14.04.12 - THE GRAND NATIONAL

Ladies' Day The John Smith's Grand National - Early News

JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL MEETING, AINTREE

RACENEWS RACECOURSE SERVICE

LADIES’ DAY, FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

NO RESERVES AS ALL 40 DECLARED RUNNERS STAY IN

There were no non-runners in the John Smith’s Grand National by the cut-off time of 9am today for the utilisation of reserves. Therefore, none of the four reserves - Any Currency, Our Island, Abbeybraney and Smoking Aces - will go forward for tomorrow’s John Smith’s Grand National.

THE 2012 JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL

Class 1, Grade 3, £975,000 total prize fund. 4.15pm, Aintree, Saturday, April 14, 2012, 4½m, 30 fences.

Form                Horse                           Age/Weight Owner    Trainer/Jockey

1)13-P0311 SYNCHRONISED (IRE) 9-11-10 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill/A P McCoy

2)11/1121-4 BALLABRIGGS (IRE)  11-11-09  Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain/Jason Maguire

3)1/10P-13P WEIRD AL (IRE)  9-11-08   Brannon, Dick, Holden Donald McCain/Timmy Murphy

4)106-P422 NEPTUNE COLLONGES (FR) 11-11-06 John Hales Paul Nicholls/Daryl Jacob

5)2F-0511 CALGARY BAY (IRE)  9-11-06 Camilla Radford Henrietta Knight/Dominic Elsworth

6)F-6041UP ALFA BEAT (IRE)  8-11-05 Irvin Naylor John Hanlon IRE/ Davy Russell

7)F01/35-23 PLANET OF SOUND  10-11-05 Charles Lloyd-Baker Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson

8)51U/022/2 BLACK APALACHI (IRE) 13-11-03 Teresa Burke Dessie Hughes IRE/Denis O’Regan

9)6/3U34-1F DEEP PURPLE  11-11-03  Paul Green Evan Williams/Jamie Moore

10)131/321-02 JUNIOR   9-11-02 Middleham Park Racing LI David Pipe/Tom Scudamore

11)10-U3032 CHICAGO GREY (IRE)  9-10-13 John Earls Gordon Elliott IRE/Paul Carberry

12)3100-015 TATENEN (FR)  8-10-13 The Stewart Family Richard Rowe/Andrew Thornton

13)F11/-1111 SEABASS (IRE)  9-10-12 Gunners Syndicate Ted Walsh IRE/Ms Katie Walsh

14)000-1122 SHAKALAKABOOMBOOM (IRE) 8-10-12 Liam Breslin Nicky Henderson/Barry Geraghty

15)11PB-P1 WEST END ROCKER (IRE) 10-10-12  Barry Winfield & Tim Leadbeater Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson

16)22-30112 ACCORDING TO PETE 11-10-12 Peter Nelson Malcolm Jefferson/Harry Haynes

17)14P1-B1 ON HIS OWN (IRE)  8-10-11 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE/Ruby Walsh

18)2113-1PP ALWAYS RIGHT (IRE)  10-10-10 John Wade John Wade/James Reveley

19)3F2P/-133 CAPPA BLEU (IRE)  10-10-10 William & Angela Rucker Evan Williams/Paul Moloney

20)PU-345053 RARE BOB (IRE)  10-10-09 D A Syndicate Dessie Hughes IRE/Bryan Cooper

21)12-133F5 ORGANISEDCONFUSION (IRE) 7-10-08 Grace Dunlop Arthur Moore IRE/Miss Nina Carberry

22)P/P-51423 TREACLE (IRE)  11-10-08 Bjorn Nielsen Tom Taaffe IRE/Andrew Lynch

23)3/216-B430 THE MIDNIGHT CLUB (IRE) 11-10-08 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE/Paul Townend

24)3F/-52PP0 MON MOME (FR)  12-10-08 Vida Bingham Venetia Williams/Aidan Coleman

25)0P2F-60 ARBOR SUPREME (IRE) 10-10-07 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill/Mark Walsh

26)03F-30P01 SUNNYHILLBOY (IRE)  9-10-05 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill/Richie McLernon

27)F-030341 KILLYGLEN (IRE)  10-10-04 David McCammon Stuart Crawford IRE/Robert Power

28)2F-4010 QUISCOVER FONTAINE (FR) 8-10-04 J P McManus Willie Mullins IRE/David Casey

