Wednesday, February 18, 2004

CENTURY FOR THE MARTELL COGNAC GRAND NATIONAL

All of the main contenders are still engaged in the £600,000 chase, including those prominent in the ante-post market such as Hedgehunter, Rince Ri, Bear On Board, Joss Naylor, the 2002 Martell Cognac Grand National winner Bindaree and Clan Royal, already twice a winner over the Grand National fences in the Martell Cognac Topham Chase and the Tote Becher Chase last year.

Ginger McCain has Amberleigh House, third to Monty's Pass in last year's Martell Cognac Grand National, going forward, while Saturday's surprise Aon Chase winner Shooting Light is another left in.

This year's renewal of the world's most famous chase, run at Aintree for the 157th time on Saturday, April 3, promises to be the most competitive ever with 58 of the 100 in the handicap. The maximum field is 40.

The weights are still headed by the Francois Doumen-trained First Gold, successful in the Martell Cognac Cup Chase at Aintree last season.

First Gold is one of the four entries from France, all of whom have stood their ground, and he could be joined by stable companions Kelami and Innox, as well as the Jacques Ortet-trained Paladin.

Three out of the last five winners of the Martell Cognac Grand National have been trained in Ireland and there are still 23 Irish contenders remaining including last year's hero Monty's Pass, who had a pipe-opener over hurdles on February 14, the consistent Harbour Pilot, the Ted Walsh-trained duo of Rince Ri and Commanche Court, as well as the 2003 Irish Grand National victor Timbera who has been well-supported in the ante-post market.

Charles Barnett, Aintree's Managing Director, commented today: "I am very pleased that 100 horses have stood their ground for the Martell Cognac Grand National, including all the fancied contenders.

"There are no real surprise withdrawals at this stage - the quality and quantity remains."

GRAND NATIONAL RACING CLUB

The Grand National Racing Club, the ownership group set up by Aintree Racecourse, today revealed plans for its first two horses. Hermes III and Cimarrone Cove have been leased from Aintree's Chairman Lord Daresbury and will be trained by Mick Easterby and his son David.

Hermes III is due to run at Sandown on Thursday, February 19, with Cimarrone Cove set to appear at Warwick next week. Both horses are being aimed at the Martell Cognac Grand National meeting in early April (April 1 to 3). Hermes III is entered for the Martell Cognac Grand National itself, with Cimarrone Cove being aimed at the Martell Cognac Foxhunters' Chase on the first day of the meeting.

David Easterby revealed today that both horses are doing well and he is looking forward to running them shortly: "Hermes is in absolutely fantastic form at the moment and heads to Sandown Park on Thursday for a hunter chase - he's in such good order that hopefully he will win.

"He has been a delight to train so far and the long-term aim is hopefully for him to run in the Grand National.

"Cimarrone Cove is in good order and we will probably be going to Warwick next week with him for a hunter chase. I would say he'd be a good ground horse - he hits the ground quite hard so we don't want the ground too fast for him.

"Basically, we are going to play it by ear with him and try and run him in the best races we can find for him, with the Martell Cognac Foxhunters' Chase his ultimate target. Hermes III is obviously the better horse and Tom Greenall will be riding both of them.

"We are very much looking forward to meeting the members of the Grand National Racing Club when they come and visit the yard on March 9. It should be an entertaining day."

Mick Easterby came close to Grand National glory when Mr Snugfit was pipped on the post by 50/1 outsider Last Suspect in 1985, while David Easterby will train the horses from a separate yard while they compete in hunter chases.

The Grand National Racing Club has been formed as a platform for potential owners to get their first taste of racing at Aintree. Membership is £199 per person for the duration of 2004. Benefits of membership include; hospitality and badge offers, visits to the yards of trainers and social events, as well as a contribution of all prize money. Membership is still available. For further details, please contact the Grand National Racing Club's Racing Manager, Paul Clarkson, on 01995 605790 or by e-mailing aintree@rht.net


Dickon White, Marketing Manager of Aintree Racecourse, commented: "The Grand National Racing Club is an excellent opportunity for anyone who has a dream of having a runner at Aintree. The two horses that we have leased to date give us an excellent chance for success at the Grand National meeting."

