Friday, March 26, 2004

TEN MARTELL COGNAC GRAND NATIONAL FACTFILES

Nigel Twiston-Davies
The Gloucestershire handler combined training as a permit-holder with his farming interests quite successfully throughout the 1980s, having his first winner with Frozen Prince at Hereford in March, 1982, before the agricultural recession prompted him to make training his full-time profession. He took out a full training licence in 1989, recording his first win as a public trainer in December of that year with Babil at Newbury. Born on May 16, 1957, as an amateur jockey Twiston-Davies rode 17 winners under Rules and gained a further 17 point-to-point victories, and served as assistant trainer to Richard Head and Fred Rimell. A childhood neighbour and friend of Peter Scudamore, he went into partnership with the former champion jump jockey to set up stables at Grange Hill Farm, Naunton, Gloucestershire, although Scudamore is no longer involved in the venture, having teamed up with Denis Caro in 2002 and then his father Michael. Twiston-Davies has adopted and developed the pioneering techniques of Martin Pipe, such as interval training and regular blood tests for his 64-strong string, enabling him to rapidly raise his profile among the training ranks. An essentially shy man, he momentarily shocked Des Lynam after Earth Summit's Martell Cognac Grand National success in 1998 by telling the BBC presenter in front of millions of viewers "I don't do interviews." Twiston-Davies, who has gained six successes at the Cheltenham Festival, has many Aintree victories to his name including the 2000 Martell Cognac Aintree Hurdle with Mister Morose. He won the 2000 Attheraces Gold Cup with Beau, and the following season's Hennessy Gold Cup with King's Road. The 2001/2002 campaign had been relatively quiet by Twiston-Davies' high standards before Bindaree provided him with his second Martell Cognac Grand National success. Afterwards he revealed that he had been intending to give up training, but despite "having a bigger debt than Argentina" after buying out Scudamore, the Aintree victory made him have a change of heart. The Twiston-Davies stable has been in great form this season with victories including a Cheltenham Festival success for Fundamentalist in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle.
Grand National record: 1994 Young Hustler (BD 11th); 1995 Camelot Knight (Fell 21st), Dakyns Boy (UR 10th), Young Hustler (UR 3rd); 1996 Young Hustler (5th), Captain Dibble (11th); 1997 Camelot Knight (3rd), Dakyns Boy (8th), Grange Brake (Refused 27th); 1998 EARTH SUMMIT (WON); 1999 Earth Summit (8th), Camelot Knight (BD 22nd); 2000 Camelot Knight (15th); 2001 Beau (UR 20th), Spanish Main (Fell 1st); 2002 BINDAREE (WON), Frantic Tan (UR 5th), Beau (UR 14th); 2003 Bindaree (6th).

Carl Llewellyn
Born on July 29, 1965, in Pembrokeshire in Wales, Llewellyn began as an amateur with Stan Mellor and Jim Old. Rode his first winner on Starjestic at Wolverhampton on March 14, 1986. He now lives in Wantage, Oxfordshire, and is stable jockey to Nigel Twiston-Davies. Enjoyed his first big-race victory when landing the Mildmay Of Flete Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at the 1988 Cheltenham Festival on Smart Tar, but 1992 was his year of greatest achievement when he partnered Tipping Tim to win the William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase before going on to triumph in the Martell Cognac Grand National on Party Politics. Later that year, he gained another high-profile victory on board Tipping Tim when taking the Paddy Power Gold Cup. Llewellyn has been dogged by injury throughout his riding career, and even returned from a jockeys' challenge match in Russia with bruised ribs, lungs and kidneys, and a stiff neck. An injury to Tom Jenks meant he picked up the spare, winning, ride on Earth Summit in the 1998 Martell Cognac Grand National. Before last year's sixth on Bindaree, the previous two Nationals had not been so successful for Llewellyn, when he had been unseated when travelling well on Beau both times. Llewellyn, who turned down the chance to ride winner Bindaree in 2002, is the most successful current jockey in the Grand National.
Grand National record: 1988 Kumbi (Fell 22nd); 1989 Smart Tar (UR 20th); 1992 Party Politics (WON); 1995 Young Hustler (UR 3rd); 1996 Party Politics (Fell 3rd), 1997 Camelot Knight (3rd); 1998 EARTH SUMMIT (WON); 1999 Earth Summit (8th); 2000 Senor El Betrutti (Fell 1st); 2001 Beau (UR 20th); 2002 Beau (UR 14th); 2003 Bindaree (6th).

BLOWING WIND (FR) FACTFILE
br g Fabulous Dancer (USA) - Bassita (Bustino)
11-9-12
Form: 72483111/4F2B0/4112176/373113/P513/36090-40R
Trainer: Martin Pipe
Owner: Peter Deal
Breeder: Mme Yolande Seydoux de Clausonne

Blowing Wind
French import Blowing Wind made his British debut on December 20, 1997, finishing fourth in the John Bowler Knights Royal Hurdle at Ascot. After a couple of further runs that season, he comfortably won the Sunderlands Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle at Sandown on March 14, 1998, and five days later landed a big gamble in the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and in doing so secured a £50,000 bonus for completing the double. His season finished in fine style on April 18 when he landed the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr. He failed to get his head in front during the 1998/99 campaign and was brought down at the fifth in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle. He went chasing in the 1999/90 season and won three novice events over fences before finishing seventh, 17 lengths behind the Nicky Henderson-trained Marlborough, in the William Hill National Hunt Handicap at the Cheltenham Festival. On his last start of that campaign, Blowing Wind was sixth to Red Ark in the Martell Cognac Novices' Handicap Chase at Aintree. The following season he finished third to Upgrade in the First National Gold Cup at Ascot and won handicap chases at Doncaster in January and Sandown the following month. He then ran in the 2001 Martell Cognac Grand National, in which he was travelling well when hampered and refused at the 19th and Tony McCoy remounted to finish third of the four finishers. He reappeared the following season in January, when pulled up in a Kempton handicap chase and then came fifth of six behind Tiutchev over two miles at Sandown the following month before belying his 25/1 odds to defeat stable companion Lady Cricket by a length and a quarter in the Mildmay Of Flete Handicap Chase over two and a half miles at the 2002 Cheltenham Festival. On his final start of the campaign he again ran a bold race in the Martell Cognac Grand National, filling the same position as the previous year, just over 28 lengths third behind Bindaree. Last season Blowing Wind made his debut at Aintree in November, running third behind Ardent Scout in the Tote Becher Chase. His next three runs all came in handicap chases at Cheltenham. He didn't set the world on fire on any of these outings, being beaten by at least 30 lengths on each occasion. He then made his third appearance in the Martell Cognac Grand National, finishing a creditable eighth behind Monty's Pass. This season the handicapper has allowed him some respite but he has still been beaten at least 10 lengths in the two handicap chases that he has finished in. He then took part in the Agfa Diamond Handicap Chase at Sandown on February 7, when he had no chance when refusing and unseating champion jockey Tony McCoy two fences from home. Blowing Wind's passage to Aintree can be followed on a webcam at www.martinpipe.co.uk
Race Record: Starts: 38; 1st: 9; 2nd: 3 ; 3rd: 6; Win & pace prize money: £286,832

