Thursday, January 23, 2003

TOTE CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP DAY SOLD OUT

There is still availability for all enclosures (Club, Tattersalls and Courage Best) on the other two days of the National Hunt Festival - Tuesday, March 11 and Wednesday, March 12.

The Festival is "all-ticket" and booking at the earliest opportunity is advised to avoid disappointment.

Bookings can be made by telephoning 01242 226226 (9am to 5pm, Monday - Friday), online at www.cheltenham.co.uk or by calling into the racecourse offices (race days and 9am to 5pm, Monday - Friday).

RECORD 149 ENTERED IN 2003 MARTELL COGNAC GRAND NATIONAL

This year's race, which takes place at Aintree on Saturday, April 5, carries prize money of £600,000, an increase of £100,000 on 2002.

Three former winners are engaged - Bindaree (2002), Red Marauder (2001) and Papillon (2000) - with last year's second, third and fourth-placed horses, respectively What's Up Boys, Blowing Wind and Kingsmark, also entered.

As well as featuring the largest-ever entry, this year's Martell Cognac Grand National also boasts arguably the best-quality set of horses ever to be entered in the great race.

These include the Pertemps King George VI Chase winners Florida Pearl, one of 34 Irish-trained entries (compared with 26 in 2002), and First Gold, who heads seven entries trained in France. Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup hopefuls such as Hussard Collonges, Behrajan, Marlborough, Chives, Gingembre and Rince Ri are also engaged, along with a handful of exciting novice chasers including The Bajan Bandit and Youlneverwalkalone.

Champion trainer Martin Pipe, who has had 59 previous Martell Cognac Grand National runners and won the 1994 race with Miinnehoma, accounts for 19 of this year's 149 entries, as against 16 last year. These include Blowing Wind, dual Thomas Pink Gold Cup hero Cyfor Malta, who won the 1998 Martell Topham Chase, last season's attheraces Gold Cup winner Bounce Back, Take Control, the 2002 Scottish National winner, and Barryscourt Lad, ante-post favourite for Saturday's skybet.com Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster.

There is one entry from Norway, the Rune Haugen-trained Trinitro, who fell at the first fence in the 2000 Martell Cognac Grand National. In addition to the Francois Doumen-trained First Gold, French-trained entries include his stablemate Djeddah, a trio trained by Yannick Fertillet for retired Kent school teacher Fergus Wilson, Gailoorn De Mee, Kapatchi, and Modulor, and a pair trained in Pau by champion trainer Jacques Ortet, Empereur River and Paladin.

Ireland's strong team is further enhanced by the likes of Foxchapel King from Mouse Morris's stable, Irish National winners Davids Lad and The Bunny Boiler, Tripleprint Gold Cup scorer Go Roger Go and More Than A Stroll, who landed the Grade 1 James Nicholson Wine Merchant Championship Chase at Down Royal in November.

Entry numbers since 1984 are as follows:- 2003-149, 2002-144, 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, said today: "Naturally, we are thrilled to have another record entry for the Martell Cognac Grand National.

"The quality of the horses competing over the last few years has risen and the 2003 entry will continue that trend. Therefore, it is perhaps surprising that so many entries have been made when only high-rated horses will get a run, though everybody of course wants to win the Martell Cognac Grand National.

"There are opportunities to apply the Aintree factor and, when the weights are announced on Tuesday, February 4, it will be fascinating to see what Phil Smith, the British Horseracing Board's senior National Hunt handicapper, has done."

THE MARTELL COGNAC GRAND NATIONAL

Class A, Showcase Handicap, Total Prize Fund 600,000, 3.45pm, Aintree, Saturday, April 5, 2003. Four Miles & Four Furlongs (Over the Grand National Course). For six-year-olds and upwards which are allotted a rating of 110 or more by the Senior BHB NH Handicapper following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including February 1. Horses which are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain or Ireland at January 22 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 1 would merit a minimum rating of 110, and that the horse has either won a Steeple Chase or Hurdle Race, or has run at least three times collectively in Steeple Chases or Hurdle Races run under the Rules of Racing of the same Recognised Turf Authority by February 1. At the Handicapper's discretion, such horses may be allotted a rating. The decision of the Senior BHB NH Handicapper shall be final. Entries closed Wednesday, January 22, 2003 (149 entries), entries revelaed Thursday, January 23, 2003. Weights revealed Tuesday, February 4, 2003. First confirmation stage Tuesday, February 18, 2003; second confirmation stage Tuesday, March 18, 2003. Five-day confirmation stage Monday, March 31, 2003. Final declaration stage 10am, Thursday, April 3, 2003. Confirmation of riders must be made by 1.00pm Thursday, April 3, 2003. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Tuesday, January 21, 2003. May not include some overseas form.

