02.03.11 - THE GRAND NATIONAL

Midnight Chase aims for Gold Cup glory before John Smith's Grand National

Midnight Chase is 25/1 with totesport for the £950,000 John Smith’s Grand National over four and a half miles at Aintree on Saturday, April 9, and the progressive gelding’s participation will be decided after he contests the totesport Gold Cup at Cheltenham in a little over two weeks.

The Neil Mulholland-trained nine-year-old is one of 82 entries remaining in the world’s most famous chase after the first scratchings deadline, details of which are revealed today.

Midnight Chase carries the colours of Lady Clarke who, along with her late husband Sir Stan Clarke, won the John Smith’s Grand National with Lord Gyllene in 1997. The gelding has won six of his last seven starts, the most recent three victories coming at Cheltenham, and was last seen landing a Listed handicap chase over an extended three miles and a furlong at the Prestbury Park course on December 10.

Mulholland revealed today: “Midnight Chase is going for the Cheltenham Gold Cup first and we’ll see after that what will be on the agenda for him. No decisions will be made until we see how he is after Cheltenham.

“He’s a horse that is improving and if he improves just that little bit more he is a lively contender, but until we run him in the Gold Cup, we don’t know. If he does run a big race at Cheltenham we could decide to keep him for next year’s Grand National - we’ll have to see.

“He has got 11st 8lb at Aintree. That is high but we’re not worrying about that at the minute. He’s a Cheltenham specialist and the Gold Cup is the focus - his only other entry is in the Grand National, so other than that he has no fixed agenda and we’ll see what happens at The Festival.

“I’m absolutely delighted with his progress since his last run - I couldn’t be happier with him.”

Only the great Golden Miller has won the Cheltenham Gold Cup and John Smith’s Grand National in the same year (1934). The most recent Gold Cup hero to come close was the Jenny Pitman-trained Garrison Savannah, who triumphed in the Cheltenham showpiece in 1991 and was just touched off by Seagram in the Aintree spectacular a couple of weeks later.

After winning the John Smith’s Grand National in 2005, the Willie Mullins-trained Hedgehunter finished runner-up in both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the John Smith’s Grand National in 2006, while Rough Quest was second in the 1996 Gold Cup and won the Aintree showpiece 16 days later.

L’Escargot, a Gold Cup winner in 1970 and 1971, went on to Aintree glory in 1975.

As expected, Neptune Collonges has been taken out, leaving last years winner Don’t Push It (20/1) as clear top-weight.

Don’t Push It provided owner J P McManus, trainer Jonjo O’Neill and champion jockey A P (Tony) McCoy each with a first win in the race, and heads the handicap on 11st 10lb, followed by the Howard Johnson-trained dual Grade One winner Tidal Bay (40/1) on 11st 9lb.

The Midnight Club is the current 12/1 favourite with totesport following his victory in the Grade Two Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse on February 23 for Hedgehunter’s trainer Willie Mullins.

John Smith’s Grand National official betting partner totesport’s latest betting:

12 The Midnight Club, 14 Ballabriggs, Silver By Nature, 16 Arbor Supreme, Backstage, Niche Market, Oscar Time, 20 Big Fella Thanks, Don’t Push It, Merigo, Synchronised, West End Rocker, 25 Becauseicouldntsee, Bluesea Cracker, Hello Bud, Majestic Concorde, Midnight Chase, Notre Pere, State Of Play, Vic Venturi, 33 Ballytrim, Calgary Bay, Chief Dan George, Giles Cross, I’moncloudnine, In Compliance, One Cool Cookie, Our Monty, What A Friend, 40 Ballyfitz, Character Building, Dooneys Gate, Gullible Gordon, Killyglen, Meanus Dandy, Northern Alliance, Surface To Air, The Tother One, Tidal Bay, Tricky Trickster, 50 Belon Gale, Can’t Buy Time, Comply Or Die, Deep Purple, Frankie Figg, Galant Nuit, Golden Kite, Junior, King Fontaine, Or Noir de Somoza, Ornais, Quinz, Quolibet, Saddlers Storm, Skippers Brig, Nedzers Return, Tatenen, 66 Always Waining, Ambobo, Grand Slam Hero, Le Beau Bai, Pomme Tiepy, Roll Along, Royal Rosa, Sagalyrique, Scotsirish, Snowy Morning, The Sawyer, The Sliotar, Toby Jug, Treacle, 100 Askthemaster, Dev, Dream Alliance, Duers, Faasel, Piraya, Putney Bridge, Santas Son, Starzaan, That’s Rhythm, 150 Regal Heights.