Peter Deal
A qualified chartered accountant, Peter Deal has over 30 years of experience in business in the manufacturing, distribution and leisure industries. In November, 1999, he was appointed a non-executive director of United Racecourses, the then parent company of Sandown, Epsom and Kempton, and became chairman of the Sandown Park Race Committee. A chance meeting with former jockey and BBC television presenter Richard Pitman in 1975 led to Deal owning numerous horses over the next quarter of a century, as well as building extensive breeding interests, and being a keen rider with the Old Berks Hunt. Make A Stand has been his best horse, winning the 1997 Smurfit Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, having taken the Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury on his previous outing. Blowing Wind landed the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle in 1998 to give Deal a second Cheltenham Festival success, which he particularly enjoyed as he received a great acclamation from the crowd for winning the 'getting out stakes'. In 2002 Blowing Wind gave Deal a third success at the Cheltenham Festival with a 25/1 shock victory in the Mildmay Of Flete Handicap Chase and Royal Predica, who he owns in partnership with John Dale and Allan Stennett, was an even longer-priced 33/1 winner for a fourth National Hunt Festival success in last year's Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase. The 64-year-old's breeding interests began with Cala Conta, a Deep Run filly out of an Arctic Slave mare from an established Irish National Hunt family. Having been placed over hurdles, Deal began breeding from her, and her first foal, a colt by Tycoon II named Point Made, won 10 races. Cala Conta's success in throwing winners, including Warner For Winners who won eight races, wet Deal's appetite for breeding and this interest continues today. He also forms part of a pinhooking syndicate. Deal's colours are dark blue with yellow cross belts, and his interests outside horse racing include hunting (mainly with the Old Berks) in the winter and cricket and tennis in the summer.
Grand National Record (since 1980): 2000 Royal Predica (Fell 1st); 2001 Blowing Wind (3rd); 2002 Blowing Wind (3rd), Royal Predica (8th); 2003 Blowing Wind (8th), Royal Predica (13th).

Martin Pipe CBE
Born May 29, 1945, Britain's record-breaking 13-time champion jump trainer began his working life as assistant to his late bookmaker father, David. From humble training origins as a permit holder, Pipe has built a phenomenally-successful operation at Nicholashayne in Somerset, pioneering techniques such as interval training and a scientific approach to his horses' well-being. He re-wrote the record book for the numbers of winners trained in a season, growing from single-figure successes after being granted a licence in 1977 to an incredible 230 in the 1990/91 season and beat his own record in the 1999/2000 season with 243 successes. Last season he secured 190 victories. Pipe won the Martell Cognac Grand National with Freddie Starr's Miinnehoma in 1994 and also trained the brilliant yet flawed Carvill's Hill, who won the Coral Welsh National in 1991. He is the most successful trainer at the Cheltenham Festival with 32 successes, including the Champion Hurdle with Granville Again (1993) and Make A Stand four years later. He created history in 2001 when saddling a record 10 runners - a quarter of the field - in the Martell Cognac Grand National. Last year he saddled seven of the 40 contestants. Pipe is married to Carol with one son, David, now his father's assistant.
Grand National Record: 1981 Three Of Diamonds (Fell 24th), 1982 Three Of Diamonds (7th), 1986 Ballinacurra Lad (Fell 5 out), 1988 Strands Of Gold (Fell 22nd), 1989 The Thirsty Farmer (11th) Bonanza Boy (8th), 1990 Bonanza Boy (16th) Star's Delight (PU 13th) Torside (PU 6th) Huntworth (UR 15th), 1991 Bonanza Boy (5th) Huntworth (PU 24th), 1992 Huntworth (PU 17th) Omerta (PU 7th) Bonanza Boy (Refused 19th), 1994 MIINNEHOMA (WON) Roc de Prince (6th) Run For Free (BD 17th) Paco's Boy (PU 17th) Riverside Boy (Refused 18th), 1995 Riverside Boy (8th) Chatam (Fell 12th) Errant Knight (UR 1st) Miinnehoma (PU 21st), 1996 Riverside Boy (12th) Encore Un Peu (2nd) Chatam (PU 5th), 1997 Evangelica (17th), Mugoni Beach (PU 21st) 1998 Challenger Du Luc (Fell 1st), Diwali Dancer (Fell 1st), Damas (Ref 11th), Pond House (PU bef 15th), Decyborg (PU bef 27th); 1999 St Mellion Fairway (9th), Eudipe (Fell 22nd), Tamarindo (Fell 6th), Cyborgo (PU bef 19th); 2000 Dark Stranger (UR 3rd), Art Prince (Fell 1st), Royal Predica (Fell 1st); 2001 Blowing Wind (3rd), Art Prince (Fell 1st), Tresor De Mai (Fell 2nd), Kaki Crazy (Fell 3rd), Exit Swinger (Fell 6th), Northern Starlight (UR 6th), Strong Tell (Fell 6th), Dark Stranger (Ref 8th), You're Agoodun (BD 8th), Moondigua (UR 15th); 2002 Blowing Wind (3rd), You're Agoodun (7th), Royal Predica (8th), Carryonharry (Fell 1st), Iris Bleu (Fell 5th), Gun'n Roses II (Fell 7th), Manx Magic (Fell 20th), Majed (Fell 22nd); 2003 Blowing Wind (8th), Majed (12th), Royal Predica (13th), Polar Champ (UR 8th), Iris Bleu (PU bef 16th), You're Agoodun (UR 19th), Burlu (Fell 22nd).

GUNNER WELBURN (GB) FACTFILE
ch g Gunner B - Vedra (IRE) (Carlingford Castle)
12-10-05
Form: 1/111F/121/5122/13014-P1P1
Owner: William Ritson and David Hall
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Breeder: Pauline Nicholson

