Thursday, February 2, 2006

IRISH TARGET THE JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL WITH RECORD ENTRY

The number of entries for the John Smith’s Grand National, worth £700,000 in 2006, since 1985 have been: 2006-148; 2005-152; 2004-122; 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 and 1985-100.

The Irish-trained Hedgehunter won the 2005 John Smith’s Grand National and is among the entries once again this year, along with Royal Auclair (2nd in 2005), It Takes Time (4th), Forest Gunner (5th), Nil Desperandum (6th), Innox (7th), Heros Collonges (8th), Just In Debt (9th) and Amberleigh House (10th), meaning that nine of the first 10 horses home last year are engaged again.

The Irish have landed three of the last six renewals of the John Smith’s Grand National, run over 30 fences and four and a half miles, and look to have another formidable challenge in 2006, with a record 38-strong entry.

In addition to Hedgehunter, trainer Willie Mullins has also entered two others, Euro Leader who won the 2005 Kerry National, and Livingstonebramble.

Grand National winning trainer Ted Walsh, who was successful with Papillon in 2000, has two entries in last season’s Betfred Gold Cup winner Jack High and Rince Ri, while other Irish possible contenders are the Michael Hourigan-trained Hi Cloy, this season’s Robin Cook Memorial Gold Cup victor Sir Oj, the 2005 Irish Grand National victor Numbersixvalverde, recent Thyestes Chase scorer Dun Doire and Garvivonnian, who proved that the Aintree fences posed no problem for him when taking the totesport Becher Chase in November.

Owner J P McManus has yet to see his famous silks carried to victory in the John Smith’s Grand National but he is keen to do so with 13 to choose from this time around. Prominent among the McManus contingent are Clan Royal, second in 2004 and leading when carried out by a loose horse at Becher’s Brook second time around last year, and two French-trained hopefuls Innox and First Gold who has had success at Aintree, having won the Martell Cup (now the Betfair Bowl) in both 2001 and 2003.

Last year’s winning owner Trevor Hemmings has five entered in 2006, while other leading owners David Johnson and Sir Robert Ogden have 10 and three entries respectively.

Cowboyboots, third in a Taunton handicap chase last month, is owned by former England cricket captain David Gower and trained by Lawrence Wells in Sussex, while Lord Daresbury, Chairman of Aintree Racecourse and formerly a top amateur rider, has Hermes III, trained by Mick Easterby in Yorkshire, in the great race.

In terms of trainers, Martin Pipe is the most dominant force with 22 entries. Pipe, triumphant with Miinnehoma in 1994, could be represented by the likes of last year’s fourth It Takes Time, the very promising Joaaci, recent Rowland Meyrick Chase winner Therealbandit, 2004 Betfred Gold Cup winner Puntal, the 2004 Grand National third Lord Atterbury and Seebald, owned by footballers Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman.

Pipe’s rival for this season’s trainers’ championship is Paul Nicholls, who has a 10-strong entry. In addition to last year’s runner-up Royal Auclair, Nicholls’s team includes Silver Birch, the 2004 totesport Becher Chase and Welsh National winner, last season’s Scottish Grand National runner-up Cornish Rebel, recent impressive Warwick scorer Eurotrek and this season’s Welsh National heroine L’Aventure.

Jonjo O’Neill, J P McManus’ principal British-based trainer, has seven engaged, headed by Clan Royal.

Philip Hobbs, the Somerset-based trainer, and Ferdy Murphy, who trains in Middleham, North Yorkshire, both have six horses entered in the 2006 John Smith’s Grand National.

Hobbs has the current highest BHB-rated entry in Monkerhostin, runner-up to Kicking King in the King George VI Chase at Sandown Park on Boxing Day, plus One Knight, Lacdoudal, Double Honour, Made In Japan and Tamango.

Murphy is responsible for 2005 Scottish National winner Joes Edge, Europa, Haut De Gamme, Ivoire De Beaulieu, Tribal Venture and Supreme Developer.

