Tuesday, March 30, 2004
NATIONAL COURSE IN PERFECT' SHAPE
Andrew Tulloch, clerk of the course at Aintree, watered the Mildmay Course again this morning but is keeping the sprinklers away from the Martell Cognac Grand National course, which remains officially Good'.
Stressing that he only turned the taps on to maintain what he considers "perfect conditions", Tulloch, having walked around today, said: "The National course is on the easy side of good, and there are no plans to water at this stage - it is lovely ground.
"In contrast, the Mildmay course, though still officially good, was starting to dry out, so we have had to put a few millimetres on and will monitor the situation again on Wednesday."
Tulloch revealed that the forecast rain, originally predicted to arrive in the Merseyside area on Thursday morning, has now been put back 24 hours.
He added: "They are talking of between six and eight millimetres, but, apart from that bout, we are expecting virtually no rain.
"Today has been dry and sunny and it will be a similar story tomorrow, though it might cloud over mid-afternoon, while there is only a 10% chance of the odd millimetre of rain on Thursday, and it looks like being a clear dry day for the big race on Saturday."
ST PIRRAN BIDS FOR NOTABLE DOUBLE
St Pirran and Ground Ball, first and second respectively in the Grand Annual Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, renew rivalry in a 14-strong field for Thursday's Grade 3 Martell Cognac Red Rum Chase at Aintree, for which the runners were declared at the 48-hour stage today (Tuesday).
One of the highlights of the opening day of the Martell Cognac Grand National meeting, the £65,000 Red Rum over two miles features what promises to be a series of head-to-head clashes between Paul Nicholls and Martin Pipe, who are locked in an enthralling duel for this season's trainers championship.
Besides St Pirran, who proved too strong up the Cheltenham hill for Ground Ball, winning by two and a half lengths, but is now 4lb worse off with the Charlie Swan-trained runner, Nicholls is also represented by Armaturk, who, on 11st 12lb, is co-topweight with the Pipe-trained Golden Alpha, who will be attempting to repeat last year's win in the race.
Tony McCoy again rides Golden Alpha, while Ruby Walsh has remained loyal to St Pirran, leaving Bobby McNally to partner Armaturk, who was so disappointing on tacky ground at Haydock last time.
Pipe also has Latalomne in the handicap chase while Simply Gifted who unseated his rider at the second in the Grand Annual, goes again for Jonjo O'Neill and Ei Ei, sixth in the Queen Mother Champion Chase,
Paul Webber, looking to win the race for the third time in six years, following Flying Instructor (1999) and Jungli (2000), is also doubly-represented. Tidour, who would probably have finished third in the Irish Independent Arkle at Cheltenham had he not tipped up two out, being accompanied to post by fast-ground trailblazer Duke of Buckingham who has won his last three.
ROOSTER BOOSTER FLYS THE FLAG FOR HOBBS AT AINTREE
Rooster Booster, so unlucky to be beaten by Irish raider Sacundai in last year's Martell Cognac Aintree Hurdle when Richard Johnson dropped his whip on the run-in, is likely to be Philip Hobbs' sole representative in Saturday's renewal of the £150,000 race, with stablemate Monkerhostin looking certain to take up an easier engagement on Thursday.
Declaring Rooster Booster "in great form" after his brave second to Hardy Eustace in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, Hobbs outlined his reasons today (Tuesday) for swerving the big one with Monkerhostin, who was put up 7lb after winning the Coral Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
He said: "The Martell Cognac Aintree Hurdle looks like being a really hot race and, in any event, I am not keen taking on Rooster Booster with Monkerhostin, so that would be the least likely of his three options.
"Monkerhostin would have topweight in Friday's Martell Cognac Handicap Hurdle, and, in all probability, he will run in the meeting's curtain-raiser on Thursday, the Grade 2 Martell Cognac Liverpool Hurdle."
Hobbs also confirmed that What's Up Boys, runner-up to Bindaree two years ago, will have a second crack at the Martell Cognac Grand National, having made an encouraging return from injury at Wincanton, where he finished fourth behind Exit Swinger.
"I was pleased with the performance of What's Up Boys, though I am not sure how strong the form might be," said Hobbs, who is hoping that Richard Johnson might be able to win the world's greatest race for the first time.
