-12  David Fear   Bob Buckler

70) 40F-044522 BALLYFITZ   11-9-09  Fred & Wayne Mills  Nigel Twiston-Davies

71) P0-24U344 I'MONCLOUDNINE (IRE) 8-9-09  Fred Matthews   Neil Mulholland

72) PF4-5365 POMME TIEPY (FR)  8-9-09  Susannah Ricci   Willie Mullins IRE

73) F/116PP-P TREACLE (IRE)  10-9-04  Bjorn Nielsen   Tom Taaffe IRE

74) 560-P23221 REGAL HEIGHTS (IRE) 10-9-02  Janet Heler   Tom George

 
74 entries remain after March 22 scratchings deadline

26 Irish-trained

 
The following 8 entries have been scratched: DEEP PURPLE, TATENEN, TRICKY TRICKSTER, DREAM ALLIANCE, SNOWY MORNING, GULLIBLE GORDON, MEANUS DANDY, THE SLIOTAR