THE MARTELL COGNAC GRAND NATIONAL

Class A, Showcase Handicap, Total Prize Fund £600,000, Aintree, Saturday, April 3, 2004. 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 21 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 21, 2004 (122 entries), entries revealed Thursday, January 22, 2004. Weights revealed Tuesday, February 3, 2004. First confirmation stage Tuesday, February 17, 2004 (100 remain); second confirmation stage Tuesday, March 23, 2004. Five-day confirmation stage Monday, March 29, 2004. Final declaration stage 10am, Thursday, April 1, 2004. Confirmation of riders must be made by 1.00pm Thursday, April 1, 2004. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Tuesday, February 17, 2004. May not include some overseas form.

3P1-153 FIRST GOLD (FR) 11-11-12 J P McManus Francois Doumen FR
11-23F223 RINCE RI (IRE) 11-11-10 Frank Moriarty Ted Walsh IRE
2/3333-0U HARBOUR PILOT (IRE) 9-11-10 Kays Syndicate Noel Meade IRE
F022-145 FONDMORT (FR) 8-11-10 Bill Brown Nicky Henderson
11F4-422 LE COUDRAY (FR) 10-11-09 J P McManus Christy Roche IRE
3163-560 COMMANCHE COURT (IRE) 11-11-08 Dermot Desmond Ted Walsh IRE
144-F3FP VALLEY HENRY (IRE) 9-11-08 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
3641-500 MONTY'S PASS (IRE) 11-11-07 Dee Racing Syndicate Jimmy Mangan IRE
14P52/F- WHAT'S UP BOYS (IRE) 10-11-06 Mrs J F Deithrick Philip Hobbs
16U3/-6604 ALEXANDER BANQUET (IRE) 11-11-05 Miriam O'Callaghan Willie Mullins IRE
P-11110 SWANSEA BAY 8-11-05 Peter Bowling Peter Bowen
24/13-36 KINGSMARK (IRE) 11-11-04 Sir Robert Ogden Martin Todhunter
PU3/-131 ARTIC JACK (FR) 8-11-04 Trevor Hemmings Sue Smith
24220044 ARCTIC COPPER (IRE) 10-11-03 Grand Alliance Racing Club Noel Meade IRE
UP4P-21 BALLYBOUGH RASHER (IRE) 9-11-03 Comtake-Welding Engineering Specialists Howard Johnson
111P/5P-1 SHOOTING LIGHT (IRE) 11-11-02 John Brown & Michael Blackburn Martin Pipe
3-161F2 RISK ACCESSOR (IRE) 9-11-01 J P McManus Christy Roche IRE
404-3562 DAVIDS LAD (IRE) 10-11-01 Eddie Joe's Racing Syndicate Tony Martin IRE
06-F216 BINDAREE (IRE) 10-11-01 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
1P12323 PALADIN (FR) 9-11-00 Naji Pharaon Jacques Ortet FR
1P-PPF06 MORE THAN A STROLL (IRE) 12-10-13 Mrs D Grehan Arthur Moore IRE
440-4F044 ROYAL AUCLAIR (FR) 7-10-12 Clive Smith Paul Nicholls
4-2555P ALCAPONE (IRE) 10-10-11 Ann Daly Mouse Morris IRE
P-1211415 PUNTAL (FR) 8-10-10 Terry Neill Martin Pipe
000-431 SOUTHERN STAR (IRE) 9-10-10 Trevor Hemmings Henrietta Knight
2443203 WAHIBA SANDS 11-10-09 David Johnson Martin Pipe
310-2431 HEDGEHUNTER (IRE) 8-10-09 Trevor Hemmings Willie Mullins IRE
2133F-1 SCOTS GREY 9-10-09 Henry Ponsonby Nicky Henderson
