Wednesday, January 24, 2001

TOTE PRICES FOR WINCANTON TOMORROW

HIGHEST MARTELL GRAND NATIONAL ENTRY FOR YEARS

The world's most famous chase is run for the 154th time at Aintree Racecourse at 3.45pm on Saturday, April 7, 2001, over four and a half miles and 30 fences, with prize money of £500,000. This year is the tenth anniversary of the sponsorship by Martell, a Seagram brand.

The weights, when issued on Tuesday, February 6, are likely to be headed by See More Business, the 1999 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, with Florida Pearl, second in the 2000 Gold Cup and third in 1999, also high in the handicap, together with Marlborough.

Other top-class chasers yet to run in the Martell Grand National, include Beau and Fadalko while Young Kenny, a faller last year, is after a £250,000 bonus, having captured the £50,000 Tote Becher Chase over the Grand National fences at the Merseyside course on Saturday, November 18, 2000.

The first 12 home in 2000, Papillon, Mely Moss, Niki Dee, Brave Highlander, Addington Boy, Call It A Day, The Last Fling, Lucky Town, Djeddah, Hollybank Buck, Bobbyjo (the 1999 winner) and Kendal Cavalier are all entered, as is the 2000 favourite Dark Stranger who deposited champion jockey Tony McCoy at the third.

The 1997 winner Lord Gyllene, now trained by Martin Pipe, is also among the entries, and the champion trainer, with a high of 15 entries in 1999, has put forward 14 this time, with the others being Art Prince, Blowing Wind, Dark Stranger, Exit Swinger, Khaki Crazy, Moondigua, Northern Starlight, Potentate, Royal Predica, Strong Tel, Take Control, Tresor De Mai and You're Agoodun.

The highest number of Irish entries, 24, for many years is no surprise after two consecutive Irish-trained winners in Papillon and Bobbyjo.

The French have five entries - last year's ninth Djeddah, nine-year-old Empereur River who was entered last year but did not run for trainer Jacques Ortet who also has another nine-year-old Grey Jack, ten-year-old Belussac (trained by Thierry Civel) and Gadz'art (Jean-Pierre Totain).

A runner from the Czech Republic was last seen in 1994 and there could be another one this year as trainer Pavel Slozil has entered ten-year-old Marketplace who has run four times in Cheltenham's Sporting Index Cross Country Chase, finishing third in 1997. He also was third in the 1998 Velka Pardubicka, his country's top chase.
Entry numbers since 1984 are as follows:- 2001-133, 2000-108, 1999-103, 1998-103, 1997-102, 1996-82, 1995-82, 1994-98, 1993-97, 1992-104, 1991-85, 1990-90, 1989-96, 1988-105, 1987-98, 1986-109, 1985-100 and 1984-141.

Charles Barnett, Aintree's Managing Director, commented today: "We are thrilled with both the number and, in particular, the quality of the entries, which supports our prize-money policy, with the 2001 Martell Grand National being worth £500,000.

"The tremendous backing we received last year from Ireland has continued with a record 24 entries from across the Irish Sea and no doubt they are after a third consecutive victory. It also encouraging to see five French-trained entries and an experienced contender from the Czech Republic."

Advance sales for the Martell Grand National Meeting, April 5 to 7, which has record prize money of £1,565,000, up 22.5%, are ahead of last year's record levels and Aintree is advising anybody wishing to attend any of the three days to pre-purchase their badges.

THE MARTELL GRAND NATIONAL ENTRIES

MARTELL GRAND NATIONAL ENTRIES

STANLEY NON-COMMITTAL ABOUT FUTURE OF MALTA OPERATION

Speculation that betting duty may be reduced in Chancellor Gordon Brown's forthcoming budget has raised the possibility that bookmakers will no longer have any reason to trade in places such as Malta and Gibraltar to take advantage of the tax opportunities offered in such locations.

The Liverpool-based company stated that it is encouraged by "positive moves"at yesterday's BBOA seminar and, although not prepared to comment on specific issues at this stage, vowed that it would "respond positively" to any forthcoming moves by the government.

Stanley has so far invested around £3 million into on-line gaming and hopes to be making a profit from their five Internet sites (stanleybet.co.uk, stanleybet.com, stanleyacropolis.com, acropoliscasinos.com and avaloncasinos.com) by the third year of operation and said that a sixth Internet site will be up and running by the end of the year. Chief Executive Bob Wiper revealed that an average bet on-line is around £70 compared to only £5.75 in the company's 644 betting shops.