Form Horse Age Owner Trainer
63PP-4P ACKZO 10 Nicola Spence Ginger McCain
B4-5123 AD HOC (IRE) 9 Sir Robert Ogden Paul Nicholls
00316P AKARUS (FR) 8 A J White Martin Pipe
01-3632 AMBERLEIGH HOUSE (IRE) 11 Halewood International Ltd Ginger McCain
0-13321 ARDENT SCOUT 11 Alicia Skene & W S Skene Sue Smith
PP-P331 BALLINCLAY KING (IRE) 9 Ian Guise, Brian Leatherday & Nicola Spence Ferdy Murphy
500-225 BALLYAMBER (IRE) 8 Sean Mulryan Willie Mullins IRE
PP-3U1U BALLYBOUGH RASHER (IRE) 8 Comtake-Welding Engineering Specialists Howard Johnson
2252-2F BARRYSCOURT LAD (IRE) 9 Roseberry Racing Martin Pipe
332040 BATMAN SENORA (FR) 7 G Polinski Ian Williams
4F-5303 BE MY MANAGER (IRE) 8 The Earl Cadogan Henrietta Knight
212P-61 BEHRAJAN (IRE) 8 The Behrajan Partnership Henry Daly
4111/54- BERLIN BLUE 10 Peter J Douglas Engineering Robert Stronge
1F-0645 BILLY THE SNAKE (IRE) 10 Ouncel Syndicate Pat Hughes IRE
1-0FF24 BINDAREE (IRE) 9 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
P513-36 BLOWING WIND (FR) 10 Peter Deal Martin Pipe
251/6-32 BOBBY GRANT 12 John Thompson Peter Beaumont
3561-0P BOUNCE BACK (USA) 7 Belinda Harvey Martin Pipe
20-3120 BRAMBLEHILL DUKE (IRE) 11 South Wales Shower Supplies T/A Faucets Venetia Williams
112210- BURLU (FR) 9 Martin Pipe Martin Pipe
1U6-P6P CARBURY CROSS (IRE) 9 Anne Duchess of Westminster Jonjo O'Neill
110F-P1 CARRYONHARRY (IRE) 9 Drs' David Silk J Castro M Gillard P Walker Martin Pipe
64032-5 CEANANNAS MOR (IRE) 9 Major Christopher Hanbury Nicky Henderson
511523 CHERGAN (IRE) 10 Copland, Hardie and Steel Sue Bradburne
F133-22 CHIVES (IRE) 8 Trevor Hemmings Henrietta Knight
6P-532F CIMARRONE COVE (IRE) 8 Philip Matton Nicky Henderson
F26/-F41 COQ HARDI DIAMOND (IRE) 9 Catherine Howard Noel Meade IRE
24532P CREGG HOUSE (IRE) 8 Kathleen Kennedy Paddy Mullins IRE
402P-14 CYFOR MALTA (FR) 10 David Johnson Martin Pipe
600032- DARK STRANGER (FR) 12 Terry Neill Martin Pipe
1543F-4 DAVIDS LAD (IRE) 9 Eddie Joe's Racing Syndicate Tony Martin IRE
4-64364 DELGANY ROYAL (IRE) 11 Glen Devlin Dessie Hughes IRE
342050 DJEDDAH (FR) 12 Haras d'Ecouves Francois Doumen FR
1/42F1F- EMPEREUR RIVER (FR) 11 P Matran Jacques Ortet FR
420-U04 EXIT SWINGER (FR) 8 Sandicroft Stud I Martin Pipe
0314-52 FADALKO (FR) 10 Sir Robert Ogden Paul Nicholls
P5421-1 FATEHALKHAIR (IRE) 11 R Wagner Brian Ellison
U/534-30 FIRST GOLD (FR) 10 J P McManus Francois Doumen FR
4011-44 FLORIDA PEARL (IRE) 11 Violet O'Leary Willie Mullins IRE
P4U513- FOLLY ROAD (IRE) 13 Miss L Horner Dai Williams
0U-P142 FOXCHAPEL KING (IRE) 10 Sir Anthony O'Reilly Mouse Morris IRE
PUFP-46 FRANTIC TAN (IRE) 11 The Bunkers Hill Mob Denis Caro
F543P5 GAILOORN DE MEE (FR) 9 Fergus Wilson Yannick Fertillet FR
2P41/-32 GINGEMBRE (FR) 9 Lavinia Taylor Lavinia Taylor
U/221/-32 GO ROGER GO (IRE) 11 J P McManus Edward O'Grady IRE
41U513 GOGUENARD (FR) 9 Trevor Hemmings Sue Smith
P-0543P GOOD SHUIL (IRE) 8 Audrey Healy Tom Taaffe IRE
1F/12P1- GRANIT D'ESTRUVAL (FR) 9 Walter Gott Ferdy Murphy
5122-13 GUNNER WELBURN 11 William Ritson/David Hall Andrew Balding
