88 GO FORWARD FOR 2009 JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL

88 GO FORWARD FOR 2009 JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL

The 2009 John Smith’s Grand National, worth a record £900,000, has 88 acceptors going forward following the passing of the second scratchings deadline, details of which are revealed today.

Several horses that ran well at the Cheltenham Festival could head for the John Smith’s Grand National, at Aintree on Saturday, April 4, including My Will, the current 10/1 joint-favourite with Aintree’s official betting partner, totesport, and Roll Along who both ran well when fifth and sixth respectively in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday, March 13.

My Will is one of five possible contenders from the yard of champion trainer Paul Nicholls, who is still seeking his first John Smith’s Grand National success. The other acceptors from Nicholls’ Somerset yard are Nozic, the 2006 totesport Becher Chase victor Eurotrek, the progressive Big Fella Thanks and Cornish Sett.

Tom George has his string in fine form this season and is looking forward to running Kilbeggan Blade in the John Smith’s Grand National. The 10-year-old has won three of his four starts this season, scoring twice at Towcester and at Sandown, and completed his John Smith’s Grand National preparation by finishing second in a novices’ hurdle at Warwick on March 8.

The Gloucestershire-based handler said: “I see that Kilbeggan Blade is now set to carry 10st 4lb and it looks like we will definitely get into the John Smith’s Grand National. The race has been the plan since he won his second London National (at Sandown) in December.

“That was his only start over fences this term and we not only did this to protect his mark but also because he seems to run better over fences after a spin over hurdles. His two victories at Sandown came on the back of hurdle appearances and he really enjoys a bit of a change.

“His run at Warwick should have put him just right for Aintree and it was a matter of getting a run into him rather than expecting him to win. He’s only had four starts all season and he’ll be going into the John Smith’s Grand National a fresh horse which is the key to him.

“He looks like he stays all day and he’s a great jumper. The reason he likes Sandown so much is because there is such an emphasis on jumping and I think he will enjoy the Grand National fences.

“The one thing we really need to look at is who will ride him on the day but I think the fact that we have 10st 4lb makes it a lot easier.”

Currently sharing favouritism with My Will is the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Butler’s Cabin, an eye-catching fifth behind Character Building in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase at Cheltenham last week. Another horse to run at the Cheltenham Festival was last year’s John Smith’s grand National hero Comply Or Die, who performed well for a long way when seventh in the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase.

Horses trained in Ireland have won the John Smith’s Grand National no less than half a dozen times since 1999 and another strong challenge is in prospect this year with a total of 25 Irish contenders still engaged. Prominent among these are the Dessie Hughes-trained Black Apalachi, who proved his ability over the course with an authoritative victory in the totesport.com Becher Chase at the Northwest Racing Masters in November; the 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition; last year’s runner-up King Johns Castle, who recently returned to action with a promising effort over hurdles at Naas, and Snowy Morning, who finished third in 2008. Other leading contenders from the other side of the Irish Sea include last year’s Irish Grand National victor Hear The Echo, Southern Vic, who represents Ted Walsh, successful with Papillon in 2000, and Chelsea Harbour.

Also included among the acceptors are Rambling Minster, who put himself firmly in line for a crack at the world’s most famous chase with a superb display of jumping when successful in the Blue Square Gold Cup at Haydock Park on February 14, the 2006 Hennessy Gold Cup victor State Of Play and Cloudy Lane from the stable of Donald McCain, who finished sixth in 2008.

The next acceptance stage for the John Smith’s Grand National is at the five-day stage on Monday, March 30. The maximum field size for the John Smith’s Grand National is 40 runners.

