25.02.09 - THE GRAND NATIONAL, RACING AT AINTREE

REVELEY HOPEFUL AS 106 GO FORWARD FOR THE JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL

Rambling Minster is among 106 horses going forward for the £900,000 Grade Three John Smith’s Grand National, following the first scratching stage.

A maximum field of 40 can line up for the world’s most famous steeplechase on Saturday, April 4. 

Totesport, the official betting partner of the John Smith’s Grand National, rates the Keith Reveley-trained 11-year-old a 16/1 chance for the four and a half mile showpiece following an impressive victory in the Grade Three Blue Square Gold Cup at Haydock Park on February 14.

Reveley revealed today: “The plan now is to go straight to Aintree for the John Smith’s Grand National. Rambling Minster’s win at Haydock last time was brilliant - he galloped, jumped and travelled really well. That was probably a career best performance at the age of 11, which is amazing.”

Rambling Minster, who has 10st 1lb in the handicap and was also victorious this term in an extended three and a quarter-mile handicap chase at Cheltenham on January 1, is already a “National” winner, having taken the Borders National at Kelso in December, 2007. 

Reveley continued: “He’ll definitely stay the distance at Aintree. He won a Borders National on heavy ground over four miles, one furlong, so the trip won’t be a problem. A bigger concern would be the 39 other horses all travelling flat out over those massive fences - you need luck in running to have any chance.

“It was heavy at Haydock last time but he will go on any ground and I personally believe his preference is for good ground, even though he will handle a bit of cut. In his younger days we always thought of him as a good ground horse, so we’ll take more or less anything.”

Reveley’s son, jockey James Reveley, enjoyed a first success over Aintree’s famous fences at the Northwest Racing Masters in November, when guiding Endless Power to victory in the ToteSuper7 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase. He is looking to continue his successful partnership with Rambling Minster on the first Saturday in April.

The Cleveland trainer commented: “James has been doing well and is improving all the time. He has already managed to have a winner over the Aintree fences so that experience will stand him in good stead. It is a good partnership, the horse jumps well for him and they seem to suit each other.

“We just need to be 100 per cent on the day, keep away from any bugs and such like along the way and then pray for loads of luck on the day. That’s all we can do.”

Also among those going forward for the John Smith’s Grand National are totesport’s current 12/1 market leaders, Butler’s Cabin, victorious in the 2007 Irish Grand National, and Black Apalachi. The latter won the Grade Two Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse on February 21 for trainer Dessie Hughes and showed his aptitude for the Grand National fences when winning the totesport.com Becher Chase at the Northwest Racing Masters in November.

Butler’s Cabin is trained by Jonjo O’Neill for owner J P McManus. The duo, seeking an elusive first John Smith’s Grand National triumph, could also run the progressive Can’t Buy Time (20/1).

Last year’s winner Comply Or Die (16/1) is in line to bid for a repeat victory for trainer David Pipe, who could also saddle Madison Du Berlais (16/1), victorious in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup this season and conqueror of Denman at Kempton on February 7.

Last year’s sixth Cloudy Lane (25/1) is being primed for another attempt by trainer Donald McCain, while the O’Neill-trained top-weight Exotic Dancer (25/1) holds his ground, as does the 2007 hero Silver Birch (33/1), who returned to action when victorious in a point-to-point at Nenagh on February 7, before being pulled up at Bennettsbridge point-to-point on February 22.

The past two winners of the Welsh National, Notre Pere (2008) (16/1) and Miko De Beauchene (2007) (33/1) are still on target, as is the Paul Nicholls-trained Big Fella Thanks (16/1) despite the seven-year-old finishing third when favourite to the impressive Nacarat in the Racing Post Chase on February 21. Nicholls also has leading hope My Will (16/1) and Eurotrek (50/1).

King John’s Castle (25/1) took the runner-up berth last year for trainer Arthur Moore and is being prepared for another tilt, while fellow Irish trainer Mouse Morris is hoping to saddle last season’s Irish Grand National victor Hear The Echo (14/1) and 2006 totesport Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition (25/1).

The Willie Mullins-trained Snowy Morning (20/1) clinched third in the 2008 John Smith’s Grand National for trainer Willie Mullins, whose brother Tom Mullins could saddle Chelsea Harbour (25/1) in a bid to improve on that contender’s ninth place last year.

