08.04.10 - THE GRAND NATIONAL

NEWS AND QUOTES FROM DAY ONE OF THE JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL

CROWD FIGURE
The opening day of the John Smith’s Grand National meeting has been christened ‘Liverpool Day’ and racing enthusiasts and locals alike turned out in droves to enjoy a feast of good jumping action and some welcome spring sunshine.

The first-day attendance figure at Aintree was 26,431, an increase of nearly 5% on last year’s figure of 25,218.

Julian Thick, managing director of Aintree Racecourse, said: “We’re delighted with the crowd figure. The inaugural Liverpool Day has been received very positively and we are looking forward to the rest of the meeting.”

TOMLINSON CUTS THE RIBBON FOR INAUGURAL LIVERPOOL DAY

Immediately prior to the start of racing at the John Smith’s Grand National Meeting, Ricky Tomlinson, star of The Royle Family and potential parliamentary candidate, cut the ribbon to declare the inaugural Liverpool Day open.

“I love this city. It’s a bouncing vibrant place. And Liverpool Day has added so much to the occasion. The Grand National meeting is world famous and this will now always be known as Liverpool Day and it will go round the world,” he said.

A parade of famous sporting stars from Liverpool embellished the occasion. Football legends John Aldridge, Alan Kennedy,

Joe Royle and Colin Harvey; rugby league stars Paul Sculthorpe and Paul Wellens; Olympic medallists Steve Parry, from swimming, and David Price, from boxing, were on hand.

None though could match the Tomlinson’s sartorial sense. Wearing ill-fitting (very ill-fitting) racing silks of quartered purple and white (apparently courtesy of a fancy-dress shop), the Liverpudlian actor claimed to be on call in case he was needed to ride.

“I borrowed this from Lester Piggott,” he claimed, “And he wants it back later.”

Even though he is not much of a gambler, Tomlinson will have a small wager in the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday, as everyone does. “I’ll have 50p each way on Royal Rosa, because everyone thinks I own it,” he said. Clearly no one had told him that the horse is still only third reserve for the race.
Before Saturday’s race though, Tomlinson has another very important appointment. He is one of just two who have been shortlisted for the Socialist Labour Party’s candidacy for the Liverpool Wavertree constituency, so he could well be standing in next month’s election.

NINA CARBERRY TAKES RIDE ON CHARACTER BUILDING

Amateur rider Nina Carberry has been booked to ride the John Quinn-trained Character Building in the John Smith’s Grand National. The 10-year-old gelding, who is set to have his first start in the big race, was bought earlier this week by Patricia Thompson of Cheveley Park Stud, owners of the 1992 winner Party Politics. Confirming the booking, John Quinn said this morning: “Mrs Thompson said she was a huge fan of Nina and said she would like her to ride the horse if Tony McCoy, Ruby Walsh or a top jockey was not available.

“She asked me what I thought and one could only say that she’s outstanding. Mrs Thompson asked me to book Nina so I rang to ask her if she’d like the ride and she said she’d be delighted.”

Character Building will be Nina Carberry’s second John Smith’s Grand National partner after the amateur jockey rode Forest Gunner into ninth place in 2006 becoming the fourth female rider in history to complete the course. Her brother Paul won the 1999 Grand National on Bobbyjo, trained by their father Tommy.

The last time the John Smith’s Grand National was won by an amateur jockey was in 1990 when Marcus Armytage, now racing correspondent for the Daily Telegraph, won in record time on Mr Frisk.

McCOY TO RIDE DON’T PUSH IT, McLERNON SET FOR FIRST NATIONAL RIDE ON CAN’T BUY TIME

Champion jockey AP McCoy has opted to ride JP McManus’s Don’t Push It, leaving the ride on Can’t Buy Time, also owned by McManus and trained by Jonjo O’Neill, to Richie McLernon, who is set to have his first ride in the John Smith’s Grand National.

Despite having landed the National Hunt jockeys’ championship for a record 14 times, McCoy is yet to win the Grand National. In 14 rides in the world’s most famous steeplechase, he has completed five times, finishing third on three occasions on Blowing Wind (twice) and Clan Royal.

Frank Berry, racing manager to JP McManus, said: “We left the decision completely up to AP (McCoy). It didn’t matter to us which one he wanted to ride and he’s happy with Don’t Push It.

“It’s a big day for Richie (McLernon) as it’s his first ride in the race but he knows the horse well and he’s won on him. He’ll just need a bit of luck after that but we’re hoping for the best.”

JOCKEYS SHOW SUPPORT FOR ALDER HEY

Jockeys taking part in the year’s John Smith’s Grand National meeting will be making their annual visit to Alder Hey’s cancer unit before racing tomorrow (Friday, April 9) to meet the patients who benefit from their fantastic support.

The visit is led by Imagine patrons, champion jump jockey AP McCoy and Mick Fitzgerald who has now retired from National Hunt racing

McCoy said: “It’s such a moving experience to visit these young patients and their families and share a little bit of their day. We’ve been coming here before racing on Friday for the past nine years and it certainly gives us a sense of perspective”

During the visit, the jockeys will meet patient, Christopher Jones who has been raising money with his “Caps on 4 Cancer” campaign. He has managed to acquire 10 signed jockey’s caps from the racing industry including one from last year’s Grand National winning jockey, Liam Treadwell , plus McCoy which he’s hoping to auction on Ebay.