Latest totesport betting:
10 Butler's Cabin, 10 My Will, 12 Black Apalachi, 12 Character Building, 16 Big Fella Thanks, 16 Comply Or Die, 16 Hear the Echo, 16 Rambling Minster, 20 Snowy Morning, 20 Southern Vic, 25 Chelsea Harbour, 25 Cloudy Lane, 25 King Johns Castle, 25 State of Play, 25 War of Attrition, 33 Cant Buy Time, 33 Darkness, 33 Flintoff, 33 Himalayan Trail, 33 Hot Weld, 33 Irish Invader, 33 Kilbeggan Blade, 33 L’Ami, 33 Maljimar, 33 Parsons Legacy, 33 Preists Leap, 40 Brooklyn Brownie, 40 Companero, 40 Cornish Sett, 40 Golden Flight, 40 Niche Market, 40 Offshore Account, 40 Roll Along, 40 Silver Birch, 50 Afistfullofdollars, 50 Battlecry, 50 Conna Castle, 50 Dix Villez, 50 Dun Doire, 50 Eurotrek, 50 Fleet Street, 50 Hobbs Hill, 50 Idle Talk, 50 Kings Advocate, 50 Knowhere, 50 Mon Mome, 50 Nine De Sivola, 50 Nozic, 50 Out the Black, 50 Patsy Hall, 50 Pomme Tiepy, 50 Stan, 66 Bagan, 66 Beat the Boys, 66 King Harald, 66 Musical Bella, 66 Ollie Magern, 66 Pak Jack, 66 Reveillez, 100 Alexanderthegreat, 100 Always Waining, 100 Arteea, 100 Bible Lord, 100 Fundamentalist, 100 Ice Tea, 100 in the Loop, 100 Iron Man, 100 Kelami, 100 Le Toscan, 100 Mattock Ranger, 100 Nadover, 100 Oodachee, 100 Seymour Weld, 100 Tom Sayers, 100 Tumbling Dice, 100 Without A Doubt, 100 Youre Special, 100 Zabenz, 150 Lord Killeshanra, 150 Malko De Beaumont, 150 Milan Deux Mille, 150 Pass Me By, 150 Puntal, 150 Sandhurst, 200 Cerium, 200 Lysander, 250 Mont Misere.
Each Way 1/4 the Odds A Place 1-2-3-4

JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL SPECIALS
Irish-Trained Winner 15/8; Irish-Trained 1-2 5/1; Paul Nicholls-Trained Winner 8/1; A P McCoy to Ride Winner 8/1; Previous Grand National Winner (Aintree) to Win Again 14/1; D McCain-Trained Winner 20/1.

DAVID PIPE - NATIONAL SPECIALS
David Pipe to Train A Horse Placed in the First Four 2/1; Comply Or Die to Finish in the First Four 9/2; David Pipe to Train the S/p Favourite 5/1; David Pipe to Train the Winner 8/1
All Specials Singles Only

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 remained), second forfeit stage March 17 (88 remain). 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, March 16.

Split denotes 20 horses
Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer
31320PP SNOOPY LOOPY (IRE) 11-11-10 Walters Plant Hire Ltd Egan Waste Ltd Peter Bowen
112/-U1P0 NOZIC (FR) 8-11-08 Sam Mcvie Paul Nicholls
16-0431F CLOUDY LANE 9-11-07 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain Jnr
1/1//2110-4 AFISTFULLOFDOLLARS (IRE) 11-11-06 E McElroy, Linda Shanahan, Sue Magnier Noel Meade IRE
23/-1132 WAR OF ATTRITION (IRE) 10-11-06 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE
61U1F234 CHELSEA HARBOUR (IRE) 9-11-05 Frances Duffin Tom Mullins IRE
332-56F2 SNOWY MORNING (IRE) 9-11-05 Quayside Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
16UP-100 KNOWHERE (IRE) 11-11-04 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
225-13P6 ROLL ALONG (IRE) 9-11-04 Bryan & Philippa Burrough Carl Llewellyn
P211-P00 COMPLY OR DIE (IRE) 10-11-03 David Johnson David Pipe
40-255550 OLLIE MAGERN 11-11-03 Roger Nicholls Nigel Twiston-Davies
4-2P51P04P STAN (NZ) 10-11-03 Paul Beck Venetia Williams
20F2-P151 BLACK APALACHI (IRE) 10-11-02 Gerard Burke Dessie Hughes IRE
501-556U HEAR THE ECHO (IRE) 8-11-02 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE
140-0F10 PREISTS LEAP (IRE) 9-11-02 John D O'Donohue Tom O'Leary IRE
P/22212-0 KING JOHNS CASTLE (IRE) 10-11-01 J P McManus Arthur Moore IRE
32023/-55 MY WILL (FR) 9-11-01 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
411P/1P/- EUROTREK (IRE) 13-11-00 Paul Green Paul Nicholls
2560-14 STATE OF PLAY 9-10-13 Mr & Mrs William Rucker Evan Williams
2-322U13 BIG FELLA THANKS 7-10-12 Paul Barber & Maggie Findlay Paul Nicholls

