04.04.08 - THE GRAND NATIONAL, RACING AT AINTREE

First reserve comes into John Smith's Grand National today after Opera Mundi drops out

Class 1, Grade 3, £800,000 total Prize Fund, 4.15pm, Aintree, Saturday, April 5, 2008. 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 3, 2008. Horses which are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain or Ireland at January 29, 2008, 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 3, 2008, 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 3, 2008. 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. Entries closed January 29, entries revealed January 30 (150 entries, 1 not qualified), weights revealed February 5, first forfeit stage March 4 (125 remained), second forfeit stage March 18 (115 remained). Five-day confirmation stage March 31 (99 remained), final declaration stage 10.00am, April 3 (40 declared runners - maximum field).

Form Horse Age/Weight Owner Trainer Jockey

1) 2/500-P502 HEDGEHUNTER (IRE) 12-11-12 Trevor Hemmings Willie Mullins IRE Ruby Walsh
2) P-2625142 HI CLOY (IRE) 11-11-12 Susan McCloy Michael Hourigan IRE Tom Doyle
3) U-135P16 KNOWHERE (IRE) 10 -11-11 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies Joe Tizzard
4) 5/122-416 MR POINTMENT (IRE) 9-11-11 Stockton Heath Racing Paul Nicholls Sam Thomas
5) 210P-P123 TURKO (FR) 6-11-10 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls Richard Johnson
6) 03-4425 MADISON DU BERLAIS (FR) 7-11-09 Roger Stanley & Yvonne Reynolds David Pipe Tom Scudamore
7) 11F-52U4 SIMON 9-11-07 Mercy Rimell John Spearing Dominic Elsworth
No 8 - has been withdrawn and the first reserve utilised - see bottom of this list.
9) r416F5PP IRON MAN (FR) 7-11-05 Roddy Owen & Paul Fullagar Peter Bowen Christian Williams
10) 6P-2412103 FUNDAMENTALIST (IRE)10-11-04 Colin Cornes Nigel Twiston-Davies Paddy Brennan
11)43011-303 BUTLER'S CABIN (FR) 8-11-03 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill Tony McCoy
12) F53-62S5 SLIM PICKINGS (IRE) 9-11-03 Doubtful Five Syndicate Tom Taaffe IRE Barry Geraghty
13) 4P3F6514 CHELSEA HARBOUR (IRE) 8-11-02 Frances Duffin Tom Mullins IRE Davy Russell
14) 400-01105 VODKA BLEU (FR) 9-11-02 David Johnson David Pipe Paul Moloney
15) 00-63003 L'AMI (FR) 9-11-01 J P McManus Francois Doumen FR Mick Fitzgerald
16) 124-F1133 SNOWY MORNING (IRE) 8-11-01 Quayside Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE David Casey
17) P/420F-2P BEWLEYS BERRY (IRE) 10-11-00 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson Denis O’Regan
18) 2P0450-0P CONTRABAND 10-11-00 Fergus Wilson Paul Murphy Keith Mercer
19) 410612-00 MCKELVEY (IRE) 9-11-00 Noel Elliott Peter Bowen Tom O’Brien
20) P-20030 JOAACI (IRE) 8-10-13 David Johnson David Pipe Johnny Farrelly
21) 2-0000403 POINT BARROW (IRE) 10-10-13 Clune Hughes,Helen O’Dwyer & John Foley Patrick Hughes IRE Tony Dobbin
22) PP2-P014 D'ARGENT (IRE) 11-10-12 Nigel Bunter Alan King Robert Thornton
23) 30-434P2 NO FULL (FR) 7-10-12 Pauline Doyle Eoin Doyle IRE Shay Barry
24) 3-F106P0 BAILY BREEZE (IRE) 9-10-11 Adam Scott Mouse Morris IRE Paddy Flood
25) 522-360P BOB HALL (IRE) 7-10-11 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neil Noel Fehily
26) 201U-5111 CLOUDY LANE 8-10-11 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain Jnr Jason Maguire
27) U22P-2221 KING JOHNS CASTLE (IRE) 9-10-11 J P McManus Arthur Moore IRE Paul Carberry
28) 422434-P36 MON MOME (FR) 8-10-11 Vida Bingham Venetia Williams Aidan Coleman
29) 026-2P0 CORNISH SETT (IRE) 9-10-10 Peter Hart Paul Nicholls Mr Nick Scholfield
30) PP-104329 NAUNTON BROOK 9-10-10 David Langdon Nigel Twiston-Davies Andrew Tinkler
31) 554-50626 TUMBLING DICE (IRE) 9-10-10 Lucy Donegan Tom Taaffe IRE Tom Ryan
32) FP/24/0-14 BACKBEAT (IRE) 11-10-09 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson Wilson Renwick
33) 6/4P/-0P21 COMPLY OR DIE (IRE) 9-10-09 David Johnson David Pipe Timmy Murphy
34) UU-20U505 IDLE TALK (IRE) 9-10-09 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain Jnr Brian Harding
35) 2P-4300F2 KELAMI (FR) 10-10-09 Halewood International Ltd Francois Doumen FR Barry Keniry
36) 11305-540 MILAN DEUX MILLE (FR) 6-10-09 Fergus & Judith Wilson David Pipe Tom Malone
37) 3PF-013P7 NADOVER (FR) 7-10-09 George Storey Charlie Mann Robbie Power
38) 0-564420 BLACK APALACHI (IRE) 9-10-08 Gerard Burke Dessie Hughes IRE Andrew McNamara
39) 1P6/04-2B PHILSON RUN (IRE) 12-10-08 Gale Force One Nick Williams Daryl Jacob
40) 0F251P-062 DUN DOIRE (IRE) 9-10-07 Dunderry Racing Syndicate Tony Martin IRE Richard McGrath
8) 62-166P0P ARDAGHEY (IRE) 9-10-07 Dave & Shirley Goodman Nigel Twiston-Davies David England

40 declared runners
Reserve 1 Ardaghey utilised after Opera Mundi was taken out early this morning. The other three reserves will not be used.
Ardaghey has been officially withdrawn from this afternoon’s totepool Handicap Chase (4.55pm).