29)4-P13000 THARAWAAT (IRE)  7-10-04 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE/Brian O’Connell

30)42F-63F22 BECAUSEICOULDNTSEE (IRE) 9-10-03 Noel Glynn Noel Glynn IRE/Davy Condon

31)144/P3/4- STATE OF PLAY  12-10-03 William & Angela Rucker Evan Williams/Noel Fehily

32)2313P20 SWING BILL (FR)  11-10-03 David Johnson   David Pipe/Conor O’Farrell

33)FP-26611 POSTMASTER   10-10-02 The Bill & Ben Partnership Tim Vaughan/Dougie Costello

34)3/P22-121 GILES CROSS (IRE)  10-10-01 KCMS Partnership  Victor Dartnall/Paddy Brennan

35)21/10P-16 MIDNIGHT HAZE  10-10-00 Kim Bailey Racing Partnership Kim Bailey/Sean Quinlan

36)0044B-20 VIC VENTURI (IRE)  12-10-00 Seamus Dunne  Dessie Hughes IRE/Harry Skelton

37)431U0-P3 IN COMPLIANCE (IRE) 12-10-00 Dessie Hughes  Dessie Hughes IRE/Niall Madden

38)00-143P5 VIKING BLOND (FR)  7-10-00 Caroline Mould   Nigel Twiston-Davies/Brian Hughes

39)PP-5U654 HELLO BUD (IRE)  14-10-00 Seamus Murphy Nigel Twiston-Davies/Sam Twiston-Davies

40)0-315045 NEPTUNE EQUESTER  9-9-09  Koo's Racing Club  Brian Ellison/Felix de Giles

40 declared runners 15 Irish-trained

TODAY’S GOING

 Grand National course - Good to Soft, Good in places

This follows watering of selected areas last night, particularly around the 13th and 14th fences, with between three and five millimetres of water.

Mildmay - Chase & Hurdle - Good, Good to Soft in places

This follows watering of the courses last night, with between three and five millimetres applied.

On the Mildmay course, all bends have been moved in four yards to provide fresh ground on the inside today, while all hurdles have also been moved in four yards.

There will be further movement after racing today to provide more fresh ground tomorrow.

The weather forecast is:

Friday - Cloudy with sunny spells, possible showers. 11C.

Saturday - Dry and sunny morning, possible showers later. 10C.

CHANGE TO GOING BEFORE RACING

Grand National course - Good, Good to Soft in places (from Good to Soft, Good in places)

GoingStick reading: - 6.7

Mildmay course - Chase & Hurdle - Good, Good to Soft in places (remains the same)

GoingStick readings:- Chase (6.7), Hurdle (6.5).

Watering is likely to take place after racing today.

On the Mildmay course, all bends have been moved in four yards to provide fresh ground on the inside today, while all hurdles have also been moved in four yards.

There will be further movement after racing today to provide more fresh ground tomorrow.

The weather forecast is:

Friday - Cloudy with sunny spells, possible showers. 11C.

Saturday - Dry and sunny morning, possible showers later. 10C.

2012 JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL LANDMARKS

Youngest jockey: Sam Twiston-Davis (Hello Bud), 19, is two months younger than Bryan Cooper (Rare Bob), 19.

Oldest jockey: Andrew Thornton (Tatenen), 38

First-time jockeys: Bryan Cooper (Rare Bob), Dougie Costello (Postmaster), Harry Haynes (According To Pete), Felix de Giles (Neptune Equester), Brian O’Connell (Tharawaat), Conor O’Farrell (Swing Bill), Ms Katie Walsh (Seabass), Sean Quinlan (Midnight Haze)

Most-successful jockey: Ruby Walsh (On His Own) - 2 wins (2000 Papillon and 2005 Hedgehunter) from 10 rides

Other winning jockeys: Jason Maguire (Ballabriggs) - 2011 Ballabriggs, Tony McCoy (Synchronised) - 2010 Don’t Push It, Timmy Murphy (Weird Al) - 2008 Comply Or Die, Robbie Power (Killyglen) - 2007 Silver Birch, Niall Madden (In Compliance) - 2006 Numbersixvalverde, Barry Geraghty (Shakalakaboomboom) - 2003 Monty’s Pass, Paul Carberry (Chicago Grey) - 1999 Bobbyjo.

