Thursday, December 2, 2010
BOB CHAMPION ANNOUNCES THE AINTREE LEGENDS CHARITY RACE, SUPPORTED BY JOHN SMITH’S, TO BE RUN ON JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL DAY 2011
In 1981, in the year that Charles married Diana, Shergar won the Derby and Bucks Fizz won the Eurovision Song Contest, Bob Champion (recovering from testicular cancer) and Aldaniti (recovering from a serious leg injury) created a real life fairy story by winning the Grand National.
30 years later – and a few weeks before William marries Kate – Bob Champion will ride on that hallowed Aintree turf once again, on John Smith’s Grand National Day 2011, in a special Bob Champion Aintree Legends Charity race, supported by John Smith’s.
The race will be run on the flat as the first race on the John Smith’s Grand National card on Saturday, April 9.
Bob will be joined by a number of retired Grand National winning jockeys as well as some other legends of the weighing room. The line-up already includes the likes of Graham Thorner (1972, Well To Do), Ben De Haan (1983, Corbiere), Hywel Davies (1985, Last Suspect, Brendan Powell (1988, Rhyme ‘N’ Reason), Jimmy Frost (1989, Little Polveir), Marcus Armytage (1990, Mr Frisk), Carl Llewellyn (1992, Party Politics & 1998, Earth Summit), Tony Dobbin (1997, Lord Gyllene), Jim Cullotty (2002, Bindaree) and Peter Scudamore (eight-time champion jockey although he never won the National) and Charlie Swan (10-time Irish champion jockey).
The race will be run in aid of the Bob Champion Cancer Trust, which was founded in 1983 and which has so far raised £12 million – that’s approximately £400,000 for every fence of the National that Bob and Aldaniti jumped!
Bob Champion said: “The 1981 Grand National was a remarkable day, not just for me, but all of those around the world who gained hope from my victory in their personal battles against cancer. 30 years on and with the money this race raises, I want to continue to reduce the odds against cancer. I would also like to publicly thank Aintree and John Smith’s in advance as without their enthusiasm and support, this exciting race would not be possible.”
John Smith’s and Aintree launched the John Smith’s Grand National Legends in 2010, an initiative that celebrates the greats of Grand National history. Eight Racing greats were inducted last year after a public vote and the 2011 shortlist will be announced in the New Year.
Mark Given, Brands Director at Heineken UK, brand owner of John Smith's, added: “We are very pleased to support the Bob Champion Cancer Trust and I'm sure the Aintree Legends Race will make an excellent contribution to the John Smith's Grand National day card. The race has already attracted a fascinating line-up of jockeys and the spirit of the event ties in well with the John Smith's Grand National Legends campaign launched last year. ”
DICKIN GETTING RESTLESS OVER HARRY’S RETURN TO CHELTENHAM
Meeting: The International
Dates: Friday & Saturday - December 10 & 11
Gates Open: 10.00am both days
First Race: 12.10pm both days
Admission prices from £9. Go to www.cheltenham.co.uk for further information
Trainer Robin Dickin is keeping his fingers crossed that the current cold snap gripping the country subsides ahead of next weekend so that his stable star Restless Harry can take his chance in the £35,000 Grade Two Unicoin Homes Relkeel Hurdle (3.40pm) on the second day of The International at Cheltenham on Saturday, December 11.
The six-year-old recorded a pair of impressive victories at the home of Jump racing last season, including when posting an eight-length success in the Grade Two Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle, run over the same extended two and a half miles as the Unicoin Homes Relkeel Hurdle, on Festival Trials Day, January 30.
On his latest start, Restless Harry stayed on well in the closing stages to come home third behind Silviniaco Conti and Karabak in the Grade Two Coral Hurdle over just shy of two and a half miles at Ascot on November 20.
Dickin reported: “Restless Harry is on course for the Unicoin Homes Relkeel Hurdle. We were very, very pleased with his run at Ascot and he is really well at the moment. We have a huge rubber outdoor school, which has frost covers, so the weather hasn’t stopped us at all.
