06.04.11 - THE GRAND NATIONAL

GOING CHANGED AFTER DRY & SUNNY DAY AT AINTREE

GOING CHANGE THIS AFTERNOON, LAST YEAR’S WINNER BACKED, SATURDAY SOLD OUT, GREYS, FAVOURITES, JOHN SMITH GRAND NATIONAL POSSIBLE RUNNERS

 GOING CHANGED AFTER DRY & SUNNY DAY AT AINTREE

 The going descriptions, on the eve of the John Smith’s Grand National meeting, have been changed following a warm afternoon.

 Mildmay Course - Good to soft, good in places - GoingStick reading 6.9 at 4pm today - (from good to soft, soft in places)

 Hurdle Course - Good to soft - GoingStick reading 6.7 at 4pm today - (from good to soft, soft in places)

 Grand National Course - Good to soft, soft in places from 7th to 11th fences - GoingStick reading 6.3 at 4pm today - (from soft, good to soft in places)

 Andrew Tulloch, Aintree's Clerk of the Course and Director of Racing, commented: “It has been a drying day with a good breeze. Temperatures this afternoon reached 18C and the ground has dried up a bit.

 “The next two days are forecast to be dry and cloudy with sunny intervals. We will monitor the ground conditions and water during the meeting if necessary.”

 The weather forecast is as follows:

 Wednesday - dry and cloudy with some sunny spells, windy, 17C.

 Thursday - dry and cloudy with sunny spells, cooler, 12C.

 Friday - dry with sunny spells, 14C.

 Saturday - dry and cloudy with sunny spells, warm, 18C.

 DON'T PUSH IT CUT FOR GRAND NATIONAL AS GAMBLE GATHERS MOMENTUM

 Don’t Push It has been trimmed to 12/1 (from 14/1) by Aintree’s official betting partner totesport as punters begin to warm to the possibility of Tony (A P) McCoy’s mount becoming the first back-to-back winner of the John Smith’s Grand National since Red Rum.

Last year’s winner has also been cut to 4/1 (from 11/2) to go off favourite for the race as further support for the 15-time champion jockey is certain to come from once-a-year punters who will now be familiar with McCoy after his success in last year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

 “We’d been bracing ourselves for the inevitable gamble on Don’t Push It but it’s come earlier than expected and there is a real possibility that Tony McCoy’s mount could well go off favourite for the National on Saturday,” said totesport spokesman George Primarolo.

 John Smith’s Grand National - totesport bet: 9 The Midnight Club, 11 Backstage, What A Friend, 12 (from 14) Don’t Push It, Oscar Time, Silver By Nature, What A Friend, 14 Ballabriggs, Big Fella Thanks, 16 Arbor Supreme, Niche Market, 20 Bluesea Cracker, Quinz, 25 Becauseicouldntsee, Character Building, Junior, Majestic Concorde, State Of Play, West End Rocker, 33 Calgary Bay, Chief Dan George, Comply Or Die, Giles Cross, Hello Bud, I’moncloudnine, In Compliance, Merigo, Northern Alliance, Or Noir De Somoza, Skippers Brig, Vic Venturi, 40 Ballyfitz, Killyglen, Surface To Air, The Tother One, Tidal Bay, 50 bar.

A quarter the odds 1-2-3-4

 John Smith’s Grand National:  Who Will Start Favourite? - totesport bet: 2 The Midnight Club, 4 (from 11/2) Don’t Push It, 9/2 What A Friend, 11/2 Backstage, 7 Oscar Time, 8 Ballabriggs, 14 Silver By Nature, 16 Big Fella Thanks, 25 Bluesea Cracker, Niche Market, 33 Becauseicouldntsee.

Win Only - Others On Request. Dead-heat rules apply for joint or co-favourites

 JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL MEETING TICKET UPDATE

 SATURDAY SOLD OUT

 Tickets for Saturday, April 9, John Smith's Grand National day, are now sold out. No tickets will be available to purchase at Aintree on the day. It is the first time John Smith’s Grand National day has completely sold out since the racecourse was acquired by The Jockey Club in 1984 and over 70,000 racegoers will be present. An exact figure will be issued on the day.

 FRIDAY SELLING FAST

 Tickets for Friday, April 8, Ladies' Day, are selling well and the racecourse has fewer Friday tickets left for the day this year than in 2010.  To avoid disappointment, the racecourse is urging racegoers who wish to attend Ladies’ Day not to leave it to chance and to purchase in advance.

 Tickets can be bought in person from the booking office at the racecourse on Grand National Avenue or by telephone - 0844 579 3001.