00-210200 MON MOME (FR) 9-10-11 Vida Bingham Venetia Williams
F/02421/-0 SILVER BIRCH (IRE) 12-10-11 Brian Walsh (Co. Kildare) Gordon Elliott IRE
03F-0005 BUTLER'S CABIN (FR) 9-10-10 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
1111F-00 HOBBS HILL 10-10-10 J P McManus Charles Egerton
1111/U2-2 OFFSHORE ACCOUNT (IRE) 9-10-10 Brian Polly Charlie Swan IRE
23/54-1P PARSONS LEGACY (IRE) 11-10-09 R A S Offer Philip Hobbs
F0612/-P0 REVEILLEZ 10-10-09 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
00146P6P FUNDAMENTALIST (IRE) 11-10-08 Colin Cornes Nigel Twiston-Davies
1/P133/3-0 GOLDEN FLIGHT (FR) 10-10-08 John & Barbara Cotton Nicky Henderson
03F0-4212 L'AMI (FR) 10-10-08 J P McManus Enda Bolger IRE
332-245P BATTLECRY 8-10-07 Trevor Hemmings Nigel Twiston-Davies
P00-F120 CORNISH SETT (IRE) 10-10-07 Peter Hart Paul Nicholls
042-P610 FLEET STREET 10-10-07 Henry Ponsonby Nicky Henderson
1222100 MUSICA BELLA (FR) 9-10-07 Jean-Paul Senechal Francois Cottin FR
63-111314 CAN'T BUY TIME (IRE) 7-10-06 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
113P//-3P1 DARKNESS 10-10-06 Lady Lloyd-Webber Charles Egerton
F323111 IRISH INVADER (IRE) 8-10-06 Sackcloth & Ashes Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
46-56511 RAMBLING MINSTER 11-10-06 The Lingdale Optimists Keith Reveley
5F/-06U343 SOUTHERN VIC (IRE) 10-10-06 Brenda Graham Ted Walsh IRE
P641PPP ALWAYS WAINING (IRE) 8-10-05 Mr & Mrs Peter James Douglas Peter Bowen

PPP611/-PP HOT WELD 10-10-04 Simon Hubbard Rodwell Ferdy Murphy
20P-1112 KILBEGGAN BLADE 10-10-04 K Doocey & Mrs A Doocey Tom George
4124021 BROOKLYN BROWNIE (IRE) 10-10-03 P Gaffney & Neil Stevenson Malcolm Jefferson
P/3-143301 CHARACTER BUILDING (IRE) 9-10-03 Mrs E Wright John Quinn
P-2P6006 CONNA CASTLE (IRE) 10-10-03 Kings Syndicate Jimmy Mangan IRE
1-P504P0 HIMALAYAN TRAIL 10-10-03 Mark Gittins Jimmy Mangan IRE
26U-3443 TUMBLING DICE (IRE) 10-10-03 Lucy Donegan Tom Taaffe IRE
3/00010-0 ARTEEA (IRE) 10-10-02 Judith Wilson David Pipe
0P/50PP-0 CERIUM (FR) 8-10-02 Judith Wilson Paul Murphy
050-2403 IDLE TALK (IRE) 10-10-02 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain Jnr
0F2U6-P0 KELAMI (FR) 11-10-02 Halewood International Ltd Lisa Williamson
0/232P5/- ZABENZ (NZ) 12-10-02 Sarah Hobbs Philip Hobbs
PP541PP ICE TEA (IRE) 9-10-01 Sandicroft Stud Donald McCain Jnr
2U41U-02 MALJIMAR (IRE) 9-10-01 Jane Williams Nick Williams
211-1113 COMPANERO (IRE) 9-10-00 W M G Black & Sue Johnson Howard Johnson
0333P0P IRON MAN (FR) 8-10-00 Roddy Owen & Paul Fullagar Peter Bowen
P2P-P0PP MATTOCK RANGER (IRE) 9-10-00 Banouche Stud Ireland Ltd Noel Meade IRE
U44P-3140 NICHE MARKET (IRE) 8-10-00 Graham Regan Bob Buckler
0U01344 POMME TIEPY (FR) 6-10-00 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
101PP6- BAGAN (FR) 10-9-13 The Centaur Group Partnership VII Martin Todhunter

