19.03.08 - THE GRAND NATIONAL

Jefferson hoping for Roman Conquest in John Smith's Topham Chase

A total of 87 horses, three more than in 2007, have been entered for the £110,000 John Smith’s Topham Chase (3.45pm), which takes place on the second day of the John Smith’s Grand National Meeting at Aintree, on Friday, April 4.

Trainer Malcolm Jefferson is looking forward to a big run from Roman Ark in the extended two mile and five furlong contest, run over the famous Grand National fences.

The Malton-based handler had initially thought of running his star chaser in the John Smith’s Grand National, but decided to let Roman Ark take his chance over the shorter trip.

Jefferson explained: "We are aiming Roman Ark at the John Smith’s Topham Chase at Aintree. He was entered in the John Smith’s Grand National but we took him out because we thought the race might be too far for him.

"If the ground is not too fast, which I don’t think it will be, then he will definitely take his chance. He likes soft ground and we missed Cheltenham because we thought the going there would be too fast. We’ve gone to the Festival three times before and the ground was good. It was sod’s law that the one we missed proved to be soft!"

Jefferson was delighted with Roman Ark’s second behind Grade One winner Marcel in a handicap chase at Kelso on March 1, especially since the10-year-old gelding was running over an insufficient trip on ground that was faster than ideal.

Jefferson continued: "We ran him over two miles last time and we thought it would be soft, but it dried out and he’s actually run a fantastic race over a trip which was too short for him. Marcel used to be a highly rated horse and he’s no mug, but the ground beat us that day.

"As long as it’s good jumping ground then he will certainly line up at Aintree and the extended two mile, five furlong trip should be perfect for Roman Ark. He’s run twice there before, having slipped up and then being pulled up in the Grade Two John Smith’s Mildmay Novices’ Chase, but I’ve got few worries about the Grand National fences.

"We haven’t been hard on him him this year and we’ve always looked after him. He’s always been an honest horse and we’ve always let him take his chance and run on his merits.

"He’s won round Haydock a couple of times and the fences there aren’t small. He’s a great jumper and he’s a clever horse. I’d be surprised and disappointed if he didn’t get round Aintree. I wouldn’t think of running him if I didn’t think he had a decent chance."

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has six horses entered in the John Smith’s Topham Chase, including Racing Post Chase winner Gungadu, Connaught Gold Cup victor Natal and recent Racing Post Plate runner-up Gwanako. Andreas, smart novice Arturio and last year’s sixth Le Volfoni complete the Ditcheat-based handler’s sextet.

David Pipe has entered former totesport Bowl winner Celestial Gold and Milan Deux Mille, who finished fifth in this race last year behind fellow entry Dunbrody Millar, whose trainer Peter Bowen has also engaged Tommy Spar, Lankawi and Lawyer Des Ormeaux.

Dual John Smith’s Grand National winning trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, successful in this race with Indian Tonic in 1994, could be represented by Grade Two winner Knowhere, Racing Post Plate third Fundamentalist, Naunton Brook, Patman Du Charmil, and Irish Raptor, who finished seventh in the John Smith’s Topham Chase last year.

Nicky Henderson, who won the John Smith’s Topham Chase with Liberthine in 2005, has entered unexposed chaser Kenzo III and Crozan, while Philip Hobbs, who has been victorious with Bells Life (1997) and Gower-Slave (2001) has engaged useful performer Boychuk and Out The Black.

A strong Irish-trained entry of 20 is headed by the 2006 Grade One John Smith’s Melling Chase winner Hi Cloy. Trainer Michael Hourigan has also engaged A New Story, who was a staying on fifth over the National fences in the totesport.com Becher Chase in November.

Willie Mullins, successful in this race with Its Time For A Win in 2002, has entered 2006 fifth Euro Leader and Bothar Na, while Arthur Moore could be represented by recent Leopardstown handicap scorer Well Tutored and Pierse Handicap Chase third Notable d’Estruval.

Other notable Irish entries include 2006 tote Gold Cup third Forget The Past, Grade Two novice chase winner Benefit Night, Newbay Prop from the shrewd Tony Martin yard, the Tom Taaffe-trained pair of Glenfinn Captain and In The High Grass and 2006 Grade One John Smith’s Maghull Novices’ scorer Foreman.