Nigel Twiston-Davies has an excellent record in the Grand National, having sent out Earth Summit (1998) and Bindaree (2002) to success in recent years. This year the Gloucestershire handler has entered five, headed by the high-class Ollie Magern.

Nicky Henderson is another trainer with five entries - Fondmort, Calling Brave, Juveigneur, Iris Royal and Liberthine.

This year’s John Smith’s Grand National is likely to be the last as a trainer for Ginger McCain. McCain, forever associated with the great Red Rum, the only horse to win three Grand Nationals (1973, 1974 & 1977) has two horses for 2006. The duo are the 2004 Grand National winner Amberleigh House, now 14 and set to start in his sixth National, and Ebony Light, who showed himself to be a live contender when defeating Kingscliff in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock last month.

Weights for the 2006 John Smith’s Grand National, worth £700,000, will be revealed at a media lunch in London on Tuesday, February 14.

Charles Barnett, Managing Director at Aintree Racecourse, commented: “Last year’s race provided an outstanding spectacle for John Smith’s in their inaugural year of sponsorship and had the added bonus of all horses running from within the handicap for the first time.

“This is yet another fantastic entry. Class is again in abundance and once again we have tremendous support from the Irish who have such a fantastic record in recent years.”

THE JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL

Form Horse Age Owner Trainer
32/14-01 A GLASS IN THYNE (IRE) 8 J B Dale Ben Pollock
112033 A NEW STORY (IRE) 8 Storey's Over Syndicate Michael Hourigan IRE
330346 ALCAPONE (IRE) 12 Anne Daly Mouse Morris IRE
400-P50 AMBERLEIGH HOUSE (IRE) 14 Halewood International Ltd Ginger McCain
F413-00 ANOTHER RUM (IRE) 8 Ronald Lilley Ian Duncan IRE
P0P-426 ARTIC JACK (FR) 10 Trevor Hemmings Sue Smith
P00P-FP ASTONVILLE (FR) 12 Fergus Wilson Phillippe Cottin FR
11FP-24 BACKBEAT (IRE) 9 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
113050 BALLYCASSIDY (IRE) 10 R Owen & P Fullagar Peter Bowen
16216-P BARON WINDRUSH 8 The Double Octagon Partnership Nigel Twiston-Davies
0-3FB12 BE MY BETTER HALF (IRE) 11 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
520/-1P4 BERTIEBANOO (IRE) 8 P A Newey Martin Pipe
34113///-4 BIG-AND-BOLD (IRE) 10 The Border Reivers Nicky Richards
2/P0020- BONEYARROW (IRE) 10 Joseph Comerford Eoin Griffin IRE
U050-P0 BOUNCE BACK (USA) 10 Belinda Harvey Martin Pipe
142P22 BRAVE SPIRIT (FR) 8 The Con Club Colin Tizzard
00-0465 BRIGADIER BROWN (IRE) 9 Eamonn Duignan John Murphy IRE
111U/2P- CALLING BRAVE (IRE) 10 Sir Robert Ogden Nicky Henderson