Rhinestone Cowboy, who ran the best race of his career when finishing third behind Monkerhostin off topweight in the Coral Hurdle at Cheltenham, is all set to lead Jonjo O'Neill's assault on Saturday's Martell Cognac Aintree Hurdle.
And, while some professionals were critical of the ride amateur JP Magnier gave Rhinestone Cowboy at Cheltenham, O'Neill confirmed that the youngster, son of the horse's owners, John and Sue Magnier, is to keep the ride in the £150,000 contest.
O'Neill said: "Rhinestone Cowboy runs and J P Magnier rides. I was absolutely delighted with both J P and the horse at Cheltenham. The boy did a great job.
"Rhinestone Cowboy has come out of the race really well. We were thrilled to bits with him and, if he runs as well as he did there, he ought to be thereabouts. He's in grand order."
O'Neill also has Smurfit Champion Hurdle third Intersky Falcon and Coral Cup ninth Quazar in the Grade One contest over two and a half miles.
He added: "Intersky Falcon has come out of the Champion in good form and it's all systems go for Saturday, but we will make a decision about Quazar later in the week."
START OF IRISH INVASION EXPECTED BEFORE DAWN
Aintree Racecourse's stable manager Derek Thompson has set his alarm clock for 3.30 tomorrow (Wednesday) morning as he prepares to greet the Irish invasion for the three-day Martell Cognac Grand National meeting which starts on Thursday.
Thompson, who gets used to a lack of sleep at this time of the year, said: "Most of the Irish challengers are sailing overnight and will arrive at Aintree around 4am on Wednesday, and they include the teams of both Christy Roche and Willie Mullins.
"However, though we are expecting the majority of the Irish runners for the Martell Cognac Grand National (Saturday, April 3) to be on that ferry, David's Lad is not scheduled to arrive until Thursday morning."
MARTELL COGNAC GRAND NATIONAL JOCKEYS RACE TO ALDER HEY ON FRIDAY
Patients at Alder Heys new £10-million cancer unit are looking forward to a return visit on Friday (April 2) by jockeys competing in this year's Martell Cognac Grand National at Aintree Racecourse.
This is the third year running the National jockeys have taken time out of their race preparation schedule to visit children being treated for cancer at the world-famous children's hospital.
Champion jockey Tony McCoy and past Martell Cognac Grand National winners Mick Fitzgerald , Carl Llewellyn, Jim Culloty and Tony Dobbin plus Richard Johnson, currently second to McCoy in the championship race, will be among those visiting.
Ladbrokes is donating £500 to Alder Hey Hospital to wager on the Martell Cognac Grand National for those jockey's mounts who take part in the hospital visit on Friday.
Balthazar Fabricius, a Ladbrokes spokesman, said: "We are delighted to help Alder Hey Hospital and hope that one of the jockeys is lucky enough to win the big race and increase our donation."
For McCoy and Fitzgerald the visit is part of a strong bond they have formed with the hospital after their first trip to the old ward in 2002. The pair raised money for the hospital through their inaugural golf challenge at The Belfry last year and have again chosen the hospital as the beneficiary of this year's event.
Christine Done, Alder Hey Fundraising Manager, said: " When the jockeys paid their first visit to the ward, the children were being treated in very outdated, cramped facilities.
"Now, thanks to the Rocking Horse Appeal, we have this magnificent unit that is completely conducive to modern medicine and the kind of environment that finally matches the level of care these young patients receive."
She added: "We are delighted that the jockeys are taking time out of their busy schedule for what is rapidly becoming an annual event. The children are really looking forward to their visit and their parents are hoping for some racing tips for the Martell Cognac Grand National on Saturday (April 3)."
BBC COVERAGE OF AINTREE
With live coverage on BBC ONE and BBC TWO, BBC Radio Five Live and the BBC Sport Website, as well as comprehensive coverage in the North West on BBC Radio Merseyside and North West Tonight', the BBC ensures that not a moment from the 2004 Martell Cognac Grand National is missed.
The BBC's top team for the 157th running of the world's most famous steeplechase is once again led by Sue Barker and Clare Balding, who will introduce three days of top quality racing action from Aintree.
Sue and Clare will be joined by Richard Pitman, Peter Scudamore, Norman Williamson and Lydia Hislop who report and provide analysis from the paddock.
Rishi Persad and special guest John Parrott will be out and about reporting from around the course, and Angus Loughran will provide viewers with all the latest betting and form news.