Each-way ¼ 1-2-3-4

SMITH PLEASED WITH WEIGHTS RESPONSE BUT NEPTUNE DEFECTION DISAPPOINTS

It is a little over two weeks since Phil Smith, the British Horseracing Authority’s Head of Handicapping, released the eagerly anticipated weights for the 2011 John Smith’s Grand National.

Plenty of flak can fly in the aftermath of the annual release of the weights for the world’s most famous chase, with some owners and trainers brusquely venting their consternation at Smith’s weighting of a particular horse but, so far, the handicapper’s tin hat and Kevlar vest have been left to gather dust.

Smith revealed today: “The main news is that there is no news. No one has said that they are not happy, which, from a handicapper’s point of view is relieving, but I’m also surprised because you normally get someone who is not happy.”

This year, Smith compressed the top 14 horses in the handicap, allotting horses such as Tidal Bay and Neptune Collonges a rating lower than they would carry in a regular handicap, the theory being that the John Smith’s Grand National, with it’s marathon four and a half-mile distance and unique fences, requires a slightly different approach to its assessment.

Having compressed the weights at the top to encourage a high-class field, Smith is disappointed with the scratching of the Paul Nicholls-trained Neptune Collonges - joint top-weight with 11st 10lb - winner of the Grade Two Argento Chase at Cheltenham last time and set to contest the Grade One totesport Gold Cup.

Smith continued: “I was very disappointed to see Neptune Collonges come out. He was a really credible joint top-weight and, while one has to respect the decision made by connections, I fail to understand the reasons.

“If it was an ordinary handicap he would be 8lb higher, so I tried to give him every incentive. In terms of the physical weight, I had set him to carry 11st 10lb and that is the weight he will carry in the Gold Cup. The difference being, if the Gold Cup was a handicap he’d be receiving weight from some of those horses, whereas obviously he would be giving weight to inferior horses in the National, but physically it’s the same weight.

“Don’t Push It is clear top-weight now and he’s a credible horse as last year’s winner, and all things being equal, he’ll run.”

The Howard Johnson-trained Tidal Bay almost caught Gold Cup hero Imperial Commander in the Grade One Betfair Chase at Haydock in November and was storming up the hill when a close second to Neptune Collonges in the Argento Chase. He is one of the class horses Smith hopes to attract to this year’s renewal.

He said: “Tidal Bay (11st 9lb) is one of those horses that I compressed and in normal circumstances he would be running off a mark of 166. I’ve tried to tempt the connections to go because he is on a 7lb lower mark in the John Smith’s Grand National than he would be anywhere else and the thinking behind that is that he has got to carry the weight for further. I definitely hope he runs.”

Smith also made a swathe of changes to the ratings of exposed horses in the handicap, dropping 15 of them to lower marks.

The handicapper revealed: “When I handicap the National, I look at every horse in the race again and consider their form - every year there are a few horses in the race that I drop but I have never dropped as many as this year. I really took a pair of shears to the ratings of some of the exposed older horses. I looked back at the form and where it hadn’t worked out that well I dropped them a fair bit.

