Monday, March 28, 2005

ERIC BRISTOW WILL CONDUCT STANLEYBET LINCOLN DRAW ON THURSDAY AS 68 STAY IN

DONCASTER GOING TURNS GOOD

Only 22 of them will get to run in the Stanleybet Lincoln, the new maximum number for the straight mile at Town Moor because of the introduction of wider Steriline stalls.

Every year there is great debate about the effects of the draw for the Stanleybet Lincoln and connections will, for the eighth consecutive year, be able to select their own stall position at a celebrity draw at noon on Thursday, March 31, the first day of the Doncaster’s three-day Stanleybet Lincoln Meeting.

Eric Bristow is today announced as the celebrity who will conduct the draw ceremony. The most celebrated darts player ever, Bristow, nicknamed ‘the Crafty Cockney’, won five world titles and was awarded the MBE in 1989.

The horses who fail to make the cut for the Stanleybet Lincoln have a consolation race, the £25,000-added Stanleybet Spring Mile Handicap on Friday, which also has a safety limit of 22.

John Pullin, Doncaster’s clerk of the course, today reported the going as GOOD following rain over the weekend.

He said: “I am over the moon with the quality and number of horses in the Stanleybet Lincoln.

“Because of eight millimetres of rainfall over the weekend, the good to firm has come out of the ground and it is now good all round.

“We are not forecast significant rain this week so hopefully the going will be about the same on Saturday for the big race as it is now.”

The latest odds from Stanleybet are:
New Seeker 7, Divine Gift 8, Stream Of Gold 9, St Petersburg 12, Vortex 14, Always Esteemed 16, Blue Trojan 16, El Coto 16, Meshaheer 16, Alfonso 20, Blue Spinnaker 20, Blythe Knight 20, Everest 20, Mine 20, Uhoomagoo 20, Zero Tolerance 20, Appalachian Trail 25, Cardinal Venture 25, Evaluator 25, Flipando 25, Kamanda Laugh 25, Lucayan Legend 25, My Paris 25, Polygonal 25, Resplendent One 25, Common World 33, Digital 33, Forever Free 33, Jazz Scene 33, King’s Thought 33, Red Spell 33, Wing Commander 33, Barrissimo 40, Folio 40, Krugerrand 40, Rocket Force 40, Sew’n So Character 40, State Dilemma 40.

each-way a quarter the odds five places and non-runner no bet.

For more information, please contact John Pullin on 07775 943341.

THE STANLEYBET LINCOLN

Class 1, Heritage Handicap, Total Prize Fund £100,000, one mile, Doncaster, Saturday, April 2, 2005. For 4yo+. Weights: Lowest weight 7st 12lb. Highest weight not less than 9st 10lb. Any horse rated above 110 shall initially be treated as having that rating and the highest weight allotted shall be 9st 10lb. Subsequently, the excess over 110 in any rating shall be added to that horse without limitation to the highest weight to be carried. Penalties: after January 15, a winner of a Category A to C race 5lb. Entries closed Wednesday, January 5 (102 entries), weights revealed Wednesday, January 19, first confirmation stage January 25 (99 remained), second confirmation stage March 15 (84 remain), five-day confirmation stage March 28 (68 go forward), final declaration stage 10.00am March 31. Horses eliminated at the 48-hour declaration stage may be nominated for the Stanleybet Spring Mile on Friday, April 1, 2005. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Sunday, March 27, 2005. May not include some overseas form. Maximum 22 runners.

Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer
152053-53 MINE (IRE) 7-9-10 Mike Dawson James Bethell
241/021- MESHAHEER (USA) 6-9-07 Hamdan Al Maktoum Marcus Tregoning
242(1)4(P)-(2) VORTEX 6-9-07 Coriolis Partnership Gay Kelleway
04634- BLUE SPINNAKER (IRE) 6-9-06 G Sparkes G Hart S Curtis & T Dewhirst Mick Easterby
300065-(2) BLYTHE KNIGHT (IRE) 5-9-04 Maktoum Al Maktoum Ed Dunlop
102136- ST PETERSBURG 5-9-03 P Heath Mark Tompkins
1/24060- NEW SEEKER 5-9-02 Elite Racing Club Clive Cox
0106(0)(5)-030 FOREVER FREE (GER) 5-9-01 Ransom Family And Friends Philip Mitchell
040400- EL COTO 5-9-00 R J H Ltd & J P Hames Eddie McMahon
000221- ZERO TOLERANCE (IRE) 5-9-00 The Hornsey Warriors Racing Syndicate David Barron
5141- STREAM OF GOLD (IRE) 4-9-00 Ballymacoll Stud Sir Michael Stoute
046443-(0)5 KING'S THOUGHT 6-8-12 Mrs E Houlton Steve Gollings
1/60440- RESPLENDENT ONE (IRE) 4-8-11 Resplendent Racing Limited Terry Mills
21/1440- DIVINE GIFT 4-8-11 Bjorn Nielsen Michael Jarvis
63120-0 LUCAYAN LEGEND (IRE) 4-8-10 Lucayan Stud Richard Hannon
360510- POLYGONAL (FR) 5-8-10 Richard Thompson Lynda Ramsden
4(1)4000-(0)(3) ALWAYS ESTEEMED (IRE) 5-8-09 Sunpak Potatoes Kevin Ryan
03000(0)-00(1) UHOOMAGOO 7-8-08 J Duddy & Tony Fawcett Kevin Ryan
320/000- ROCKET FORCE (USA) 5-8-08 John Webb Steve Gollings
522111- MY PARIS 4-8-08 J D Spensley & Mrs M A Spensley Kevin Ryan
52420(6)-05000 JAZZ SCENE (IRE) 4-8-06 P Trant Mick Channon
16655(1)-(5) APPALACHIAN TRAIL (IRE) 4-8-06 G L S Partnership Ian Semple
30500-(0) WING COMMANDER 6-8-06 Steve Ryan Richard Fahey
221531- FLIPANDO (IRE) 4-8-06 Jenny Hazell David Barron
000210-(3) BLUE TROJAN (IRE) 5-8-06 The Ex Katy Boys Sylvester Kirk
00004(0)-(4)(4)(1) CARDINAL VENTURE (IRE) 7-8-05 Tony Fawcett Kevin Ryan
050405-0 COMMON WORLD (USA) 6-8-05 Josephine Hogan Tom Hogan IRE
00040(0)-(0)(0) STATE DILEMMA (IRE) 4-8-04 Danethorpe Racing Ltd Derek Shaw
(1)21115- KAMANDA LAUGH 4-8-03 John Sillett Barry Hills
051500- KRUGERRAND (USA) 6-8-03 The Square Table II Willie Musson
122022- EVALUATOR (IRE) 4-8-03 Mrs L M Askew Terry Mills
1263(1)(3)- RED SPELL (IRE) 4-8-02 Mrs John Lee Richard Hannon
046024- SEW'N'SO CHARACTER (IRE) 4-8-02 Aykroyd and Sons Ltd Michael Blanshard
0/6(0)-(6)(6)(6)(0) FOLIO (IRE) 5-8-01 Broughton Thermal Insulation & Partner Willie Musson
011040- EVEREST (IRE) 8-8-01 I S Sandhu and Partners Brian Ellison
021040- SAWWAAH (IRE) 8-8-01 Fayzad Thoroughbred Limited David Nicholls
02421- ALFONSO 4-8-00 Guy Reed Barry Hills
205064- DIGITAL 8-7-13 Bill Wightman Mick Channon
530006-(0) ODDSMAKER (IRE) 4-7-13 D Maloney & S Rudolf David Evans
3000(6)(2)-(0) CRAFTY FANCY (IRE) 4-7-13 Mrs F Houlihan Dominic ffrench Davis
1/35/00-(0)(0) BARRISSIMO (IRE) 5-7-13 Mrs Lorraine Charge Karl Burke
102363- MOHAWK STAR (IRE) 4-7-13 Richard Abbott & Mario Stavrou Venetia Williams
203144- ARKHOLME 4-7-12 I Russell Peter Winkworth
0210- RIO DE JANEIRO (IRE) 4-7-12 Fraser Miller Racing Patrick Chamings
122400- INCHLOSS (IRE) 4-7-11 R Thornhill Eddie McMahon
30210(5)-0 SEA STORM (IRE) 7-7-11 Maurice Chapman David MacLeod
153200- ST PANCRAS (IRE) 5-7-10 Michael Hill David Chapman
602531- GRANSTON (IRE) 4-7-08 The Four Players Partnership James Bethell
005000/- LOGSDAIL 5-7-08 D T L Limited Gary Moore
105051-(0) SANGIOVESE 6-7-08 Kentisbeare Quartet Hughie Morrison
000(6)06-(0)(0) FORTHRIGHT 4-7-08 Mrs B Quinn Gay Kelleway
062(6)-(1)(1)(4) SRI DIAMOND 5-7-05 Ascot Brew Racing Sylvester Kirk
(0)-(0)(3)(6) UP TEMPO (IRE) 7-7-05 Yorkshire Racing Club & Derek Blackhurst Kevin Ryan
6/10- CITY PALACE 4-7-05 John Webb Steve Gollings
0/62210- FITTING GUEST (IRE) 4-7-05 Tom Morley Pip Payne
505(0)(0)-(0) BARATHEA DREAMS (IRE) 4-7-04 Fitri Hay Stan Moore
(1)-(3)(2)(2)2 LES ARCS (USA) 5-7-04 Willie McKay Richard Guest
146600-6 HILLS OF GOLD 6-7-04 G Hart, D Scott & G Sparkes Mick Easterby
160000-(2) BEST BEFORE (IRE) 5-7-04 Waterline Racing Club David Evans
40-(0)(0)(0)(0) COMPTON DRAGON (USA) 6-7-02 John Connor Alan Berry
624(4)(0)(0)-5 STRONG HAND 5-7-01 Jean Turpin Mick Easterby
(4)(1)30-(1) ANDALUZA (IRE) 4-7-00 Pedro Rosas Peter Cundell
(3)(0)-(6)(2)(0) ERMINE GREY 4-7-00 L M Baker Derek Haydn Jones
20506(0)- ABBAJABBA 9-7-13 North Cheshire Trading & Storage Ltd Chris Fairhurst
(3)(0)(3)-(1)(0) CRESKELD (IRE) 6-6-12 Creskeld Racing Bryan Smart
020032-(0)(0) TWIST BOOKIE (IRE) 5-6-11 Fitri Hay Stan Moore
(4)(3)-(1)(6)(2) BOBBY CHARLES 4-6-06 Silent Partners Jon Scargill
0/1(0)2(0)(5)- WIZARD OF US 5-6-03 P Currey Mick Mullineaux