 THURSDAY TICKETS AVAILABLE

 Tickets for Liverpool Day, Thursday, April 7, are still available, including West Tip Seats at £24.

 Tickets can be purchased in person from the booking office at the racecourse on Grand National Avenue or by telephone - 0844 579 3001.

 OVER 150,000 PEOPLE WILL ATTEND THE THREE-DAY JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL MEETING

 Last year’s attendance at the John Smith’s Grand National meeting at Aintree came to 150,426 over the three days, the second-highest level since 1984. The present record is 151,660 seen in 2005, while the lowest attendance was 46,083 in 1984. A new record three-day attendance is predicted to be achieved this year.

 AMAZING GREYS

 Only two grey horses have won previous editions of the John Smith’s Grand National, The Lamb in 1868 and 1871, and Nicolaus Silver in 1961.

 This year Silver By Nature, trained by Lucinda Russell, is among the leading fancies to make it a silver golden jubilee for his colour.

 Since Nicolaus Silver, six greys have been second, third or fourth seven times.

 They are:

 1969: The Beeches (100/6) 4th

 1982: Loving Words (16/1) 3rd

 1997: Suny Bay (8/1 second favourite) 2nd

 1998: Suny Bay (11/1) 2nd

 2002: What’s Up Boys (10/1 co-second favourite) 2nd, Kingsmark (16/1) 4th

 2008: King Johns Castle (20/1) 2nd

 FATES OF THE FAVOURITES

 The last 20 years have seen five market leaders succeed, while seven have finished second, third or fourth.

 Year Favourite/price/place    Winner if not favourite    

2010 

Don’t Push It   10/1 WON

Big Fella Thanks  10/1 4th

 2009 

Butler’s Cabin  7/1 7th  Winner: Mon Mome 100/1

 2008 

Comply Or Die  7/1 WON

Cloudy Lane   7/1 6th

 2007 

Point Barrow   8/1 fell1st  Winner: Silver Birch 33/1  

Monkerhostin  8/1 ref7th

Joes Edge   8/1 pu20th

 2006 

Hedgehunter   5/1 2nd  Winner: Numbersixvalverde 11/1

 Clan Royal   5/1 3rd

 2005 

Hedgehunter   7/1 WON

 2004 

Clan Royal   10/1 2nd  Winner: Amberleigh House 16/1

Jurancon   10/1 fell4th

Bindaree   10/1 ur6th

Joss Naylor   10/1 pu19th

 2003 

Shotgun Willy  7/1 pu22nd  Winner: Monty’s Pass 16/1

 2002 

Blowing Wind  8/1 3rd  Winner: Bindaree 20/1

 2001 

Inis Cara   10/1 fell4th   Winner: Red Marauder 33/1

Moral Support 10/1 bd8th

Edmond   10/1 fell15th

2000

Dark Stranger  9/1 ur3rd  Winner: Papillon 10/1

 1999

Fiddling The Facts  6/1 fell22nd  Winner: Bobbyjo 10/1

 1998

Earth Summit  7/1 WON

 1997

Go Ballistic   7/1 pu28th  Winner: Lord Gyllene 14/1

 1996

Rough Quest   7/1 WON

 1995

Master Oats   5/1 7th  Winner: Royal Athlete 40/1

 1994

Moorcroft Boy  5/1 3rd  Winner: Miinnehoma 16/1

 1992 

Docklands Express 15/2 4th  Winner: Party Politics 14/1

 1991 

Bonanza Boy   13/2 5th   Winner: Seagram 12/1

 1990 

Brown Windsor  7/1 4th  Winner: Mr Frisk 16/1

 THE 2011 JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL

Class 1, Grade 3, £950,000 total Prize Fund. 4.15pm, Aintree, Saturday, April  9, 2011, four miles and four furlongs. 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 13, 2011. Horses which are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain or Ireland at February 1, 2011, 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 13, 2011, 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 13, 2011. 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 1, entries revealed February 2 (102 entries, 3  subsequently scratched), weights revealed February 15, first scratchings deadline March 1 (82 remained), second scratchings deadline March 22 (74 remained). Five-day confirmation stage April 4 (65 five-day confirmations), final declaration stage 10.00am, April 7 - maximum field size of 40, plus 4 reserves. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Wednesday, April 6. WITH CORRECT NUMBERING & ORDER OF ELIMINATIO

Form  Horse    Age/Wgt  Owner   Trainer/Probable Jockey

1) P1-P000 DON'T PUSH IT (IRE)  11-11-10  J P McManus  Jonjo O'Neill/Tony McCoy

2) 04-3226 TIDAL BAY (IRE)  10-11-09  Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson/Brian Hughes