“It was a difficult year because there were a lot of unexposed younger horses who I have not had enough time to see because of the abandonments, so knowing that there were a lot of potential improvers in the race it was important to try and give the older horses, who I have had plenty of opportunities to see, a chance. I just made sure that they were on what I would call a fair mark 

“I’m pretty pleased with it at the moment - it looks very competitive. As we speak, bookmakers are still betting 12/1 the field, so that’s good from my point of view and that’s all I’ve got at the moment as a barometer to what people think of the fairness of the job I’ve done. But there’s a long way to go, so I’m not counting any chickens.”

The second scratchings deadline for the John Smith’s Grand National is at noon on Tuesday, March 22.

TICKETS UPDATE 

The 2011 John Smith's Grand National Meeting runs from April 7 to 9 and features top-class racing on each day. Tickets and hospitality packages are still available. Visit www.aintree.co.uk for further information or call 0844 579 3001.

Seats are still available on Thursday from £24 and hospitality from £158.  Also on Thursday, Liverpool group The Farm will perform for 60 minutes following racing.

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 remain), second scratchings deadline March 22. Five-day confirmation stage April 4, 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 Monday, February 28.

Form  Horse    Age/Wgt Owner    Trainer

1) 23P1-P00 DON'T PUSH IT (IRE)  11-11-10 J P McManus   Jonjo O'Neill

2) 104-322 TIDAL BAY (IRE)  10-11-09 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson

3) 1-41111 MIDNIGHT CHASE  9-11-08 Lady Clarke   Neil Mulholland

4) 1P46-3U3 DEEP PURPLE  10-11-07 Paul Green   Evan Williams

5) 131-561 SYNCHRONISED (IRE) 8-11-06 J P McManus   Jonjo O'Neill

6) 501B-004 VIC VENTURI (IRE)  11-11-06 Seamus Dunne   Dessie Hughes IRE

7) 61/211-52 WHAT A FRIEND  8-11-06 Ged Mason & Sir Alex Ferguson Paul Nicholls

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

9) 2F1425 OR NOIR DE SOMOZA (FR) 9-11-05 Filsal Stadeg Racing  David Pipe

10) 01F24-41 DOONEYS GATE (IRE) 10-11-04 Jackie Mullins   Willie Mullins IRE

11) 20-35344 SCOTSIRISH (IRE)  10-11-02 Double R Stables Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE

12) 2U14-2F4 BIG FELLA THANKS  9-11-01 Maggie Findlay   Ferdy Murphy

13) 3111-11 BALLABRIGGS (IRE)  10-11-00 Trevor Hemmings  Donald McCain

14) UP-36310 TATENEN (FR)  7-11-00 The Stewart Family  Richard Rowe

15) 205-244 THE TOTHER ONE (IRE) 10-11-00 Graham Roach   Paul Nicholls

16) 520P-F5 NICHE MARKET (IRE)  10-10-13 Graham Regan   Paul Nicholls

17) U3133-21 THE MIDNIGHT CLUB (IRE) 10-10-13 Susannah Ricci   Willie Mullins IRE

18) 0BP-500 BACKSTAGE (FR)  9-10-12 MPR & Capranny Syndicate Gordon Elliott IRE

19) 30011-05 CHIEF DAN GEORGE (IRE) 11-10-12 Maurice Chapman  Jimmy Moffatt

20) 5121-001 SILVER BY NATURE  9-10-12 Geoff Brown   Lucinda Russell

21) 4UP-250 NOTRE PERE (FR)  10-10-11 Tilly Conway   Barry Potts IRE

21) 4-56242 CALGARY BAY (IRE)  8-10-10 Camilla Radford  Henrietta Knight

23) P2P-253 KILLYGLEN (IRE)  9-10-10 David McCammon  Stuart Crawford IRE

24) 1/2100-P5 TRICKY TRICKSTER (IRE) 8-10-10 Chris Giles   Paul Nicholls

25) 3152-263 OSCAR TIME (IRE)  10-10-09 Robert Waley-Cohen/Sir Martin & S Broughton Martin Lynch IRE