68 five-day confirmations

The 16 withdrawn at today’s confirmation stage were
TOLPUDDLE (IRE) 5-9-09 Patsy Byrne Tommy Stack IRE
MILLENNIUM FORCE 7-9-06 Aziz Merza Mick Channon
COLISAY 6-9-04 Amanda Perrett Amanda Perrett
PRINCE TUM TUM (USA) 5-9-04 International Carnival Partnership Gerard Butler
DESERT STAR 5-9-01 The Queen Sir Michael Stoute
DANDOUN 7-8-11 Mrs J A Simpson Chris Dwyer
NORTON (IRE) 8-8-10 Terry Mills Terry Mills
ROYAL GUARD 5-8-09 Richard Thompson John Hammond FR
FREE TRIP 4-8-09 Sheikh Mohammed John Gosden
CROW WOOD 6-8-09 Marie Taylor John Quinn
DENVER (IRE) 4-8-03 Gigginstown House Stud Brian Meehan
MOMTIC (IRE) 4-8-01 Heath, Keenan & Verrier William Jarvis
TABLEAU (USA) 4-8-01 Mrs S L Whitehead Amanda Perrett
PAGAN PRINCE 8-7-06 M C S D Racing Ltd Peter Haley SPA
RED CONTACT (USA) 4-7-06 Meddler Bloodstock Julian Poulton
GEMS BOND 5-7-00 Fitri Hay Stan Moore

THE STANLEYBET LINCOLN - FACTS AND FIGURES

* A race called the Lincolnshire Handicap was first run over two miles at Lincoln in August, 1849.

* In 1853, a new fixture was staged at Lincoln in February and featured a race called the Lincoln Spring Handicap, run over a mile and a half and won by Caurire. The distance of this contest was reduced to a mile in 1855 and moved to a date in March.

* In 1859 the two races merged to become the Lincolnshire Handicap, run over a mile in March.

* The Lincolnshire Handicap was run at Lincoln (“The Carholme”) up to and including 1964. Following that course’s closure, the race moved to Doncaster in 1965 and was renamed the Lincoln Handicap.

* Along with the Grand National, the Stanleybet Lincoln forms the “Spring Double.” Jockey Dave Dick achieved the unique distinction of winning both races - he scored in the Lincoln of 1941 on Gloaming, carrying just 7st 4lb and went to triumph in the “Devon Loch” Grand National of 1956 on ESB, who shouldered 11st 3lb to victory.