Hot Weld (25/1) won both the Scottish Grand National and Sandown Gold Cup in 2007 for trainer Ferdy Murphy, who could also saddle 2007 Paddy Power Gold Cup winner L’Antartique (50/1).

A total of 30 Irish-trained horses remain on course for the John Smith’s Grand National  as Ireland bids to carry off the prize for the seventh time in 11 renewals.


THE 2009 JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL

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 remain), second forfeit stage March 17. Five/six-day confirmation stage March 30, final declaration stage 10.00am, April 2. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, February 23.

 

Form        Horse           Age/Wgt          Owner    Trainer

353-231  EXOTIC DANCER (FR)  9-11-10  Sir Robert Ogden  Jonjo O'Neill

425F-611 MADISON DU BERLAIS (FR) 8-11-08  Roger Stanley & Yvonne Reynolds II David Pipe

31320P  SNOOPY LOOPY (IRE)  11-11-05 Walters Plant Hire Ltd Egan Waste Ltd Peter Bowen

11/3-024 STAR DE MOHAISON (FR) 8-11-05  Sir Robert Ogden  Paul Nicholls

63P-4112 NOTRE PERE (FR)  8-11-04  Tillie Conway   Jim Dreaper IRE

112/-U1P0 NOZIC (FR)   8-11-03  Sam Mcvie   Paul Nicholls

16-0431  CLOUDY LANE   9-11-02  Trevor Hemmings  Donald McCain Jnr

1/1//2110-4 AFISTFULLOFDOLLARS (IRE)  11-11-01 E McElroy, Linda Shanahan, Sue Magnier  Noel Meade IRE

23/-1132 WAR OF ATTRITION (IRE) 10-11-01 Gigginstown House Stud  Mouse Morris IRE

61U1F23 CHELSEA HARBOUR (IRE) 9-11-00  Frances Duffin   Tom Mullins IRE

3/114-16 IMPERIAL COMMANDER (IRE)  8-11-00  Our Friends in the North  Nigel Twiston-Davies

332-56F2 SNOWY MORNING (IRE)  9-11-00  Quayside Syndicate  Willie Mullins IRE

16UP-10 KNOWHERE (IRE)  11-10-13 Raymond Mould   Nigel Twiston-Davies

225-13P ROLL ALONG (IRE)  9-10-13  Bryan & Philippa Burrough Carl Llewellyn

P211-P0 COMPLY OR DIE (IRE)  10-10-12 David Johnson   David Pipe

3P1-5025 MONKERHOSTIN (FR)  12-10-12 Martin St Quinton  Philip Hobbs

40-25555 OLLIE MAGERN   11-10-12 Roger Nicholls   Nigel Twiston-Davies

4-2P51P0 STAN (NZ)   10-10-12 Paul Beck   Venetia Williams

20F2-P151 BLACK APALACHI (IRE)  10-10-11 Gerard Burke   Dessie Hughes IRE

501-556U HEAR THE ECHO (IRE)  8-10-11  Gigginstown House Stud  Mouse Morris IRE

6P-024143 ONE COOL COOKIE (IRE) 8-10-11  Gigginstown House Stud  Charlie Swan IRE

140-0F1 PREISTS LEAP (IRE)  9-10-11  John D O'Donohue  Tom O'Leary IRE

152-1122 BALLYFITZ   9-10-10  F J Mills & W Mills  Nigel Twiston-Davies

P/22212- KING JOHNS CASTLE (IRE) 10-10-10 J P McManus   Arthur Moore IRE

12P-0UU3 MIKO DE BEAUCHENE (FR) 9-10-10  Andrew Wiles   Robert & Sally Alner

32023/-5 MY WILL (FR)   9-10-10  The Stewart Family  Paul Nicholls

411P/1P/- EUROTREK (IRE)  13-10-09 Paul Green   Paul Nicholls

11640-5  L'ANTARTIQUE (FR)  9-10-09  Mary Durkan   Ferdy Murphy

2560-14  STATE OF PLAY  9-10-08  Mr & Mrs William Rucker  Evan Williams

2-322U13 BIG FELLA THANKS  7-10-07  Paul Barber & Maggie Findlay Paul Nicholls

00-21020 MON MOME (FR)  9-10-06  Vida Bingham   Venetia Williams

0/1PP-63P OPERA MUNDI (FR)  7-10-06  Sir Robert Ogden  Paul Nicholls

F/02421/- SILVER BIRCH (IRE)  12-10-06 Brian Walsh (Co. Kildare)  Gordon Elliott IRE

