04.04.08 - THE GRAND NATIONAL, RACING AT AINTREE

Ardaghey runs in National as Opera Mundi drops out

Nigel Twiston-Davies, who has won the John Smith's Grand National twice, will have four runners in this year's race after first reserve Ardaghey replaced non-runner Opera Mundi.
 
The late addition has seen a jockey change, with David England switching to Ardaghey from Naunton Brook, who will now be ridden by Andrew Tinkler. Ardaghey is now a non-runner in today's totepool Handicap Chase (4.55pm) at Aintree.
 
England has ridden Ardaghey several times in the past, most recently when the pair finished 10th in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton on February 23 - subsequently the horse tackled the Fulke Walwyn, Kim Muir Chase at the Cheltenham Festival where he was pulled up by amateur Ran Morgan.
 
Twiston-Davies, who won the big race with Earth Summit in 1998 and Bindaree in 2002, said this morning: "All four horses have good chances and they all jump well."
 
Asked whether he had steered stable jockey Paddy Brennan towards Fundamentalist, he said: "No, I left it to him." The trainer's other runner is Knowhere who is ridden by Joe Tizard.
Ardaghey carries the colours of Dave and Shirley Goodman, who own Southern Brick & Tile Company Ltd, a builders' merchant with five depots and a head office at Abingdon in Oxfordshire.
 
Dave Goodman said this morning: "I got a call from Nigel at 6pm last night after he got word that Opera Mundi would be a non-runner. It's an absolute thrill to have a runner in the John Smith's Grand National - I cannot wait.
 
"We're really looking forward to it, and it's marvellous that our three children, Matt, Natalie and Nick, will be up here to enjoy the day with us."
 
The Goodmans have nine horses in training with Twiston-Davies and they will be able to enjoy two runners on John Smith's Grand National day. Platin Grounds, who will be ridden by Brennan in the John Smith's Extra Smooth Handicap Hurdle (1.45pm), will also carry their colours.