On the issue of race sponsorship, Chairman Leonard Steinberg revealed that the company remains committed to supporting its current programme, of which the Group 1 Stanley Leisure Haydock Sprint is the highlight. Steinberg went on to claim that, pound for pound, Stanley had the best record for race sponsorship of any comparable company in the UK.

Overall, Stanley's profits for the six months to October 29, 2000 before tax were in line with last year at £15 million, including net costs of £1.4 million from new Internet operations.

COUNTDOWN TO PILLAR PROPERTY CHASE DAY AT CHELTENHAM

The Nicky Henderson-trained gelding made an impressive winning debut in the colours of Thurloe Thoroughbreds at Kempton on January 10.

James Stafford, manager of Thurloe Thoroughbreds said: "We intend to run Pedro Pete at Cheltenham on Saturday providing the ground doesn't come up too heavy. Although he likes it soft, we don't really want to run him if the ground is very testing so we're watching the weather at the moment.

"He made a very satisfactory debut at Kempton and I thought he looked very professional in his hurdling. The only semblance of a mistake was at the last, when Mick (Fitzgerald) probably took things slightly easy. I think he is among the best juvenile hurdlers in Britain, although I'm not sure about how he compares with some of these French horses. The plan is to run on Saturday and if all goes well he will go straight for the Elite Racing Club Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He seems to appreciate a test of stamina and I think he will be suited by Cheltenham."

Another possible in the 2m 1f event is Tikram, who has been placed on both his hurdling starts. Trainer Gary Moore said: "Tikram is very nice, but people won't see his full potential until he gets decent ground. I thought that he'd be better on an easy track, but Norman Williamson who rode him last time at Kempton said that he'd be better over a stiffer two miles. He won't be seen at his best on soft ground. He needs good ground and there's no point running for the sake of it."

The Wragge & Co Finesse Four Years Old Hurdle is one of seven races on a card that boasts £215,000 in prize money and features the Pillar Property Chase.

JENNY MOULD PERPETUAL TROPHY

The winning owner in Saturday's £75,000 Pillar Property Chase at Cheltenham will receive the Jenny Mould Perpetual Trophy. This has been given by Raymond Mould, chairman of Pillar Property, in memory of his late wife who was one of jump racing's best-known owners.

Jenny Mould died aged 54 in November after a long illness. She half-owned the 1988 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Charter Party, won the 1992 Mackeson (now Thomas Pink) Gold Cup at Cheltenham with Tipping Tim and landed the 1993 King George VI Chase at Kempton with Barton Bank. The Perpetual Trophy will be presented for three years in her memory.

TROOPS DESCEND ON PRESTBURY PARK

Saturday's card opens at 1.10pm with the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Novices' Handicap Hurdle and over 200 officers and guests from this territorial regiment will be at Cheltenham. Two troopers from the Royal Household will lead the runners out and there will be assorted military hardware on show around the racecourse.

Racing publishers Timeform will be bringing up to 900 guests to accompany the sponsorship of the Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase at 2.20pm.

There will be behind-the-scenes tours, include a look at the weighing room, every 20 minutes after the gates open at 11am and there will also be the usual array of trade stands on show.

Edward Gillespie, Cheltenham's Managing Director, said: "Saturday's meeting is our last before the National Hunt Festival on March 13, 14 and 15, and it promises to be a very special occasion in itself. We have some of jump racing's biggest stars set to put the finishing touches to their Festival preparations.

"We are delighted that Jenny Mould, who had so much success at Cheltenham, is being remembered by a Perpetual Trophy for the winner of the Pillar Property Chase."

PAST RESULTS OF RACES ON PILLAR PROPERTY CHASE DAY AT CHELTENHAM

Saturday, January 27, 2001


1.10pm ROYAL GLOUCESTERSHIRE HUSSARS NOVICES' HANDICAP HURDLE, 2m 1f

Year Horse Owner Trainer Age/Wt Jockey SP
1990 Little-Nipper Jenny Mould David Nicholson 5-10-03 Richard Dunwoody 9/2
1991 Sabaki River Mrs K A Stuart Jackie Retter 7-10-09 Brendan Powell 11/1
1992 Abandoned
1993 Country Lad Robina Pattison Sara Williams 5-10-11 Mick Fitzgerald 33/1
1994 Relkeel Roscoe Harvey David Nicholson 5-11-10 Richard Dunwoody 11/4
1995 Fourth In Line Mrs G Jenkinson John Edwards 7-11-03 Norman Williamson 6/1
1996 Abandoned
1997 Boardroom Shuffle Alan Weller Josh Gifford 6-12-00 Philip Hide 5/2 f
1998 Gutteridge BCD Steels Ltd David Evans 8-10-06 Tony McCoy 10/1
1999 Picket Piece Jenny Mould David Nicholson 8-10-01 Richard Johnson 12/1
2000 Master Tern J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill 5-11-04 Richard Johnson 20/1