11P1-3PFP BEAT THE BOYS (IRE) 8-9-13 New Club Ladies Nigel Twiston-Davies
140-306F BIBLE LORD (IRE) 8-9-13 M Tedham Andrew Turnell
64P3-015 DIX VILLEZ (FR) 10-9-13 Gigginstown House Stud Paul Nolan IRE
P2P63-52 FLINTOFF (USA) 8-9-13 Andrew Flintoff & Paul Beck Venetia Williams
4B0-4000F PATSY HALL (IRE) 9-9-13 Thomas Mooney Partnership Tony Martin IRE
3/2F01P- IN THE LOOP (IRE) 11-9-12 Ben-Hill Syndicate Roy Wilson IRE
P121-P50 KING HARALD (IRE) 11-9-12 Piers Pottinger & P B-J Partnership Mark Bradstock
P00-P304 NADOVER (FR) 8-9-12 George Storey Charlie Mann
2/223F0- PAK JACK (FR) 9-9-12 The Pak Jack Partnership Richard Phillips
421101 SEYMOUR WELD 9-9-12 Charles Pogson Charles Pogson
22/-22P43 NINE DE SIVOLA (FR) 8-9-11 The DPRP Sivola Partnership Ferdy Murphy
210123-P TOM SAYERS (IRE) 11-9-11 Capt Bill Edwards-Heathcote Philip Hobbs
0-321230 OODACHEE 10-9-09 Modreeny Syndicate Charlie Swan IRE
12366/-4 KINGS ADVOCATE (IRE) 9-9-08 Conor Clarkson Tom Taaffe IRE
62P-30P0 DUN DOIRE (IRE) 10-9-07 Dunderry Racing Syndicate Tony Martin IRE
02P-P4F0 LE TOSCAN (FR) 9-9-07 Judith Wilson David Pipe
U1-52541 OUT THE BLACK (IRE) 11-9-07 James Drummond Philip Hobbs
0P0/03-03P PUNTAL (FR) 13-9-07 Terry Neill David Pipe
P4220-0P WITHOUT A DOUBT 10-9-07 Malcolm Denmark Carl Llewellyn
1P1F//PP-0P YOU'RE SPECIAL (USA) 12-9-06 Diane O' Rourke Ferdy Murphy

21/-2426U ALEXANDERTHEGREAT (IRE) 11-9-05 Six Blokes Venetia Williams
5/5400-P0 MILAN DEUX MILLE (FR) 7-9-05 Judith Wilson David Pipe
41/F400-23P SANDHURST (IRE) 9-9-02 John Duddy Edgar Byrne IRE
5/6P0-42P LORD KILLESHANRA (IRE) 10-9-01 G F Gingell Colin Tizzard
U-2130U63 LYSANDER (GER) 10-9-01 The Piranha Partnership Ian Williams
4213140P MALKO DE BEAUMONT (FR) 9-9-01 David Sturdy Alan Brown
P06-350FP PASS ME BY 10-8-13 Paul Beck Suzy Smith
1110PP MONT MISERE (FR) 13-8-12 Judith Wilson Paul Murphy

88 entries remain after March 17 scratchings deadline
25 Irish-trained
1 French-trained

THE FOLLOWING 17 HORSES HAVE BEEN OFFICIALLY SCRATCHED BY THEIR TRAINERS: EXOTIC DANCER (FR), MADISON DU BERLAIS (FR), STAR DE MOHAISON (FR), NOTRE PERE (FR), IMPERIAL COMMANDER (IRE), ONE COOL COOKIE (IRE), BALLYFITZ, MIKO DE BEAUCHENE (FR), L'ANTARTIQUE (FR), OPERA MUNDI (FR), SIMON, SILVERBURN (IRE), GARDE CHAMPETRE (FR), PIRAYA (FR), LOTHIAN FALCON, OULART, HOOPY (IRE)

Character Building has been ruled out of the Grand National after a minor foot injury hampered his training.

The nine-year-old, trained by John Quinn, was a fancied contender for next month's Aintree steeplechase after winning at Cheltenham.

But a foot problem has cost the horse a week's training and the decision has been taken to focus on either the Irish or Scottish Nationals.