330510 CASSIA HEIGHTS 11 B Ridge & D Hewitt Steve Brookshaw
3P-1244 CELTIC SON (FR) 7 David Johnson Martin Pipe
0P40-P0 CHIVES (IRE) 11 Trevor Hemmings Sue Smith
12/4C-53 CLAN ROYAL (FR) 11 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
21222 COLJON (IRE) 8 Kay Browne Paul Nolan IRE
235P-25 COLNEL RAYBURN (IRE) 10 Thatch (Ferns) Racing Syndicate Paul Nolan IRE
F2P6-4P COMPLY OR DIE (IRE) 7 David Johnson Martin Pipe
PP-30U3 CONTROL MAN (IRE) 8 David Johnson Martin Pipe
1332-33 CORNISH REBEL (IRE) 9 Graham Roach Paul Nicholls
1PF-043 COWBOYBOOTS (IRE) 8 David Gower Lawrence Wells
411P4P DANGEROUSDANMAGRU (IRE) 10 N F Glynn Alan Jones
U-1411F DEAD-EYED DICK (IRE) 10 Jane Williams Nick Williams
32P/22U- DESAILLY 12 The Team Jonathan Geake
P4/14-F1 DIRECT ACCESS (IRE) 11 The Direct Access Partnership Nicky Richards
264F10 DOUBLE HONOUR (FR) 8 The 4th Middleham Partnership Philip Hobbs
31/223/- DROMBEAG (IRE) 8 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
511111 DUN DOIRE (IRE) 7 Dunderry Racing Syndicate Tony Martin IRE
221F12 DUNBRODY MILLAR (IRE) 8 Dundon Else Partnership Peter Bowen
1401F1 EBONY LIGHT (IRE) 10 Roger Bellamy Ginger McCain
4111F3 EURO LEADER (IRE) 8 John Cox Willie Mullins IRE
0-0P252 EUROPA 10 Trevor Hemmings Ferdy Murphy
2///1P-411 EUROTREK (IRE) 10 Paul Green Paul Nicholls
U624P5 FIORI 10 Wilson Imports I Patrick Haslam
2P2-5PU FIRST GOLD (FR) 13 J P McManus Francois Doumen FR
010/22F- FOLY PLEASANT (FR) 12 Nick Shutts Karen Waldron
02P-4B1 FONDMORT (FR) 10 Bill Brown Nicky Henderson
115-UPP FOREST GUNNER 12 John Gilsenan Richard Ford
R1P-630 GARDE D'ESTRUVAL (FR) 12 Judith Wilson Martin Pipe
006513 GARVIVONNIAN (IRE) 11 Mrs A Long Ned Mitchell IRE
10P034 GOOD STEP (IRE) 8 J P McManus Enda Bolger IRE
113U-21 GRAPHIC APPROACH (IRE) 8 Mr & Mrs Peter Orton Charles Egerton
F1-4044 GROUND BALL (IRE) 9 J P McManus Charlie Swan IRE
111122 HAKIM (NZ) 12 T N Siviter John Spearing
0/5/4-23F HALEXY (FR) 11 Sir Robert Ogden Jonjo O'Neill
0U3/24P- HARBOUR PILOT (IRE) 11 Kays Syndicate Noel Meade IRE
2-25361 HAUT DE GAMME (FR) 11 The Haut De Gamme Partnership Ferdy Murphy
0611-04 HEDGEHUNTER (IRE) 10 Trevor Hemmings Willie Mullins IRE
3P/32B1/- HERMES III (FR) 11 Lord Daresbury Mick Easterby
51P0-62 HEROS COLLONGES (FR) 11 John Hales Paul Nicholls
3-23114 HI CLOY (IRE) 9 Susan McCloy Michael Hourigan IRE
230504 HIGH MOON (USA) 10 Fergus Wilson Richard Chotard FR
6-2400P HOWAYA PET (IRE) 10 Beautiful Syndicate Gerard Keane IRE
10-5615 INCA TRAIL (IRE) 10 Susie Chown & Kathy Stuart Paul Nicholls
0210-01 INNOX (FR) 10 J P McManus Francois Doumen FR
2000-1P IRIS BLEU (FR) 10 David Johnson Martin Pipe
11P2/-60 IRIS ROYAL (FR) 10 Sir Robert Ogden Nicky Henderson