Gunner Welburn
Gunner Welburn was bred near Thirsk in North Yorkshire by Pauline Nicholson, who with husband Trevor subsequently bought the nearby historic Thornton Stud from Lord Howard de Walden. The Gunner B gelding was bought as a four-year-old store horse for 4,400gns at the 1996 Doncaster Spring Sale by former trainer Peter Easterby, who named the horse. The original Gunner Welburn had been friends with Easterby's father in the First World War and both became famed Yorkshire horse dealers, Welburn based on a farm at Harewood near Leeds. The gelding was sold on to Will Ritson, whose wife Verena's parents live near Easterby, to ride in point-to-points. Gunner Welburn was then sent to be trained by Caroline Bailey - daughter of Grand National winning rider Dick Saunders - and managed to win a maiden second time out before finishing runner-up in a restricted event. He developed into a useful point-to-pointer and hunter chaser, making a winning hunter chase debut at Cheltenham in April, 1999, under Rowan Cope. Three further hunter chase victories came at Warwick, Fontwell and Bangor in 2000 before he fell in that year's champions' event at Punchestown. In 2001, a win at Fontwell and second at Haydock were followed by victory by 13 lengths under Julian Pritchard in the Martell Cognac Foxhunters' Chase at Aintree. In 2002 he won a Haydock hunter chase in February before finishing runner-up to Last Option in the Christie's Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham. Connections were then keen to run in the Martell Cognac Grand National so he was switched to the professional yard of Tik Saunders, Caroline Bailey's sister-in-law, but just failed to make the big-race line-up and instead finished second to Torduff Express in the Martell Cognac Foxhunters' Chase at Aintree. With a career under Rules in mind, he was switched to Ian Balding and son Andrew last season, winning a Chepstow handicap chase in December on his debut for his new trainer. He was then third to Mini Sensation when favourite for the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow, followed by a distant 10th in the Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster a month later before winning a three-mile handicap chase by five lengths from Moral Support at Newbury on March 1. He then ran a brilliant race at Aintree in the Martell Cognac Grand National, weakening after the last fence but still finishing fourth to Monty's Pass. This season he was pulled up on his seasonal debut but then won the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby over Christmas, proving four lengths too powerful for Skippers Cleuch. Two weeks later he was pulled up again in the Tote Classic Chase at Warwick with trainer Andrew Balding believing the race had come too soon for him after his Wetherby success. He then lined up in the Royal Artillery Gold Cup Chase at Sandown on February 19, when staying on well to readily beat Mercato by seven lengths.

Race Record: correct on Feb 20, 04 Starts: 21; 1st: 11; 2nd: 3; 3rd: 1; Win & Place Prize Money: £139,157.50

William Ritson and David Hall
Will Ritson, who was born on July 4, 1965, was a keen point-to-point rider and amateur rider until a fall finished his career in the saddle. He bought Gunner Welburn originally to ride in point-to-points and sent the horse to his father Tim in Cheshire to summer. Ritson works in the City but lives in Northamptonshire. He encouraged his friend David Hall, who publishes Spot The Dog books, to have a first foray into ownership with Gunner Welburn.

Grand National Record: 2003 Gunner Welburn (4th)

Andrew Balding
On January 1, 2003, Andrew Balding took over the licence at the historic Kingsclere yard near Newbury in Berkshire following the retirement of his 65-year-old father Ian who had a training career of 30 years that included countless big-race successes including that of Mill Reef in the 1971 Derby. Few trainers can have started off with such a mouthwatering team. Andrew Balding has charge of around 120 predominantly Flat horses with high-profile owners including the Queen, American ambassador Will Farish, George Strawbridge, Jeff Smith, Michael Tabor, Kirsten Rausing, Lord Lloyd-Webber and his sister, the BBC sports presenter Clare Balding. He has only a handful of jump horses but these include Gunner Welburn, Moor Lane and Sunderlands Imperial Cup winner Scorned. Born on December 29, 1972, and educated at Radley, Balding worked for his uncle Toby before spending two years assisting Lynda Ramsden in North Yorkshire. He returned to Kingsclere five years ago, having control of one yard while his father's name remained on the licence. Among the horses he oversaw in that period were Distant Prospect, winner of the Cesarewitch, and Firebreak, who landed the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes. Balding's first year in charge could not have gone better with a first classic success on the Flat courtesy of Farish's Casual Look in the Vodafone Oaks. In addition Phoenix Reach won the Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine in Toronto, Canada, while his first runner in the Martell Cognac Grand National, Gunner Welburn, finished a creditable fourth.
Grand National Record: 2003 Gunner Welburn (4th)

HEDGEHUNTER (IRE) FACTFILE
8 b g Montelimar (USA) - Aberedw (IRE) (Caerwent)
Form: 2222/242621/223102-431
Owner: Trevor Hemmings
Trainer: Willie Mullins IRE
Breeder: J A Keogh
Jockey: David Casey

Hedgehunter
Few horses can match the consistency of Hedgehunter, who has finished in the first four on 17 of his 19 starts. His career began in February, 2001, in bumpers resulting in four seconds. He began the 2001/2002 campaign over hurdles, adding another 2' to his form figures when going down by five lengths to Goss in a maiden event at Punchestown in November, 2001. He mixed hurdling with another couple of bumper runs and it was on his 10th start that he registered a first success when coming home 20 lengths clear on heavy ground in a Clonmel maiden hurdle in February, 2002. He was sent chasing last season and his form has progressed to a new level over the larger obstacles. Two seconds and a third in novice and beginners' chases were followed by an 11-length win in the Grand National Trial Handicap at Punchestown on Feburary 2, 2003, and he then travelled to Cheltenham for the four-mile National Hunt Chase where he was going exceptionally well before a mistake two out almost brought him down. Last season was rounded off by finishing three and a half lengths second to stablemate Rule Supreme in the Colm McEvoy Auctioneers Handicap Chase at Punchestown. This season began with a second visit to Britain when finishing a good fourth to Strong Flow in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury and continued with third place, 23 lengths behind Bindaree, in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow on December 27 and he completed his Aintree preparations with an eight-length win in the Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park on January 22. Race Record: Starts: 19; Wins: 3; 2nd: 10; 3rd: 2; Win & Place Prize Money: £90,531.99

Trevor Hemmings
Trevor Hemmings boasts a classic rags to riches story. Hailing from Lancashire, he began life as a bricklayer's apprentice and rapidly worked his way up the Pontins holiday business to the extent that he was able to sell it on to Scottish & Newcastle in exchange for a significant shareholding in S & N. He is no longer an S & N director, although still has a substantial stake. He is also a major shareholder in Arena Leisure Plc, which owns Folkestone, Lingfield, Southwell, Wolverhampton and Windsor racecourses and manages Worcester. Arena is also a major shareholder in the attheraces company that owns some of British racing's media rights. Hemmings' many other interests include Blackpool Tower and the Winter Gardens, where he is behind plans to develop the Las Vegas of the North.' His empire also includes hotels, a wallpaper business and in June, 2000, another company in which he has a major share, Rodime Plc, paid £161 million for the Littlewoods pools business, which includes the bookmaker Bet Direct. He was said to be worth £480 million in the 2003 Sunday Times Rich List. In recent years he has stepped up his involvement in racing and a big ambition for the locally-born Hemmings is to emulate his mentor Fred Pontin, owner of the 1971 National hero Specify. Hemmings now brings on young stock at Gleadhill House Stud, managed by former trainer Mick Meagher, at his base at Chorley in Lancashire, and at his Monymusk Stud in Co Cork. Sadly one of Hemmings' best horses, Young Kenny, whom he purchased in the summer of 2000, sustained an injury and had to be put down when competing in the 2001 De Vere Gold Cup at Haydock and he purchased leading hope Beau for an undisclosed sum a few days before the 2002 race - only to see the horse unseat Carl Llewellyn at the 14th fence. His 40-odd horses in training are split between Sue Smith, Nicky Henderson, Henrietta Knight, Nicky Richards, Henry Daly, Willie Mullins, Jonjo O'Neill, Peter Beaumont, Heather Dalton, Chris Grant and with Eric Alston on the Flat while he has predominantly younger stock with Eugene O'Sullivan in Ireland. Hemmings resides in the Channel Islands and is said to have paid £12 million for the Ballavodan estate on the Isle Of Man.Grand National Record (since 1980): 1992 Rubika (14th); 2000 The Last Fling (7th); Esprit De Cotte (Fell 22nd); 2001 The Last Fling (UR 5th), Esprit De Cotte (UR 11th); 2002 Goguenard (Fell 1st), Beau (UR 14th); 2003 Southern Star (14th), Chives (PU bef 12th)