The BBC's expert commentary team is led by Jim McGrath, who is joined by Ian Bartlett, Tony O'Hehir and Darren Owen for the big race.
As host broadcaster, providing live coverage across the world, the BBC's 52-camera operation includes rider-cams' on three jockeys, as well as cameras mounted on four of the fences.
The BBC's Racing Editor Carl Hicks says: "The Grand National really is an event that draws in the whole nation, with people around Britain and the world stopping for fifteen minutes at 3.45pm.
"The BBC television coverage across three days at Aintree includes fourteen live races as well as taking in the electric atmosphere that makes the Grand National Meeting one of the world's sporting highlights."
Live BBC television coverage from Aintree will include five races each day on Thursday and Friday.
Saturday's Grand National Grandstand' will include live coverage of four races, including the Martell Cognac Grand National, followed by a full re-run with expert analysis.
On Friday evening (7.30pm, BBC TWO), the BBC's Grand National Preview' follows a number of the key characters in the lead up to the event, including twice Grand National-winning jockey Carl Llewellyn and Aintree Managing Director Charles Barnett.
There's also a special Grand National A Question of Sport' (Friday April 2, 7.00pm, BBC ONE) hosted by Sue Barker.
John Parrott returns as a team captain for this one-off programme, reunited with the opposing team captain Ally McCoist. The teams will consist of special Grand National guests.
BBC Radio Five Live has full live coverage of all three days of the Grand National meeting.
On Saturday the build-up starts in Breakfast' with Brian Alexander co-presenting live from Aintree from 6.30am, with Rachel Burdon back in the studio. Luke Harvey will join Brian at the course giving his hourly racing bulletins with top tips and Cornelius Lysaght will have the latest on the runners and riders, course news and interviews with the top names in the business.
Mark Pougatch will present Sport on Five' live from Aintree from 11am to 6pm, soaking up the atmosphere leading up to the big race. There will be interviews with jockeys, trainers and owners throughout the afternoon and the Grand National will be live at 3.45pm. John Hunt will head up the commentary team which includes Dougie Fraser, Peadar Flanagan and newcomer Matt Hill.
There will be live coverage of the 2.20pm and 2.55pm races whilst the 1.45pm will be played straight after the FA Cup semi final.
Five Live will have live coverage from Aintree on both Thursday and Friday in both Mayo' and Drive'. On Thursday the races covered will be 2.35pm Martell Cognac Cup Chase, the 3.10pm Martell Anniversary 4 YO Hurdle, the 3.45 Martell Cognac Fox Hunters' Chase and the 4.20 Martell Cognac Red Rum Chase.
On Friday the races include the 2.35pm Martell Top Novices' Hurdle, the 3.10pm Martell Cognac Melling Chase, the 3.45 Martell Topham Chase and the 4.20pm Martell Cognac Sefton Hurdle.
At 7pm on Friday, there will be a 60-minute preview of the Grand National
The BBC Sport Website, at www.bbc.co.uk/racing , provides the ultimate guide to the Grand National for both racing novices and experts alike. The special Grand National site - launching on Monday March 29 - will include all the latest news, previews and profiles of all the jockeys and trainers. During the meeting, there are full race-by-race reports as they happen across the three days as well as audio and video features - including details of where your horse fell/finished shortly after the race.
The BBC Sport Website's resident racing expert Honest Frank' is on hand to explain all the tricks of the trade - from what the Tic-Tac signals mean and how to bet at the bookies, to how to decipher a racecard or organise an office sweepstake. There is also Richard Pitman's Grand National course guide and a full daily diary from the track.
On the BBC Liverpool website at www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool, there's a special Grand National quiz with the chance to win a VIP prize. In order to be in with a chance of winning the prize - which includes a VIP trip to Aintree, full hospitality and a tour of the course - the user must answer correctly ten tough questions that test their knowledge of the Grand National. Also on the site is a 360 degree tour of Aintree, a virtual trip around the famous course and all the latest travel directions and information.
Regionally, BBC North West Tonight is providing up-to-the-minute coverage of the excitement building up to the race and offering a behind the scenes look at the preparations being made for the day. Throughout the Grand National, BBC Radio Merseyside will be broadcasting the latest news and information for the event.