* During World War II, three runnings were held at Pontefract (1943-1945). The 1916 renewal was at Lingfield, while there was no race in 1917 or 1918 due to World War I.

* The dozen winners of the Stanleybet Lincoln between 1926 and 1937 (King Of Clubs (1926), Priory Park (1927), Dark Warrior (1928), Elton (1929), Leonidas II (1930), Knight Error (1931), Jerome Fandor (1932), Dorigen (1933), Play On (1934), Flamenco (1935), Overcoat (1936) and Marmaduke Jinks (1937)) gave their names to the horses used in the popular board game Totopoly.

* There have been only been two dual winners of the Stanleybet Lincoln - Ob (1906 & 1907) and Babur (1957 & 1958). No horse has managed to win more than once since the race was transferred to Town Moor.

* The biggest shocks came with the 100/1 shots King Of Clubs (1926), Elton (1929) and Jockey Treble (1947). Since it has been run at Doncaster, the biggest-price winner was the 50/1 shot Bronze Hill (1973) while there have been six 33/1 successes during the same period - Southwark Star (1975), Cuvee Charlie (1988), Evichstar (1990), Roving Minstrel (1995), Stone Ridge (1996) and Zucchero (2002).

* The shortest-price winner was Saucebox (1855, Evens). During its time at Doncaster, six favourites have obliged - Riot Act (1966), Captains Wings (1978), Cataldi (1985), Right Wing (1999), John Ferneley (2000) and Nimello (2001).

* Since its transfer to Doncaster, the most successful trainer has been Paul Cole, with three wins (Kuala Lipis (1997), John Ferneley (2000) and Nimello (2001)).

* No jockey has been able to win more than twice since 1965. Jimmy Fortune and Richard Quinn are the only current jockey to have ridden two winners, joining Scobie Breasley, Sandy Barclay, Edward Hide and Greville Starkey. The Lincoln was one of the few races to elude Lester Piggott.

* Since 1965, Cataldi (1985) and Babodana (2004) share the honour of having carrying the biggest weight to victory - 9st 10lb. The lowest winning weight during the same period was the 7st 3lb carried by Southwark Star (1975).

THE STANLEYBET LINCOLN ROLL OF HONOUR 1965 - 2004

Doncaster, One Mile. Run at Lincoln prior to 1965 apart from Pontefract 1943-1945 and Lingfield 1916, No race 1917 & 1918