Willie Mullins IRE
Born September 15, 1956, Willie Mullins was six-times amateur champion rider in Ireland and his major successes in the saddle included the 1983 Martell Cognac Foxhunters' Chase at Aintree on Atha Cliath. He hails from one of Ireland's most famous racing families, the son of Paddy Mullins, the now octogenarian outstanding all-round trainer, whose most famous star will always be Dawn Run, the winner of the 1984 Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup two years later who returned to scenes in the Cheltenham winner's enclosure that have rarely been matched. Willie Mullins rode and trained Wither Or Which to win the 1996 Weatherbys Champion Bumper, a race in which he has saddled four winners (also Florida Pearl 1997, Alexander Banquet 1998 and Joe Cullen 2000). His best horse to date has been Florida Pearl, who has been placed in two Cheltenham Gold Cups, won the 1998 Royal & SunAlliance Chase, the 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2004 Irish Hennessy Cognac Gold Cups as well as the 2001 King George VI Chase. Mullins, who began training in 1988, has around 100 horses in training at his Closutton yard at Bagenalstown in Co Carlow and his first Martell Cognac Grand National runner as a trainer, Micko's Dream, fell at the first in 2000 although as a jockey his rides included The Ladys Master, who ran out in 1983, and Hazy Dawn, who fell at the sixth the following year. The loquacious Mullins, a former chairman of the Irish Trainers' Federation, enjoyed success at the 2002 Cheltenham Festival with Scolardy in the JCB Triumph Hurdle. Unfortunately later in the year Mullins' second contestant in the Martell Cognac Grand National, Alexander Banquet, unseated Barry Geraghty at the sixth obstacle, although the trainer did gain compensation with Florida Pearl's victory in that year's Martell Cognac Cup Chase. Mullins also saddled Rule Supreme to win the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at this year's Cheltenham Festival.
Martell Cognac Grand National Record: 2000 Micko's Dream (Fell 1st); 2002 Alexander Banquet (UR 6th)

David Casey
Took over in the 1999/2000 season from Jamie Osborne as stable jockey to Lambourn trainer Oliver Sherwood, but the pair parted company in December, 2000, after Casey, who lived in Tony McCoy's house, was said to be repeatedly late for work. He turned freelance and is now based at County Wexford in Ireland, riding on both sides of the Irish Sea. Casey, who was born on March 19, 1976, graduated from RACE, Ireland's apprentice school, and had spells with Tony Redmond and Michael Hourigan before joining Willie Mullins, who provided him with his first winner at Tramore in January, 1995. The following year he won the Galway Hurdle for Mullins on Mystical City. In 2000 he won the Martell Cognac Maghull Novices' Chase on Cenkos and other big race wins include the 1999 Swinton Handicap Hurdle on She's Our Mare, the 2001 Powers Gold Cup and 2001 Charlie Hall Chase on Sackville, 2000 Imperial Cup on Magic Combination as well as the 2001 James Nicholson Chase and Ericsson Chase on Foxchapel King. He had a first Cheltenham Festival success in March, 2002, with Fadoudal Du Cochet in the Grand Annual Chase and was first past the post, although subsequently disqualified, in last season's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup on Be My Royal. He gained his second success at the Cheltenham Festival this year when he partnered Rule Supreme in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.
Grand National Record: 1997 New Co (15th); 2000 Lucky Town (8th); 2001 Strong Tel (Fell 6th); 2002 Spot Thedifference (UR 4 out); 2003 Cregg House (Ref 4 out).

JURANCON II (FR) FACTFILE
b g Scooter Bleu (IRE) - Volniste (FR) (Olmeto)
7-10-04
Form: 456011P/1P13-14521
Owner: David Johnson
Trainer: Martin Pipe
Breeder: Mme Monique Trinquet

Jurancon II
Formerly trained in France, Jurancon II took five outings to get off the mark for champion handler Martin Pipe when scoring by three and a half lengths in a handicap hurdle at Market Rasen on February 5, 2002. Less than a week later, he won a similar event at Plumpton, where he justified odds-on favouritism by three lengths from Leggies Legacy.

He begun last season with a victory in a conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle at Cheltenham in November, when he carried top-weight to beat Rare Ouzel by three lengths. The following month he tackled fences for the first time at Uttoxeter, producing a workmanlike performance to hold off Indian Scout by a length in a novices' chase. The Scooter Bleu gelding returned to the same venue in March, when he showed great promise to finish 30 lengths third behind Intelligent in the Midlands Grand National.

Uttoxeter was becoming a home away from home when he went back to win the English Summer National on his seasonal bow in June, proving half a length too powerful for Spot Thedifference. This success delighted connections as although it had been his target since finishing third last time, they were unsure how he would act on the faster ground.

Beaten at least 27 lengths on his next two outings, he then put in a creditable effort when three and a half lengths runner-up to Southern Star in the Tote Classic Chase at Warwick in January at odds of 50/1. The bookmakers were not so generous, dividing those odds by five, when he was victorious in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock at the end of February. On this occasion, despite a mistake two from home, he galloped his nine rivals into submission coming home 15 lengths ahead of Bear On Board. Race Record: British Starts: 16; 1st: 6 ; 2nd: 1; 3rd: 1; Win & place prize money: £166,895

David Johnson
Johnson's is a classic rags-to-riches tale. A docker's son, born in 1944, from the East End of London, he began working in the Midland Bank at East Ham for £9 a week aged 16 and soon set up in the moneylending business. Three years ago he sold his company, which employed 1,000 people, for £216 million and he now has other loan and mortgage business interests. A trip to Newmarket races in the mid 1980s resulted in an introduction to trainer Robert Williams and the purchase of a share in the two-year-old Majestic Missile, who went on to win the 1986 Group 1 Middle Park Stakes. Despite his colours being the reverse of Robert Sangster's he now concentrates on jumpers and had his first victory over hurdles when Beebob scored at Chepstow in November, 1992, the start of a highly successful partnership with champion National Hunt trainer Martin Pipe. His horses were generally bought in France, including Arkle Chase winners Or Royal (1997) and Champleve (1998) and Cyfor Malta, winner of the Martell Topham Chase as well as the Paddy Power Gold Cup (twice) and Pillar Property Chase at Cheltenham. But in the last couple of years he has bought horses from Ireland including a large team from Tom Costello, among them top novice chasers Our Vic and Therealbandit. Johnson finished the 1997/98 campaign as the leading owner over jumps, took the title again in 2001/2002 when collecting over £725,000 of prize money and once more last season when his earnings topped £873,000. Johnson, who currently has around 60 horses in training, is a keen punter, admitting he frequently bets in five figures, and enjoyed two successes at this year's Cheltenham Festival - the well-backed Well Chief in the Irish Independent Arkle Chase and 40/1 shock scorer Maximize in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase. He lives in Hornchurch, Essex, with wife Shirley and children Steven and Lisa. Grand National Record (since 1980): 1998 Challenger Du Luc (Fell 1st); 1999 Eudipe (Fell 22nd), Tamarindo (Fell 6th); 2002 Iris Bleu (Fell 5th); 2003 Iris Bleu (PU bef 16th)

