Tuesday, January 13, 2009

COMPLY OR DIE AND MADISON DU BERLAIS SET TO HEAD PIPE TEAM FOR JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL AT AINTREE

The Pond House handler revealed at a stable visit for members of the media organised by Aintree Racecourse that last year’s John Smith’s Grand National winner Comply Or Die is all set to try and become the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to win the world’s greatest chase for a second time.

The David Johnson-owned gelding stayed on strongly to defeat King Johns Castle by four lengths in 2008 and is due to be joined again by Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup winner Madison Du Berlais, who travelled well before falling at the Canal Turn on the first circuit.

Since his Aintree victory, Comply Or Die has failed to sparkle in two appearances at Cheltenham this season but his trainer is hopeful that the 10-year-old can return to form prior to a second crack at the famous chase over four and a half miles and 30 fences.

Pipe said: “We are intending to give Comply Or Die and Madison Du Berlais an entry in this year’s John Smith’s Grand National.



“Comply Or Die seems to be in good form at the moment. He has obviously been very disappointing so far this season and there hasn’t appeared to be any reason for his lacklustre efforts.



“We may look at some of the decent long distance chases around but it is unlikely that he will make an appearance at Cheltenham prior to Aintree. He is rated too high for the totesport Eider Chase again but there still other options available to him. The blinkers will be put him on at some stage.

“The John Smith’s Grand National is the obvious target but it is going to be harder for him having won it last year. It would be great just to see him run a decent race beforehand.”



While Comply Or Die has yet to hit form, Madison Du Berlais has enjoyed an excellent start to the current campaign, following up a sixth in a competitive handicap chase at Ascot at the start of November with a superb three-length victory over Air Force One in Newbury’s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at the end of the same month.

Pipe continued: “Madison Du Berlais has come out of the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup in good form. He was jumping well in the John Smith’s Grand National last year before falling at Canal Turn.



“He stays three miles and two furlongs well but the extra distance at Aintree is a bit of an unknown. He seemed to keep galloping at Newbury so I would be hopeful that he would get the National trip.

“I think his starting price of 25/1 in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup probably reflected his chance. He had previously won a Grade Three at Newbury in March, 2007, and he seems to be a little better around that course, but we thought that he was too high in the handicap.



“He’s got experience over the National fences so we will give him an entry in the race again this year and decide nearer the time. Milan Deux Mille, who finished 15th last season, will also be entered.”



Pipe also paraded several of his Aintree possibles at the stable visit. Our Vic may bid for a second consecutive victory in the £160,000 Grade Two totesport Bowl, highlight of the first day of the John Smith’s Grand National meeting on Thursday, April 2.

The 11-year-old, who runs in the same David Johnson colours as Comply Or Die, got up in the shadow of the post to defeat 2007 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kauto Star in the three mile, one furlong contest last year.



He is set to appear at the Cheltenham Festival beforehand, where he may run in the Grade One totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup or bid for a repeat success in the Grade One Ryanair Chase.

Last year’s Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle runner-up Osana is also set to make an appearance at Cheltenham prior to a possible tilt at the £170,000 Grade One John Smith’s Aintree Hurdle on Saturday, April 4.



The seven-year-old, owned by Thomas Barr, was second to Aintree specialist Al Eile in the two and a half mile hurdle last season, having been runner-up to Blythe Knight in the Grade Two John Smith’s Top Novices’ Hurdle 12 months earlier.

Or Noir De Somoza could also be heading for Aintree. The seven-year-old gelding is yet to make his debut for Pipe, having previously been trained by Arnaud Chaille-Chaille in France, where he won Grade One contests over both hurdles and fences as a four-year-old.

Owned by Pegasus Farms Ltd, Or Noir De Somoza joined Pond House after finishing ninth in France’s most prestigious jump race, the Grade One Grande Steeple-Chase de Paris at Auteuil in May. The gelding is also being aimed at the Cheltenham Festival and has entries in the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase, the Ryanair Chase and the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The outstanding but fragile Well Chief may make a fourth appearance at the John Smith’s Grand National meeting in the £200,000 Grade One John Smith’s Melling Chase, the feature race on Friday, April 3.