"It wouldn't be fair to the horse after that sort of preparation," said Quinn.

"We had a press day on Monday and he was absolutely fine, but we weren't altogether happy with him the following morning and he hasn't cantered since.


"He may be able to start cantering again on Monday, but by then he'd have missed a vital week's work. It's best if everyone knows now that he won't be running.

"Obviously, it is very disappointing for me and everybody in the yard, and particularly for the owners, but these things happen with horses.

"It's nothing major - it's in his foot - and if he comes right, and I'm happy with him, he'll go for the Irish National. And, if not, and we need a bit more time, then we'll look at the Scottish Grand National."

The Grand National is the ultimate test of horse and jockey. The race comprises two full circuits of a unique 2¼ mile (3,600 metres) course, where challengers will face 30 of the most testing fences in the world of jump racing.

Each of the 16 fences on the course are jumped twice, with the exception of The Chair and the Water Jump, which are jumped on the first circuit only.





The Start
There is a hazard to overcome even before the race starts - the build up, parade and re-girthing prior to the off lasts for around 25 minutes, over double the time it takes for any other race.

With 40 starters, riders naturally want a good sight of the first fence and after the long build-up their nerves are stretched to breaking point, which means the stewards' pre-race warning to go steady is often totally ignored.

The Fences
1 & 17 Thorn fence, 4ft 7in high, 2ft 9in wide – The first often claims many victims as horses tend to travel to it far too keenly.
2 & 18 Almost the same height as the first but much wider at 3ft 6in.
3 & 19 Westhead: This is the first big test with a 6ft ditch on the approach guarding a 5ft high fence.
4 & 20 Plain fence, 4ft 10in high and 3ft wide.
5 & 21 Spruce dressed fence, 5ft high and 3ft 6in wide.
6 & 22 Becher's Brook: Although the fence looks innocuous from the take-off side, the steep drop on the landing side, together with a left-hand turn on landing, combine to make this the most thrilling and famous fence in the horse racing world. The fence actually measures 6 ft 9 in on the landing side, a drop of 2 ft from take off.

Becher's Brook earned its name when a top jockey, Captain Martin Becher, took shelter in the brook after being unseated. "Water tastes disgusting without the benefits of whisky" he reflected.




The famous Becher's Brook with its steep drop on landing - a daunting obstacle




7 & 23 Foinavon Fence: Basically an 'ordinary' fence (4ft 6in high and 3ft wide) that was made famous in 1967 when Fionavon was the only horse to scramble over it at the first time of asking, following a mass pile-up. The jump is the smallest on the course, but coming straight after the biggest drop, it can catch horses and riders out.
8 & 24 Canal Turn: Made of hawthorn stakes covered in Norway spruce, it gets its name from the fact that there is a canal in front of the horses when they land. To avoid it, they must turn a full 90 degrees when they touch down. The race can be won or lost here, with a diagonal leap to the inside of the jump taking the fence at a scary angle, but reducing the turn on landing. With 30 or more horses often still standing when the field reaches this point on the first circuit, not every rider has the option of taking this daring passage.

9 & 25 Valentine's Brook: The third of four famous fences to be jumped in succession, it is 5ft high and 3ft 3in wide with a brook on the landing side that’s about 5ft 6in wide.
10 & 26 Thorn fence, 5ft high and 3ft wide.
11 & 27 Booth: The main problem with this fence, which is 5ft high and 3ft wide, is the 6ft wide ditch on the take-off side.
12 & 28 Same size as the two previous fences, but with a ditch on the landing side, which can catch runners out.
13 & 29 Second-last fence on the final circuit, it is 4ft 7in high and 3ft wide.
14 & 30 Almost the same height as the previous fence and it is rare for any horse to fall at the final fence in the National.
15 The Chair: The final two jumps of the first circuit form the only pair negotiated just once - and they could not be more different. The Chair is both the tallest (5ft 3in) and broadest fence on the course, with a 6ft wide ditch on the take-off side.



In addition, the landing side turf is actually raised six inches above the take-off ground. This has the opposite effect on horses and riders to the drop at Becher's, as having stretched to get over the ditch, horses are surprised to find the ground coming up to meet them. This is spectacular when horses get it right and equally so, for all the wrong reasons, when they don’t.