12-U11P0 SHARDAM (IRE) 7-10-08 Howard Parker Nigel Twiston-Davies
230-43560 TAKAGI (IRE) 9-10-08 Dermot Cox Edward O'Grady IRE
5/1P32-P55 MACS GILDORAN 10-10-08 Margaret McManus Willie Mullins IRE
5/1110-2 JOSS NAYLOR (IRE) 9-10-08 Darren Mercer Jonjo O'Neill
033-342P AMBERLEIGH HOUSE (IRE) 12-10-07 Halewood International Ltd Ginger McCain
0403-2622 EXIT SWINGER (FR) 9-10-07 Sandicroft Stud I Paul Nicholls
121B14F TAKE THE STAND (IRE) 8-10-06 The Courters Peter Bowen
12/F132-5 SHAMAWAN (IRE) 9-10-06 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
1P20U-3 YOU'RE AGOODUN 12-10-06 Jeff Lammiman Martin Pipe
P00U0-0P THE BUNNY BOILER (IRE) 10-10-05 The Usual Suspects Syndicate Noel Meade IRE
10/-22P210 TYNEANDTHYNEAGAIN 9-10-05 Norman Mason Richard Guest
P241-55 TIMBERA (IRE) 10-10-05 Mrs J M Breen Dessie Hughes IRE
0-113410 WHEREAREYOUNOW (IRE) 7-10-05 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
P/5022U- RED STRIKER 10-10-05 Norman Mason Richard Guest
014-P1P GUNNER WELBURN 12-10-05 William Ritson/David Hall Andrew Balding
15-3651 KELAMI (FR) 6-10-04 Haras d'Ecouves Francois Doumen FR
13-1452 JURANCON II (FR) 7-10-04 David Johnson Martin Pipe
06-0601P ROYAL ATALZA (FR) 7-10-03 Terry Ramsden Conrad Allen
/313//11/- THE BUSHKEEPER (IRE) 10-10-03 Brian Stewart-Brown Nicky Henderson
1113P-3 HERMES III (FR) 9-10-03 The Grand National Racing Club Mick Easterby
3122035 JUST IN DEBT (IRE) 8-10-02 J W Hazeldean Martin Todhunter
PUP-3533 EXIT TO WAVE (FR) 8-10-02 Malcolm Pearce & Gerry Mizel II Paul Nicholls
51411-1 CLAN ROYAL (FR) 9-10-02 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
3000-11P BE MY MANAGER (IRE) 9-10-02 Brian Murfin Martin Todhunter
6P02-FP AKARUS (FR) 9-10-01 A J White Martin Pipe
U0-U0422 SPOT THEDIFFERENCE (IRE) 11-10-01 J P McManus Enda Bolger IRE
1/0P6-3P BOUNCE BACK (USA) 8-10-01 Belinda Harvey Martin Pipe
P50-P03 INNOX (FR) 8-10-01 Marquesa de Moratalla Francois Doumen FR
41F/31-12 JOE BLAKE (IRE) 9-10-00 Ronnie Bartlett Len Lungo
120-4344 ARDENT SCOUT 12-10-00 Alicia Skene & W S Skene Sue Smith
10P-0P5 ROYAL PREDICA (FR) 10-9-12 Peter Deal, J S Dale & Alan Stennett Martin Pipe
22/24-322 WAIN MOUNTAIN 8-9-12 Bill Smith and Mick Dudley Jim Old
12-P111 BEAR ON BOARD (IRE) 9-9-12 J E Brown Alan King
221133///- TOTO TOSCATO (FR) 10-9-12 Lady Clarke Martin Pipe
33/P403/-1 SIMPLY GIFTED 9-9-12 Steve Hammond Jonjo O'Neill
11-1 LORD ATTERBURY (IRE) 8-9-12 David Johnson David Pipe
P25P-35P MONTIFAULT (FR) 9-9-12 Anne Fulton Paul Nicholls
312/2U6- MANTLES PRINCE 10-9-12 Emlyn Hughes' Cleobury Golfers Alan Juckes
U05-00P1 IZNOGOUD (FR) 8-9-12 County Stores-Avalon Surfacing Martin Pipe