On Thursday 1st April from 2pm-5pm Norman Thomas will be broadcasting live from the course on Saturday for the big race Billy Butler's morning show will be live from Aintree from 9.30am followed by all the action with Alan Jackson through the afternoon. Martin Brooks, BBC North West Head of Local and Regional Programming said: "We are delighted to be involved with an event which is truly a world wide spectacle and to bring the colour, tradition and excitement of the occasion to viewers and listeners across the North West."
For further information:
BBC television coverage and the BBC Sport Website James MacLeod 020 8576 1744 james.macleod@bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio Five Live Sally Trim 020 8225 6042 sally.trim@bbc.co.uk
BBC North West coverage Andrew Glynn 0161 244 4899 andrew.glynn@bbc.co.uk
Full television coverage details:
Thursday April 1
BBC TWO Racing from Aintree 1.30-4.45pm Including live coverage of:
2.00pm - £50,000 MARTELL COGNAC LIVERPOOL HURDLE (Grade 2), 3m 110y
2.35pm- £150,000 MARTELL COGNAC CUP CHASE (Grade 2), 3m 1f
3.10pm - £110,000 MARTELL COGNAC XO ANNIVERSARY 4-Y-O NOVICES' HURDLE (Grade 2), 2m
3.45pm - £30,000 MARTELL COGNAC FOXHUNTERS' CHASE, 2m 5f 110yds Grand National Course
4.20pm - £65,000 MARTELL COGNAC RED RUM HANDICAP CHASE (Grade 3), 2m
Friday April 2
BBC TWO Racing from Aintree 1.30-4.45pm Including live coverage of:
2.00pm - £40,000 MARTELL COGNAC V.S. HANDICAP CHASE, 3m 1f
2.35pm - £50,000 MARTELL COGNAC TOP NOVICES' HURDLE (Grade2), 2m 110yds
3.10pm - £150,000 MARTELL COGNAC MELLING CHASE (Grade 1), 2m 4f
3.45pm - £70,000 MARTELL COGNAC TOPHAM CHASE, 2m 5f 100yds
4.20pm - £75,000 MARTELL COGNAC SEFTON NOVICES' HURDLE (Grade 1), 3m 110yds
Friday April 2
A Question of Sport: Grand National Special 7.00-7.30pm BBC ONE
Friday April 2
Grand National Preview 7.30-8.00pm BBC TWO
Saturday April 3
Grand National Grandstand 1.00-2.00pm BBC TWO
2.00-4.45pm BBC ONE Including live coverage of:
1.45pm - £45,000 CORDON BLEU HANDICAP HURDLE (Listed), 2m 110yds
2.20pm - £100,000 MARTELL COGNAC MAGHULL NOVICES' CHASE (Grade 1), 2m
2.55pm - £150,000 MARTELL COGNAC AINTREE HURDLE (Grade 1), 2m 4f
3.45pm - £600,000 MARTELL COGNAC GRAND NATIONAL CHASE, 4m 4f
JUMP RACING CHAMPIONS TO BE OFFICIALLY RECOGNISED BY BHB
The outstanding performers of the 2003/2004 National Hunt season will be officially acknowledged at the BHB British Jump Racing Awards Press Conference & Luncheon on 17th May.
The Awards follow the inaugural BHB Flat Racing Awards earlier this year, and will be based on the Anglo-Irish Classifications, to be published on the same day.
The Awards Ceremony and Luncheon will take place at a central London hotel, and precede a Press Conference hosted by the relevant BHB Handicappers and their Irish counterparts.
An audience of leading owners, trainers, jockeys, senior industry figures and the media will gather to pay tribute to the stars of British Jump Racing, both equine and human. It will be the first time that the sport has its own ceremony, which will culminate in an Award for Horse of the Year.
BHB Marketing Director Chris John said: "The 2003/2004 season has already witnessed some memorable and historic moments that have captured the enduring appeal of Jump Racing. The BHB British Jump Racing Awards will ensure that our champions are given official recognition.
"I was delighted by the success of the Flat Racing Awards in January, and look forward to the Jumps equivalent, which will be a celebration of all that makes the sport so popular and marketable.
"The Awards will recognise horses either trained in Britain or, if trained abroad, achieving the highest category rating on a British racecourse. There will be Awards for the Champion Novice Hurdler and Novice Chaser and also for the Champions over the distances outlined in the Anglo-Irish Classifications."
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
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