Martin Pipe CBE
Born May 29, 1945, Britain's record-breaking 13-time champion jump trainer began his working life as assistant to his late bookmaker father, David. From humble training origins as a permit holder, Pipe has built a phenomenally-successful operation at Nicholashayne in Somerset, pioneering techniques such as interval training and a scientific approach to his horses' well-being. He re-wrote the record book for the numbers of winners trained in a season, growing from single-figure successes after being granted a licence in 1977 to an incredible 230 in the 1990/91 season and beat his own record in the 1999/2000 season with 243 successes. Last season he secured 190 victories. Pipe won the Martell Cognac Grand National with Freddie Starr's Miinnehoma in 1994 and also trained the brilliant yet flawed Carvill's Hill, who won the Coral Welsh National in 1991. He is the most successful trainer at the Cheltenham Festival with 32 successes, including the Champion Hurdle with Granville Again (1993) and Make A Stand four years later. He created history in 2001 when saddling a record 10 runners - a quarter of the field - in the Martell Cognac Grand National. Last year he saddled seven of the 40 contestants. Pipe is married to Carol with one son, David, now his father's assistant.
Grand National Record: 1981 Three Of Diamonds (Fell 24th), 1982 Three Of Diamonds (7th), 1986 Ballinacurra Lad (Fell 5 out), 1988 Strands Of Gold (Fell 22nd), 1989 The Thirsty Farmer (11th) Bonanza Boy (8th), 1990 Bonanza Boy (16th) Star's Delight (PU 13th) Torside (PU 6th) Huntworth (UR 15th), 1991 Bonanza Boy (5th) Huntworth (PU 24th), 1992 Huntworth (PU 17th) Omerta (PU 7th) Bonanza Boy (Refused 19th), 1994 MIINNEHOMA (WON) Roc de Prince (6th) Run For Free (BD 17th) Paco's Boy (PU 17th) Riverside Boy (Refused 18th), 1995 Riverside Boy (8th) Chatam (Fell 12th) Errant Knight (UR 1st) Miinnehoma (PU 21st), 1996 Riverside Boy (12th) Encore Un Peu (2nd) Chatam (PU 5th), 1997 Evangelica (17th), Mugoni Beach (PU 21st) 1998 Challenger Du Luc (Fell 1st), Diwali Dancer (Fell 1st), Damas (Ref 11th), Pond House (PU bef 15th), Decyborg (PU bef 27th); 1999 St Mellion Fairway (9th), Eudipe (Fell 22nd), Tamarindo (Fell 6th), Cyborgo (PU bef 19th); 2000 Dark Stranger (UR 3rd), Art Prince (Fell 1st), Royal Predica (Fell 1st); 2001 Blowing Wind (3rd), Art Prince (Fell 1st), Tresor De Mai (Fell 2nd), Kaki Crazy (Fell 3rd), Exit Swinger (Fell 6th), Northern Starlight (UR 6th), Strong Tell (Fell 6th), Dark Stranger (Ref 8th), You're Agoodun (BD 8th), Moondigua (UR 15th); 2002 Blowing Wind (3rd), You're Agoodun (7th), Royal Predica (8th), Carryonharry (Fell 1st), Iris Bleu (Fell 5th), Gun'n Roses II (Fell 7th), Manx Magic (Fell 20th), Majed (Fell 22nd); 2003 Blowing Wind (8th), Majed (12th), Royal Predica (13th), Polar Champ (UR 8th), Iris Bleu (PU bef 16th), You're Agoodun (UR 19th), Burlu (Fell 22nd).

KINGSMARK (IRE) FACTFILE
gr g Roselier - Gaye Le Moss (Le Moss)
11-11-04
Form: 3111120/51F1322/11160310/124/13-36
Owner: Sir Robert Ogden CBE
Trainer: Martin Todhunter
Breeder: Cecily Purcell

Kingsmark
After finishing third in a bumper on his only start of the 1997/8 season, Kingsmark made a winning debut over timber at Stratford in October, 1998, in a maiden hurdle and went on to win his next three starts in novice hurdles - twice at Folkestone and at Kempton. Stepped up in class he found just Kates Charm too good in a Grade 2 novices' event at Chepstow the following March and on his last start of the campaign he disappointed, finishing well beaten in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham's National Hunt Festival. He was sent novice chasing the following term, getting off the mark at the second attempt at Bangor in November, 1999, and after taking a tumble the following month he won a similar event at Folkestone in January, 2000. He was campaigned in handicap company for the rest of that season, being placed on each of three starts without getting his head in front. A winning seasonal debut in a handicap chase at Kelso kicked off the 2000/01 campaign and he followed up in a similar event at Market Rasen before completing the treble with a 10-length defeat of Tresor De Mai in the Edward Hanmer Memorial Handicap Chase at Haydock in November. His form then tailed off and he was well beaten in three high-class races before bouncing back with a success on his first start at Aintree in the Martell Cognac V.S. Handicap Chase. He rounded off the season with a run in the Attheraces Gold Cup where he was a long way behind winner Ad Hoc. The following season began with a second victory in the Edward Hanmer Memorial Handicap Chase and he then returned to Haydock to finish the half-length runner-up to Legal Right in the Tommy Whittle Chase in December. On his last start of the term, he was a highly-creditable fourth in the Martell Cognac Grand National, coming home 38 lengths adrift of winner Bindaree. Last season began with Kingsmark completing a treble in the Edward Hanmer Memorial Handicap Chase, proving one and a half lengths too strong for Chives. On his only other start of the campaign in December, the Roselier gelding again ran at Haydock, going down by three lengths to Irish raider Sackville in the Tommy Whittle Chase. This season he was unable to complete a four-timer in the Edward Hanmer Memorial Handicap Chase at Haydock, blundering and unseating jockey David Dennis when about six lengths off the pace at the final obstacle, before being remounted to finish last of the three contestants. He was then tailed off in the Tommy Whittle Chase at the same venue in December.
Race Record: Starts: 29; 1st: 12; 2nd: 4; 3rd: 5; Win & place prize money: £206,790