16 Water Jump: This 2ft 9in fence brings the first circuit to an end and the sight of the runners jumping it at speed presents a terrific spectacle in front of the grandstands.




The Finish
The 494-yard long run in from the final fence to the finish is the longest in the country and has an acute elbow halfway up it that further drains the then almost empty stamina reserves of both horse and jockey.

For numerous riders over the years, this elongated run-in has proved mental and physical agony when the winning post seems to be retreating with every weary stride.

Don't count your money until the post is reached as with the rest of the Grand National course, the run-in can - and usually does - change fortunes.

Course Walking
No visit to Aintree would be complete without taking the opportunity to see some of these famous fences close up. The whole course can actually be walked on the morning of the race (subject to ground conditions and security requirements). Walkers should leave an hour to do a circuit, which must be completed one hour prior to the first race. Maps, guiding racegoers to the start point, are located around the racecourse.

Brilliant stuff Hibby, think I should have a Grand National competition?
First 6 in correct order?
Will give it some thought.

TRAINER Ted Walsh believes his son, Ruby, is likely to ride Paul Nicholls' My Will in the John Smith's Grand National.


Walshs' first ride in the £900,000 marathon was a successful one on Walsh senior's Papillon, and his first for trainer Willie Mullins in 2005 went the same way when Hedgehunter proved victorious, but his first and only ride for Nicholls on Shotgun Willy in 2003 ended at the 21st obstacle.

this year the Irish champion jockey has a choice of partnering contenders from all three camps at Aintree on Saturday, however, unless there is an unexpected deluge of rain in the next few days,Walsh senior expects his son to team up with My Will, the general ante-post favourite.

"I'm praying for rain," Ted Walsh said. "If it gets heavy, Ruby will be on mine, but if not, he'll probably ride one of Paul Nicholls' runners.

"I don't know for sure, and he'll have to talk to Paul, but I'd say he'll probably go for experience and ride My Will."

What will Ruby ride?

Skybet: 4-11 My Will, 5-2 Southern Vic, 8 Big Fella Thanks, 14 Irish Invader, 25 Snowy Morning, 40 any other horse, 66 Cornish Sett

Cornelius Lysaght column



Last year's winner Comply Or Die and Silver Birch, successful in 2007, have both stood their ground with Saturday's Grand National field - in which a maximum of 40 can start - now whittled down to 74.

Comply Or Die, again the mount of Timmy Murphy as he attempts to become the first horse since Red Rum to win back-to-back Nationals, was disappointing early in the season. But he ran with much more zest at the Cheltenham Festival in March.


There are plenty of horses with chances in this year's Aintree classic

Irish-trained Silver Birch was forced to have a period on the injury list but successfully returned to action in a point-to-point in February, and has since run reasonably well in races whose distance was too short.

Now the legendary trainer Ginger McCain - he of Red Rum and Amberleigh House fame - has retired, it's his son Donald who runs the show at the family's Cheshire stables. Sadly, the indicators are not great for McCain's Cloudy Lane, the sixth home last year: not only is the horse required to carry the most weight, but he surprisingly fell in his most recent race. The stable also saddles Idle Talk (14th last year).

Ireland's heavily backed War Of Attrition is a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, having galloped off with jump racing's most prestigious prize in 2006. He has plenty of weight, but if successful would be the first horse to complete the Cheltenham-Aintree double since L'Escargot (1970 and '75). Like another well-fancied Irish raider Hear The Echo, he runs for owner Michael O'Leary, of Ryanair fame.


Grand National winners including West Tip (1986) and Hedgehunter (2005) had fallen during previous experiences of the famous Aintree fences, and similarly Butler's Cabin, Knowhere and L'Ami are amongst those hoping things go a little better than last year.

Butler's Cabin still held a big chance when he and Tony McCoy came down at Bechers Brook on the second circuit, and Knowhere was also in with a major shout when parting company with his rider shortly afterwards. L'Ami (10th behind Silver Birch in 2007) fell at the second fence in what turned out to be jockey Mick Fitzgerald's final race.

Black Apalachi, another member of the large Irish-trained contingent, impressively defeated his rivals in the Becher Chase staged back in November at Aintree. The horse, an early faller in last year's National, was near foot perfect in November, and gave a repeat performance at Fairyhouse in February when beating last year's Aintree third Snowy Morning.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has won almost everything worth winning, except the Aintree showpiece in which his best finishing position came with 2005 runner-up Royal Auclair.


