31.03.09 - THE GRAND NATIONAL

JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL NEWS FROM TUESDAY MORNING

ORDER OF ELIMINATION DECIDED THIS MORNING

The new order of elimination from the John Smith’s Grand National was decided this morning by the British Horseracing Authority’s handicappers if more than 40 horses are declared.

This is based on each horse’s current rating when two or more horses were allocated the same weight back on February 8 when the weights were decided. 

If there are any drop-outs by the final declaration stage at 10am on Thursday, April 2, then Maljimar will be the next horse to get in the final field followed by Companero, Pomme Tiepy, Niche Market, Mattock Ranger, Iron Man, Flintoff etc.

MALJIMAR (IRE) 9-10-04  Jane Williams  Nick Williams   Daryl Jacob

COMPANERO (IRE)  9-10-03  W M G Black  Howard Johnson  -

POMME TIEPY (FR) 6-10-03  Susannah Ricci  Willie Mullins IRE -

NICHE MARKET (IRE) 8-10-03  Graham Regan  Bob Buckler  Harry Skelton

MATTOCK RANGER (IRE) 9-10-03 Barouche Stud Ireland Ltd Noel Meade IRE  -

IRON MAN (FR)  8-10-03  Roddy Owen & Paul Fullagar Peter Bowen  -

FLINTOFF (USA) 8-10-02 Andrew Flintoff & Paul Beck Venetia Williams -

PATSY HALL (IRE) 9-10-02 C P Byrne  Tony Martin IRE  -

BIBLE LORD (IRE) 8-10-02 Martin Tedham  Andrew Turnell  Mark Grant

DIX VILLEZ (FR)  10-10-02 Gigginstown House Stud Paul Nolan IRE  -

BAGAN (FR)  10-10-02 The Centaur Group Partnership VII Martin Todhunter -

BEAT THE BOYS (IRE) 8-10-02 New Club Ladies  Nigel Twiston-Davies -

IN THE LOOP (IRE) 11-10-01 Ben-Hill Syndicate Roy Wilson IRE  -

SEYMOUR WELD 9-10-01    Charles Pogson  Charles Pogson  -

PAK JACK (FR)  9-10-01    The Pak Jack Partnership Richard Phillips  -

NADOVER (FR)  8-10-01    George Storey  Charlie Mann   -

NINE DE SIVOLA (FR) 8-10-00   The DPRP Sivola Partnership Ferdy Murphy   -

TOM SAYERS (IRE) 11-10-00   Capt Bill Edwards-Heathcote Philip Hobbs   -

OODACHEE  10-9-12    Modreeny Syndicate Charlie Swan IRE -

KINGS ADVOCATE (IRE) 9-9-11    Conor Clarkson  Tom Taaffe IRE  -

OUT THE BLACK (IRE) 11-9-10    James Drummond Philip Hobbs  -

DUN DOIRE (IRE) 10-9-10   Dunderry Racing Syndicate Tony Martin IRE   -

WITHOUT A DOUBT 10-9-10    Malcolm Denmark Carl Llewellyn   -

LE TOSCAN (FR) 9-9-10    Judith Wilson  David Pipe  -

PUNTAL (FR)  13-9-10    Terry Neill  David Pipe   -

ALEXANDERTHEGREAT (IRE) 11-9-08 Six Blokes  Venetia Williams  -

MILAN DEUX MILLE (FR) 7-9-08    Judith Wilson  David Pipe  -

SANDHURST (IRE) 9-9-05    John Duddy  Edgar Byrne  -

MALKO DE BEAUMONT (FR) 9-9-04 David Sturdy  Alan Brown  -

LORD KILLESHANRA (IRE) 10-9-04 G F Gingell  Colin Tizzard  

LYSANDER (GER) 10-9-04    The Piranha Partnership Ian Williams  -

PASS ME BY  10-9-02  Paul Beck  Suzy Smith  -

MONT MISERE (FR) 13-9-01  Judith Wilson  Paul Murphy  Michael O’Connell

Latest totesport betting on the John Smith's Grand National:

7 My Will, 9 Butler's Cabin, 10 Rambling Minster, 14 Black Apalachi, Hear The Echo, State Of Play, 16 Big Fella Thanks, Comply Or Die, Southern Vic, 20 L'Ami, Darkness, Irish Invader, 22 Kilbeggan Blade, 25 Snowy Morning, Himalayan Trail, Maljimar, Parsons Legacy, 33 Chelsea Harbour, Cloudy Lane, Brooklyn Brownie, Flintoff, Cornish Sett, 40 bar.

A quarter the odds 1-2-3-4

Non-runner, no bet

THE 2009 JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL REMAINING ENTRIES WITH OFFICIAL ODER OF ELIMINATION

Class 1, Grade 3, £900,000 total Prize Fund. 4.15pm, Aintree, Saturday, April 4, 2009.