Sir Robert Ogden CBE
After leaving the RAF, Sir Robert Ogden started a demolition and site clearance business, moving into property development on a huge scale. The financial rewards of his highly-successful business empire, centred around the Ogden Group of Companies, based at Boston Spa, West Yorkshire, have allowed Ogden, 68, and valued at £120 million in the 2003 Sunday Times Rich List, to indulge in his passion for racing. Although brought up around horses, his racing interest began some 30 years ago via his neighbour, the haulage tycoon and former trainer Jack Hanson, and his first winner came in a five-furlong maiden on the Flat at Haydock when Midnight Melody obliged on November 12, 1975. He nominates three favourite moments in racing to date - when his son Adam won the Grand Military Gold Cup aboard On The Other Hand, when Ogden's home-bred Squire Silk won the 1995 Tote Gold Trophy and thirdly when Ad Hoc's success in the 2001 attheraces Gold Cup won him a third owners' championship on the final day of the season. Ogden has several former trainers - at one stage he owned Ferdy Murphy's then yard in Middleham - and his string is currently spread between Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls, Jonjo O'Neill, Philip Hobbs, Mary Reveley, Martin Todhunter, Ian Williams, Bridget Nicholls and Venetia Williams with Jeremy Noseda having a couple of Flat horses. He has retained jockeys Paul Carberry and Richard Dunwoody in the past but now has a policy of using the best available. Ogden, who dislikes publicity and rarely speaks to the media - except about his charity work - lives at Sicklinghall Stud near Wetherby, where he has around 50 horses of varying ages. His best performers include Squire Silk, Fadalko, Ad Hoc, Marlborough and See More Business, in whom he bought a half share after his 1999 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup victory. His racing interests are managed by Barry Simpson, who previously ran the Martin Pipe Racing Club. He was knighted in 2001 for his charity efforts.
Grand National Record: 1990 Bob Tisdall (20th); 1997 Buckboard Bounce (4th); 2002 Kingsmark (4th), Marlborough (Fell 1st), Ad Hoc (BD 27th); 2003 Fadalko (UR 6th), Ad Hoc (UR 19th).

Martin Todhunter
Todhunter, who was born in Penrith on April 10, 1959, spent 18 years learning his trade with the late Gordon Richards, for whom he developed a respect which many employers could only dream of. Of Richards, to whom he was travelling head lad, he said: "Gordon would scream and bawl and shout and was very hard, but he was also very fair. He'd never see you in trouble without helping out and was a good man to work for - a great schoolmaster, who taught me a lot." Among Todhunter's owners is Sir Robert Ogden, for whom he has won three Edward Hanmer Memorial Handicap Chases with Kingsmark, who also finished fourth in the 2002 Martell Cognac Grand National. However, the ups and downs of racing are only too clearly exemplified by this owner-trainer combination. Todhunter lost six of Ogden's horses on the racecourse or at home in the space of 18 months, including Premier Cru, a winner of two races, who the handler considered potentially the best horse that he had ever trained. Despite this bad luck, Ogden has continued to support Todhunter. This is Todhunter's ninth season as a trainer after setting up, in August, 1995, at Roger Fisher's former Ulverston yard in the Lake District before transferring to Orton, close to his birthplace, in the summer of 2000. His current location, a former dairy farm, allows him to mess about' on the Cumbrian Fells with his horses. A former amateur rider for Richards, Todhunter gained five successes on Cape Felix, while he also scored on both Man Alive and Current Gold. Grand National Record: 2002 Kingsmark (4th)

MONTY'S PASS (IRE)
b g Montelimar (USA) - Friar's Pass (Monksfield)
11-11-07
Form: 6212336552/23P6313641-5008
Owner: Dee Racing Syndicate
Trainer: Jimmy Mangan IRE
Breeder: Gerard Slattery

Monty's Pass
After winning a hunters' chase at Cork in April, 1999, for trainer Jimmy Mangan, Monty's Pass became a prolific winner of two and a half mile handicap chases between December of that year and August, 2001, taking five such events including the Denny Gold Medal Handicap Chase at Tralee, when beating Quinze by three lengths. On his next two starts the Montelimar gelding was placed in two Nationals when stepped up to three miles. On the first occasion he found just More Than A Stroll three and a half lengths too good in the Guinness Kerry National at Listowel in September. The following month he was five and a half lengths third to Foxchapel King in the Anglo Irish Bank Munster National at Limerick. In 2002 he again competed in these two contests, winning the former by two lengths from Putsometnby and again finishing third in the Anglo Irish Bank Munster National, this time finding old rival More Than A Stroll three and a half lengths too powerful. Prior to these two fine performances, Monty's Pass had run fifth behind Blowing Wind in the Mildmay Of Flete Handicap Chase on his first appearance at the Cheltenham Festival, and six lengths runner-up to Its Time For A Win in the Martell Cognac Topham Chase at Aintree. After his third in the Munster National, the 10-year-old was well beaten in a couple of spins over hurdles in March. Presumably connections did not want to run him over fences again before the Martell Cognac Grand National in order to preserve his chasing handicap mark. That was the right strategy as he won by 12 lengths at the odds of 16/1 to land a huge gamble for his owners. This season the Montelimar gelding began proceedings in a novices' hurdle at Tipperary on September 11, when finishing 15 lengths behind Kickham in fifth position. He then returned to fences in the Guinness Kerry National at Listowel six days later, finishing completely tailed off in the three mile contest won by Native Performance. He then returned to timber in a handicap hurdle at Gowran Park on Valentine's Day, finishing last of the 20 starters but only beaten eight lengths over an inadequate two and a half miles. Remaining over hurdles, the 11-year-old was last seen when eighth behind Zum See in a two-mile novices' event at Naas on March 7.

Race Record: Starts: 51; 1st: 8; 2nd: 12; 3rd: 10 Win & place prize money: £511,881

Dee Racing Syndicate
The five-person Dee Racing Syndicate is headed by 58-year-old Mike Futter, who is a punter of some standing. A native of Blackpool, Futter left Britain 33 years ago and is now based at Donaghadee in Northern Ireland, where he owns several bingo clubs. He heavily supported last year's Martell Cognac Grand National hero Monty's Pass with the bookies, winning almost £1 million when the 10-year-old prevailed in a race he had been aimed at since he was runner-up to Its Time For A Win in the 2002 Martell Cognac Topham Chase at Aintree. The horse was acquired by Futter after he saw him on a video tape. The time of that performance was good and the prospective buyer was impressed by the fact that he had run just behind top Irish hunter chaser Sheltering and decided that he should buy him. He secured the horse for 35,000 punts to remain in Jimmy Mangan's County Cork-based yard. Despite having a reputation for being a shrewd punter, Futter is not interested in betting on the exchanges with Betfair. "I don't bet on Betfair, I like to see the whites of the bookies' eyes," he reasons. The syndicate also includes Donaghadee residents Adam Armstrong, Muir Higginson, Noel Murphy and Lytham St Annes-based Ian Rose.