3) 211-524 WHAT A FRIEND  8-11-06  Ged Mason & Sir Alex Ferguson Paul Nicholls/Daryl Jacob

4) 1B-0044 VIC VENTURI (IRE)  11-11-06  Seamus Dunne  Dessie Hughes IRE/Andrew Lynch

5) U62/1-31 MAJESTIC CONCORDE (IRE) 8-11-05  Dr Ronan Lambe Dermot Weld IRE/Mr Robbie McNamara

6) 42F14 OR NOIR DE SOMOZA (FR) 9-11-05  Filsal Stadeg Racing David Pipe/Tom Scudamore

7) 1F24-41 DOONEYS GATE (IRE) 10-11-04  Jackie Mullins         Willie Mullins IRE/Mr Patrick Mullins

8) 14-2F44 BIG FELLA THANKS  9-11-01  Crossed Fingers Partnership Ferdy Murphy/Graham Lee

9) 205-244 THE TOTHER ONE (IRE) 10-11-00  Graham Roach  Paul Nicholls/Mr Ryan Mahon

10) 111-112 BALLABRIGGS (IRE)  10-11-00  Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain/Jason Maguire

 11) 3133-21 THE MIDNIGHT CLUB (IRE) 10-10-13 Susannah Ricci  Willie Mullins IRE/Ruby Walsh

12) 20P-F50 NICHE MARKET (IRE)  10-10-13 Graham Regan  Paul Nicholls/Harry Skelton

13) 121-001 SILVER BY NATURE  9-10-12 Geoff Brown  Lucinda Russell/Peter Buchanan

14) 0BP-500 BACKSTAGE (FR)  9-10-12 MPR & Capranny Syndicate Gordon Elliott IRE/Paul Carberry

15) 11-053F  CHIEF DAN GEORGE (IRE) 11-10-12 Maurice Chapman Jimmy Moffatt/Paddy Aspell

16) 4-56242 CALGARY BAY (IRE)  8-10-10 Camilla Radford Henrietta Knight/Hadden Frost

17) 2P-2536 KILLYGLEN (IRE)  9-10-10 David McCammon Stuart Crawford IRE/Robert Power

18) 152-263 OSCAR TIME (IRE) 10-10-09 Robert Waley-Cohen/Sir Martin & Steve Broughton Martin Lynch IRE/ Mr Sam Waley-Cohen

19) 10-1131 QUINZ (FR)   7-10-08 Andrew Cohen  Philip Hobbs/Richard Johnson

20) 500423 NORTHERN ALLIANCE (IRE) 10-10-08 Irish Rover Syndicate Tony Martin IRE/Barry Geraghty

 21) 2212-42 BECAUSEICOULDNTSEE (IRE) 8-10-08 Noel Glynn  Noel Glynn IRE/Davy Russell

22) 000-06P COMPLY OR DIE (IRE) 12-10-08 David Johnson  David Pipe/Timmy Murphy

23) F-FF25P QUOLIBET (FR)  7-10-08 J P McManus  Jonjo O’Neill/Mark Walsh

24) 1FP10P GRAND SLAM HERO (IRE) 10-10-07 Walters Plant Hire Ltd    Nigel Twiston-Davies/Aidan Coleman

25) 6/454-P6  ROLL ALONG (IRE)  11-10-07 Bryan & Philippa Burrough Nigel Twiston-Davies/Wayne Hutchinson

26) 0/144/P3- STATE OF PLAY  11-10-06 William & Angela Rucker Evan Williams/Paul Moloney

27) 11-11P5 KING FONTAINE (IRE)  8-10-06 Trevor Hemmings Malcolm Jefferson/Denis O’Regan

28) U-3431U  IN COMPLIANCE (IRE) 11-10-05 Westerly Breeze Syndicate Dessie Hughes IRE/Leighton Aspell

29) 005P-1P HELLO BUD (IRE)  13-10-05 Seamus Murphy Nigel Twiston-Davies/Sam Twiston-Davies

30) P/00-11P WEST END ROCKER (IRE) 9-10-05  Barry Winfield & Tim Leadbeater Alan King/Robert Thornton

 31) 200010 SANTA'S SON (IRE)  11-10-05 Douglas Pryde & Jim Beaumont Howard Johnson/Jamie Moore

32) C21-046 BLUESEA CRACKER (IRE) 9-10-04 J P McManus    James Motherway IRE/Andrew McNamara

