23.03.10 - THE GRAND NATIONAL

75 Go Forward in John Smith's Grand National

Last year’s 100/1 shock winner Mon Mome, who finished an excellent third in Friday’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, is among 75 performers who remain in the 2010 John Smith’s Grand National after today’s scratchings deadline and Venetia Williams’ charge is currently 10/1 second favourite with totesport for the 2010 race.

No less than 63 of the remaining horses - a remarkable 84 per cent - are still in the handicap for the 2010 John Smith’s Grand National, which takes place at Aintree at 4.15pm on Saturday, April 10. There is a maximum field size of 40, with a weight of at least 10st 7lb currently needed to make the final line up.

The John Smith’s Grand National, this year carrying a record £925,000 in prize money, is one race still to elude champion trainer Paul Nicholls but he has four chances of adding the world’s most famous chase to his CV next month. Big Fella Thanks, winner of a Grade Three handicap chase at Newbury earlier this month, is currently totesport’s 8/1 favourite for the John Smith’s Grand National, and Tricky Trickster, who was unplaced in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup after winning the Grade Two Aon Chase on his previous start, are among Nicholls’ leading hopes.

Six of the last 11 John Smith’s Grand National winners were trained in Ireland and there  are 25 contenders who could add to that record in 2010 including Vic Venturi, winner of the totesport.com Becher Chase at Aintree in November, and Black Apalachi, who landed the same race in 2008. Both represent Curragh trainer Dessie Hughes.

The 2007 John Smith’s Grand National winner Silver Birch needs 11 horses to come out of the race to be guaranteed a run while Comply Or Die, successful in the 2008 renewal and runner-up in 2009, is certain of a place in this year’s line-up.

Other leading contenders include The Package, who was a fast-finishing second in the William Hill Trophy Chase at Cheltenham last week, Welsh National hero Dream Alliance and 2009 Irish Grand National winner Niche Market, who will bid to give trainer Bob Buckler his biggest success at Aintree on Saturday, April 10.

The five-day confirmation deadline for the 2010 John Smith’s Grand National is on Monday, April 5 and the final declaration stage on Thursday, April 8.

THE 2010 JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL

Class 1, Grade 3, £925,000 total Prize Fund. 4.15pm, Aintree, Saturday, April 10, 2010, four miles and four furlongs. For six-year-olds 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 14, 2010. Horses which are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain or Ireland at February 2, 2010, 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 14, 2010, 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 14, 2010. 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 2, entries revealed February 3 (112 entries. 1 subsequently scratched), weights revealed February 16, first scratchings deadline March 2 (98 remain), second scratchings deadline March 23 (75 remain). Five/six-day confirmation stage April 5, final declaration stage 10.00am, April 8. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Sunday, March 21.

Form  Horse       Age/Wgt  Owner       Trainer

1) 101-3244  MADISON DU BERLAIS (FR) 9-11-10 Roger Stanley & Yvonne Reynolds II David Pipe

2) 12-1F544U  NOTRE PERE (FR)   9-11-10 Tilly Conway    Jim Dreaper IRE

3) 001-P3463 MON MOME (FR)  10-11-07 Vida Bingham   Venetia Williams

4) P151U-02  BLACK APALACHI (IRE) 11-11-06 Gerard Burke   Dessie Hughes IRE

5) 15-50030  JOE LIVELY (IRE)  11-11-06 Richard Dimond  Colin Tizzard

6) 0-211501  VIC VENTURI (IRE)  10-11-06 James Dunne   Dessie Hughes IRE

7) 1/P002-00  COMPLY OR DIE (IRE) 11-11-05 David Johnson   David Pipe

8) 201-423P  DON'T PUSH IT (IRE)  10-11-05 J P McManus      Jonjo O'Neill

9) 3-3U2404P MADE IN TAIPAN (IRE) 8-11-04  Frances Duffin/Sean Corby  Tom Mullins IRE