The David Johnson-owned chaser came home third behind Monet’s Garden on his latest racecourse appearance in the two and a half mile chase in April, 2007, having won the Grade One John Smith’s Maghull Novices’ Chase in 2004 and finished third a year earlier in the race now known as the Grade One John Smith’s Anniversary 4-Y-0 Novices’ Hurdle.

The 10-year-old is currently being targeted at the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, a race in which he finished second to Moscow Flyer in 2005 prior to falling early on when favourite two years later.

Entries for the John Smith’s Grand National, which has a maximum field of 40, close on Tuesday, January 27, and the weights will be revealed in London on Tuesday, February 10.

TRAINERS SPEAK ABOUT THEIR 2009 JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL HOPES



Donald McCain Jnr, trainer of last year’s sixth Cloudy Lane, Idle Talk and Bannister Lane:

“Cloudy Lane has been entered in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock on Saturday and he will hopefully line up there, subject to Mr Hemmings’s approval. He has come out of his third in the Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby in good form and he’s ready to run at the moment. I would like to give him a couple more runs prior to the John Smith’s Grand National but we will have to play it by ear. It is not as easy as last year because he’s gone up in the ratings so we have to see what is available to him. All roads will lead to Aintree once more.

“Idle Talk will also be aimed at the John Smith’s Grand National. He had plenty of racing last year and we decided to give him a break this time around. He will possibly have one run prior to Aintree and he could go for the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster, because the course will suit him. Last year he ran at the Cheltenham Festival, which probably cost him at Aintree, but he still ran a respectable race (to be 14th). He seems a better horse fresh so we have made a conscious decision to give him a break and one run before Aintree. He’s jumped twice over the National fences now and done nothing wrong and it was just a bit of a pity that the ground was heavy in the totesport Becher Chase, which went against him.

“Bannister Lane is another who might be given an entry in the John Smith’s Grand National. He’s also been entered at Haydock on Saturday and we will see how he runs there before deciding about Aintree. He’s been placed in the totepool Grand Sefton Chase over the National fences but he would need to go up a few pounds to get a run in the John Smith’s Grand National. “



Tom Taaffe, trainer of the 2008 fourth and 2007 third Slim Pickings:

“Slim Pickings will once again be going for the John Smith’s Grand National. I was a bit disappointed with his sixth in the Lexus and I don’t think that he fired on the day. He’s come out of the race in good form and we will crack on with him. We gave him a couple of entries for the Cheltenham Festival but they were only tentative and I might look more at a handicap chase with his current mark before going to Aintree.”



Ferdy Murphy, trainer of Hot Weld:

“The plan is very much for Hot Weld to take his chance in the John Smith’s Grand National. He struck into himself in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in April, 2007, and he got a bit of a bulge but there was no tendon damage. When we got him back in for the 2007/08 season, a haematoma had hardened and was interfering with his tendon, so we decided to give him the season off. We have done plenty of work with him and he’s raring to go at the moment. Graham (Lee) rode him about 10 days ago and he was delighted with Hot Weld. We may run him at Doncaster at the end of the month because we are desperate to get him back on a racecourse. He will improve for that run because everything is being geared towards Aintree.”



Jimmy Mangan, who won the John Smith’s Grand National with Monty’s Pass in 2003, trains Himalayan Trail:

“The John Smith’s Grand National is still the plan for Himalayan Trail. I was very pleased with his fifth in the totesport Becher Chase and Barry (Geraghty) was delighted with the way he jumped. The main aim of running him in that race was to give him a feel of the Aintree fences. We knew he wasn’t fit enough to win then but April is his main target. If Denman does run in the John Smith’s Grand National, then we will be out of the handicap but we would still run against him because we bought the horse specifically to run in the race. He may go for the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park on January 22 and, if he’s fit and well, will be lining up at Aintree on April 4.”