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 8, 2009. Horses which are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain or Ireland at January 27, 2009, 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 8, 2009, 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 8, 2009. 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 January 27, entries revealed January 28  (123 entries), weights revealed February 10 (61 in handicap, 3 scratched), first forfeit stage February 24 (106 remained), second forfeit stage March 17 (88 remained). Five-day confirmation stage Monday, March 30 (74 remain), final declaration stage 10.00am, April 2. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Sunday, March 29.

 A maximum of 40 horses can run - final declaration stage 10.00am, Thursday, April 2.

 Form                Horse          Age/Wgt           Owner   Trainer   Probable Jockey

16-0431F CLOUDY LANE  9-11-10  Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain Jnr Jason Maguire

SCRATCHED WAR OF ATTRITION (IRE) 10-11-09 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE OFFICIALLY SCRATCHED 31/03/09

61U1F234 CHELSEA HARBOUR (IRE) 9-11-08 Frances Duffin  Tom Mullins IRE  -

332-56F2 SNOWY MORNING (IRE) 9-11-08    Quayside Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE -

16UP-100 KNOWHERE (IRE) 11-11-07   Raymond Mould  Nigel Twiston-Davies Paddy Brennan

P211-P00 COMPLY OR DIE (IRE) 10-11-06   David Johnson  David Pipe  Timmy Murphy

40-255550 OLLIE MAGERN  11-11-06   Roger Nicholls  Nigel Twiston-Davies  Mr Sam Waley-Cohen

4-2P51P04P STAN (NZ)  10-11-06   Paul Beck  Venetia Williams  -

20F2-P151 BLACK APALACHI (IRE) 10-11-05   Gerard Burke  Dessie Hughes IRE Denis O’Regan

501-556U HEAR THE ECHO (IRE) 8-11-05    Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE Davy Russell

140-0F10 PREISTS LEAP (IRE) 9-11-05    John D O'Donohue Tom O'Leary IRE  Philip Enright

32023/-55 MY WILL (FR)  9-11-04    The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls  Ruby Walsh

411P/1P/- EUROTREK (IRE) 13-11-03   Paul Green  Paul Nicholls  Sam Thomas

2560-14  STATE OF PLAY 9-11-02    William & Angela Rucker Evan Williams  Paul Moloney

2-322U13 BIG FELLA THANKS 7-11-01    Paul Barber & Maggie Findlay Paul Nicholls  Christian Williams

00-210200 MON MOME (FR) 9-11-00    Vida Bingham  Venetia Williams  -

F/02421/-0 SILVER BIRCH (IRE) 12-11-00   Brian Walsh (Co. Kildare) Gordon Elliott IRE Robbie Power

03F-0005 BUTLER'S CABIN (FR) 9-10-13    J P McManus  Jonjo O'Neill  -

1111/U2-2 OFFSHORE ACCOUNT (IRE) 9-10-13 Brian Polly  Charlie Swan IRE David Casey

23/54-1P PARSONS LEGACY (IRE) 11-10-12   Rodney Offer  Philip Hobbs  -

F0612/-P0 REVEILLEZ  10-10-12   J P McManus  Jonjo O'Neill  -

00146P6P FUNDAMENTALIST (IRE) 11-10-11   Colin Cornes  Nigel Twiston-Davies David England

1/P133/3-0 GOLDEN FLIGHT (FR) 10-10-11   John & Barbara Cotton Nicky Henderson  Barry Geraghty

03F0-4212 L'AMI (FR)  10-10-11   J P McManus  Enda Bolger IRE  -

332-245P BATTLECRY  8-10-10    Trevor Hemmings Nigel Twiston-Davies Tom Scudamore

P00-F120 CORNISH SETT (IRE) 10-10-10   Peter Hart  Paul Nicholls  Nick Scholfield

042-P610 FLEET STREET  10-10-10   Henry Ponsonby  Nicky Henderson  Andrew Tinkler

1222100 MUSICA BELLA (FR) 9-10-10    Jean-Paul Senechal Francois Cottin FR       Philip Carberry

63-111314 CAN'T BUY TIME (IRE) 7-10-09   J P McManus  Jonjo O'Neill   -

113P//-3P1 DARKNESS  10-10-09  Lady Lloyd-Webber Charles Egerton  Dominic Elsworth

F323111 IRISH INVADER (IRE) 8-10-09   Sackcloth & Ashes Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE -

46-56511 RAMBLING MINSTER 11-10-09   The Lingdale Optimists Keith Reveley   James Reveley

5F/-06U343 SOUTHERN VIC (IRE) 10-10-09   Brenda Graham  Ted Walsh IRE  Niall Madden

20P-1112 KILBEGGAN BLADE 10-10-07  Kevin Doocey & Mrs A Doocey Tom George  Graham Lee

