An unprecedented 99 horses remain in Saturday's £800,000 John Smith's Grand National at Aintree after today's five-day confirmation stage although only the 40 highest-weighted horses at the final declaration stage on Thursday will be able to challenge for racing's most famous prize.
Horse number 40 in the race this year would currently carry 10st 8lb. There are two horses - Black Apalachi and Philson Run - on that weight and they are at the moment arranged in alphabetical order - but tomorrow an official elimination order will be released by the British Horseracing Authority for horses on the same weight.
In 2007, there were 68 horses remaining in the John Smith's Grand National at the same stage with the 40th horse on 10st 2lb.
Just 16 horses came out at today's confirmation stage and Cloudy Lane, winner of his last three outings, could start one of the warmest favourites for many years. The eight-year-old is trained by Donald McCain junior - whose father Ginger won the John Smith's Grand National four times, most famously with Red Rum (1973, 1974 and 1977) and then Amberleigh House (2004).
The 2005 winner Hedgehunter and fellow Irish raider Hi Cloy head this year's weights on 11st 12lb and they are among 21 hopefuls trained in Ireland.
Other leading Irish-trained entries include last year's third Slim Pickings, the Willie Mullins-trained Snowy Morning, the well-backed King Johns Castle, Chelsea Harbour, representing Mullins' brother Tom, and the Tony Martin-trained Dun Doire.
Last season's totesport Becher Chase hero Mr Pointment will bid to give champion trainer Paul Nicholls a first John Smith's Grand National success, while 12-times champion jockey Tony McCoy will be aboard Butler's Cabin as he bids to land the £800,000 contest after a dozen previously unsuccessful rides.
Trainer Howard Johnson, owner Graham Wylie and jockey Denis O'Regan, who enjoyed a big-race Cheltenham Festival double with Inglis Drever and Tidal Bay, will be represented by Bewleys Berry.
Last year's runner-up McKelvey and fourth Philson Run also represent the 2007 form, while other notable contenders include the David Pipe-trained Comply Or Die, winner of the Eider Chase last time out, and Simon, who finished fourth in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton last month, and the French-trained L'Ami.
The official going on the Grand National course was changed to good to soft this afternoon. The Mildmay course at Aintree remains good to soft, good in places. There could be some rain tomorrow.
Totesport, the official betting partner of the John Smith's Grand National meeting, has reacted to strong support for the Donald McCain-trained big-race favourite Cloudy Lane, by this morning cutting the eight-year-old's odds to 5/1 from 6/1.
Cloudy Lane landed a hat-trick of victories when handing a seven-length defeat to Ungaro over three and a quarter miles at Doncaster on March 1 and could start the shortest-priced favourite for the £800,000 John Smith's Grand National since Red Rum finished second to L'Escargot in 1975.
Cloudy Lane's impressive form this year has seen his odds tumble. The Trevor Hemmings-owned gelding was a 25/1 shot with totesport when the weights were announced on February 5 and he is now officially 20lb well in, having since climbed the handicap with wins at Ayr and Doncaster.
Totesport spokesman Damian Walker said today: "Cloudy Lane's chance has been boosted by positive weather bulletins that indicate the ground on John Smith's Grand National Day might not be as slow as had earlier been expected.
"Punters have taken this as the green light to get behind the National favourite and his price could continue to contract from now until race time.
"The big question is this: Will the once-a-year punters, who would have backed Cloudy Lane because of the "McCain Factor", be put off by his skinny odds on the day and look elsewhere?
"The answer to that question will ultimately determine whether Cloudy Lane will trade as short as Red Rum's 1975 Grand National starting price of just 7/2."
Latest totesport betting on the John Smith's Grand National
5 (from 6) Cloudy Lane, 9 Slim Pickings, 11 Comply Or Die, 12 Simon, 14 Bewleys Berry, Butler's Cabin, 16 Chelsea Harbour, Kings John Castle, Snowy Morning, 18 Mr Pointment, 20 Hedgehunter, Point Barrow, 22 McKelvey, 25 L'Ami, Mon Mome, Philson Run, 28 Dun Doire, Turko, 33 D'Argent, Joes Edge, Kelami, Vodka Bleu, 40 Idle Talk, Knowhere, Newbay Prop, Ossmoses, 50 Backbeat, Baily Breeze, Black Apalachi, Fundamentalist, Irish Raptor, Longshanks, Madison Du Berlais, Naunton Brook, Noir Et Vert, Opera Mundi, You're Special, 66 BAR
Each-way a quarter the odds 1, 2, 3, 4
Non-runner no bet
EARLY ARRIVAL FOR WELL-SUPPORTED KING JOHN'S CASTLE
King John's Castle, backed in from 40/1 to 16/1 for Saturday's John Smith's Grand National, is expected be the first horse to book in at Aintree Racecourse, with Arthur Moore's nine-year-old due to arrive in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Moore, whose father Dan won the Grand National in 1975 with L'Escargot, will be hoping that King John's Castle can break a poor record in the race that started in 1982 when his nitial runner, Mullacurry, fell at the first fence. In the 25 years since, Moore has had another 12 starters in the John Smith's Grand National, but has yet to have one compete the course.