Colin Tizzard, trainer of Joe Lively:

“Joe Lively is still very much on course for the John Smith’s Grand National. He’s come out of his run in the Welsh National in great order where he ran well and was staying on again at the end. He won his races over three miles last season and we started him over three miles and a furlong at Cheltenham in October. He’s taken the step up in trip really well since and I would be hopeful that he would get the four and a half miles at Aintree. He jumps nice and cleanly and I think he was made for the Aintree fences - Joe couldn’t wish for a better horse to ride. We will give him a couple of runs over fences beforehand and we are looking at the Letheby & Christopher Chase at Cheltenham on January 24 because he loves the course. He’s also been given an entry in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which would be an option if three or four horses came out of the race, and the William Hill Handicap Chase is another possibility at the Cheltenham Festival.”



MEETING PRIZE MONEY UP BY £150,000



Aintree Racecourse today announced at its annual visit to the yard of John Smith’s Grand National winning trainer, David Pipe, that the total prize fund for the 2009 showcase meeting, which takes place at Aintree Racecourse from Thursday, 2 – Saturday, 4 April, will top £2,710,000 - an increase of nearly six percent on the 2008 total of £2,560,000. This announcement comes just 15 days after the racecourse published that the 2009 John Smith’s Grand National will be worth a staggering £900,000, an increase of £100,000 on the previous year.

In addition to the Grand National, races which will benefit from an increase include: the Grade Two John Smith’s Mildmay Novices’ Chase on Friday, 3 April, which will increase to £90,000 (a boost of £10,000); the renewal of the Grade One John Smith’s Aintree Hurdle, which takes place on Saturday, 4 April, will in 2009 be valued at £170,000; and, the John Smith’s Handicap Steeple Chase, also on John Smith’s Grand National day, will both benefit from a £10,000 increase. The full race programme and prize money schedule is attached.

In addition to prize money increases, the 2009 meeting will see the inaugural running of the new £80,000 Grade Two John Smith’s Manifesto Novices’ Chase (4.55pm, Thursday, 2 April) over two and a half miles. The race honours Manifesto, who between 1885 and 1904 ran a record eight times in the Grand National, collecting two victories and four places.

Julian Thick, Managing Director of Aintree Racecourse commented: “It is great news that we have again managed to increase prize money for the John Smith’s Grand National meeting for at least the 13th year in succession, honouring our commitment to continuously improve the quality of the meeting. With £2,710,000 to be won over three-days in April, we are confident it will be an un-missable meeting. It’s interesting to look at increases in prize money over the years, as back in 1997 the total prize fund for the three day meeting was £832,500. Now we’re looking at a figure of over three times as much, with the John Smith’s Grand National now worth more than the total prize fund for the meeting was 13 years ago.”



CITROËN AND TOTE LINE-UP FOR 2009 MEETING



Aintree Racecourse also announced today that it was delighted to retain Citroën UK, totesport and totepool as official partners of the John Smith’s Grand National meeting for 2009.

Citroën UK will continue to support the international event for a fourth year in succession as the meeting’s Official Vehicle Partner, providing a fleet of vehicles for the event’s VIP chauffeur service, which transports officials and VIP guests and includes the Citroën C6, C5 and C4 Picasso in addition to the Citroën C-crosser 4x4 vehicle. Citroën will also support the increasingly popular Style 2009 contest, which includes the prize of a £20,000 Citroën C-Crosser 4x4 vehicle for the lucky winner.

The BBC-televised Citroën C5 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) will be run at 4.20pm on Friday, 3 April.

The totesport Bowl on Thursday, 2 April and the totepool Handicap Hurdle on Friday, 3 April will both continue to receive the generous support of Official Betting Partner, the tote following a successful inaugural year of sponsorship at the meeting in 2008.

Despite the economic downturn, the Tote is again hopeful of achieving the same high levels of turnover on-course at this year’s John Smith’s Grand National meeting and aim to break the £2million mark on Grand National day on Saturday, 4 April for a second year.

With the three days at Aintree in April playing vital part in the Tote’s annual performance, 2009 will be as vital as ever, as David Craven, Totepool Managing Director explained: “The premier festivals provide the perfect platform for betting on and off course – and the John Smith’s Grand National remains the biggest betting highlight in the racing calendar.”