4124021 BROOKLYN BROWNIE (IRE) 10-10-06 K S Gaffney & Neil Stevenson Malcolm Jefferson  Phil Kinsella

1-P504P0 HIMALAYAN TRAIL 10-10-06   Anne Gittins  Jimmy Mangan IRE Paddy Flood

3/00010-0 ARTEEA (IRE)  10-10-05   Judith Wilson  David Pipe  Richie McGrath

0P/50PP-0 CERIUM (FR)  8-10-05    Judith Wilson  Paul Murphy   -

050-2403 IDLE TALK (IRE) 10-10-05   Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain Jnr Brian Harding

0F2U6-P00 KELAMI (FR)  11-10-05   Halewood International Ltd Lisa Williamson  Derek Laverty

 0/232P5/- ZABENZ (NZ)  12-10-05   Sarah Hobbs  Philip Hobbs  -

Current cut-off point

Horses below are now in elimination order

2U41U-02 MALJIMAR (IRE) 9-10-04   Jane Williams  Nick Williams   Daryl Jacob

211-1113 COMPANERO (IRE) 9-10-03   W M G Black  Howard Johnson  -

0U01344 POMME TIEPY (FR) 6-10-03   Susannah Ricci  Willie Mullins IRE -

U44P-3140 NICHE MARKET (IRE) 8-10-03   Graham Regan  Bob Buckler  Harry Skelton

P2P-P0PP MATTOCK RANGER (IRE) 9-10-03 Barouche Stud Ireland Ltd Noel Meade IRE  -

0333P0P IRON MAN (FR)  8-10-03   Roddy Owen & Paul Fullagar Peter Bowen  -

P2P63-52 FLINTOFF (USA) 8-10-02  Andrew Flintoff & Paul Beck Venetia Williams -

4B0-4000F PATSY HALL (IRE) 9-10-02  C P Byrne  Tony Martin IRE  -

140-306F BIBLE LORD (IRE) 8-10-02  Martin Tedham  Andrew Turnell  Mark Grant

64P3-015 DIX VILLEZ (FR)  10-10-02 Gigginstown House Stud Paul Nolan IRE  -

101PP6-6 BAGAN (FR)  10-10-02 The Centaur Group Partnership VII Martin Todhunter -

11P1-3PFP BEAT THE BOYS (IRE) 8-10-02  New Club Ladies  Nigel Twiston-Davies -

3/2F01P- IN THE LOOP (IRE) 11-10-01 Ben-Hill Syndicate Roy Wilson IRE  -

421101  SEYMOUR WELD 9-10-01    Charles Pogson  Charles Pogson  -

2/223F0- PAK JACK (FR)  9-10-01    The Pak Jack Partnership Richard Phillips  -

P00-P304 NADOVER (FR)  8-10-01    George Storey  Charlie Mann   -

22/-22P43 NINE DE SIVOLA (FR) 8-10-00   The DPRP Sivola Partnership Ferdy Murphy   -

210123-P5 TOM SAYERS (IRE) 11-10-00   Capt Bill Edwards-Heathcote Philip Hobbs   -

0-321230 OODACHEE  10-9-12    Modreeny Syndicate Charlie Swan IRE -

12366/-4 KINGS ADVOCATE (IRE) 9-9-11    Conor Clarkson  Tom Taaffe IRE  -

U1-52541 OUT THE BLACK (IRE) 11-9-10    James Drummond Philip Hobbs  -

62P-30P0 DUN DOIRE (IRE) 10-9-10   Dunderry Racing Syndicate Tony Martin IRE   -

P4220-0P WITHOUT A DOUBT 10-9-10    Malcolm Denmark Carl Llewellyn   -

02P-P4F0 LE TOSCAN (FR) 9-9-10    Judith Wilson  David Pipe  -

0P0/03-03P PUNTAL (FR)  13-9-10    Terry Neill  David Pipe   -

21/-2426U ALEXANDERTHEGREAT (IRE) 11-9-08 Six Blokes  Venetia Williams  -

5/5400-P0 MILAN DEUX MILLE (FR) 7-9-08    Judith Wilson  David Pipe  -

41/F400-23P2 SANDHURST (IRE) 9-9-05    John Duddy  Edgar Byrne  -

4213140P MALKO DE BEAUMONT (FR) 9-9-04 David Sturdy  Alan Brown  -

5/6P0-42P5 LORD KILLESHANRA (IRE) 10-9-04 G F Gingell  Colin Tizzard   -

U-2130U63 LYSANDER (GER) 10-9-04    The Piranha Partnership Ian Williams  -

P06-350FP PASS ME BY  10-9-02  Paul Beck  Suzy Smith  -

1110PP  MONT MISERE (FR) 13-9-01  Judith Wilson  Paul Murphy  Michael O’Connell

74 horses remain after five-day confirmation stage - one officially scratched since

20 Irish-trained

1 French-trained
 
A maximum of 40 horses can run - final declaration stage 10.00am, Thursday, April 2.