“We gave him an entry in the Long Walk at Ascot (December 18) just to keep our options open with regard to the weather. We will be stepping him up to three miles at some point this season, although it may not be until The Festival. I am not deliberately avoiding running him over that trip, but I don’t think that it is necessary to keep running him over that far.
“I am hoping that the snow turns to rain and then it keeps raining because it’s a case of the wetter the better for him. It’s not really a question of him running better on softer ground - he goes the same as he does on faster going - but other horses don’t seem to operate as well on very testing conditions.
“The Ladbrokes World Hurdle is highly likely to be his main aim this season and I wouldn’t be scared of coming up against Big Buck’s. There’s a very good saying - never don’t run because of one - and he ran such a big race against stiff opposition at Ascot that I feel fairly relaxed about taking on the best staying hurdlers this season.”
The second day of The International features the £150,000 Grade Two StanJames.com International (3.05pm) over two miles and a furlong, which is set to be contested by some of the leading contenders for the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on the opening day of The Festival, Tuesday, March 15.
The Philip Hobbs-trained Menorah has been victorious on both his visits to Cheltenham, taking the Grade One Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at The Festival in March and the £100,000 Grade Three Greatwood Handicap Hurdle under top-weight at The Open on November 14.
Paul Nicholls is aiming Silviniaco Conti at the StanJames.com International following the unbeaten four-year-old’s emphatic victory at Ascot, while Colin Tizzard is contemplating letting last season’s Weatherbys Champion Bumper winner, the exciting Cue Card who is unbeaten in four starts, take his chance after the four-year-old sauntered to a facile victory in the Grade Two Cheltenham Collection Sharp Novices' Hurdle at The Open.
The second day of The International also features the £150,000 Grade Three December Gold Cup (2.30pm) and the 30 remaining entries for the two mile, five furlong handicap chase include Little Josh, who posted a pillar to post victory for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies and his jockey son Sam in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at The Open.
Other notable contenders include the Nicky Henderson-trained Dave’s Dream, who also triumphed at The Open when readily taking the paddypower.com Handicap Chase, the Paddy Power Gold Cup runner-up Dancing Tornado, from the stable of Michael Hourigan in Ireland, and Great Endeavour, who won the Byrne Group Plate at The Festival for trainer David Pipe.
The remaining races on Saturday’s card include the three-mile £25,000 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (1.55pm).
The first day of The International, Friday, December 10, is headed by the Listed £40,000 www.maxwell-drummond.com Handicap Chase (1.50pm), which was won in 2008 by subsequent Grand National victor Mon Mome, and the £22,500 Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase (1.15pm) over Cheltenham’s unique cross country course.
FESTIVAL ADVANCE BOOKING DISCOUNTS END NEXT MONDAY, DECEMBER 6
Cheltenham Racecourse would like to remind customers that the best deals for tickets to The Festival 2011 are only available until the close of business next Monday, December 6.
The Festival 2011 takes place from Tuesday, March 15 through to Friday, March 18, inclusive.
Advance booking prices are as follows:
CLUB ENCLOSURE
Tuesday, March 15
Until December 6 - £60
After December 7 - £65
On The Day - £70
Wednesday, March 16
Until December 6 - £60
After December 7 - £65
On The Day - £70
Thursday, March 17
Until December 6 - £60
After December 7 - £65
On The Day - £70
Friday, March 18
Until December 6 - £75
After December 7 - £75
On The Day - £80
TATTERSALLS ENCLOSURE
Tuesday, March 15
Until December 6 - £32
After December 7 - £37
On The Day - £45
Wednesday, March 16
Until December 6 - £32
After December 7 - £37
On The Day - £45
Thursday, March 17
Until December 6 - £32
After December 7 - £37
On The Day - £45
Friday, March 18
Until December 6 - £45
After December 7 - £50
On The Day - £55
BEST MATE ENCLOSURE
Tuesday, March 15
Until December 6 - £20
After December 7 - £22
On The Day - £25
Wednesday, March 16
Until December 6 - £20
After December 7 - £22
On The Day - £25
Thursday, March 17
Until December 6 - £20
After December 7 - £22
On The Day - £25
Friday, March 18
Until December 6 - £35
After December 7 - £35
On The Day - £40
All tickets subject to availability
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
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