04F-42P MAXIMIZE (IRE) 10-9-12 David Johnson Martin Pipe
6000-40R BLOWING WIND (FR) 11-9-12 Peter Deal Martin Pipe
11-30U0 SKYCAB (IRE) 12-9-11 P H Betts (Holdings) Ltd Nick Gifford
600032/- DARK STRANGER (FR) 13-9-11 Terry Neill Martin Pipe
11-2 ONLY ONCE 9-9-11 Ashleybank Investments Limited Len Lungo
253-3436 BALLYAMBER (IRE) 9-9-10 Sean Mulryan Willie Mullins IRE
35-1222 FASGO (IRE) 9-9-09 F A Smith Paul Nicholls
10/2F3-3 GOLA CHER (IRE) 10-9-09 Fred & Sue Welch Alan King
211-1PP10 BALLYBROPHY (IRE) 9-9-08 Keith Berry Simon Sherwood
12144-1 MR BOSSMAN (IRE) 11-9-08 T N Siviter Richard Guest
P1-113P WHAT ODDS (IRE) 8-9-08 Dee Racing Syndicate Tucker Geraghty IRE
43P2/-PP0 MAN ON THE HILL (IRE) 10-9-07 David Johnson Ferdy Murphy
4F-5FPP0 WONDER WEASEL (IRE) 11-9-07 Alan Halsall Kim Bailey
PF-P105P WINDROSS 12-9-07 Mrs Peter Prowting Alan King
1U0-243 MOOR LANE 12-9-07 Bob Michaelson Andrew Balding
21130-U2 LORD JACK (IRE) 8-9-07 Trevor Hemmings Nicky Richards
35PP/05- SMARTY (IRE) 11-9-07 Tracy Brown Mark Pitman
211D20 NATIVE PERFORMANCE (IRE) 9-9-06 Donal O'Connor Michael Hourigan IRE
3//113/1/- KING ON THE RUN (IRE) 11-9-06 Lady Harris Venetia Williams
4341-PP02 NATIVE SESSIONS (IRE) 9-9-06 R D Murphy Noel Meade IRE
P-F11112 MAGICAL BAILIWICK (IRE) 8-9-04 Islands Racing Connection Martin Pipe
1141-1F31 KINGS MISTRAL (IRE) 11-9-04 R V Shaw Patrick Chamings
1P2/P-U5 SILVER STREAK (IRE) 10-9-04 Mrs Timothy Pilkington Nick Gifford
600-P326 TOM COSTALOT (IRE) 9-9-03 Gerard Nock Susan Nock
6//F41-001 COQ HARDI DIAMOND (IRE) 10-9-03 Catherine Howard Noel Meade IRE
00/1-0F514 LUZCADOU (FR) 11-9-02 A G Chappell Ferdy Murphy
22564-12 DESAILLY 10-9-02 The Team Toby Balding
013-412 STAR CLIPPER 7-9-01 Des Sharkey Noel Meade IRE
U3-F64S6 MONTREAL (FR) 7-9-00 David Johnson Martin Pipe
0F-P6P325 BRAMBLEHILL DUKE (IRE) 12-8-12 Mel Davies Venetia Williams
22P-P2RP KILDORRAGH (IRE) 10-8-08 Carrie Zetter-Wells Lawrence Wells
342-421 SCOTMAIL BOY (IRE) 11-8-07 George Tobitt Howard Johnson
212320 NOSAM 14-8-06 Norman Mason Richard Guest

100 entries remain after February 17 forfeit stage
23 Irish-trained
4 French-trained

THE FOLLOWING HORSES WERE TAKEN OUT AT THE FEBRUARY 17 FORFEIT STAGE: IRIS ROYAL (FR), AD HOC (IRE), CHIVES (IRE), RULE SUPREME (IRE), MINI SENSATION (IRE), FADALKO (FR) , A PIECE OF CAKE (IRE), ASSESSED (IRE), GOOD SHUIL (IRE), WORLD WIDE WEB (IRE), CELIBATE (IRE), SILVER STEEL, GRANIT D'ESTRUVAL (FR), IMPERIAL DE THAIX (FR), INDIAN CHANCE, STORMYFAIRWEATHER (IRE), KILLULTAGH THUNDER (IRE), JANUS DU COCHET (FR) BROWNIE RETURNS (IRE), GLADTOKNOWYOU (IRE), SECRET NATIVE (IRE), VANILLA MAN (IRE)

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