Grand National Record: 2003 MONTY'S PASS (WON)

Jimmy Mangan
Jimmy Mangan, who was born on August 28, 1955, and trains at Conna near Mallow in County Cork, is an all-round horseman who breeds, buys and sells alongside his training operation. His father Paddy trained before him at Conna with his biggest success coming via June's Friend in the 1981 Thyestes Chase. Jimmy Mangan rode his first winner point-to-pointing at the age of 16 when beating the renowned rider Connie Vaughan in a tight finish. Jimmy Mangan took over the licence when his father died at the end of 1981 and his biggest successes, prior to last year's Martell Cognac Grand National, came with Stroll Home in the 1997 Galway Plate and Monty's Pass in the 2002 Kerry National at Listowel. Mangan, who gave up drinking 10 years ago, is a well-known figure in the sales rings sporting colourful woollen hats made by a neighbour. He has twin sons, Patrick and Brian, and a daughter, Jane, and has a few cattle alongside some 25 National Hunt broodmares on his 150-acre farm. He sells his foals and yearlings and also buys young stock at the sales. He bought 2002 Martell Cognac Grand National winner Bindaree as a yearling for Ir2,000gns, selling him on the following year, and was the first man to touch the great Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle winner Dawn Run, having foaled her for breeder John Riordan. Mangan bred Amble Speedy, who was just touched off in the 1997 Irish National, while the best horse his father bred was Doorknocker, the 1956 Champion Hurdle winner. Mangan shot to prominence last year when he saddled Monty's Pass to win the Martell Cognac Grand National, landing a huge gamble by his owners in the process. Grand National Record: 2003 MONTY'S PASS (WON)

RED STRIKER (GB) FACTFILE
ch g Gunner B - Cover Your Money (Precipice Wood)
10-10-05
Form: 215141152/8P1PP/5022U
Owners: Norman Mason
Trainer: Richard Guest
Breeder: Mrs Anne Jenks

Red Striker
Red Striker is bred in the purple as far as jumping is concerned and already has an Aintree success to his name, having taken the Martell Cognac Novices' Chase in 2001, one of five victories he landed that season. His best form during the 2001/02 campaign came when he won the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock, and he turned in good efforts in two races last term, finishing second to A Piece Of Cake at Ayr and then to Goguenard at Haydock. He then lined up for the Martell Cognac Grand National at Aintree, where he was making no impression when unseating jockey Larry McGrath four fences out.
Race Record: Starts: 33; 1st: 10; 2nd: 10; Win & place prize money: £102,126

Norman Mason
Born November 13, 1936, and based at Brancepeth near Crook in County Durham, Norman Mason was both the trainer and owner of Red Marauder when he won the Martell Cognac Grand National three years ago.
Former assistant trainer and stable jockey, Richard Guest, who played a leading role in training Red Marauder as well as riding him, took over the reins at Brancepeth Manor Farm Stables from Mason in February of last year. He had previously helped Mason become leading permit-holder for the last five seasons.

Mason has owned horses for some 30 years, including useful animals such as Centre Attraction, Music Be Magic, Red Marauder and Clever Folly, who won 16 races for the late Gordon Richards. He first got involved with horses through his children, who were attending lessons at the local riding school.

Mason originated from humble beginnings, but became a multi-millionaire businessman. He made his fortune through extensive interests in the leisure industry in the North-East, including bingo halls, amusement arcades, nightclubs, and public houses. He suffered from various business difficulties last year, with his entertainment business being placed in receivership in February.

Grand National Record (as owner) (since 1980): 1992 Radical Lady (19th); 2000 Red Marauder (Fell 6th); 2001 RED MARAUDER (WON); 2002 Red Ark (UR 1st); 2003 Red Ark (PU Bef 25th); Red Striker (UR 27th).

Richard Guest
Born in Andover, Hampshire on July 10, 1965, Richard Charles Guest - the brother of Newmarket trainer Rae Guest - spent time as a schoolboy with Newmarket Flat trainers Jeremy Hindley and Sir Michael Stoute, riding work on the 1981 Derby winner Shergar for the latter. He announced his retirement from race-riding after being found guilty of breaching the non triers' rule (Rule 151) at Perth in April, 1998 - his third such offence that season - but had a change of heart and returned to the saddle four seasons ago. Having spent eight years with Toby Balding and been stable jockey to Sue and Harvey Smith at High Eldwick near Bingley in West Yorkshire, he rode as first jockey and acted as assistant to Co Durham-based trainer Norman Mason, for whom he won the 2001 Martell Cognac Grand National on Red Marauder and has completed in the race on four out of 10 attempts. After assisting Mason to become the leading permit-holder for the previous five seasons, Guest was granted a training licence in February, 2003, when he took over the reins from Mason. He was given special dispensation from the Jockey Club to ride Chives, rather than one of his own Aintree runners, in last year's Martell Cognac Grand National, when he pulled up the eight-year-old before the 12th obstacle. He saddled his first winner in his own name courtesy of Mr Bossman at Kempton on February 22, 2003. Other big wins in the saddle include the 1989 Champion Hurdle and Martell Cognac Aintree Hurdle on Beech Road, First National Bank Gold Cup in 1998 on Red Marauder, the Peter Marsh Chase with Bishops Yarn (1989) and Red Striker (2002) and the 1994 Tote Becher Chase on Into The Red over the National fences. Guest made a surprise return to the saddle in February having not ridden since last July. Guest enjoyed his biggest training success when Tyneandthyneagain won the Sky Bet Chase (Handicap) at Doncaster on the last day of January, and the same horse went on to score in the Tote Eider Chase at Newcastle the following month.
Grand National record (as a jockey): 1992 Romany King (2nd); 1994 Romany King (Fell 4th); 1995 Into The Red (5th); 1996 Into The Red (15th); 1998 Yeoman Warrior (PU bef 19th); 1999 Frazer Island (Fell 22nd); 2000 Red Marauder (Fell 6th); 2001 RED MARAUDER (WON), 2002 Paris Pike (Fell 1st), 2003 Chives (PU bef 12th).

Grand National record (as a trainer): 2003 Red Ark (PU Bef 25th); Red Striker (UR 27th).

ROYAL PREDICA (FR) FACTFILE
ch g Tip Moss (FR) - Girl Vamp (Kaldoun (FR))
10-9-12 Form:1/344F2131P/4211FF/2PPP/2122P589/10P-0P5
Owner: Peter Deal, John Dale & Allan Stennett Trainer: Martin Pipe
Breeder: Mr and Mrs Gilbert Gallot

Royal Predica
An eight-year-old who had won over hurdles and been placed over the larger obstacles in France, he made a winning debut over British fences for Martin Pipe at Plumpton on New Year's Day, 1999. He made three more racecourse appearances that season, winning on one further occasion at Aintree on his introduction into handicap company in the Martell Cognac Novices' Handicap Chase. Royal Predica was let down by his jumping on his reappearance the following term, finishing fourth beaten nearly 30 lengths at Chepstow in November. On his next outing he finished second behind Ambleside at Chepstow the following month, where once again he made a serious mistake. He bounced back in fine style from these two reversals. In January he won the Edward Courage Cup Handicap Chase at Warwick over 2m 4f, and followed up over course and distance when 6lb higher a month later, beating Shepherds Rest by eight lengths in the Michael Page Finance Handicap Chase. His season finished disappointingly with two falls, including at the first obstacle in the Martell Cognac Grand National. The 2000/01 season saw him make an encouraging debut when the runner-up to Legal Right in the Tote Silver Cup Handicap Chase at Ascot in December, but he failed to finish on his three subsequent outings being pulled up on each occasion. The 2001/2 campaign saw the Tip Moss gelding become much more consistent. Runner-up on three occasions, he also gained a three-and-a-half length success in the Channel Handicap Chase, over an extended 2m 5f, at Newton Abbott in June. And he was then fifth, beaten over 24 lengths, in the William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase won by Frenchman's Creek at the Cheltenham Festival. He ran respectably on his last two starts of the 2001/02 season, finishing eighth in the Martell Cognac Grand National and ninth in the attheraces Gold Cup. Last season, he did not reappear until Cheltenham and caused a 33/1 upset when landing the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase by 10 lengths. He then finished 13th behind Monty's Pass in the Martell Cognac Grand National before being pulled up before the 15th obstacle in the attheraces Gold Cup. On his first three starts this season, despite these runs coming in good company, the 10-year-old was at least 33 lengths adrift of the winner.