King John's Castle is owned by JP McManus and will be ridden by Moore's nephew Paul Carberry in Saturday's showpiece event which, with prize money of £800,000, makes the 2008 John Smith's Grand National the richest jump race ever.
Tom Taaffe's two Grand National hopefuls, Slim Pickings and Tumbling Dice, are also expected to be early arrivals on Tuesday. Taaffe, who for many years rode for Moore's stable, had his first runner in the John Smith's Grand National last year and came close to a dream start when, in a fabulous finish to the race, Slim Pickings finished third, just two and a half lengths behind the winner Silver Birch.
Stable manager Derek Thompson can remember the times when he would stay up and greet in all the overnight arrivals: "When I was a bit younger, I could do that. I remember one year when I went eight days without going to bed but, as you get a bit older, you have to be more sensible," he said. McGovern is still not taking it too easy though, expecting to be working till 11:30pm each night and back in the stables by 4:30am in the morning.
totesport also have the following Grand National specials
IRISH-TRAINED GRAND NATIONAL
10/3 SLIM PICKINGS
5 CHELSEA HARBOUR
11/2 HEDGEHUNTER
6 SNOWY MORNING
13/2 KING JOHNS CASTLE
7 POINT BARROW
8 DUN DOIRE
12 BAILY BREEZE
14 BLACK APALACHI
16 NEWBAY PROP
25 HI CLOY
25 NO FULL
25 TUMBLING DICE
28 LIVINGSTONEBRAMBLE
33 MERDERKA
33 NATIVE JACK
40 BEANTOWN
40 WONDERKID
40 IN THE HIGH GRASS
66 GLENFINN CAPTAIN
100 SECRETOFSHAMBHALA
EACH WAY A QUARTER THE ODDS A PLACE 1-2-3 (UNLESS 16 OR MORE RUN)
ALL QUOTED.
WINNING WEIGHT
5/6..…11st and above
5/6…..Under 11st
WIN ONLY. ALL QUOTED.
NUMBER OF FINISHERS
10…..8 or Less
3…..9 - 12 (incl)
11/4…13---16 (incl)
11/4…17 - 20 (incl)
9/2…..21 - 25 (incl)
10…..26 - 30 (incl)
33…..31 or More
WIN ONLY. ALL QUOTED.
WINNING DISTANCE
5/2…0 ---- 1.5 lengths (inclusive)
5/2…Over 1.5 lengths to 3 lengths
5/2…Over 3 lengths to 10 lengths
7/2…Over 10 lengths
WIN ONLY. ALL QUOTED.
IRISH TRAINED WINNER 9/4
THE 2008 JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL
Class 1, Grade 3, £800,000 total Prize Fund, 4.15pm, Aintree, Saturday, April 5, 2008. For six-year-olds old and upwards which are allotted a rating of 110 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including February 3, 2008. Horses which are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain or Ireland at January 29, 2008, may also be entered. Such horses may be eligible for a weight providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse's racecourse performances to February 3, 2008, would merit a minimum rating of 110. To qualify horses must have run at least three times in Steeple Chases run under the Rules of Racing of the same Recognised Turf Authority up to and including February 3, 2008. At the Handicapper's discretion such horses may be allocated a rating. The decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final. No penalties after publication of the weights. Entries closed January 29, entries revealed January 30 (150 entries, 1 not qualified), weights revealed February 5, first forfeit stage March 4 (125 remained), second forfeit stage March 18 (115 remained). Five-day confirmation stage March 31 (99 remain), final declaration stage 10.00am, April 3. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Sunday, March 30. The confirmations