TICKET AND HOSPITALITY SALES FOR 2009 ON-TRACK



Ticket and hospitality sales for the 2009 John Smith’s Grand National meeting are reported to be on schedule compared to January 2008 with the trend of racegoers booking early when tickets go on-sale in August continuing, with many keen the secure their preferred choice for the festival event.

With just over 11 weeks to go until the start of the three day meeting, the racecourse is entering a crucial sales period for the event. As predicted, all seated enclosures have been very popular, however, seats are still available for all three days, with the racecourse managing to increase seated capacity year on year. Grandstand standing enclosure tickets are also available for each day of the meeting, in addition to Tattersalls tickets.

Julian Thick added: “Early indications show that we are roughly on schedule to achieve another good result for this year’s Grand National. Saturday tickets sales are ahead of last year; however, Thursday and Friday are generally 10% behind, which is still and excellent position to be in at this stage. All businesses, including racing and the leisure sector face challenging times ahead with the current economic downturn and we shall be continuing to monitor our sales pattern very closely.

“There have been changes to how our customers can purchase tickets, which has enables racegoers to purchase all tickets, including seat badges online at aintree.co.uk for the first time.”



Race organisers are advising anyone who wishes to attend any day of the event, to purchase tickets in advance to avoid disappointment. Tickets can be purchased online at www.aintree.co.uk, or by calling the new ticket hotline on 0844 579 3001. Hospitality enquiries should call 0151 522 2911.

JOHN SMITH’S COMMEMORATE GRAND NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT



Unveiled at the annual stable visit to the winning yard, John Smith’s Grand National winning trainer, David Pipe, today picked up another memento for the success of Comply or Die. John Smith’s, the title sponsor of the Grand National has produced commemorative plaques for each John Smith’s Grand National winning horse since Hedgehunter in 2005, the start of its sponsorship of the famous race.

Each plaque hopes to recognise the achievement of the winning horse for visitors to the yard and be a lasting memento of Grand National victory. Plaques will shortly be installed at these winning yards.

BREEDERS’ AWARDS



The 2008 John Smith’s Grand National Breeders’ Awards were presented to Mr Martin J Dibbs from Mullingar, County West Meath, breeder of Comply or Die. A prize for the first British bred horse to finish in the Grand National, Cloudy Lane (6th) was presented a representative of the breeder, Mr Trevor Hemmings.