1163-10 GUNTHER MCBRIDE (IRE) 8 Mike Tuckey Philip Hobbs
44/P-11U HALEXY (FR) 8 Sir Robert Ogden Venetia Williams
22-12F3 HANDYMAN (IRE) 9 Elizabeth Hodgson and Denise Winton Philip Hobbs
2621-22 HEDGEHUNTER (IRE) 7 Niall Quaid Willie Mullins IRE1//52-111 HERMES III (FR) 8 Thurloe Thoroughbreds IV Nicky Henderson
1P2-321 HISTORG (FR) 8 Jim McCarthy Ferdy Murphy
F21-252 HUSSARD COLLONGES (FR) 8 Nick Bannister Peter Beaumont
22P/PFP- INN AT THE TOP 11 Sylvia Blakeley Jim Turner
23PF5-1 IRIS BLEU (FR) 7 David Johnson Martin Pipe
25F21-F IT'S HIMSELF 11 P M Barrett Tony Martin IRE
310-031 JAYBEJAY (NZ) 8 Lady Clarke Martin Pipe
11P/PPP- JOLLY GREEN GIANT (IRE) 10 Paul Green Paul Webber
11P-1P1 JURANCON II (FR) 6 David Johnson Martin Pipe
PU4503- KAKI CRAZY (FR) 8 Archie Gooch Martin Pipe
00115-1 KAPATCHI (FR) 12 Fergus Wilson Yannick Fertillet FR
00/4/13-2 KATARINO (FR) 8 Robert Waley-Cohen Nicky Henderson
02-5222 KILLULTAGH THUNDER (IRE) 7 Rose Boyd Willie Mullins IRE
21/D111/- KILLUSTY (IRE) 9 Lady Lloyd Webber Charles Egerton
P160-11 KINGS MISTRAL (IRE) 10 R V Shaw Patrick Chamings
0/124-13 KINGSMARK (IRE) 10 Sir Robert Ogden Martin Todhunter
16-630R KIRMAR (IRE) 9 Sir Denis Forman Pat Fahy IRE
2PP-214 KIT SMARTIE (IRE) 11 Donald Forster Donald Forster
3211/1P/- LAMBRINI GOLD 9 Halewood International Ltd Ginger McCain
13-4314 LANMIRE TOWER (IRE) 9 Rowfield Racing Alan King
12-F20P LIVINGSTONEBRAMBLE (IRE) 7 Favourites Racing Willie Mullins IRE
4F2-132 LOGICIAN (NZ) 12 Robert Roulston Andrew Balding
20-1211 LORD JACK (IRE) 7 Trevor Hemmings Nicky Richards
13r5-1P MACS GILDORAN 9 Margaret McManus Willie Mullins IRE
1210F0- MAJED (FR) 7 Sandicroft Stud II Martin Pipe
21312-2 MANTLES PRINCE 9 R T Juckes Alan Juckes
4F0-102 MARLBOROUGH (IRE) 11 Sir Robert Ogden Nicky Henderson
1162-44 MAXIMIZE (IRE) 9 Lady Vestey Henrietta Knight
21/2/B/60- MELY MOSS (FR) 12 Darren Mercer & Lucille Boden Charles Egerton
03P2-41 MINI SENSATION (IRE) 10 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
F-00465 MODULOR (FR) 11 Fergus Wilson Yannick Fertillet FR
1/1P1P-P MONTIFAULT (FR) 8 Mrs A E Fulton Paul Nicholls
3P6313 MONTY'S PASS (IRE) 10 Dee Racing Syndicate Jimmy Mangan IRE
23PP-0P MORAL SUPPORT (IRE) 11 Tom & Evelyn Yates Stan Moore
0F-1142 MORE THAN A STROLL (IRE) 11 Mrs D Grehan Arthur Moore IRE
134113 MOTHERS HELP 8 Berkshire Commercial Components Ltd Dai Williams
133-P56 MR BOSSMAN (IRE) 10 Norman Mason Norman Mason
21PP-65 MURT'S MAN (IRE) 9 Derek Millard Paul Nicholls
2P3/P/FP- NIKI DEE (IRE) 13 George Dilger Peter Beaumont
2P6/-323 NO PROBLEM (IRE) 12 T Cronin Pat O'Keeffe IRE
U2403P- NORTHERN SOUND (IRE) 10 James Treacy Paul Roche IRE
223-30 PALADIN (FR) 8 Naji Pharaon Jacques Ortet FR
4/04554- PAPILLON (IRE) 12 Betty Moran Ted Walsh IRE
2P66FP- PARIS PIKE (IRE) 11 Major Ivan & Tizzy Straker Ferdy Murphy
511115 PESSIMISTIC DICK 10 Frank Flynn and Richard Madden Hughie Morrison
112142 POLAR CHAMP 10 The Reims Partnership Martin Pipe
214FPP PRANCING BLADE 10 Gavin MacEchern Nigel Twiston-Davies