THE JOHN SMITH’S TOPHAM CHASE
Class 2 £110,000 Total Prize Fund. 3.45pm, Aintree, Friday, April 4, 2008. Two miles about five and a half furlongs (over the Grand National course). For five-year-olds and upwards. Penalties: after March 22, a winner of a chase 4lb. No penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 12lbs. Entries closed Tuesday, March 18. Entries revealed Wednesday, March 19 (87 Entries). Weights revealed Tuesday March 25. Six-day confirmation stage March 29, final declaration stage 10.00am, Thursday, April 3. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and correct up to and including racing on Monday, March 17.

550P53 A NEW STORY (IRE) 10 Storey's Over Syndicate Michael Hourigan IRE
1300-53 ALAM (USA) 9 Dr Richard Newland Dr Richard Newland
331F-04 ANDREAS (FR) 8 Trevor Hemmings Paul Nicholls
1P114P ARTURIO (FR) 5 The Sparkes Family Paul Nicholls
15/-2P0P AZULEJO (FR) 10 J E Wilson & T J Wilson Michael Scudamore
1-30P26 BENEFIT NIGHT (IRE) 8 Mary-Rose Cooney Daniel O'Sullivan IRE
P-24314 BENGO (IRE) 8 Willsford Racing Incorporated Ben De Haan
001060 BLACK HILLS 9 The Kingfisher Partnership Jonathan Geake
220236 BOTHAR NA (IRE) 9 Mrs Michael O'Dwyer Willie Mullins IRE
550346 BOYCHUK (IRE) 7 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs
111-045 BRONSON F'SURE 9 Charlie Pogson Charlie Pogson
14-6416 CANADA STREET (IRE) 7 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
0/U1/-P3P CELESTIAL GOLD (IRE) 10 David Johnson David Pipe
P52120 COSSACK DANCER (IRE) 10 The United Front Partnership Mark Bradstock
PF4-000 CROZAN (FR) 8 Trevor Hemmings Nicky Henderson
400264 DERE LYN 10 Lyn Phillips Dai Burchell
1PP406 DREUX (FR) 6 Valerie Courtney Thomas Cooper IRE
1-0PF0F DUNBRODY MILLAR (IRE) 10 Dundon Else Partnership Peter Bowen
061-232 ELVIS RETURNS 10 J Cleeve Malcom Jefferson
2/-P225P ERIC'S CHARM (FR) 10 Martin St Quinton & Peter Deal Oliver Sherwood
512166- EURO LEADER (IRE) 10 John Cox Willie Mullins IRE
3P-3625 FOREMAN (GER) 10 J P McManus Charlie Swan IRE
030-146 FORGET THE PAST 10 Sean Mulryan Michael O'Brien IRE
412103 FUNDAMENTALIST (IRE) 10 C Cornes Nigel Twiston-Davies
0-01243 GARDASEE (GER) 6 A S Helaissi Kahlil Burke
1F-0406 GLENFINN CAPTAIN (IRE) 9 J P McManus Tom Taaffe IRE
1F-3611 GUNGADU 8 Paul Barber & Maggie Findlay Paul Nicholls
134532 GWANAKO (FR) 5 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
262514 HI CLOY (IRE) 11 Susan McCloy Michael Hourigan IRE
0PPP00 HIGH MOON (USA) 12 Fergus Wilson Paul Murphy
0UP5P4 I HEAR THUNDER (IRE) 10 Nick Elliott Bob Buckler
3-63030 IN THE HIGH GRASS (IRE) 7 Mrs M T Hally Tom Taaffe IRE
U-P05PP IRIS ROYAL (FR) 12 Sir Robert Ogden Charlie Longsdon
061465 IRISH RAPTOR (IRE) 9 Caroline Beresford-Wylie Nigel Twiston-Davies
322641 JIMMY BOND 9 Mr & Mrs Paul Chapman Kate Walton
4-02422 JUST IN DEBT (IRE) 12 Gill and Bill Hazeldean Martin Todhunter
0-S3443 JUSTPOURIT (IRE) 9 Hanged Man's Five Syndicate Dessie Hughes IRE
P-1540 KELREV (FR) 10 Flintham, King & Roberts Alan King
1P32-P1 KENZO III (FR) 10 Killinghurst Park Stud Nicky Henderson