2009 JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL MEETING - PRIZE MONEY SCHEDULE



Time Distance 2009 Proposed

Thursday 2nd April

2.00 BBC 3m½f THE JOHN SMITH'S LIVERPOOL HURDLE (CLASS A) £100,000

2.35 BBC 2m½f THE JOHN SMITH'S ANNIVERSAIRY 4YO NOVICES' HURDLE £130,000

3.10 BBC 3m1f THE TOTESPORT BOWL STEEPLE CHASE £160,000

3.45 BBC 2m5½f THE JOHN SMITH'S FOX HUNTERS' STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS B) * £40,000

4.20 BBC 2m THE JOHN SMITH'S RED RUM HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS A) £80,000

4.55 2m4f THE JOHN SMITH'S MANIFESTO NOVICES' STEEPLE CHASE £80,000

5.30 2m4f THE JOHN SMITH'S NO NONSENSE HANDICAP HURDLE (CLASS A) £60,000



Total £650,000



Friday 3rd April

2.00 BBC 2m½f THE JOHN SMITH'S IMAGINE APPEAL TOP NOVICES' HURDLE (CLASS A) £60,000

2.35 BBC 3m1f THE JOHN SMITH'S MILDMAY NOVICES' STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS A) £90,000

3.10 BBC 2m4f THE JOHN SMITH'S MELLING STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS A) £200,000

3.45 BBC 2m5½f THE JOHN SMITH'S TOPHAM STEEPLE CHASE (SHOWCASE HANDICAP) £110,000

4.20 BBC 3m½f THE CITROËN C5 SEFTON NOVICES' HURDLE (CLASS A) £100,000

4.55 3m½f THE TOTEPOOL HANDICAP HURDLE £60,000

5.30 2m1f THE JOHN SMITH'S HBLB TBA MARES ONLY STANDARD OPEN NH FLAT (CLASS A) £35,000



Total £655,000



Saturday 4th April

1.45 BBC 2m4f THE JOHN SMITH'S EXTRA COLD MERSEY NOVICES' HURDLE (CLASS B) £60,000

2.15 BBC 2m THE JOHN SMITH'S MAGHULL NOVICES' STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS A) £125,000

2.50 BBC 2m4f THE JOHN SMITH'S AINTREE HURDLE RACE (CLASS A) £170,000

3.25 BBC 3m1f THE JOHN SMITH'S HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE £70,000

4.15 BBC 4m4f THE JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLE CHASE (SHOWCASE HANDICAP) £900,000

5.00 2m½f THE JOHN SMITH'S EXTRA SMOOTH HANDICAP HURDLE (CLASS B)** £40,000

5.35 2m1f THE JOHN SMITH'S CHAMPION STANDARD OPEN NH FLAT £40,000



12.40 9f THE JOHN SMITH'S PEOPLE'S RACE (A charity flat race)



Total £1,405,000



JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL MEETING TOTAL £2,710,000



* Amateur riders

** Amateur and Conditionals

DAVID PIPE FACTFILE



Born on February 7, 1973, David Pipe is the son of 15-time champion jump trainer Martin Pipe. He took over the trainer’s licence at Pond House Stables on the Somerset/Devon border from his father at the conclusion of the 2005/2006 jump season.

The 35-year-old enjoyed the greatest day of his career to date when saddling Comply Or Die to win the John Smith’s Grand National on April 5, 2008, less than two years after saddling his first runner under Rules as a fully licensed trainer.

That initial success came on May 9, 2006, when Standin Obligation landed a novice chase at Kelso.



David certainly hit the ground running after taking over the reins from his record-breaking father. In his first season as a trainer, he sent out 134 winners, more than any other handler in Britain. He also finished third in the trainers’ championship, with the horses accumulating more than £1.6 million in prize money.

Highlights of that first season included Our Vic’s triumph in the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in October, 2006, David’s first big-race victory as a trainer.



Defying a 658-day absence, Well Chief’s success in the Grade Two Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on February 10, 2007 was another of David’s finest moments during his first season in charge of Pond House. Gaspara provided him with a first winner at the Cheltenham Festival that same season when she was victorious in the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle from 23 rivals.

She went on to post a remarkable performance for a four-year-old filly, going down by a length and a half to Al Eile in the Grade One Scottish & Newcastle Pub Enterprises Aintree Hurdle at the 2007 John Smith’s Grand National meeting.

Those achievements were surpassed in the 2007/2008 season with Comply Or Die’s John Smith’s Grand National victory augmented by the fantastic triumphs of stable stalwart Our Vic in Aintree’s Grade Two totesport Bowl, in which he defeated the mighty Kauto Star, and in the Grade One Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Further big-race successes last season came courtesy of Tamarinbleu who gained both the Boylesports.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham in December and Ascot’s Victor Chandler Chase the following month.



Subsequent Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle and Grade One Scottish & Newcastle Pub Enterprises Aintree Hurdle runner-up Osana was also on the mark at Cheltenham in December, winning the Grade Two Boylesports.com International Hurdle.



There was further Cheltenham Festival success in 2008, with An Accordion prevailing in the William Hill Trophy and Our Vic’s Ryanair Chase triumph. Ashkazar captured the Sunderlands Imperial Cup at Sandown and old favourite Lough Derg carried off the Grade One BGC Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.



The trainer ended his second season with 100 winners and almost £2.5 million in prize money to his name, placing him second behind Paul Nicholls in the trainers’ championship.

David has consolidated his position as one of the country’s leading trainers this season , with Madison Du Berlais’ victory in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup being the highlight of the campaign so far.

His racing career started on the point-to-point circuit in 1992 and he went on to ride 22 winners between the flags over the next five seasons, plus two under Rules, which included victory aboard Bonanza Boy in the Ludlow Gold Cup.