Surprise 2007 winner Silver Birch is back for another tilt at the prize

Cheltenham Gold Cup fifth My Will will be partnered by double National winner Ruby Walsh andheads a strong challenge from Nicholls' HQ in Somerset. The Ditcheat team also enter a horse named after a greyhound - Big Fella Thanks - plus Eurotrek and Cornish Sett (last year's 12th).

No horse trained in Wales has won the Grand National for over a century, but State Of Play, prepared in the Vale of Glamorgan by Evan Williams, is an interesting contender. He has run in some of jump racing's top prizes, but Williams has long thought the Aintree feature might be an ideal target.

Trainer Nicky Henderson and his new number one jockey Barry Geraghty (himself the winning rider on Monty's Pass in 2003) have enjoyed a spectacularly successful jockey and they have perhaps the darkest dark horse in the field, Golden Flight. The Henderson team was satisfied with the ex-French horse's first run in Britain at the Cheltenham Festival in March, and there's a chance his long odds are quite generous.

Famously, champion jockey Tony McCoy has never been closer than third place in 13 attempts, but success - perhaps on Butler's Cabin or L'Ami - would propel him to unprecedented household name status.

In 1999 the Carberrys (trainer Tommy and jockey son Paul) carried off the prize with Bobbyjo. A year later the Walshes (Ted and Ruby) did the same with Papillon.

Now, the Reveley duo from north-east England (Keith and James) seek to do the same with Rambling Minster. Their horse has won his last two, and is considered by many to be particularly well weighted.

War Of Attrition has been ruled out of Saturday's Grand National at Aintree.

The 10-year-old was as low as 12-1 with Ladbrokes and had been the subject of a gamble for the four-and-a-half-mile marathon.

However, trainer Mouse Morris has decided not to run War Of Attrition as he is not totally satisfied with the gelding and he will now rely on Hear The Echo.

He told the Racing Post: "We weren't 100 per cent happy with War Of Attrition this morning and we've decided against sending him to Aintree.

"Hear The Echo is 110 per cent and he will be our runner in the National."

Davy Russell was due to ride War Of Attrition but will now take over from his stablemate.

Gajima Wrote:

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>


brilliant

30.03.09 - THE GRAND NATIONAL

THE 2009 JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL FIVE-DAY CONFIRMATIONS
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

23/-1132 WAR OF ATTRITION (IRE) 10-11-09 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE -

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 -

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 -

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 -

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 -

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 -

2U41U-02 MALJIMAR (IRE) 9-10-04 Jane Williams Nick Williams Darryl Jacobs

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

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

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

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

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

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 -

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 -

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

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

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

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

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 -

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

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

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

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

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

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 -

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 -

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

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

20 Irish-trained

1 French-trained

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

THE FOLLOWING 14 HORSES HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT BY THEIR TRAINERS:

SNOOPY LOOPY (IRE), NOZIC (FR), AFISTFULLOFDOLLARS (IRE), ROLL ALONG (IRE), KING JOHNS CASTLE (IRE), HOBBS HILL, ALWAYS WAINING (IRE), HOT WELD, CHARACTER BUILDING (IRE), CONNA CASTLE (IRE), TUMBLING DICE (IRE), ICE TEA (IRE), KING HARALD (IRE), YOU'RE SPECIAL (USA)

MCCOY AND WALSH SET TO FIGHT OUT NATIONAL FAVOURITISM SAYS TOTESPORT - OFFICIAL BETTING PARTNER OF AINTREE RACECOURSE

Last year's joint-favourite Cloudy Lane heads the weights for the 2009 John Smith’s Grand National following the confirmation stage on Monday but it looks like it will be My Will and Butler's Cabin that will dispute favouritism going into Saturday's race and totesport cannot split them at the head of the market at the moment, making them the 8/1 joint-favourites for the Aintree showpiece.

Ruby Walsh has confirmed that he will ride the Andy Stewart-owned My Will on Saturday but Tony McCoy has yet to decide which horse he will be riding, though many expect it to be Butler's Cabin for his retained owner J P McManus.

“It looks very much as if it will be a straight match between Ruby Walsh and Tony McCoy at the head of the John Smith’s Grand National market this year,” said totesport spokesman George Primarolo.