YEAR HORSE AGE/WGT/DRAW OWNER TRAINER JOCKEY SP RAN
1965 OLD TOM 6-8-07 (20) J L Ellis Peter Easterby Scobie Breasley 22/1 38
1966 RIOT ACT 4-8-03 (45) Mrs John F C Bryce Sam Armstrong Scobie Breasley 8/1F 49
1967 BEN NOVUS 5-7-10 (12) John Peatt Bill Hide Peter Robinson 22/1 24
1968 FRANKINCENSE 4-9-05 (31) Lady Halifax John Oxley Greville Starkey 100/8 31
1969 FOGGY BELL 4-7-11 (9) J Forrester Denys Smith Sandy Barclay 20/1 25
1970 NEW CHAPTER 4-8-01 (15) C P Goulandris Sam Armstrong Sandy Barclay 100/9 23
1971 DOUBLE CREAM 4-8-09 (20) R F Dennis Bill Elsey Edward Hide 30/1 26
1972 SOVEREIGN BILL 6-8-12 (6) W Barr Peter Robinson Edward Hide 9/2F 21
1973 BRONZE HILL 4-7-09 (22) Mrs E Smith Peter Easterby Mark Birch 50/1 26
1974 QUIZAIR 5-7-13 (22) W MacDonald Ryan Jarvis Taffy Thomas 28/1 26
1975 SOUTHWARK STAR 4-7-03 (18) T Hammond George Peter-Hoblyn Richard Fox 33/1 24
1976 THE HERTFORD 5-8-06 (14) B Shine Brian Swift Geoff Lewis 20/1 26
1977 BLUSTERY 5-7-11 (24) R Lorenz Mark Smyly Dennis McKay 20/1 26
1978 CAPTAINS WINGS 5-7-10 (6) M House Ron Boss Michael Wigham 13/2F 25
1979 FAIR SEASON 5-8-10 (15) Colonel J Berry Ian Balding Greville Starkey 8/1 23
1980 KINGS RIDE 4-8-12 (2) D Clark Bill Wightman Geoff Baxter 10/1 18
1981 SAHER 5-8-12 (9) Jeff Smith Ron Sheather Ray Cochrane 14/1 19
1982 KING’S GLORY 4-8-03 (22) C Heard Philip Mitchell Bryn Crossley 11/1 26
1983 MIGHTY FLY 4-8-04 (5) Mrs V Tory David Elsworth Steve Cauthen 14/1 26
1984 SAVING MERCY 4-8-09 (8) Dr M Benacerraf Dermot Weld IRE Walter Swinburn 14/1 26
1985 CATALDI 4-9-10 (8) Khalid Abdullah Guy Harwood Greville Starkey 10/1F 26
1986 K-BATTERY 5-8-04 (12) Mrs M C Butler Bill Elsey John Lowe 25/1 25
1987 STAR OF A GUNNER 7-8-08 (6) James Neville Richard Holder John Reid 9/1 25
1988 CUVEE CHARLIE 4-8-01 (1) Richard Davies Hugh Collingridge Mark Rimmer 33/1 25
1989 FACT FINDER 5-7-09 (6) A D Spence Reg Akehurst Tyrone Williams 20/1 25
1990 EVICHSTAR 6-7-12 (14) Gwyn Meredith Jimmy FitzGerald Alan Munro 33/1 24
1991 AMENABLE 6-8-01 (23) W G Spink David Barron Alex Greaves 22/1 25
1992 HIGH LOW 4-8-00 (17) Brian Haggas William Haggas Jimmy Quinn 16/1 24
1993 HIGH PREMIUM 5-8-08 (5) P A Leonard Lynda Ramsden Kieren Fallon 16/1 24
1994 OUR RITA 5-8-05 (6) Jonathan Crisp Dr Jon Scargill Darryll Holland 16/1 24
1995 ROVING MINSTREL 4-8-03 (11) Joy McMahon Bryan McMahon Kevin Darley 33/1 23
1996 STONE RIDGE 4-8-07 (6) Mrs Chris Harrington Richard Hannon Dane O’Neill 33/1 24
1997 KUALA LIPIS 4-8-06 (21) HRH Sultan Ahmad Shah Paul Cole Richard Quinn 11/1 24
1998 HUNTERS OF BRORA 8-9-00 (23) Robert Gibbons James Bethell Jason Weaver 16/1 23
1999 RIGHT WING 5-9-05 (8) The Earl Cadogan John Dunlop Richard Quinn 9/2F 24
2000 JOHN FERNELEY 5-8-10 (1) Richard Green (Fine Paintings) Paul Cole Jimmy Fortune 7/1JF 24
2001 NIMELLO 5-8-09 (1) Constantinos Shiacolas Paul Cole Jimmy Fortune 9/2F 23
2002 ZUCCHERO 6-8-13 (7) Philip Banfield David Arbuthnot Simon Whitworth 33/1 23
2003 PABLO 4-8-11 (6) Guy Reed Barry Hills Michael Hills 5/1 24
2004 BABODANA 4-9-10 (23) M P Bowring Mark Tompkins Philip Robinson 20/1 24
STANLEYBET LINCOLN DRAW