61-11F0 PRECIOUS MUSIC (IRE) 10 Thomas Farrell Gerard Farrell IRE
4B2F01 QUALITY FIRST (IRE) 10 Felix Sheridan Heather Dalton
56F0-0F RATHBAWN PRINCE (IRE) 11 T J Culhane Dessie Hughes IRE
1100F-0 RED ARK 10 Dorothy Mason Norman Mason
4552F1/- RED MARAUDER 13 Norman Mason Norman Mason
P1PP-50 RED STRIKER 9 Norman Mason Norman Mason
213-266 RINCE RI (IRE) 10 Frank Moriarty Ted Walsh IRE
21214-0 RITH DUBH (IRE) 11 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
6-01331 ROBBO 9 The Scarth Racing Partnership Mary Reveley
1-14235 ROBERTY BOB (IRE) 8 P J H Wills Henry Daly
22P500- ROYAL PREDICA (FR) 9 Peter Deal, J S Dale & Allan Stennett Martin Pipe
FP-4140 SAD MAD BAD (USA) 9 Peter Savill Mary Reveley
52/100P//- SCOTIA NOSTRA (IRE) 11 Favourites Racing Venetia Williams
2P06P-0 SCOTMAIL BOY (IRE) 10 George Tobitt Howard Johnson
42/111/1- SCRAHAN CROSS (IRE) 10 Russell McAllister Jonjo O'Neill
2P046-P SHANNON GALE (IRE) 11 J P McManus Christy Roche IRE
12U41-1 SHELTERING (IRE) 11 Adair Catherwood Edward O'Grady IRE
12/32P2- SHOTGUN WILLY (IRE) 9 Graham Roach Paul Nicholls
1131//20- SIBERIAN GALE (IRE) 11 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
322P-03 SIGMA DOTCOMM (IRE) 7 J A Boyle Noel Meade IRE
1U53-12 SILVER STEEL 8 J P McManus Christy Roche IRE
1341-11 SIR FROSTY 10 J F Tucker John Ryall
111P/-11 SKIPPERS CLEUCH (IRE) 9 Ashleybank Investments Limited Len Lungo
1-331P3 SKYCAB (IRE) 11 P H Betts (Holdings) Ltd Josh Gifford
35PP-05 SMARTY (IRE) 10 Tracy Brown Mark Pitman
4P2-202 SOUTHERN STAR (IRE) 8 Trevor Hemmings Henrietta Knight
1126UP- SPOT THEDIFFERENCE (IRE) 10 J P McManus Enda Bolger IRE
10-2235 STORM DAMAGE (IRE) 11 Terry Curry,Colin Lewis,Penny Mitchell & J Olds Paul Nicholls
61PP-26 STORM OF GOLD (IRE) 10 Reliance Car Hire Services Ltd Dai Williams
121101 STORMEZ (FR) 6 David Johnson Martin Pipe
112/P1/5/- STORMYFAIRWEATHER (IRE) 11 Bridget Hanbury Nicky Henderson
1415-4P SUPREME GLORY (IRE) 10 Chris Moorsom Pat Murphy
2152-1P TAKAGI (IRE) 8 D Cox Edward O'Grady IRE
P51-04F TAKE CONTROL (IRE) 9 David Johnson Martin Pipe
101-112 THE BAJAN BANDIT (IRE) 8 Ashleybank Investments Limited Len Lungo
F11-21P THE BUNNY BOILER (IRE) 9 The Usual Suspects Syndicate Noel Meade IRE
1112F-P TIMBERA (IRE) 9 Mrs J M Breen Dessie Hughes IRE
241-F22 TOM'S PRIZE 8 Mrs P Joynes John Spearing
2P/2131- TORDUFF EXPRESS (IRE) 12 Two Plus Two Paul Nicholls
F/10616- TREMALLT (IRE) 12 Silkword Racing Partnership Tom George
1-1223D TRINITRO 12 Liv Saether Myskja Rune Haugen NOR
33BU3-4 TUESDAY (IRE) 8 Violet O'Leary Willie Mullins IRE
14P52-F WHAT'S UP BOYS (IRE) 9 R J B Partners Philip Hobbs
4553 WHEREAREYOUNOW (IRE) 6 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
425-540 WHITENZO (FR) 7 Malcolm Pearce & Mr Gerry Mizel II Paul Nicholls
P5U-413 WONDER WEASEL (IRE) 10 D A Halsall Kim Bailey
3540P-1 YOU'RE AGOODUN 11 Jeff Lammiman Martin Pipe
320-131 YOULNEVERWALKALONE (IRE) 9 J P McManus Christy Roche IRE
3133-13 ZAFARABAD (IRE) 9 Elaine Baines Philip Hobbs
149 Entries
34 Irish-trained
7 French-trained
1 Norwegian-trained