After hanging up his race-riding boots, he had spells working for Michael Dickinson in the US, Criquette Head-Maarek in France and Joey Ramsden in South Africa.

His education continued as a point-to-point trainer, handling the likes of Horus, Lord Atterbury and Celestial Gold, who went on to have successful careers under Rules when transferred to his father’s yard. Based at Purchas Farm, a mile away from Pond House, he sent out 164 point-to-point winners over six seasons, with Well Armed successful 15 times.

Having acted as assistant trainer to his father for several seasons, David became the trainer at Pond House Stables in his own right upon the official retirement of his father, who now acts as assistant trainer. He has the support of leading owner David Johnson as he bids to bring the trainers’ title back to the yard. Fellow West Country-trainer Paul Nicholls has been champion for the past three seasons.

Martin Pipe came to dominate jump racing after starting his training career in 1977 and re-wrote the record books with his incredible tally of winners. He sent out 230 winners during the 1990/91 season, only to break that total when landing 243 successes in the 1999-2000 campaign.

Along with his 15 trainers’ championships, Martin Pipe saddled 34 winners at the Cheltenham Festival, capturing the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle with both Granville Again (1993) and Make A Stand (1997).

He won the 1994 John Smith’s Grand National with Miinnehoma, who was owned by the comedian Freddie Starr, and also saddled 10 runners in 2001, a world record for the most horses for a trainer in a race.



In total he had 81 runners in the John Smith’s Grand National, with Encore En Peu coming second in 1996 and Blowing Wind (2001) and Lord Atterbury (2004) finishing third.

His other Aintree wins included Aquilifer (1991), Tiutchev (2004) and Celestial Gold (2006) in the totesport Bowl, Cyphrate (1992) and Well Chief (2004) in the John Smith’s Maghull Novices’ Chase, Hors La Loi III (1999) in the John Smith’s Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle and Pridwell (1998) and Ilnamar (2002) in the John Smith’s Aintree Hurdle.

COMPLY OR DIE (IRE) FACTFILE

10 b g Old Vic - Madam Madcap (Furry Glen)

Form: 11214/1211F2P6/4P//0P211-P0

Owner: David Johnson Breeder: Martin Dibbs



Originally trained by David’s father Martin, Comply Or Die posted an easy victory on his racecourse debut in a novices’ hurdle at Chepstow in October, 2003. After another comfortable win in a similar event, Comply Or Die stepped up to Graded company and followed a good second in the Grade Two Persian War Novices’ Hurdle at Chepstow with a convincing three-length victory in the Grade Two Tripleprint Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in December, 2003. A good first season finished with a sound fourth behind Fundamentalist in the Grade One Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, 2004.



Having started his chasing career with a victory at Bangor and a second behind Ollie Magern at Cheltenham, Comply Or Die took the spoils in the Grade Two Rising Stars Novices’ Chase at Wincanton in November, 2004. He returned to the Cheltenham Festival in March, 2005, finishing second behind Trabolgan in the Grade One RSA Chase, before being pulled up in the Scottish Grand National the following month. He finished the 2004/05 season with a creditable sixth in the Betfred Gold Cup.

He began his second season chasing with a good fourth, again behind Trabolgan, in the Grade Three Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury. Comply Or Die’s season was cut short after suffering a setback in the Coral Welsh National, and it was nearly two years before he saw a racecourse again.



Lining up in a handicap chase at Cheltenham in October, 2007, Comply Or Die lacked race sharpness and finished a weary 16th. The gelding also disappointed on his next run when pulled up in the Grade Three Servo Computers Services Trophy Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on November 17. The application of blinkers produced a far better display in the Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase at Haydock on December 22, and Comply Or Die ran his best race for some time when finishing second behind John Smith’s Grand National ante-post favourite Cloudy Lane.

Racing over a marathon extended four miles in the totesport Eider Chase at Newcastle on February 23, Comply Or Die showed that he would have the stamina necessary for the John Smith’s Grand National with a brilliant eight-length victory, despite being burdened with top-weight. Sent off a warm 7/1 joint favourite for the world’s greatest chase, Comply Or Die produced a near faultless display of jumping under regular pilot Timmy Murphy, taking the lead at the penultimate fence before staying on after the elbow to record a four-length victory over Irish raider King John’s Castle.