26) 032236- SNOWY MORNING (IRE) 11-10-09 Quayside Syndicate  Colin Bowe IRE

27) 0100-03 BALLYTRIM (IRE)  10-10-08 Violet O'Leary   Willie Mullins IRE

28) 2212-42 BECAUSEICOULDNTSEE (IRE) 8-10-08 Noel Glynn   Noel Glynn IRE

29) 2/000-06P COMPLY OR DIE (IRE) 12-10-08 David Johnson   David Pipe

30) 1-122B0 NEDZER'S RETURN (IRE) 9-10-08 William Elliott   Gordon Elliott IRE

31) P-5500423 NORTHERN ALLIANCE (IRE) 10-10-08 Irish Rover Syndicate  Tony Martin IRE

32) 510-1131 QUINZ (FR)   7-10-08 Andrew Cohen   Philip Hobbs

33) 2F-FF25 QUOLIBET (FR)  7-10-08 J P McManus   Jonjo O’Nell

34) 11FP10P GRAND SLAM HERO (IRE) 10-10-07 Walters Plant Hire Ltd  Nigel Twiston-Davies

35) 3P6/454-P6 ROLL ALONG (IRE)  11-10-07 Bryan & Philippa Burrough Nigel Twiston-Davies

36) P22-41F GULLIBLE GORDON (IRE) 8-10-06 Bunty Millard   Paul Nicholls

37) 3211-11P KING FONTAINE (IRE)  8-10-06 Trevor Hemmings  Malcolm Jefferson

38) 0/144/P3- STATE OF PLAY  11-10-06 William & Angela Rucker Evan Williams

39) 21PP-PP DREAM ALLIANCE  10-10-05 The Alliance Partnership Philip Hobbs

40) 005P-1P HELLO BUD (IRE)  13-10-05 Seamus Murphy  Nigel Twiston-Davies

41) 566U-3431 IN COMPLIANCE (IRE) 11-10-05 Westerly Breeze Syndicate Dessie Hughes IRE

42) 6-220001 SANTA'S SON (IRE)  11-10-05 Douglas Pryde & Jim Beaumont Howard Johnson

43) 2P/00-11P WEST END ROCKER (IRE) 9-10-05 Barry Winfield & Tim Leadbeater Alan King

44) 0C21-046 BLUESEA CRACKER (IRE) 9-10-04 Note The Link Syndicate James Motherway IRE

45) 16F-0P5 CAN'T BUY TIME (IRE) 9-10-04 J P McManus   Jonjo O'Neill

46) 000-3056 CHARACTER BUILDING (IRE) 11-10-04 Patricia Thompson  John Quinn

47) 1215/1P/-5 ORNAIS (FR)   9-10-04 The Stewart Family  Paul Nicholls

48) 00P-234P PIRAYA (FR)   8-10-04 Terry Neill   David Pipe

49) PP2/111/- SURFACE TO AIR  10-10-04 Tim Urry   Chris Bealby

50) 301050 THAT'S RHYTHM (FR)  11-10-04 Don't Tell Henry  Martin Todhunter

51) 0U2F-0P2 ARBOR SUPREME (IRE) 9-10-03 J P McManus   Willie Mullins IRE

52) 1F3U-P1U FRANKIE FIGG (IRE)  9-10-03 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson

53) 1P0-053U ONE COOL COOKIE (IRE) 10-10-03 Gigginstown House Stud Charlie Swan IRE

54) 013111- OUR MONTY (IRE)  8-10-03 Colland Sand & Gravel Ltd Willie Mullins IRE

55) P5U-42P ROYAL ROSA (FR)  12-10-03 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson

56) 0P1-0060 ALWAYS WAINING (IRE) 10-10-02 Mr & Mrs Peter James Douglas Peter Bowen