Form Horse Age Owner Trainer
2/500-P502 HEDGEHUNTER (IRE) 12-11-12 Trevor Hemmings Willie Mullins IRE
P-2625142 HI CLOY (IRE) 11-11-12 Susan McCloy Michael Hourigan IRE
U-135P16 KNOWHERE (IRE) 10 -11-11 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
5/122-416 MR POINTMENT (IRE) 9-11-11 Stockton Heath Racing Paul Nicholls
5/U40-16447 OLLIE MAGERN 10-11-11 Roger Nicholls Nigel Twiston-Davies
210P-P123 TURKO (FR) 6-11-10 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
03-4425 MADISON DU BERLAIS (FR) 7-11-09 Roger Stanley & Yvonne Reynolds II David Pipe
11F-52U4 SIMON 9-11-07 Mercy Rimell John Spearing
1120-1P OPERA MUNDI (FR) 6-11-06 Sir Robert Ogden Paul Nicholls
r416F5PP IRON MAN (FR) 7-11-05 Roddy Owen & Paul Fullagar Peter Bowen
6P-2412103 FUNDAMENTALIST (IRE) 10-11-04 Colin Cornes Nigel Twiston-Davies
43011-303 BUTLER'S CABIN (FR) 8-11-03 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
F53-62S5 SLIM PICKINGS (IRE) 9-11-03 Doubtful Five Syndicate Tom Taaffe IRE
4P3F6514 CHELSEA HARBOUR (IRE) 8-11-02 Frances Duffin Tom Mullins IRE
400-01105 VODKA BLEU (FR) 9-11-02 David Johnson David Pipe
00-63003 L'AMI (FR) 9-11-01 J P McManus Francois Doumen FR
124-F1133 SNOWY MORNING (IRE) 8-11-01 Quayside Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
P/420F-2P BEWLEYS BERRY (IRE) 10-11-00 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
2P0450-0P CONTRABAND 10-11-00 Fergus Wilson Paul Murphy
410612-00 MCKELVEY (IRE) 9-11-00 Noel Elliott Peter Bowen
P-20030 JOAACI (IRE) 8-10-13 David Johnson David Pipe
2-0000403 POINT BARROW (IRE) 10-10-13 Mrs P Clune Hughes Patrick Hughes IRE
P0150P-220 CORNISH REBEL (IRE) 11-10-12 Halewood International Ltd Lisa Williamson
PP2-P014 D'ARGENT (IRE) 11-10-12 Nigel Bunter Alan King
30-434P2 NO FULL (FR) 7-10-12 Mrs P Doyle Eoin Doyle IRE
3-F106P0 BAILY BREEZE (IRE) 9-10-11 R Scott Mouse Morris IRE
522-360P BOB HALL (IRE) 7-10-11 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neil
201U-5111 CLOUDY LANE 8-10-11 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain Jnr
U22P-2221 KING JOHNS CASTLE (IRE) 9-10-11 J P McManus Arthur Moore IRE
422434-P36 MON MOME (FR) 8-10-11 Vida Bingham Venetia Williams
026-2P0 CORNISH SETT (IRE) 9-10-10 Peter Hart Paul Nicholls
PP-104329 NAUNTON BROOK 9-10-10 David Langdon Nigel Twiston-Davies
554-50626 TUMBLING DICE (IRE) 9-10-10 Lucy Donegan Tom Taaffe IRE
FP/24/0-14 BACKBEAT (IRE) 11-10-09 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
6/4P/-0P21 COMPLY OR DIE (IRE) 9-10-09 David Johnson David Pipe
UU-20U505 IDLE TALK (IRE) 9-10-09 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain Jnr
2P-4300F2 KELAMI (FR) 10-10-09 Halewood International Ltd Francois Doumen FR
11305-540 MILAN DEUX MILLE (FR) 6-10-09 Fergus & Judith Wilson David Pipe
3PF-013P7 NADOVER (FR) 7-10-09 Tony Hayward and Barry Fulton Charlie Mann
0-564420 BLACK APALACHI (IRE) 9-10-08 Gerard Burke Dessie Hughes IRE
1P6/04-2B PHILSON RUN (IRE) 12-10-08 Gale Force One Nick Williams
62-166P0P ARDAGHEY (IRE) 9-10-07 D & S Goodman Nigel Twiston-Davies
0F251P-062 DUN DOIRE (IRE) 9-10-07 Dunderry Racing Syndicate Tony Martin IRE
06/001P-U0 JOES EDGE (IRE) 11-10-07 Chemipetro Limited Ferdy Murphy