BREAKDOWN OF ENTRIES BY TRAINER WITH PAST SUCCESSES IN THE MARTELL COGNAC GRAND NATIONAL

19 Entries
Martin Pipe (1994 Miinnehoma)

8 Entries
Paul Nicholls

7 Entries
Willie Mullins IRE

6 Entries
Nicky Henderson

5 Entries
Jonjo O'Neill

4 Entries
Philip Hobbs
Henrietta Knight
Norman Mason (2001 Red Marauder)
Ferdy Murphy

3 Entries
Peter Beaumont
Yannick Fertillet FR
Dessie Hughes IRE
Ginger McCain (1973, 1974, 1977 Red Rum)
Noel Meade IRE
Edward O'Grady IRE
Christy Roche IRE
Nigel Twiston-Davies (1998 Earth Summit, 2002 Bindaree)
Dai Williams
Venetia Williams

2 Entries
Andrew Balding
Henry Daly
Francois Doumen FR
Charles Egerton
Howard Johnson
Len Lungo
Tony Martin IRE
Jacques Ortet FR
Mary Reveley
Sue Smith
Ted Walsh (2000 Papillon)

1 Entry
Kim Bailey (1990 Mr Frisk)
Enda Bolger IRE
Sue Bradburne
Denis Caro
Patrick Chamings
Heather Dalton
Brian Ellison
Pat Fahy IRE
Gerald Farrell IRE
Donald Forster
Tom George
Josh Gifford (1981 Aldaniti)
Rune Haugen NOR
Pat Hughes IRE
Alan Juckes
Alan King
Jimmy Mangan IRE
Arthur Moore IRE
Stan Moore
Mouse Morris IRE
Hughie Morrison
Paddy Mullins IRE
Pat Murphy
Pat O'Keefe IRE
Mark Pitman
Nicky Richards
Paul Roche IRE
John Ryall
John Spearing
Robert Stronge
Tom Taaffe IRE
Lavinia Taylor
Martin Todhunter
Jim Turner
Paul Webber
Ian Williams

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