57) 421001 GOLDEN KITE (IRE)  9-10-02 Dr Anthony Calnan  Adrian Maguire IRE

58) P1P-41U MEANUS DANDY (IRE) 8-10-02 Mark & Tessa Woodhouse & Paul Barber Paul Nicholls

59) 41/313-01 SKIPPERS BRIG (IRE)  10-10-02 Ashleybank Investments Limited Nicky Richards

60) 1F4/22-1P BELON GALE (IRE)  8-10-01 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson

61) 3/402P-0 FAASEL (IRE)   10-10-01 Hush Hush Partnership  David Pipe

62) 3P-02043 LE BEAU BAI (FR)  8-10-01 Glass Half Full   Richard Lee

63) 0D61-0F MERIGO (FR)   10-10-01 Raymond & Anita Anderson Green Andrew Parker

64) 321112 PUTNEY BRIDGE  9-10-01 Louise Goldsworthy  Keith Goldsworthy

65) 256-0216 ASKTHEMASTER (IRE) 11-10-00 Carrolle Wall   Robert Tyner IRE

66) 363221- DEV (IRE)   11-10-00 Liam Mulryan   Gordon Elliott IRE

67) F123-P22 GILES CROSS (IRE)  9-10-00 KCMS Partnership  Victor Dartnall

68) 111U0-66 SADDLERS STORM (IRE) 9-10-00 Billy Moffett/R T & J McLoughlin Tony Martin IRE

69) 11P61/0/- STARZAAN (IRE)  12-10-00 Ben Arbib   Hughie Morrison

70) 60U0-60 AMBOBO (USA)  11-9-13 Deirdre Brassil   Martin Brassil IRE

71) 05241P DUERS (IRE)   9-9-13  Kate Kelly/Kate Ronan  Paul Magnier IRE

72) 31-PP11P SAGALYRIQUE (FR)  7-9-13  Sir Robert Ogden  Donald McCain

73) 311120- TOBY JUG   10-9-13      Paul & Caron Chapman & Sarah Humphrey Sarah Humphrey

74) 5/2613-P GALANT NUIT (FR)  7-9-12  David Parry   Ferdy Murphy

75) 3131-32 JUNIOR   8-9-12  Middleham Park Racing LI David Pipe

76) 00-50642 THE SAWYER (BEL)  11-9-12 David Fear   Bob Buckler

77) 40F-04452 BALLYFITZ   11-9-09 Fred & Wayne Mills  Nigel Twiston-Davies

78) P0-24U344 I'MONCLOUDNINE (IRE) 8-9-09  Fred Matthews   Neil Mulholland

79) PF4-536 POMME TIEPY (FR)  8-9-09  Susannah Ricci   Willie Mullins IRE

80) 204/12-PP THE SLIOTAR (IRE)  10-9-08 Roger Brookhouse  Philip Hobbs

81) F/116PP- TREACLE (IRE)  10-9-04 Bjorn Nielsen   Tom Taaffe IRE

82) 560-P2322 REGAL HEIGHTS (IRE)  10-9-02  Janet Heler   Tom George

82 entries remain after March 1 scratchings deadline

27 Irish-trained

THE FOLLOWING ENTRIRD HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED: APT APPROACH (IRE), CANE BRAKE (IRE), CARRONHILLS (IRE), FAIR ALONG (GER), FROM DAWN TO DUSK, GLENCOVE MARINA (IRE), I'MSINGINGTHEBLUES (IRE), JUST AMAZING (IRE), KHACHATURIAN (IRE), LITTLE JOSH (IRE), MOBAASHER (USA), NEPTUNE COLLONGES (FR), NICTO DE BEAUCHENE (FR), NOBLE CONCORDE, QUEZAC DE LA ROQUE (FR), QUISCOVER FONTAINE (FR), TARANIS (FR), TINAKELLYLAD (IRE), TRANQUIL SEA (IRE)