STAN TO MISS JAPAN IN FAVOUR OF GRAND DAY OUT

OWNER ALSO HOPING FLINTOFF GETS IN

Connections of enigmatic steeplechaser Stan have elected to stay closer to home and tackle the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday, rather than take up a possible alternative engagement in the Far East.

The 10-year-old was handed an invitation to take part in the Grand Nakayama Jump, a valuable international Grade One contest run over 4,250 metres at Nakayama racecourse in Japan, later this month.

However, Stan’s owner Paul Beck and trainer Venetia Williams have instead decided that the horse should take his chance in the world’s most famous steeplechase, which this year boasts a record £900,000 in prize money.

“We’ve turned down the Japanese invitation and we’re 100 per cent set for Aintree,” Beck said today.

“I don’t think he’s without a chance, if he stays the trip. I suppose he’s a bit of a trip-less horse, but he was staying on when he was fourth behind New Little Bric in the two-and-a-half-mile Grade Three (Totesport.com Gold Cup) at Newbury under a big weight and looked like he might appreciate a greater test of stamina there.

“He’s got a bit of class. On his day he’s a 160-rated horse at his best who can run off 154 in the John Smith’s Grand National and he tends to come good at this time of year. He won the Red Rum Chase (over two miles) at this meeting 12 months ago and then won a Grade Two at Cheltenham less than a fortnight later. If it’s good ground on Saturday, he’ll love that when it won’t suit others so well.

“You never know. If he gets around the first circuit then he could just still be in with a shout at the finish. He’s a horse who has kept surprising us. 

“The key thing with him is that he gets into a rhythm with his jumping. He’s actually a very sound jumper, once he gets into the flow and if he get into that rhythm around the big fences, then I think he’ll enjoy himself.”

Beck was also hoping to run Stan’s stablemate, Flintoff, whom he owns jointly with England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff,  but that horse would need a further seven withdrawals to get into the John Smith’s Grand National, even after the scratching of War of Attrition yesterday.

“I am hoping that Aidan Coleman will ride Stan - I’d be surprised if he didn’t, to be honest - but I don’t think that’s set in stone yet and I need to talk to Venetia to confirm the situation,” commented Beck. “However, if Flintoff was to get into the race then I would expect Aidan to switch to him, because I think he’d have a cracking chance.

“He’s quite a well-handicapped horse at present - too well-handicapped to get into the National it would seem - but there will be other days for him and perhaps he will go back to Ayr for the Scottish National, where he was third last year.”

Williams confirmed that no final decision regarding jockey bookings had been taken for Stan or her other possible representative in the John Smith’s Grand National, Mon Mome.

Stan is a 66/1 chance for the race with Totesport, the official betting partner of the meeting.
 
ROUND-UP OF NEWS

WAR OF ATTRITION SCRATCHED FROM JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL

A significant gamble on 2006 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition was derailed last night as trainer Mouse Morris pulled the horse from the John Smith’s Grand National after expressing unhappiness with the 10-year-old’s well-being. 

Totesport, the John Smith’s Grand National meeting’s official betting partner, had seen a considerable amount of money for the gelding over the weekend - down to 14/1 - but he was officially scratched from the race this morning.

Morris and owner Michael O’Leary who races under the Gigginstown House Stud banner will now rely on last year’s Irish Grand National winner Hear The Echo, who shortened to 14/1 from 20/1 and will be partnered by Davy Russell.

Morris said yesterday:  “We were just not 100% happy with the horse this morning but at least we have a good second string to our bow.”

The defection of War Of Attrition, combined with the news that Ruby Walsh has committed to ride My Will, sees the Paul Nicholls-trained hope shorten to 7/1 clear favourite with totesport.

In further news, Dominic Elsworth’s hopes of riding Darkness in Saturday’s £900,000 showpiece hang in the balance following a scan on the shoulder he damaged in a fall at Towcester last week. The rider suffered severe bruising and expects to know more tomorrow.

Another jockey hoping to prove his fitness is Denis O’Regan, who heads to Wetherby today for five rides. O’Regan, who is set to partner the well-fancied Black Apalachi in the big one at Aintree, hurt his back in a fall at Ayr and has not ridden in public for a week.

Nigel Twiston-Davies has announced that Sam Waley-Cohen will ride Ollie Magern in the John Smith’s Grand National. The amateur has a remarkable record over the big fences, having twice won the John Smith’s Foxhunters’ on Katarino and landed the Joh Smith’s Topham Chase on Liberthine. He also rode the latter to take fifth in the 2007 John Smith’s Grand National.