1042-40 IT TAKES TIME (IRE) 12 David Johnson Martin Pipe
16-F111 IVOIRE DE BEAULIEU (FR) 10 I Todd & F Murphy Ferdy Murphy
F6/0200- IZNOGOUD (FR) 10 The County Stores and Avalon Surfacing Martin Pipe
1-30453 JACK HIGH (IRE) 11 Brenda Ross Ted Walsh IRE
112F-1B JOAACI (IRE) 6 David Johnson Martin Pipe
12P4/14- JOE BLAKE (IRE) 11 Ronnie Bartlett Ian Ferguson IRE
1-2U044 JOES EDGE (IRE) 9 Chemipetro Limited Ferdy Murphy
4110-0P JOHN JAMES (IRE) 10 Mrs M Cogan Homer Scott IRE
1P00-5P JOLY BEY (FR) 9 David Dunsdon Nick Gifford
P0-0P36 JUST IN DEBT (IRE) 10 J W Hazeldean Martin Todhunter
22102-F JUVEIGNEUR (FR) 9 Trevor Hemmings Nicky Henderson
15130-P KEEPATEM (IRE) 10 J P McManus Mouse Morris IRE
40224-F KING ON THE RUN (IRE) 13 Lady Harris Venetia Williams
334/3PP- KNIFE EDGE (USA) 11 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
56-4631 KORELO (FR) 8 David Johnson Martin Pipe
256-21P KYMANDJEN (IRE) 9 Martin Doran Paul Nolan IRE
440-641 L'AVENTURE (FR) 7 Chris Harriman Paul Nicholls
4-16134 LACDOUDAL (FR) 7 Carol Skan Philip Hobbs
330-02U LE DUC (FR) 7 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
225-500 LE ROI MIGUEL (FR) 8 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
410-0U5 LIBERTHINE (FR) 7 Robert Waley-Cohen Nicky Henderson
2-0F536 LIKE A BEE (IRE) 8 J P McManus Christy Roche IRE
5F2-120 LIVINGSTONEBRAMBLE (IRE) 10 Favourites Racing Willie Mullins IRE
1P3/44F- LORD ATTERBURY (IRE) 10 David Johnson Martin Pipe
11/-0P10 LORD MAIZEY (IRE) 9 Mr & Mrs Peter Orton Nigel Twiston-Davies
111-P02 LORD OF ILLUSION (IRE) 9 P J Kennedy Tom George
64-2234 LOU DU MOULIN MAS (FR) 7 The Eight Amigos Racing Syndicate Paul Nicholls
46-3253 MADE IN JAPAN (JPN) 6 Terry Evans Philip Hobbs
03U-00P MARCUS DU BERLAIS (FR) 9 Marcus Beresford Arthur Moore IRE
266-126 MIOCHE D'ESTRUVAL (FR) 6 Joe Moran Martin Pipe
3-12242 MONKERHOSTIN (FR) 9 Martin St Quinton Philip Hobbs
3/P-5050 MONTAYRAL (FR) 9 T Mannion Pat Hughes IRE
13-1123 MONTEREY BAY (IRE) 10 John Power Frances Crowley IRE
232-311 MRS BE (IRE) 10 J H Burbidge Grant Cann
1-34025 NATIVE UPMANSHIP (IRE) 13 Sue Magnier Arthur Moore IRE
103-534 NED KELLY (IRE) 10 Sue Magnier Edward O'Grady IRE
416-00P NIL DESPERANDUM (IRE) 9 Mike Shone Frances Crowley IRE
3P/6-113 NO RETREAT (NZ) 13 M W & A N Harris John Groucott
6P102P NOWATOR (POL) 9 Naughty Diesel Ltd Robert Gray
1-504B4 NUMBERSIXVALVERDE (IRE) 10 O B P Carroll Martin Brassil IRE
464/U06//- OA BALDIXE (FR) 12 Kahlil Burke Kahlil Burke
U12-106 OLLIE MAGERN 8 Roger Nicholls Nigel Twiston-Davies
111/F/1-F ONE KNIGHT (IRE) 10 R Gibbs Philip Hobbs
6-34420 PAPILLON DE IENA (FR) 6 Dakit Partnership Martin Pipe