1.45pm LETHEBY & CHRISTOPHER HANDICAP HURDLE, 2m 1f
(First run in 1993)

Year Horse Owner Trainer Age/Wt Jockey SP
1993 Dancing Paddy Bychance Racing Ken Cunningham-Brown 5-10-11 Darren O'Sullivan 9/1
1994 Dancing Paddy Bychance Racing Ken Cunningham-Brown 6-11-12 Darren O'Sullivan 15/2
1995 Pridwell Malcolm Jones Martin Pipe 5-12-00 Jonothan Lower 15/8 f
1996 Abandoned
1997 Forestal Sirrell Griffiths Sirrell Griffiths 5-10-01 Timmy Murphy 10/1
1998 Mr Percy F Rosenstiel's Widow & Son Josh Gifford 7-12-00 Philip Hide 3/1
1999 Rainwatch Alison Farrant Martin Pipe 5-11-09 Tony McCoy 12/1
2000 The French Furze Jim Ennis Martin Pipe 6-11-10 Tony McCoy 11/8 f

2.20pm TIMEFORM NOVICES' HANDICAP CHASE, 2m 5f
(First run in 1993)

Year Horse Owner Trainer Age/Wt Jockey SP
1993 Little-Nipper Jenny Mould David Nicholson 8-10-07 Richard Dunwoody 4/1
1994 Monsieur Le Cure Hector Brown John Edwards 8-12-00 Norman Williamson 5/1
1995 Smith's Band Arthur Smith Jenny Pitman 7-10-12 Warren Marston 7/2 f
1996 Abandoned
1997 The Mine Captain Gerald Evans Oliver Sherwood 10-10-05 Jamie Osborne 6/1
1998 Jack Doyle Drain Logistics Nigel Twiston-Davies 7-11-05 Carl Llewellyn 100/30
1999 Flaxley Wood Mrs D A La Trobe Bob Buckler 8-10-00 Brendan Powell 25/1
2000 Moondigua Golden Step Racing II Martin Pipe 8-11-05 Tony McCoy 6/1


2.50pm PILLAR PROPERTY CHASE (Grade 2), 3m 1 f

Year Horse Owner Trainer Age/Wt Jockey SP
1980 Raffi Nelson Mrs P Fry Nicky Henderson 7-11-06 Steve Smith Eccles 5/2
1981 Little Owl R Wilson Peter Easterby 7-11-12 Mr Jim Wilson 8/11 f
1982 Lesley Ann B Gaule David Elsworth 8-11-12 Colin Brown 5/2
1983 Combs Ditch R Tory David Elsworth 7-11-08 Colin Brown 6/1
1984 Everett Kilian Hennessy Fulke Walwyn 9-11-08 Stuart Shilston 15/8 f
1985 West Tip Peter Luff Michael Oliver 8-11-06 Richard Dunwoody 5/2
1986 Misty Spirit Mrs E Dixon D Lee 7-11-06 Steve Smith Eccles 9/1
1987 Abandoned
1988 Cavvies Clown Mrs J Ollivant David Elsworth 8-11-12 Graham Bradley 5/4
1989 Deep Moment Mrs M Curtis Mercy Rimell 7-11-03 Dermot Browne 12/1
1990 Toby Tobias Elizabeth Hitchins Jenny Pitman 8-11-06 Mark Pitman 5/4
1991 Celtic Shot D E H Horton Charlie Brooks 9-11-12 Peter Scudamore 8/11 f
1992 Abandoned
1993 Sibton Abbey Geoff Hubbard Ferdy Murphy 8-11-12 Steve Smith Eccles 16/1
1994 Dubacilla Veronica Cole Henry Cole 8-10-12 Dean Gallagher 8/1
1995 Master Oats Paul Matthews Kim Bailey 9-11-06 Norman Williamson 6/4 f
1996 Abandoned
1997 One Man John Hales Gordon Richards 9-11-12 Richard Dunwoody 2/5 f
1998 See More Business John Keighley/Paul Barber Paul Nicholls 8-11-06 Timmy Murphy 9/4 f
1999 Cyfor Malta David Johnson Martin Pipe 6-11-06 Tony McCoy 10/11 f
2000 Looks Like Trouble Tim Collins Noel Chance 8-11-06 Norman Williamson 100/30