Least-successful jockey: Richard Johnson (Planet Of Sound), no wins from 15 rides

Youngest trainer: Gordon Elliott (Chicago Grey, Tharawaat), 34

Oldest trainer: Dessie Hughes (Black Apalachi, In Compliance, Rare Bob, Vic Venturi), 68

First-time trainers: Victor Dartnall (Giles Cross), Brian Ellison (Neptune Equester), John Hanlon (Alfa Beat), Tim Vaughan (Postmaster), John Wade (Always Right)

Most-successful trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies (Hello Bud and Viking Blond) - 2 wins (1998 Earth Summit and 2002 Bindaree) from 40 runners.

Other winning trainers: Donald McCain (Ballabriggs) - 2011 Ballabriggs, Jonjo O’Neill (Arbor Supreme, Sunnyhill Boy, Synchronised) - 2010 Don’t Push It, Venetia Williams (Mon Mome) - 2009 Mon Mome, David Pipe (Junior, Swing Bill) - 2008 Comply Or Die, Gordon Elliott (Chicago Grey, Tharawaat) - 2007 Silver Birch, Willie Mullins (On His Own, Qusicover Fontaine, The Midnight Club) - 2005 Hedgehunter, Ted Walsh (Seabass) - 2000 Papillon, Kim Bailey (Midnight Haze) - 1990 Mr Frisk

Least-successful trainer: Paul Nicholls (Neptune Collonges) - no wins from 52 runners

Former winners: Ballabriggs (2011), Mon Mome (2009)

Most-successful owner: Trevor Hemmings (Ballabriggs)  - 2 wins from 27 runners (Ballabriggs 2011 and Hedgehunter 2005)

Other winning owners: J P McManus (Arbor Supreme, Suynnyhill Boy, Synchronised) - 2010 Don’t Push It, Vida Bingham (Mon Mome) - 2009 Mon Mome, David Johnson (Swing Bill) - 2008 Comply Or Die.

Highest-earning horse: Neptune Collonges £766,407

Lowest-earning horse: Viking Blond £26,414

Most-experienced horse: Mon Mome 46 starts

Least-experienced horse: Cappa Bleu - 8 starts

JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL FACTS AND MILESTONES - PART ONE

Age - youngest

From this year, no horse younger than seven is permitted to take part. The most recent of the 22 seven-year-olds to have won was Bogskar in 1940. Three seven-year-olds are due to run this year: Organisedconfusion, Tharawaat and Viking Blond. The youngest of them is Organisedconfusion, foaled on May 9, 2005.

Age - oldest

The oldest grand National winners have been 15-year-old Peter Simple in 1853 and the 13-year-olds Sergeant Murphy in 1923 and Why Not in 1894. Two ‘teenagers’ are taking part this year, 14-year-old Hello Bud and 13-year-old Black Apalachi.

The only 14-year-old to be placed has been former winner Manifesto, third in 1902 (and again the following year at 15). The last 14-year-old to take part was former winner Amberleigh House, pulled up in 2006 and the last to complete was Camelot Knight, 15th in 2000.

The last 13-year-old to be placed was Rondetto in 1969 and the last to complete was former winner Amberleigh House, 10th in 2005. In the last 20 years, 23 13-year-olds have run, most recently Hello Bud, pulled up last year.

There have been 10 winners aged 12, most recently Amberleigh House in 2004. There are three 12-year-olds running this year: 2009 winner Mon Mome, State Of Play and Vic Venturi.

There have been 16 winners aged 11, most recently Red Marauder in 2001. The seven 11-year-olds running this year are headed by last year’s winner Ballabriggs.

Greys

Only two greys have won: Nicolaus Silver (1961) and The Lamb (1868 & 1871). The most recent grey to be placed was 2008 runner-up King Johns Castle. There are four taking part this year: Neptune Collonges, Alfa Beat, Chicago Grey and Swing Bill.

Birthdays

Ted Walsh, trainer of Seabass, is 62 on John Smith’s Grand National day, which is also the actual 11th birthday of runner Deep Purple.

JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL FACTS AND MILESTONES - PART TWO

Amateurs

Amateur riders have won on 41 occasions, most recently Marcus Armytage on Mr Frisk in 1990. There are two amateurs riding this year, Katie Walsh on Seabass and Nina Carberry on Organisedconfusion.