03F-000 BUTLER'S CABIN (FR)  9-10-05  J P McManus   Jonjo O'Neill

1111F-0 HOBBS HILL   10-10-05 J P McManus   Charles Egerton

1111/U2- OFFSHORE ACCOUNT (IRE) 9-10-05  Brian Polly   Charlie Swan IRE

23/54-1P PARSONS LEGACY (IRE) 11-10-04 R A S Offer   Philip Hobbs

F0612/-P REVEILLEZ   10-10-04 J P McManus   Jonjo O'Neill

00146P  FUNDAMENTALIST (IRE) 11-10-03 Colin Cornes   Nigel Twiston-Davies

1/P133/3- GOLDEN FLIGHT (FR)  10-10-03 John & Barbara Cotton  Nicky Henderson

03F0-421 L'AMI (FR)   10-10-03 J P McManus   Enda Bolger IRE

2U4U-40 SIMON    10-10-03 Mercy Rimell   John Spearing

332-245P BATTLECRY   8-10-02  Trevor Hemmings  Nigel Twiston-Davies

P00-F120 CORNISH SETT (IRE)  10-10-02 Peter Hart   Paul Nicholls

042-P610 FLEET STREET   10-10-02 Henry Ponsonby   Nicky Henderson

122210  MUSICA BELLA (FR)  9-10-02  Jean-Paul Senechal  Francois Cottin FR

63-11131 CAN'T BUY TIME (IRE)  7-10-01  J P McManus   Jonjo O'Neill

113P//-3P DARKNESS   10-10-01 Lady Lloyd-Webber  Charles Egerton

F32311  IRISH INVADER (IRE)  8-10-01  Sackcloth & Ashes Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE

46-5651  RAMBLING MINSTER  11-10-01 The Lingdale Optimists  Keith Reveley

2314-64P SILVERBURN (IRE)  8-10-01  Paul Green   Paul Nicholls

5F/-06U34 SOUTHERN VIC (IRE)  10-10-01 Brenda Graham   Ted Walsh IRE

P641PP  ALWAYS WAINING (IRE)  8-10-00  Mr & Mrs Peter James Douglas Peter Bowen

111-421  GARDE CHAMPETRE (FR) 10-10-00 J P McManus   Enda Bolger IRE

PPP611/-P HOT WELD   10-9-13  Simon Hubbard Rodwell  Ferdy Murphy

20P-111 KILBEGGAN BLADE  10-9-13  K Doocey & Mrs A Doocey Tom George

412402  BROOKLYN BROWNIE (IRE) 10-9-12  P Gaffney & Neil Stevenson Malcolm Jefferson

P/3-14330 CHARACTER BUILDING (IRE) 9-9-12  Mrs E Wright   John Quinn

P-2P6006 CONNA CASTLE (IRE)  10-9-12  Kings Syndicate   Jimmy Mangan IRE

1-P504P0 HIMALAYAN TRAIL  10-9-12  Mark Gittins   Jimmy Mangan IRE

33-4F0F0 PIRAYA (FR)   6-9-12  Terry Neill   David Pipe

26U-344 TUMBLING DICE (IRE)  10-9-12  Lucy Donegan   Tom Taaffe IRE

3/00010- ARTEEA (IRE)   10-9-11  Judith Wilson   David Pipe

0P/50PP- CERIUM (FR)   8-9-11  Judith Wilson   Paul Murphy

050-240  IDLE TALK (IRE)  10-9-11  Trevor Hemmings  Donald McCain Jnr

0F2U6-P KELAMI (FR)   11-9-11  Halewood International Ltd Lisa Williamson

0/232P5/- ZABENZ (NZ)   12-9-11  Sarah Hobbs   Philip Hobbs

PP541P  ICE TEA (IRE)   9-9-10  Sandicroft Stud   Donald McCain Jnr

2U41U-0 MALJIMAR (IRE)  9-9-10  Jane Williams   Nick Williams

211-1113 COMPANERO (IRE)  9-9-09  W M G Black & Sue Johnson Howard Johnson

0333P0  IRON MAN (FR)   8-9-09  Roddy Owen & Paul Fullagar Peter Bowen

P2P-P0P MATTOCK RANGER (IRE) 9-9-09  Banouche Stud Ireland Ltd Noel Meade IRE

U44P-314 NICHE MARKET (IRE)  8-9-09  Graham Regan   Bob Buckler

0U01344 POMME TIEPY (FR)  6-9-09  Mrs S Ricci   Willie Mullins IRE

101PP6- BAGAN (FR)   10-9-08  The Centaur Group Partnership VII Martin Todhunter

11P1-3PF BEAT THE BOYS (IRE)  8-9-08  New Club Ladies   Nigel Twiston-Davies

140-306  BIBLE LORD (IRE)  8-9-08  M Tedham   Andrew Turnell

64P3-01 DIX VILLEZ (FR)   10-9-08  Gigginstown House Stud  Paul Nolan IRE

P2P63-5 FLINTOFF (USA)  8-9-08  Andrew Flintoff & Paul Beck Venetia Williams

4B0-4000 PATSY HALL (IRE)  9-9-08  Thomas Mooney Partnership Tony Martin IRE

3/2F01P- IN THE LOOP (IRE)  11-9-07  Ben-Hill Syndicate  Roy Wilson IRE

P121-P50 KING HARALD (IRE)  11-9-07  Piers Pottinger & P B-J Partnership Mark Bradstock

313145-0 LOTHIAN FALCON  10-9-07  Peter Maddison   Peter Maddison

P00-P304 NADOVER (FR)   8-9-07  George Storey   Charlie Mann

0120360 OULART   10-9-07  Dessie Hughes & Ged Pierse Dessie Hughes IRE

2/223F0- PAK JACK (FR)   9-9-07  The Pak Jack Partnership  Richard Phillips

421101  SEYMOUR WELD  9-9-07  Charles Pogson   Charles Pogson

P2113P  HOOPY (IRE)   7-9-06  John Earls   Gordon Elliott IRE

22/-22P4 NINE DE SIVOLA (FR)  8-9-06  The DPRP Sivola Partnership Ferdy Murphy

210123-  TOM SAYERS (IRE)  11-9-06  Capt Bill Edwards-Heathcote Philip Hobbs

0-32123  OODACHEE   10-9-04  Modreeny Syndicate  Charlie Swan IRE

12366/-4 KINGS ADVOCATE (IRE)  9-9-03  Conor Clarkson   Tom Taaffe IRE

62P-30P0 DUN DOIRE (IRE)  10-9-02  Dunderry Racing Syndicate Tony Martin IRE

02P-P4F LE TOSCAN (FR)  9-9-02  Judith Wilson   David Pipe

U1-5254 OUT THE BLACK (IRE)  11-9-02  James Drummond  Philip Hobbs

0P0/03-0 PUNTAL (FR)   13-9-02  Terry Neill   David Pipe

P4220-0 WITHOUT A DOUBT  10-9-02  Malcolm Denmark  Carl Llewellyn

1P1F//PP-0 YOU'RE SPECIAL (USA)  12-9-01  Diane O' Rourke   Ferdy Murphy

21/-2426 ALEXANDERTHEGREAT (IRE)  11-9-00  Six Blokes   Venetia Williams

5/5400-P MILAN DEUX MILLE (FR) 7-9-00  Judith Wilson   David Pipe

41/F400-23 SANDHURST (IRE)  9-8-11  John Duddy   Edgar Byrne IRE

5/6P0-42P LORD KILLESHANRA (IRE) 10-8-10  G F Gingell   Colin Tizzard

U-2130U6 LYSANDER (GER)  10-8-10  The Piranha Partnership  Ian Williams

4213140 MALKO DE BEAUMONT (FR) 9-8-10  David Sturdy   Alan Brown

P06-350F PASS ME BY   10-8-08  Paul Beck   Suzy Smith

1110PP  MONT MISERE (FR)  13-8-07  Judith Wilson   Paul Murphy

 

106 entries remain

30 Irish-trained

1 French-trained

 

THE FOLLOWING 17 HORSES HAVE BEEN OFFICIALLY SCRATCHED BY THEIR TRAINERS:

AIR FORCE ONE (GER), CANE BRAKE (IRE), GWANAKO (FR), ABBEYBRANEY (IRE), ENDLESS POWER (IRE), TRABOLGAN (IRE), OEDIPE (FR), D'ARGENT (IRE), HOMER WELLS (IRE), GALLANT APPROACH (IRE), SEA DIVA (IRE), EMMA JANE (IRE), BALLYTRIM (IRE), ROYAL ROSA (FR), DENMAN (IRE), JOE LIVELY (IRE), LEADING ATTRACTION (IRE)