33) 01050 THAT'S RHYTHM (FR)  11-10-04 Don't Tell Henry             Martin Todhunter/James Reveley

34) P2/111/-0 SURFACE TO AIR  10-10-04 Tim Urry  Chris Bealby/Tom Messenger

35) P-234PP PIRAYA (FR)   8-10-04 Terry Neill  David Pipe/Johnny Farrelly

36) 6F-0P5P CAN'T BUY TIME (IRE) 9-10-04 J P McManus  Jonjo O'Neill/Richie McLernon

37) 0-30563 CHARACTER BUILDING (IRE) 11-10-04 Patricia Thompson John Quinn/Miss Nina Carberry

38) 15/1P/-52  ORNAIS (FR)   9-10-04 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls/Nick Scholfield

39) U2U-0P2 ARBOR SUPREME (IRE) 9-10-03 J P McManus  Willie Mullins IRE/David Casey

40) 013111- OUR MONTY (IRE)  8-10-03 Colland Sand & Gravel Ltd Willie Mullins IRE - NON-RUNNER

 41) P5U-42P ROYAL ROSA (FR)  12-10-03 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson/Paul Gallagher

42) 313-011 SKIPPERS BRIG (IRE)  10-10-02 Ashleybank Investments Limited Nicky Richards/Dominic Elsworth

43) 210010 GOLDEN KITE (IRE)  9-10-02 Dr Anthony Calnan     Adrian Maguire IRE/Shane Hassett

44) 006004 ALWAYS WAINING (IRE) 10-10-02 Mr & Mrs Peter James Douglas Peter Bowen/???

45) 321112 PUTNEY BRIDGE  9-10-01 Louise Goldsworthy Keith Goldsworthy/???

46) 4/22-1PP  BELON GALE (IRE)  8-10-01 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson/???

47) 402P-02 FAASEL (IRE)   10-10-01 Jim Ennis   David Pipe/???

48) 02043P LE BEAU BAI (FR)  8-10-01 Glass Half Full  Richard Lee/???

49) D61-0F0 MERIGO (FR)   10-10-01 Raymond & Anita Anderson Green Andrew Parker/???

50) 6-02162 ASKTHEMASTER (IRE) 11-10-00 Carrolle Wall  Robert Tyner IRE/???

51) 11P61/0/- STARZAAN (IRE)  12-10-00 Ben Arbib  Hughie Morrison/???

52) 123-P22 GILES CROSS (IRE)  9-10-00 KCMS Partnership Victor Dartnall/???

53) 1U0-660 SADDLERS STORM (IRE) 9-10-00 Billy Moffett/R T & J McLoughlin Tony Martin IRE/???

54) 1-PP11P SAGALYRIQUE (FR)  7-9-13  Sir Robert Ogden Donald McCain/???

55) U0-6042 AMBOBO (USA)  11-9-13 Deirdre Brassil  Martin Brassil IRE/???

56) 241P64 DUERS (IRE)   9-9-13  Kate Kelly/Kate Ronan Paul Magnier IRE/???

57) 11120-P TOBY JUG   10-9-13 Paul & Caron Chapman & Sarah Humphrey Sarah Humphrey/???

58) 131-321 JUNIOR   8-9-12  Middleham Park Racing LI David Pipe/???

59) 064260  THE SAWYER (BEL)  11-9-12 David Fear  Bob Buckler/???

60) 2613-PP GALANT NUIT (FR)  7-9-12  David Parry  Ferdy Murphy/???

 61) 044522  BALLYFITZ   11-9-09 Fred & Wayne Mills Nigel Twiston-Davies/???

62) F4-5365 POMME TIEPY (FR)  8-9-09  Susannah Ricci  Willie Mullins IRE/???

63) 24U344 I'MONCLOUDNINE (IRE) 8-9-09  Fred Matthews  Neil Mulholland/???

64) 116PP-P TREACLE (IRE)  10-9-04 Bjorn Nielsen  Tom Taaffe IRE/???

65) P23221  REGAL HEIGHTS (IRE) 10-9-02  Janet Heler  Tom George/???

 The order of elimination was decided on Monday afternoon by Phil Smith, Head of Handicapping at the British Horseracing Authority. Maximum field size 40.

 The declared runners will be known on Thursday morning and there will be four reserves which can be utilised if there are any non-runners by 9am on Friday morning.

 65 five-day confirmations

20 Irish-trained

 The nine horses who did not go forward at Monday’s five-day stage were Midnight Chase, Synchronised, Scotsirish, Notre Pere, Ballytrim, Nedzer’s Return, Frankie Figg, One Cool Cookie and Dev.