135P16 KNOWHERE (IRE) 10 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
2-50550 LANKAWI 6 Jill Day Peter Bowen
102030 LAWYER DES ORMEAUX (FR) 9 C B Brookes & Dr T J Winning Peter Bowen
6-U5203 LE VOLFONI (FR) 7 Aaron Banks Paul Nicholls
P11F-00 LIMITED EDITION (IRE) 10 Malcolm Denmark Carl Llewellyn
146/0/10- LONGSHANKS 11 Alan Halsall Kim Bailey
212-1P3 LORD JAY JAY (IRE) 8 Mrs Jan Johnson Alison Thorpe
2U1355 MACS FLAMINGO (IRE) 8 Craith Syndicate Pat Fahy IRE
311253 MARKED MAN (IRE) 12 Mr & Mrs C R Elliott Richard Lee
32-003P MARRIED (IRE) 10 Fergus Wilson Paul Murphy
6F0-064 MAURICE (FR) 8 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain Jnr
114P10 MIGHTY MATTERS (IRE) 9 Mrs L Suenson-Taylor Charlie Longsdon
305-540 MILAN DEUX MILLE (FR) 6 Fergus & Judith Wilson David Pipe
13P234 MISTER MONTH (IRE) 11 N O'Flaherty Charlie Swan IRE
P00-004 MIXSTERTHETRIXSTER (USA) 12 Tracey Barfoot-Saunt Tracey Barfoot-Saunt
0P22-14 MR BOO (IRE) 9 The Hon Mrs C. Cameron Gary Moore
P141P2 NACARAT (FR) 7 Simon Clarke Tom George
PF-013P NADOVER (FR) 7 Tony Hayward and Barry Fulton Charlie Mann
U42031 NATAL (FR) 7 Monica Hackett Paul Nicholls
16/3-411 NATIVE CORAL (IRE) 10 City Rovers Partnership Nicky Richards
104320 NAUNTON BROOK 9 David Langdon Nigel Twiston-Davies
5P134P NEWBAY PROP (IRE) 9 Bill Moffett Tony Martin IRE
211-064 NICE TRY (IRE) 9 The Juggins Partnership Venetia Williams
PU311U NIRVANA SWING (FR) 7 Sue Smith Sue Smith
01-1F34 NOTABLE D'ESTRUVAL (FR) 7 P J McCarthy Arthur Moore IRE
F6-6063 ONEWAY (IRE) 11 Mark Rimell Mark Rimell
463204 OODACHEE 9 Modreeny Syndicate Charlie Swan IRE
441-P4U OUT THE BLACK (IRE) 10 James Drummond Philip Hobbs
3/02-223 PAK JACK (FR) 8 The Bellflower Pak Jack Partnership Richard Phillips
P//2-4505 PALARSHAN (FR) 10 Sumner Wellesley Henry Daly
532620 PATMAN DU CHARMIL (FR) 6 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
5563PP PREMIERSHIP (IRE) 12 J E Wilson & T J Wilson Michael Scudamore
B66121 RANDWICK ROAR (IRE) 9 D R Hunnisett Gary Moore
00-1022 ROMAN ARK 10 Richard Collins Malcolm Jefferson
05-0F00 ROOKERY LAD 10 S Kitching & Mrs K Taylor Chris Kellett
P-53PP5 ROYAL ROSA (FR) 9 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
11/1-PP2 RYDERS STORM (USA) 9 Jane Southall Richard Rowe
PU-043P THE OUTLIER (IRE) 10 P J Murphy Venetia Williams
3542-4P THEATRE KNIGHT (IRE) 10 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
43FU04 TIGHE CASTER 9 Don Jones Alison Thorpe
612000 TIME TO SELL (IRE) 9 Joseph Buckley Eugene O'Sullivan IRE
60F0U0 TOMMY SPAR 8 Ralph Morgans Peter Bowen
102-P45 TOO FORWARD (IRE) 12 T Gibson & D Mathias Carl Llewellyn
14-55P5 URSUMMAN (IRE) 9 J P McManus Niall Madden IRE
313F30 VINTAGE TREASURE (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Charles Byrnes IRE
30-60P1 WELL TUTORED (IRE) 9 M F Bailey Arthur Moore IRE
PF1201 WHICH POCKET (IRE) 10 A D Peachey Brendan Powell
21P1F/-P YOU'RE SPECIAL (USA) 11 Diane O' Rourke Ferdy Murphy

87 Entries
20 Irish-Trained

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