“McCoy may have been the perennial punters’ pal in the past but with Ruby’s magnificent seven fresh in the memory from Cheltenham, it could well be that we have a new people’s champion come the off.”

Rambling Minster is next in the market at 10/1 with the trio of Black Apalachi, State Of Play and War Of Attrition all at 14/1. totesport have also gone non-runner, no bet on the Grand National from this (Monday) morning onwards.

John Smith's Grand National - totesport bet: 8 My Will, Butler's Cabin, 10 Rambling Minster, 14 Black Apalachi, State Of Play, War Of Attrition, 16 Big Fella Thanks, Comply Or Die, 20 Hear The Echo, L'Ami, Southern Vic, 22 Kilbeggan Blade, 25 Darkness, Himalayan Trail, Irish Invader, Snowy Morning, 33 Brooklyn Brownie, Chelsea Harbour, Cloudy Lane, Cornish Sett, Flintoff, Maljimar, Parsons Legacy, 40 Can't Buy Time, Companero, Golden Flight, Niche Market, Offshore Account, Preists Leap, 50 bar.

1/4 the odds 1-2-3-4. Non runner, no bet.

JP McManus's racing manager Frank Berry insists there is no rush for Tony McCoy to decide which of the owner's four entries he will ride in the John Smith's Grand National on Saturday.
Victory in the Aintree marathon is one of the few prizes to have eluded the 13-times champion jockey and he has the choice of Butler's Cabin, L'Ami, Reveillez and Can't Buy Time in this year's renewal.

"There is no pressure for Tony to make up his mind as we have jockeys ready for the other horses," Berry told At The Races. "I'm sure he will wait to see what the ground is and the whole job on Thursday morning."

Butler's Cabin came to grief jumping Becher's for the second time a year ago, but Berry believes he has to go into this year's renewal with a leading chance.

"Butler's Cabin jumped well for a long way last year and he has come back and run a good race in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham," he continued.

"He's a bit higher in the weights this year, but he has come out of his last race good and you would have to be pleased with him.

"Before the National last year I thought L'Ami would be one you would love to be riding as I thought he'd be very safe, but for some reason he missed out the second badly and poor old Mick (Fitzgerald) got a bad fall.

"He's been round the cross-country courses a few times since and he has got sharper at it. He's fit and well, so hopefully he will run a good race.

"Can't Buy Time travelled very well through the race at Cheltenham (National Hunt Chase) and jumped great for John Thomas (McNamara). You wouldn't have wanted to be on anything else coming down the hill, but from the second-last to home, he just weakened out of it.

"But he got a long way and I think the good ground will suit him. He is a good jumper and he is one of those who I think has an each-way chance."

Betting plunges forces Parsons Legacy into 14-1


A GRAND NATIONAL betting plunge gathered momentum on Tuesday on the Philip Hobbs-trained Parsons Legacy, who has not been seen on a racecourse since mid-December.


All leading bookmakers cut the odds of the 11-year-old, who can run particularly well when fresh and is suited by good ground. It is understood that a tipping service inspired the move.

Bet365 and Paddy Power offer as short as 14-1 about Parsons Legacy, while Stan James and Victor Chandler, who both went 40-1 on Tuesday morning, are now 16-1 and 20-1 respectively. Coral, who cut him to 20-1 (from 33), reported that liabilities had hit the six-figure mark.

Hobbs said that the plunge was nothing to do with him or the stable. "My last bet was five years ago at Royal Ascot," he said.

"I suppose people are backing him because it looks as though the ground will be right. He has some good form over the years, including a close-up third to Hot Weld in the 2007 Scottish Grand National, and a second to Cloudy Lane in that season's Kim Muir at Cheltenham."

My Will also continued to shorten in the Grand National betting on Tuesday. Boylesports were forced to clip his price into 6-1 from 7-1, while Victor Chandler's standout 8-1 did not last long. The firm now go 7-1 about the Paul Nicholls-trained chaser.

Chandler also report good money for Kilbeggan Blade and Maljimar for the Aintree showpiece. Kilbeggan Blade is now 20-1 from 33-1, while Maljimar is the same price from 40-1.

Boylesports report each-way support for Brooklyn Brownie, 33-1 from 40-s and Knowhere, 40-1 from 50-1.