11.03.11 - THE GRAND NATIONAL

CHIEF DAN GEORGE AIMING TO RULE CHELTENHAM ONCE MORE AHEAD OF JOHN SMITHS GRAND NATIONAL TILT

Cartmel handler Jimmy Moffatt is looking forward to seeing his stable star Chief Dan George return to the scenes of his two greatest triumphs as the 11-year-old warms up for this year’s John Smith’s Grand National with another appearance at next week’s Cheltenham Festival.

 Chief Dan George recorded a convincing victory over subsequent totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander in the Grade One Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree in April, 2007, and posted a game head success in the Grade Three Stewart Family Spinal Research Handicap Chase at last year’s Cheltenham Festival.

 On his latest start, he stayed on to take third behind fellow John Smith’s Grand National contenders Skippers Brig and Ballabriggs in an extended two and three-quarter mile chase at Kelso on March 5.

 Moffatt revealed: “Chief Dan George goes to Cheltenham for another crack at the Stewart Family Spinal Research Handicap Chase next Tuesday. I was delighted with his run at Kelso because there was no gallop early on - they crawled for two miles and it turned into a six-furlong race over fences.

 “He was comprehensively outpaced but ran on all the way to the line and was only eight lengths behind Ballabriggs, plus he was giving weight to both him and Skippers Brig.

 “It’s been a hard winter and that was the first time this season that he got ground that was near to his favoured good going and he’s come out of the race really well, so I was very pleased with him.

 “He is a spring horse and he always runs well at Cheltenham. It’s very hard to post back-to-back wins in handicaps at The Festival but, at the same time, he returns there in great form and I would definitely expect him to be in the first five or six.

 “The John Smith’s Grand National is definitely the aim after next week. Due to the weather, we have had a lack of racing earlier on this season and the result is that we have a fresh horse who has been effectively trained for Aintree since we missed out on the race last year.

 “He is a very clever jumper, who is very quick on his feet and he has a very sharp mind, and we are hoping that we can have a bit of luck over the National fences.”

Chief Dan George is currently a 33/1 chance with totesport, official betting partner of the 2011 John Smith’s Grand National meeting, for this year’s John Smith’s Grand National, which carries record prize money of £950,000 and takes place on Saturday, April 9.

 The Cheltenham Festival is set to yield plenty of clues for Aintree. Don’t Push It, who gave Tony (A P) McCoy a first victory in the world’s greatest steeplechase at the 15th attempt last year, is once again set to have his final preparation ahead of Aintree in the Listed Pertemps Final, on Thursday, March 17, having been pulled up in the handicap hurdle 12 months ago.

 Chief Dan George could re-oppose Skippers Brig in the Stewart Family Spinal Research Handicap Chase and the pair may be joined in the extended three-mile contest by fellow Aintree contenders Tatenen and King Fontaine.

 Midnight Chase could be aimed at Aintree depending on how he gets on in the Grade One totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup a week today and he could be joined in chasing’s Blue Riband by What A Friend and Tidal Bay, while more John Smith’s Grand National hopefuls - Dream Alliance, Gullible Gordon, One Cool Cookie and Quilobet - feature among the six-day confirmations for Tuesday’s Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase.

 Away from Cheltenham, the Chris Bealby-trained Surface To Air is set to make his first appearance since landing the Listed Summer National in June, 2008, when he lines up in a handicap hurdle at Market Rasen on Sunday.

 The second scratchings deadline for the John Smith’s Grand National is at noon on Tuesday, March 22.

 John Smith’s Grand National official betting partner totesport’s latest betting:

12 Backstage, The Midnight Club, 14 Ballabriggs, Big Fella Thanks, Silver By Nature, 16 Arbor Supreme, Niche Market, Oscar Time, Quinz, 20 Don’t Push It, 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, I’moncloudnine, In Compliance, One Cool Cookie, Our Monty, What A Friend, 40 Ballyfitz, Dooneys Gate, Gullible Gordon, Killyglen, Northern Alliance, Surface To Air, The Tother One, Tidal Bay, Tricky Trickster, 50 Belon Gale, Can’t Buy Time, Comply Or Die, Deep Purple, Frankie Figg, Galant Nuit, Golden Kite, Junior, King Fontaine, Nedzers Return, Or Noir de Somoza, Ornais, Quolibet, Saddlers Storm, Tatenen, 66 Always Waining, Ambobo, Grand Slam Hero, Le Beau Bai, Pomme Tiepy, Roll Along, Royal Rosa, Sagalyrique, Scotsirish, The Sawyer, The Sliotar, Toby Jug, Treacle, 100 Askthemaster, Dev, Dream Alliance, Duers, Faasel, Piraya, Putney Bridge, Santas Son, Starzaan, That’s Rhythm

 Each-way ¼ 1-2-3-4

 TICKETS

The 2011 John Smith's Grand National Meeting runs from Thursday, April 7, to Saturday, April 9, and features top-class racing on each day. Tickets and hospitality packages are still available. Visit www.aintree.co.uk for further information or call 0844 579 3001.

 Seats are still available on Thursday from £24 in West Tip and £50 in one of Aintree’s newest stands, the Lord Sefton. General Tattersalls admission is still available from £21 and hospitality packages can be purchased from £158. Also on Thursday, Liverpool group The Farm will perform for 60 minutes following racing.

 For further information, please contact Emma Owen, Aintree's Marketing and PR Manager