Women

A woman rider has yet to win; 14 individuals have taken part on 19 occasions. Two ride this year, Katie Walsh on Seabass and Nina Carberry on Organisedconfusion. Walsh is making her debut; Carberry has completed on all her three rides (Forest Gunner 9th 2006, Character Building 7th 2010, Character Building 15th 2011).

The first woman to take part was Charlotte Brew in 1977 (Barony Fort, refused); the first to get round Geraldine Rees in 1982 (Cheers, 8th and last).

Siblings

Two sets of siblings have won Grand Nationals, the Rees brothers Dick (Shaun Spadah 1921) and Lewis (Music Hall 1922) and the Beasley brothers Tommy (Frigate 1889) and Harry (Come Away 1891).

Two brother-and-sister sets ride this year: Ruby Walsh (rides On His Own, previously winner on Papillon 2000 and Hedgehunter 2005 ) and his sister Katie (rides Seabass) and Paul Carberry (rides Chicago Grey, previously winner on Bobbyjo 1999) and Nina (rides Organisedconfusion).

Owner-breds

The last owner-bred winner was Frank Gilman’s Grittar in 1982. There are four running for their breeders this year: Synchronised (J P McManus), Planet Of Sound (Charles Lloyd-Baker), According To Pete (Peter Nelson) and Giles Cross (Kay Birchenhough).

Weights

The last top-weight to win was Red Rum, who carried 11st 8lbs when he notched his third victory in 1977. Top-weights to have been placed since then have been Royal Mail (3rd 1981, 11st 7lb), Corbiere (3rd 1984, 12st), Corbiere (3rd 1985, 11st 10lb), West Tip (4th 1988 11st7lb), The Thinker (3rd 1989 11st 10lb), Suny Bay (2nd 1998 12st), Hedgehunter (2nd 2006 11st12lb) and Don’t Push It (3rd 2011 11st 10lb).

Favourites

In 164 runnings, only 26 favourites or joint-favourites have won, including two of the last four:  Don’t Push It, 10/1 joint-favourite in 2010 and Comply Or Die, 7/1 joint-favourite in 2008. The shortest-priced winner has been Poethlyn, the 11/4 favourite in 1919, and the shortest-priced  loser Golden Miller, 2/1 favourite when he unseated in 1935.

Outsiders

There have been five 100/1 winners: Tipperary Tim (1929), Gregalach (1929), Caughoo (1947), Foinavon (1967) and Mon Mome (2009).

NICHOLLS SET FOR A GOOD DAY, SAY BETFRED PUNTERS

            Money channelled through Betfred, the official betting partner at Aintree’s John Smith’s Grand National meeting, suggests Paul Nicholls is the man to follow  today.

            He and Nicky Henderson are engaged in a tight battle for the trainer’s championship, and after a good opening day on Thursday Nicholls has a lead of £110,000.

            Betfred has seen support for a number of his Friday runners, beginning in the opening race with Prospect Wells (2.00) who has been cut from 4/1 to 7/2. The Charlie Longsdon-trained Vulcanite was also popular in this contest at 10/1 and was soon into 15/2.

          Nicholls’ Silviniaco Conti (2.30) was clipped from 15/8 to 7/4, while his Poquelin (3.05) was shortened from 8/1 to 6/1 for a race in which Philip Hobbs’ Wishfull Thinking (11/1 to 9/1) was another mover.

            Frankie Figg (3.40), in to 10/1 from 11/1, was another popular Nicholls’ candidate, although Henderson’s Bai Zhu was in demand at 22/1 and was soon trading at 16/1.

            Kim Bailey’s novice hurdler Harry Topper (4.15) was another popular choice with Betfred this morning, but it was that man Nicholls again in relation to
Like Minded (4.50) who was cut from 25/1 to 20/1. Other movers in this event were Donald McCain’s Bourne (5/1 from 13/2) and Jonjo O’Neill’s It’s A Gimme (7/2 from 9/2).

            Neither Nicholls nor Henderson are represented in the bumper (5.25) in which McCain’s Doyly Carte (7/1 from 8/1), Martin Keighley’s Flementime (8/1 from 9/1) and Willie Mullins’ Dr Machini (11/1 from 12/1) gained morning money.

BROTHER’S THE WORD FOR FIRST-TIMER KATIE WALSH

Katie Walsh has been gearing up for her John Smith’s Grand National debut ride with a little help from big brother Ruby.

            They walked the course together yesterday, but what he said and what she has learned is a secret for now. At a press conference today Katie said: “Ruby gave me a few pointers on the way round, but what he said is between Ruby and me only - that’s part of my competitive streak.”