The draw since the race was first run at Doncaster

YEAR WINNER WINNERS’ DRAW PLACED DRAW GOING FIELD SIZE
1965 OLD TOM 20 38, 36, 31 Yielding 38
1966 RIOT ACT 45 24, 35, 47 Good 49
1967 BEN NOVUS 12 17, 21, 18 Hard 24
1968 FRANKINCENSE 31 19, 17, 28 Good on top 31
1969 FOGGY BELL 9 22, 17, 8 Yielding 25
1970 NEW CHAPTER 15 11, 23, 5 Good 23
1971 DOUBLE CREAM 20 25, 21, 1 Good 26
1972 SOVEREIGN BILL 6 17, 12, 2 Good 21
1973 BRONZE HILL 22 21, 24, 8 Good 26
1974 QUIZAIR 22 20, 23, 16 Yielding 26
1975 SOUTHWARK STAR 18 22, 16, 21 Soft 24
1976 THE HERTFORD 14 20, 24, 16 Good 26
1977 BLUSTERY 24 23, 25, 20 Soft 26
1978 CAPTAINS WINGS 6 8, 13, 2 Firm 25
1979 FAIR SEASON 15 22, 23, 1 Yielding 23
1980 KINGS RIDE 2 10, 6, 13 Good 18
1981 SAHER 9 16, 6, 11 Good/Soft 19
1982 KINGS GLORY 22 11, 23,18 Good 26
1983 MIGHTY FLY 5 8, 15, 19 Good/Soft 26
1984 SAVING MERCY 8 5, 2, 9 Soft 26
1985 CATALDI 8 12, 11,24 Soft(Hvy ptchs) 26
1986 K-BATTERY 12 1, 9, 15 Good 25
1987 STAR OF A GUNNER 6 22, 3, 24 Soft 25
1988 CUVEE CHARLIE 1 6, 8, 2 Soft 25
1989 FACT FINDER 6 25, 9, 16 Good 25
1990 EVICHSTAR 14 20, 21,24 Firm 24
1991 AMENABLE 23 7, 2, 14 Soft 25
1992 HIGH LOW 17 5, 6, 22 Good 24
1993 HIGH PREMIUM 5 6, 9, 4 Good/Firm 24
1994 OUR RITA 6 7, 5*, 22 Good/Firm 24
1995 ROVING MINSTREL 11 12, 4, 10 Good/Firm 23
1996 STONE RIDGE 6 7, 15, 1 Soft 24
1997 KUALA LIPIS 21 6, 4, 10 Good/Firm 24
1998 HUNTERS OF BRORA 23 12, 6, 5 Good 23
1999 RIGHT WING 8 11, 7, 22 Good/Soft 24
2000 JOHN FERNELEY 1 2, 21, 8 Good 24
2001 NIMELLO 1 6, 2, 4 Soft (Heavy in Places) 23
2002 ZUCCHERO 7 6, 13, 12 Good/Soft 23
2003 PABLO 6 7, 1, 12 Good (Gd to Soft places) 24
2004 BABODANA 23 16, 12, 24 Good 24

* In 1994, the horse from stall 13 finished third past the post but was disqualified.

STANLEYBET SPRING MILE HANDICAP
1993 CEE-JAY-AY 16 17, 24, 5 Good/Firm 23
1994 GLOWING JADE 13 5, 1, 2 Gd/Firm (Gd ptchs) 17
1995 SHARP PROSPECT 22 10,15,18 Good 23
1996 COOL EDGE 2 1, 7, 3 Gd/Soft (Soft ptchs) 21
1997 ARTFUL DANE 6 14, 5, 17 Good/Firm 23
1998 MOZAMBIQUE 8 12, 18, 19 Good 24
1999 BOMB ALASKA 19 16, 15, 8 Good/Soft 17
2000 KATY NOWAITEE 4 17, 8, 22 Good 23
2001 MELODIAN 3 1, 5, 16 Soft (Heavy in Places) 22
2002 LADY BEAR 1 3, 20, 10 Good/Soft 24
2003 ALDORA 10 9, 1, 6 Good (Gd to Soft places) 24
2004 AUTUMN GLORY 19 20, 21, 15 Good 24

CRYSTAL D’AINAY GOING FORWARD FOR THE BETFAIR BOWL

“I am planning to school him twice more, see what else is in the race and what the ground is like before making the final decision.”

Andrew Tulloch, Aintree’s clerk of the course, commented: "The Betfair Bowl gets the meeting off to a cracking start on Thursday, April 7 and we are delighted to have Betfair on board.

“Hopefully, their generous support will be repaid with a thrilling initial running of the Betfair Bowl.”

The Betfair Bowl, formerly called the Martell Cup, is run over three miles and one furlong of the Mildmay Course and was founded in 1984. The winners include many of the best chasers over the years, such as Wayward Lad, Desert Orchid, Barton Bank, See More Business, Florida Pearl and First Gold. Entries close on Saturday, April 2.

Betfair, the world’s leading betting exchange, signed a three-year deal in December to become the Official Betting Partner of the John Smith’s Grand National meeting, which attracts more than 600 million television viewers worldwide.

The exclusive partnership includes the sponsorship of two races - the Betfair Bowl and the betfair.com Handicap Chase (Friday, April 8) - during the three-day meeting which runs from Thursday to Saturday, April 7-9, 2005.

Betfair will have on-course branding for the meeting, including a live in-running odds board positioned opposite the main grandstands. Betfair will also supply the official betting prices, which means that for the first time in its long history, the official odds for the Grand National will be in decimals rather than fractions.

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

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