The hospital’s Imagine Appeal charity has been named as the official charity partner for the three-day Aintree meeting for the fifth year in succession.
COLEMAN TO HOSPITAL FOR ASSESSMENT
Aidan Coleman, due to ride last year’s John Smith’s Grand National winner Mon Mome in the big race on Saturday, was unseated from Double Handful at the first hurdle in the Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle and has been taken to hospital for assessment.

Coleman had to be supported on the walk to the ambulance and he is being assessed for possible abdominal and shoulder injuries.

COLEMAN DISCHARGED BY FAZAKERLEY HOSPITAL
Aidan Coleman, due to ride last year’s John Smith’s Grand National winner Mon Mome in the big race on Saturday, has been discharged by Fazakerley Hospital after being taken there when unseated from Double Handful at the first hurdle in the Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle. Coleman, who gave up his rides for the rest of today, will have to pass the Aintree doctors tomorrow in order to resume
riding.

DECLARED RUNNERS FOR SATURDAY’S JOHN SMITH’S DICK FRANCIS AINTREE HURDLE
Grade 1, 2.50pm, Saturday, April 10
Horse Trainer Weight Jockey
1 Celestial Halo (IRE) (ts) Paul Nicholls 11st 7lb Ruby Walsh
2 Khyber Kim Nigel Twiston-Davies 11st 7lb Paddy Brennan
3 Muirhead (IRE) Noel Meade IRE 11st 7lb Paul Carberry
4 Petit Robin (FR) Nicky Henderson 11st 7lb Tony McCoy
5 Quwetwo Howard Johnson 11st 7lb Denis O'Regan
6 Souffleur Peter Bowen 11st 7lb Tom O'Brien
7 Won In The Dark (IRE) Sabrina Harty IRE 11st 7lb Davy Russell
8 Zaynar (FR) (Sheep. C/P) Nicky Henderson 11st 7lb Barry Geraghty

GROUND UPDATE

Aintree’s Director of Racing and Clerk of the Course, Andrew Tulloch, is not planning to change the official ground description overnight so the going remains:
Mildmay and Hurdle Courses - Good, Good to Soft in places
Grand National Course - Good to Soft, Soft in places
“We’ll be moving some rails in tonight so they will be racing on some fresh ground tomorrow and some of that will be easier. We’ll have a look tomorrow and keep monitoring things,” said Tulloch. “The forecast remains as it was for a dry night tonight.”

G4S Leading Jockey Award
First Day Standings
Jockey 1st 2nd 3rd
Ruby Walsh 2 - 3
Barry Geraghty 1 1 -
Robert Thornton 1 1 -
Davy Condon 1 - -
Sean Quinlan 1 - -
Mr Tom Weston 1 - -
Tony McCoy - 1 1
Mattie Batchelor - 1 -
Mr Alan Berry - 1 -
Tom O’Brien - 1 -
Andrew Thornton - 1 -
Richard Johnson - - 1
Mr Ryan Mahon - - 1
Joe Tizzard - - 1
Leading Trainer Award
First Day Standings
Trainer 1st 2nd 3rd
Paul Nicholls 2 - 3
Milton Harris 1 - -
Nicky Henderson 1 - -
Alan King 1 - -
Dr Richard Newland 1 - -
Michael Smith 1 - -
Caroline Bailey - 1 -
Peter Bowen - 1 -
Mark Bradstock - 1 -
Rebecca Curtis - 1 -
Henrietta Knight - 1 -
Jonjo O’Neill - 1 -
Evan Williams - 1 -
Henry Daly - - 1
Tom George - - 1
David Staddon - - 1
Colin Tizzard - - 1

THURSDAY’S WINNERS
2pm BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle (Grade One)
BIG BUCK'S (FR) (The Stewart Family) Paul Nicholls 7-11-7 Ruby Walsh 30/100f
2.35pm Matalan Anniversary 4-y-o Novices' Hurdle (Grade One)
ORSIPPUS (USA) (Sandra Smith) Michael Smith 4-11-0 Davy Condon 40/1
3.10pm totesport Bowl Chase (Grade One)
WHAT A FRIEND (Ged Mason & Sir Alex Ferguson) Paul Nicholls 7-11-7 Ruby Walsh 5/2
3.45pm JOHN SMITH'S FOX HUNTERS' CHASE
SILVER ADONIS (IRE) (C Stedman & R Corsan) Dr Richard Newland 9-12-0p Mr Tom Weston 50/1
4.20pm Alder Hey Imagine Appeal Red Rum Handicap Chase (Grade Three)
CHANINBAR (FR) (John Watts, Caroline Thompson, John Naylor) Milton Harris 7-10-8v1 Sean Quinlan (3) 20/1
4.55pm totepool Manifesto Novices' Chase (Grade Two)
MAD MAX (IRE) (Carole Skipworth & Paul Murphy) Nicky Henderson 8-11-4 Barry Geraghty 4/1
5.30pm Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle (Listed)
SIR HARRY ORMESHER (David Sewell) Alan King 7-11-1 Robert Thornton 16/1