2214/-33 PATRICKSNINETEENTH (IRE) 9 The Large G & T Partnership Paul Webber
110-0BP PHILSON RUN (IRE) 10 Gale Force One Nick Williams
50-6000 POINT BARROW (IRE) 8 Mrs P Clune Hughes Pat Hughes IRE
0006-P0 POLAR RED 9 Lady Clarke Martin Pipe
56PF-P0 PRESENT BLEU (FR) 11 Judith Wilson Martin Pipe
5UU1/60- PUNTAL (FR) 10 Terry Neill Martin Pipe
1/4P- RAND (NZ) 12 E J Cleary Noel Meade IRE
104-13P RED GEORGIE (IRE) 8 M P Wareing Nigel Twiston-Davies
022U//P0- RED STRIKER 12 Howard Thompson Tina Jackson
65-0450 RINCE RI (IRE) 13 Frank Moriarty Ted Walsh IRE
U-2P62S RISK ACCESSOR (IRE) 11 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
21411U ROSS COMM 10 Kevin Treanor Sue Smith
F-P2032 ROSS RIVER 10 Seamus Ross Tony Martin IRE
42F-515 ROYAL AUCLAIR (FR) 9 Clive Smith Paul Nicholls
0UP22-P ROYAL EMPEROR (IRE) 10 Widdop Wanderers Sue Smith
P4-U0P0 SEEBALD (GER) 11 The Macca & Growler Partnership Martin Pipe
42U0/-PP SHARDAM (IRE) 9 Howard Parker Nigel Twiston-Davies
1P5//0PP- SHOTGUN WILLY (IRE) 12 Paul Beck Richard Guest
4P/111-4 SILVER BIRCH (IRE) 9 Paul Barber & Des Nichols Paul Nicholls
504-651 SIR OJ (IRE) 9 Brian Keenan Noel Meade IRE
3P-PPF2 SIR REMBRANDT (IRE) 10 Alan Hordle Robert Alner
10-0100 SPOT THEDIFFERENCE (IRE) 13 J P McManus Enda Bolger IRE
20-P2F0 STRONG RESOLVE (IRE) 10 Fair City Flyers Lucinda Russell
220-46P SUPREME DEVELOPER (IRE) 9 Mrs A N Durkan Ferdy Murphy
B11513 TAMANGO (FR) 9 The Brushmakers Phlip Hobbs
0/41200- THE LAST CAST 7 D P Barrie Paul Webber
330-001 THEREALBANDIT (IRE) 9 David Johnson Martin Pipe
52461-2 TIKRAM 9 Mike Charlton & Rodger Sargent Gary Moore
312004 TOTHEROADYOUVGONE 12 N F Glynn Alan Jones
4-0PP2R TRIBAL VENTURE (FR) 8 Hill, Trembath, Bryan and Outhart Ferdy Murphy
20P0-PP TURNIUM (FR) 11 Fergus Wilson Phillippe Cottin FR
101PP/-6 TYNEANDTHYNEAGAIN 11 Howard Johnson Howard Johnson
P0-6251 WAIN MOUNTAIN 10 W J Smith and M D Dudley Jim Old
421111 WHAT A NATIVE (IRE) 10 M McKeon Charle Swan IRE
10-3000 WHAT ODDS (IRE) 10 Dee Racing Syndicate Tucker Geraghty IRE
311214 WHISPERED SECRET (GER) 7 David Manasseh and Dan Levine Martin Pipe
11F-3F1 WINDSOR BOY (IRE) 9 Byrne Bros (Formwork) Limited Martin Pipe
P/0U-05P WORLD WIDE WEB (IRE) 10 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
12-P32P WRAGS TO RICHES (IRE) 9 No Illusions Partnership Jimmy Frost
1220-PP ZETA'S RIVER (IRE) 8 David Johnson Martin Pipe

148 entries
38 Irish-trained
5 French-trained

Breakdown of Entries by Trainer with past successes in the John Smith’s Grand National

A Selection of Owners with Entries in the John Smith’s Grand National

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

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