3.30pm BYRNE BROS CLEEVE HURDLE (GRADE 1) 2m 5 f

Year Horse Owner Trainer Age/Wt Jockey SP
1990 Beech Road Tony Geake Toby Balding 8-12-00 Richard Guest 1/3 f
1991 Crystal Spirit Paul Mellon Ian Balding 4-10-09 Jimmy Frost 4/1
1992 Abandoned
1993 Muse White Horse Racing Ltd David Elsworth 6-11-08 Paul Holley 11/4
1994 Flakey Dove John Price Richard Price 8-11-03 Richard Dunwoody 4/1 cf
1995 Mudahim K W Bell Chris Broad 9-11-08 Norman Williamson 13/2
1996 Abandoned
1997 Large Action Brian Stewart-Brown Oliver Sherwood 9-11-08 Jamie Osborne 8/15 f
1998 Mistinguett John Duggan Nigel Twiston-Davies 6-11-03 Carl Llewellyn 100/30
1999 Lady Rebecca Kinnersley Optimists Venetia Williams 7-11-03 Norman Williamson 6/4 f
2000 Lady Rebecca Kinnersley Optimists Venetia Williams 8-11-03 Norman Williamson Evs f

4.05pm LADBROKE TROPHY HANDICAP CHASE, 2m 5f

Year Horse Owner Trainer Age/Wt Jockey SP
1990 Willsford Arnie Kaplan Jenny Pitman 7-10-07 Dean Gallagher Evs f
1991 Loddon Lad Jenny Mould David Nicholson 9-10-03 Richard Dunwoody 13/2
1992 Abandoned
1993 Ryde Again Miss J Hayward Jenny Pitman 10-11-09 Mark Pitman 7/4 f
1994 Waterloo Boy Michael Deeley David Nicholson 11-12-00 Richard Dunwoody 9/1
1995 Couldnt Be Better Dick Whittle Charlie Brooks 8-10-00 Graham Bradley 4/1 jf
1996 Abandoned
1997 Dublin Flyer John Sumner Tim Forster 11-12-00 Brendan Powell 15/8 f
1998 Papillon Betty Moran Ted Walsh IRE 7-10-00 Norman Williamson 7/2
1999 Dr Leunt Peter Emery Philip Hobbs 8-10-03 Norman Williamson 11/4 f
2000 Makounji Robert Waley-Cohen Nicky Henderson 6-10-08 Mick Fitzgerald 16/1

4.35pm WRAGGE & CO FINESSE FOUR YEARS OLD HURDLE
(GRADE 2) 2m 1f

Year Horse Owner Trainer Weight Jockey SP
1990 Sayyure Brian Lovrey Nigel Tinkler 11-08 Graham McCourt 3/1
1991 Hopscotch Pipe Scudamore Racing Martin Pipe 11-02 Peter Scudamore 8/11 f
1992 Abandoned
1993 Major Bugler Colin Buckle Toby Balding 11-00 Adrian Maguire 13/2
1994 Pridwell Pond House Racing Martin Pipe 11-00 Richard Dunwoody 3/1
1995 Brave Tornado Bridget Swire Toby Balding 11-04 Tony McCoy 7/2
1996 Abandoned
1997 Shooting Light John Brown Pat Murphy 11-00 Richard Dunwoody 10/11 f
1998 Zafarabad Elaine Baines David Nicholson 11-00 Richard Johnson 1/3 f
1999 Hors La Loi III John Martin Francois Doumen FR 11-08 Thierry Doumen 5/2
2000 Mister Banjo Million In Mind P'ship Nicky Henderson 11-08 Mick Fitzgerald 2/7 f

LEADING CURRENT TRAINERS ON PILLAR PROPERTY CHASE DAY
(Since 1990 and includes current races)