10) 401-03520 NICHE MARKET (IRE)  9-11-04  Graham Regan     Bob Buckler

11) 22121-210 TRICKY TRICKSTER (IRE) 7-11-04  Chris Giles      Paul Nicholls

12) 31FU-3644 CLOUDY LANE  10-11-03  Trevor Hemmings    Donald McCain Jnr

13) PUPP/-21P DREAM ALLIANCE  9-11-03  The Alliance Partnership  Philip Hobbs

14) 1P00-60 NOZIC (FR)   9-11-03  Coral Racing Ltd     Paul Nicholls

15) 553-2057 MY WILL (FR)   10-11-02  The Stewart Family    Paul Nicholls

16) 3606-4F  PABLO DU CHARMIL (FR) 9-11-02  Joe Moran      David Pipe

17) 0112313  BACKSTAGE (FR)   8-11-00  MPR & Capranny Syndicate  Gordon Elliott IRE

18) P6-51110  BALLYHOLLAND (IRE) 9-11-00  Cathal McGovern    Colin McBratney IRE

19) FP-1P1PP  BEAT THE BOYS (IRE) 9-11-00  New Club Ladies    Nigel Twiston-Davies

20) 100-000U0  PREISTS LEAP (IRE)  10-11-00 John O'Donohue/Tom O'Leary  Tom O'Leary IRE

21) 314F-016  CAN'T BUY TIME (IRE)  8-10-13  J P McManus      Jonjo O'Neill

22) 1103223  SNOWY MORNING (IRE)  10-10-13  Quayside Syndicate    Willie Mullins IRE

23) 2506-P3UF AIR FORCE ONE (GER)  8-10-12  Brian Walsh (Co. Kildare)  Charlie Mann

24) 2U136-2U1 BIG FELLA THANKS    8-10-12  Maggie Findlay & Paul Barber  Paul Nicholls

25) 113-41230  DEUTSCHLAND (USA)  7-10-12  Allan McLuckie     Willie Mullins IRE

26) 143301-00  CHARACTER BUILDING (IRE) 10-10-11  Mrs E Wright      John Quinn

27) F0-52600  CHELSEA HARBOUR (IRE)  10-10-11 Frances Duffin/Sean Corby  Tom Mullins IRE

28) 02U-301F2 DOONEYS GATE (IRE)  9-10-11  Thomas Gilligan    Willie Mullins IRE

29) 60/144-P  STATE OF PLAY    10-10-11 William & Angela Rucker  Evan Williams

30) 00-12100  ELLERSLIE GEORGE (IRE) 10-10-10  Guy Henderson    Nick Mitchell

31) 2P-4P1540 BALLYFITZ      10-10-09  Fred & Wayne Mills   Nigel Twiston-Davies

32) 043545U  CONNA CASTLE (IRE)   11-10-09  Kings Syndicate    Jimmy Mangan IRE

33) P23-15P6  EQUUS MAXIMUS (IRE)  10-10-09  Greenstar Syndicate    Willie Mullins IRE

34) 02P5-011  ERIC'S CHARM (FR)    12-10-09  Martin St Quinton & Peter Deal Oliver Sherwood

35) 212/0-0000 KING JOHNS CASTLE (IRE) 11-10-09  J P McManus   Arthur Moore IRE

36) F2-305467  OLLIE MAGERN    12-10-09  Roger Nicholls     Nigel Twiston-Davies

37) 330-30U2  ARBOR SUPREME (IRE)  8-10-08  J P McManus      Willie Mullins IRE

38) 36244/-660 LENNON (IRE)     10-10-08  Andrea & Graham Wylie  Howard Johnson

39) 02P-253  MALJIMAR (IRE)    10-10-08  Jane Williams     Nick Williams

40) U01-4U5  IRISH RAPTOR (IRE)    11-10-07  Caroline Beresford-Wylie  Nigel Twiston-Davies

41) 6P/6220-0  MR POINTMENT (IRE)   11-10-07  Judith Wilson      Paul Murphy

42) 000-33010  PIRAYA (FR)      7-10-07  Terry Neill      David Pipe

43) 3-012401P  RAZOR ROYALE (IRE)   8-10-07  Colin Cornes      Nigel Twiston-Davies

44) 03-02312  THE PACKAGE    7-10-07  David Johnson     David Pipe

45) 11-035U00  HELLO BUD (IRE)    12-10-06  Seamus Murphy    Nigel Twiston-Davies

46) 1P6-1420  PALYPSO DE CREEK (FR)  7-10-06  Alan Halsall      Charlie Longsdon

47) 23/32-31P  ABBEYBRANEY (IRE)   9-10-05  Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson

48) 50PP/05-0 CERIUM (FR)     9-10-05  Judith Wilson      Paul Murphy

49) P63/52-P  FLINTOFF (USA)    9-10-05  Andrew Flintoff & Paul Beck Venetia Williams

50) 56/-33P5  ROYAL ROSA (FR)    11-10-05  Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson

51) 0F-26r20  SILVER BIRCH (IRE)    13-10-05  Brian Walsh (Co. Kildare)  Gordon Elliott IRE

52) -3PP462F  KNOWHERE (IRE)  12-10-04  Raymond Mould  Nigel Twiston-Davies

53) 3025-0560  OODACHEE      11-10-04  Modreeny Syndicate  Charlie Swan IRE

54) P4F1311  WHINSTONE BOY (IRE)  9-10-04  Whinstone Syndicate  Jimmy Mangan IRE

55) 0P03-402  FAASEL (IRE)     9-10-03  Hush Hush Partnership  David Pipe

56) P/1r40P-0  OFFICIER DE RESERVE (FR) 8-10-03  Seasons Holidays    Venetia Williams

57) 115-30011  CHIEF DAN GEORGE (IRE)  10-10-02  Maurice Chapman    Jimmy Moffatt

58) 111P20  DUERS (IRE)      8-10-02  Kate Kelly/Kate Ronan    Paul Magnier IRE

59) P01-1F01  BALLYTRIM (IRE)    9-10-01  Violet O'Leary     Willie Mullins IRE

60) 20-0U004  OFFSHORE ACCOUNT (IRE)  10-10-01  Brian Polly      Charlie Swan IRE
 

61) 0/-P220P6  PAK JACK (FR)    10-10-01  The Pak Jack Partnership  Richard Phillips

62) 366//4-547  KINGS ADVOCATE (IRE)  10-10-00  Maine Syndicate    Tom Taaffe IRE

63) 1/3F-116P  TREACLE (IRE)    9-10-00  Bjorn Nielsen      Tom Taaffe IRE

64) 145-2613  GALANT NUIT (FR)  6-9-13   David Parry      Ferdy Murphy

65) 00F4215  ANOTHERCOPPERCOAST (IRE)10-9-12  Eileen Queally     Paul Roche IRE

66) 31F4-22  BELON GALE (IRE)    7-9-12    Andrea & Graham Wylie  Howard Johnson

67) 45-0600P  POMME TIEPY (FR)    7-9-12   Susannah Ricci     Willie Mullins IRE

68) 1021-02D6  MERIGO (FR)     9-9-10   Ray & Anita Green   Andrew Parker

69) 53414-00   CHIARO (FR)     8-9-09   Andrew Cohen     Philip Hobbs

70) 5/44-U335P ACCORDING TO JOHN (IRE) 10-9-08  Sir Robert Ogden    Nicky Richards
 

71) 24-512P0P LORUM LEADER (IRE)  9-9-07   Dr Richard & Laura Newland  Dr Richard Newland

72) 1342/-0PP0 OVER THE CREEK    11-9-04  David Johnson     David Pipe

73) 253-346  COSSACK DANCER (IRE)  12-9-01  The United Front Partnership  Mark Bradstock

74) 0/13P/-FP52 WEE ROBBIE     10-9-00  P H Betts (Holdings) Ltd Nick Gifford

75) 2U1/P6P-4P OFFALY (IRE)     9-8-12   The Pole to Pole Partnership Pru Townsley

75 entries remain after March 23 scratchings deadline

25 Irish-trained

THE FOLLOWING 23 ENTRIES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED:

ALBERTAS RUN (IRE), TARANIS (FR), OUR VIC (IRE), CASEY JONES (IRE), POSSOL (FR), WAR OF ATTRITION (IRE), ROULEZ COOL, LE BEAU BAI (FR), SEVEN IS MY NUMBER (IRE), LOUPING D'AINAY (FR), GONE TO LUNCH (IRE), KORNATI KID, FOLLOW THE PLAN (IRE), CANE BRAKE (IRE), NEW ALCO (FR), PARSONS PISTOL (IRE), IRIS DE BALME (FR), TRUST FUND (IRE), COE (IRE), MUMBLES HEAD (IRE), SIZING AUSTRALIA (IRE), TRABOLGAN (IRE), BOYCHUK (IRE).