Race Record: Starts: 34; 1st: 7; 2nd: 6; 3rd: 2; Win & place prize money £114,034.75

Peter Deal, John Dale & Allan Stennett
A qualified chartered accountant, Peter Deal has over 30 years of experience in business in the manufacturing, distribution and leisure industries. In November, 1999, he was appointed a non-executive director of United Racecourses, the then parent company of Sandown, Epsom and Kempton, and became chairman of the Sandown Park Race Committee. A chance meeting with former jockey and BBC television presenter Richard Pitman in 1975 led to Deal owning numerous horses over the next quarter of a century, as well as building extensive breeding interests, and being a keen rider with the Old Berks Hunt. Make A Stand has been his best horse, winning the 1997 Smurfit Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, having taken the Tote Gold Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Newbury on his previous outing. Blowing Wind landed the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle in 1998 to give Deal a second Cheltenham Festival success, which he particularly enjoyed as he received a great acclamation from the crowd for winning the 'getting out stakes'. In 2002 Blowing Wind gave Deal a third success at the Cheltenham Festival with a 25/1 shock victory in the Mildmay Of Flete Handicap Chase and Royal Predica, who he owns in partnership with John Dale and Allan Stennett, was an even longer-priced 33/1 winner for a fourth National Hunt Festival success in last year's Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase. The 64-year-old's breeding interests began with Cala Conta, a Deep Run filly out of an Arctic Slave mare from an established Irish National Hunt family. Having been placed over hurdles, Deal began breeding from her, and her first foal, a colt by Tycoon II named Point Made, won 10 races. Cala Conta's success in throwing winners, including Warner For Winners who won eight races, wet Deal's appetite for breeding and this interest continues today. He also forms part of a pinhooking syndicate. Deal's colours are dark blue with yellow cross belts, and his interests outside horse racing include hunting (mainly with the Old Berks) in the winter and cricket and tennis in the summer. Deal shares the horse with John Dale, with whom he formerly jointly owned the Richard Phillips-trained Mithak, and Allan Stennett, Wolverhampton-based part-owner of 2002 Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle winner Galileo, trained by Tom George. Stennett and his wife Janet's other trainers include Martin Pipe, Philip Hobbs and Paul Nicholls.
Peter Deal's Grand National Record (since 1980): 2000 Royal Predica (Fell 1st); 2001 Blowing Wind (3rd); 2002 Blowing Wind (3rd), Royal Predica (8th); 2003 Blowing Wind (8th), Royal Predica (13th). Peter Deal, Allan Stennett and John Dale's Record (since 1980): 2002 Royal Predica (8th), 2003 Royal Predica (13th).

Martin Pipe CBE
Born May 29, 1945, Britain's record-breaking 13-time champion jump trainer began his working life as assistant to his late bookmaker father, David. From humble training origins as a permit holder, Pipe has built a phenomenally-successful operation at Nicholashayne in Somerset, pioneering techniques such as interval training and a scientific approach to his horses' well-being. He re-wrote the record book for the numbers of winners trained in a season, growing from single-figure successes after being granted a licence in 1977 to an incredible 230 in the 1990/91 season and beat his own record in the 1999/2000 season with 243 successes. Last season he secured 190 victories. Pipe won the Martell Cognac Grand National with Freddie Starr's Miinnehoma in 1994 and also trained the brilliant yet flawed Carvill's Hill, who won the Coral Welsh National in 1991. He is the most successful trainer at the Cheltenham Festival with 32 successes, including the Champion Hurdle with Granville Again (1993) and Make A Stand four years later. He created history in 2001 when saddling a record 10 runners - a quarter of the field - in the Martell Cognac Grand National. Last year he saddled seven of the 40 contestants. Pipe is married to Carol with one son, David, now his father's assistant.
Grand National Record: 1981 Three Of Diamonds (Fell 24th), 1982 Three Of Diamonds (7th), 1986 Ballinacurra Lad (Fell 5 out), 1988 Strands Of Gold (Fell 22nd), 1989 The Thirsty Farmer (11th) Bonanza Boy (8th), 1990 Bonanza Boy (16th) Star's Delight (PU 13th) Torside (PU 6th) Huntworth (UR 15th), 1991 Bonanza Boy (5th) Huntworth (PU 24th), 1992 Huntworth (PU 17th) Omerta (PU 7th) Bonanza Boy (Refused 19th), 1994 MIINNEHOMA (WON) Roc de Prince (6th) Run For Free (BD 17th) Paco's Boy (PU 17th) Riverside Boy (Refused 18th), 1995 Riverside Boy (8th) Chatam (Fell 12th) Errant Knight (UR 1st) Miinnehoma (PU 21st), 1996 Riverside Boy (12th) Encore Un Peu (2nd) Chatam (PU 5th), 1997 Evangelica (17th), Mugoni Beach (PU 21st) 1998 Challenger Du Luc (Fell 1st), Diwali Dancer (Fell 1st), Damas (Ref 11th), Pond House (PU bef 15th), Decyborg (PU bef 27th); 1999 St Mellion Fairway (9th), Eudipe (Fell 22nd), Tamarindo (Fell 6th), Cyborgo (PU bef 19th); 2000 Dark Stranger (UR 3rd), Art Prince (Fell 1st), Royal Predica (Fell 1st); 2001 Blowing Wind (3rd), Art Prince (Fell 1st), Tresor De Mai (Fell 2nd), Kaki Crazy (Fell 3rd), Exit Swinger (Fell 6th), Northern Starlight (UR 6th), Strong Tell (Fell 6th), Dark Stranger (Ref 8th), You're Agoodun (BD 8th), Moondigua (UR 15th); 2002 Blowing Wind (3rd), You're Agoodun (7th), Royal Predica (8th), Carryonharry (Fell 1st), Iris Bleu (Fell 5th), Gun'n Roses II (Fell 7th), Manx Magic (Fell 20th), Majed (Fell 22nd); 2003 Blowing Wind (8th), Majed (12th), Royal Predica (13th), Polar Champ (UR 8th), Iris Bleu (PU bef 16th), You're Agoodun (UR 19th), Burlu (Fell 22nd).

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