Pipe said at the time: “I had slightly better ammunition than he (Martin Pipe) started off with. I can’t really describe the feeling of winning. It’s great for everyone, for the whole team. We couldn’t do any of it without them. I’ve had a great teacher in my father, David Johnson has been brilliant and Timmy gave him a fantastic ride - there’s no feeling like it.”



The current season began for Comply Or Die with another crack at the Servo Computers Services Trophy Handicap Chase at Cheltenham in November and he produced a lacklustre display without the blinkers and was pulled up.



Comply Or Die returned to the Cotswold course the following month for the Listed Boylepoker.com Handicap Chase but, racing again without headgear, he finished 11th behind Mon Mome.



Race Record: Starts: 22; Wins: 8; 2nd: 4; 3rd: 0; Win & Place Prize Money: £607,025



MADISON DU BERLAIS (FR) FACTFILE

8 b g Indian River (FR) - Anais Du Berlais (FR) (Dom Pasquini (FR))

Form: 22/F23/231252U311133/8641153173/4425F-61

Owner: Roger Stanley & Yvonne Reynolds II Breeder: Jean-Marc Lucas



Originally trained by Guillaume Macaire, at his stables at Les Mathes in the Charente-Maritimes region of France, Madison du Berlais was a model of consistency. In 11 outings for the Frenchman over hurdles and chases, he was placed nine times, though winning just the once, in a chase at Le Lion D'Angers in August, 2005.



The gelding was bought by Roger Stanley and Yvonne Reynolds for 24,000 euros in November, 2005. In an inauspicious UK debut at Haydock the following month, Andrew Glassonbury was unseated at the ninth when going well enough, but, the horse was back in the money again on his following start in January, 2006, finishing third in a two-mile chase at Warwick.



This was followed by three successive victories under Tony McCoy, in handicap chases at Market Rasen, Exeter and Newbury, which took the horse’s official rating up from 112 to 129. At the Cheltenham Festival, he showed the progression was continuing with a staying-on third to Greenhope in the Grade Three Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase. His season finished with another third the following month, this time in a handicap chase at the Scottish National Meeting at Ayr .

The 2006/2007 season started on a quiet note, with Madison Du Berlais finishing down the field in a valuable handicap chase at Ascot in October prior to a creditable sixth behind Exotic Dancer in the Grade Three Boylesports.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham in mid-December.

After a fourth in a handicap chase at Chepstow’s Welsh National meeting, Madison Du Berlais began 2007 with a brace of successes in similar contests at Warwick and Southwell in January.



A busy second half of the season culminated with a neck victory over Nozic in the Grade Three VC Casino.com Gold Handicap Chase at Newbury in March, prior to two creditable efforts in handicap chases at Cheltenham, coming seventh in the Grade Three Racing Post Plate at the Festival and finishing third in the Grade Two Silver Trophy Chase in April.

Madison Du Berlais began the 2007/08 season with a step up to over three miles for the first time, coming home fourth in the Grade Two bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby at the start of November before returning to his favourite course of Newbury the following month to finish fourth once more, 20 lengths behind subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Denman in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup



He ended 2007 with another fine effort when second to stablemate Vodka Bleu in the Listed BGC Silver Cup Handicap Chase at Ascot, and was far from disgraced with a fifth place in the Grade Two Letherby And Christopher Chase at Cheltenham at the end of January, 2008.

Having proved that he could stay at least three miles, Madison Du Berlais made his next appearance in the 2008 John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree, where he travelled well prior to parting company with Tom Scudamore at the Canal Turn on the first circuit.

The current campaign began with a staying-on sixth in a valuable handicap chase at Ascot on November 1, before Madison Du Berlais gained the biggest triumph of his career on his next start with a three-length victory over Air Force One in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury on November 29.



Race Record: Starts: 35; 1st: 8; 2nd: 7; 3rd: 7; Win & Place Prize Money: £267,378

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