            Katie partners Seabass, who is trained by her father Ted for a group of friends called The Gunners Syndicate. She is one of two women amateur riders in the big race - the other is her sister-in-law, Nina Carberry, who rides Organisedconfusion.

            Tomorrow’s race will be Katie’s third over the National fences, but she has yet to get round. She said: “I rode Pomme Tiepy in the Topham here two years ago but she turned over at the first and then I came back for the November meeting that year and parted company from Battlefront so I’m hoping it’s third time lucky.

            “I’m looking forward to it - it’s a great opportunity and I might never have a ride in the race again so I just want to enjoy the whole thing. [As women riders] We’re not treated any differently and we wouldn’t expect to be, but at some stage a woman is going to win a Classic on the Flat or the Grand National and I just hope it’s me.

            “I wouldn’t swop Seabass for anything else - I don’t know if he will stay the trip but he has won a point-to-point over three miles and he jumps well enough. I’d like to have a bit of daylight over the first three fences and hope to be in the first six or eight horses - after that anything can happen.

            “It’s just a long-distance chase and you can’t treat it any differently. It’s just a four-and-a-half mile chase over fences and that’s the way I have to think about it.

            “I watched the hunters yesterday and it all happens so quickly that you would have to go back and watch it all again, but you couldn’t help noticing some of the best jumpers can fall and any rider can unseat.

            “I came over here on Wednesday night and of course you can’t help but be aware that tomorrow’s race is something special because of all the cameras and media, but that’s part of the excitement of the whole thing.”

BIRTHDAY BOY TED WALSH HOPING SEABASS WILL BE CATCH OF THE DAY

Trainer and broadcaster Ted Walsh has already won the John Smith’s Grand National with Papillon (2000), ridden by his son Ruby, and he is hoping that his daughter Katie can add to the family’s roll of honour when she partners Seabass in the race tomorrow on the trainer’s 62nd birthday.

Seabass, a nine-year-old son of Turtle Island who races for the six-strong Gunners Syndicate, has had his fair share of setbacks through his racing career and has had to endure two spells on the sidelines with minor tendon trouble. However, he comes to Aintree in fine form, with six consecutive victories under Rules (seven if you take into account a point-to-point) to his name, including the Grade Two paddypower.com Chase at Naas in February on his most recent outing, despite a 21-month absence from the racecourse between his victories at Fairyhouse in February, 2010, and a winning resumption in a point-to-point at Ballinaboola in November, 2011.

“He had a touch of a leg as a six-year-old then ran well at Naas and Conmel,” said his trainer. “He had a touch of a leg again after Fairyhouse and needed 12 to 14 months off but because it came at the end of the season he ended up not being able to run for much longer than that.”

Walsh added: “Katie rides him quite a bit at home and was due to ride him in the point-to-point but she was concussed in the previous race so Peter Flood rode him and he beat Saddlers Storm, a highly-rated horse of Tony Martin’s.

“I thought he’d go up eight or nine pounds and get into the Paddy Power Gold Cup after his win at Punchestown but despite going up he still didn’t get into the race so he went to Limnerick and ran well for Katie. He then ran well at Leopardstown and that’s when we started thinking about the Grand National.”

The members of the Gunners Syndicate, most of whom are Arsenal supporters, hail from the west of Ireland and have been looking forward to the horse’s appearance at Aintree.

Walsh said: “I told them to take a holiday and come over here early to make sure they experience it all. It may never happen again. There’s only one National and this is the one. Everybody concerned with the horse was anxious to come.

“Seabass is not so exposed as Papillon was but he’s clever enough and brave enough. He has survived quite a bit in his life and he’s only 16.1 hands high but he has a good pop in him. I don’t know whether he’ll get four and a half miles but that’s the same for many horses in the field.

“He travelled over on Wednesday and had a walk and hack round the course yesterday morning with Katie and lit up a bit. I’d hate to see him going to sleep or boiling over - you want it [being at Aintree] to light them up a bit.”

With Ruby booked to ride On His Own for Willie Mullins, Ted maintains that he is delighted that Katie, who has won twice on Seabass but is having her first attempt at the National, takes the ride again.

He said: “Unless something happened there was always going to be a Walsh on his back. I just hope that this young lady comes back with a smile on her face wherever they finish. Anything else is a bonus.”