7 winners
Martin Pipe

3 winners
Toby Balding

2 winners
Ken Cunningham-Brown
Josh Gifford
Nicky Henderson
Oliver Sherwood
Nigel Twiston-Davies
Venetia Williams

1 winner
Kim Bailey
Ian Balding
Bob Buckler
Noel Chance
Henry Cole
Francois Doumen FR
David Elsworth
David Evans
Sirrell Griffiths
Philip Hobbs
Ferdy Murphy
Pat Murphy
Paul Nicholls
Jonjo O'Neill
Richard Price
Jackie Retter
Nigel Tinkler
Ted Walsh IRE
Sara Williams

LEADING CURRENT JOCKEYS ON PILLAR PROPERTY CHASE DAY
(Since 1990 and includes current races)

9 winners
Norman Williamson

6 winners
Tony McCoy

3 winners
Mick Fitzgerald
Richard Johnson

2 winners
Dean Gallagher
Philip Hide
Carl Llewellyn
Timmy Murphy
Darren O'Sullivan

1 winner
Thierry Doumen
Jimmy Frost
Richard Guest
Adrian Maguire
Warren Marston

PILLAR PROPERTY CHASE RECORD OF CURRENT TRAINERS SINCE 1990

Kim Bailey
1995 MASTER OATS WON
1997 Martomick 4th

Toby Balding
1993 Cool Ground 3rd
1994 Belmount Captain PU

Terry Casey
1998 Rough Quest 3rd

Noel Chance
2000 LOOKS LIKE TROUBLE WON

Thierry Civel FR
1999 Ruggiero PU

Henry Cole
1994 DUBACILLA WON

Tim Easterby
2000 Simply Dashing 5th

John Fowler IRE
1990 Maid Of Money 2nd

Nick Gaselee
1993 Party Politics PU

Josh Gifford
1995 Topsham Bay PU
1997 Yorkshire Gale 3rd
1998 Yorkshire Gale 4th

Sirrell Griffiths
1991 Norton's Coin 3rd

Philip Hobbs
2000 Dr Leunt 4th

Alan King
2000 Go Ballistic 2nd

George Moore
1991 Kildimo 4th

Ferdy Murphy
1993 SIBTON ABBEY WON
1994 Sibton Abbey 4th

Paul Nicholls
1998 SEE MORE BUSINESS WON
1999 See More Business 3rd
2000 Double Thriller PU

Martin Pipe
1993 Miinnehoma PU
1994 Run For Free 3rd
1998 Cyborgo 2nd
1999 CYFOR MALTA WON
1999 Cyborgo 4th
2000 Majadou 3rd

Francois Rohaut FR
1995 Arenice 5th

Oliver Sherwood
1998 Callisoe Bay PU

Nigel Twiston-Davies
1994 Young Hustler 2nd
1995 Young Hustler 4th

PILLAR PROPERTY CHASE RECORD OF CURRENT JOCKEYS SINCE 1990

Tony Dobbin
1998 Addington Boy 5th

Mick Fitzgerald
1993 Henry Mann 4th

Dean Gallagher
1994 DUBACILLA WON
1995 Dubacilla 2nd

Russ Garrity
2000 Simply Dashing PU

Richard Guest
1994 Belmount Captain PU
1995 Sibton Abbey PU

Philip Hide
1995 Topsham Bay PU

Tom Jenks
1995 Young Hustler 4th

Richard Johnson
1998 Barton Bank 6th
1999 Go Ballistic 2nd
2000 Go Ballistic 2nd

Adam Kondrat
1999 Ruggiero PU

Carl Llewellyn
1994 Young Hustler 2nd

Adrian Maguire
1993 Cool Ground 3rd
1995 Barton Bank 3rd
1997 Barton Bank 2nd

Tony McCoy
1998 Cyborgo 2nd
1999 CYFOR MALTA WON
2000 Majadou 3rd

Timmy Murphy
1998 SEE MORE BUSINESS WON
1999 Cyborgo 4th

Andrew Thornton
1998 Rough Quest 3rd
2000 Dr Leunt 4th

Joe Tizzard
1999 See More Business 3rd
2000 Double Thriller PU

Dominique Vincent
1995 Arenice 5th

Norman Williamson
1995 MASTER OATS WON
1997 Yorkshire Gale 3rd
1998 Yorkshire Gale 4th
2000 LOOKS LIKE TROUBLE WON

For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink Archive

©Racenews 2000
designed and produced by Racenews Internet Services