10F0/16-0 DROMBEAG (IRE) 10-10-06 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
21-0PF0F DUNBRODY MILLAR (IRE) 10-10-06 Dundon Else Partnership Peter Bowen
43-630301 IN THE HIGH GRASS (IRE) 7-10-06 Mrs M Hally Tom Taaffe IRE
146/0/10- LONGSHANKS 11-10-06 Alan Halsall Kim Bailey
312/452-6 OSSMOSES (IRE) 11-10-06 Don Forster Don Forster
P-2UU4610 LE DUC (FR) 9-10-05 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
U0-6000 LIVINGSTONEBRAMBLE (IRE) 12-10-05 Favourites Racing Willie Mullins IRE
65-2FP0FU0 MERDEKA (IRE) 8-10-05 Maurice Clifford Tom Taaffe IRE
3/02-223 PAK JACK (FR) 8-10-05 The Bellflower Pak Jack Partnership Richard Phillips
3542-4P THEATRE KNIGHT (IRE) 10-10-05 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
1650PPP BALLYCASSIDY (IRE) 12-10-04 Roddy Owen & Paul Fullagar Peter Bowen
141-1F4P BLUE SPLASH (FR) 8-10-04 Walters Plant Hire Ltd Peter Bowen
P12/-P225P ERIC'S CHARM (FR) 10-10-04 Martin St Quinton & Peter Deal Oliver Sherwood
U0-1061465 IRISH RAPTOR (IRE) 9-10-04 Caroline Beresford-Wylie Nigel Twiston-Davies
11F2-00P LOULOU NIVERNAIS (FR) 9-10-04 Mrs A Heayns Nigel Hawke
3P-5P134P5 NEWBAY PROP (IRE) 9-10-04 Bill Moffett Tony Martin IRE
330-1111 RISK ACCESSOR (IRE) 13-10-04 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
110-33205 BANNISTER LANE 8-10-03 Shaw Hill Golf Club(Sage Cott Props Ltd) Donald McCain Jnr
1F-04065 GLENFINN CAPTAIN (IRE) 9-10-03 J P McManus Tom Taaffe IRE
122-505504 LANKAWI 6-10-03 Jill Day Peter Bowen
60F0U0 TOMMY SPAR 8-10-03 Ralph Morgans Peter Bowen
4312-34P WHISPERED SECRET (GER) 9-10-03 David Manasseh David Pipe
12-P4P13 BALLYFOY (IRE) 7-10-02 M George Tom George
F60P00-3P INNOX (FR) 12-10-02 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
053U3P- SWEET DIVERSION (IRE) 9-10-02 Ian Marshall Evan Williams
P0P0-00521 TAKE THE STAND (IRE) 12-10-02 David Robbins & Frank Ridge Peter Bowen
621P1F/-P YOU'RE SPECIAL (USA) 11-10-02 Diane O' Rourke Ferdy Murphy
0/1P061/-0P FUSTRIEN DU PAON (FR) 12-10-01 Fergus Wilson Richard Chotard FR
6P-6FP23 LEADING MAN (IRE) 8-10-01 Mrs C McKeane Ferdy Murphy
P62P-P4P NITRAT (FR) 7-10-01 Peter Hans Vogt Francois Doumen FR
123112-4 NOIR ET VERT (FR) 7-10-01 Plantation Stud Ferdy Murphy
323-0P3P2 PREACHER BOY 9-10-01 Hunt & Co (Bournemouth) Ltd Ron Hodges
415/-2P0P AZULEJO (FR) 10-10-00 J Wilson & T Wilson Michael Scudamore
3110-PP2P6 FLINTOFF (USA) 7-10-00 Andrew Flintoff & Paul Beck Venetia Williams
200-563U FLYING ENTERPRISE (IRE) 8-10-00 Malcolm Edwards Evan Williams
231453P IRISH WOLF (FR) 8-10-00 The Hacking Partnership Peter Bowen
2/1F-1SF NOT LEFT YET (IRE) 7-9-13 David Johnson David Pipe
412002203 BURNTOAKBOY 10-9-12 Dr Richard & Laura Newland Dr Richard Newland
0/04P60-2 NATIVE JACK (IRE) 14-9-12 G Burke/R Bagnall/N O'Farrell/K Sexton Philip Rothwell IRE
1120-0PP MALETTON (FR) 8-9-10 Malcolm Edwards Evan Williams
P0P-53PP5 ROYAL ROSA (FR) 9-9-10 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
PPU-043PP THE OUTLIER (IRE) 10-9-10 P Murphy Venetia Williams
4232/-41P BEANTOWN (IRE) 10-9-08 Eoin Barry Sean Aherne IRE
2003FP4 MODEL SON (IRE) 10-9-08 P J Hughes Developments Ltd Paul Blockley
F0030-302P20 ANOTHER RUM (IRE) 10-9-06 Ronnie Lilley John Weymes
F0-45U1P MCEVOY (IRE) 8-9-06 Phil Cunningham Evan Williams
U/1431-5PP BOSHAM MILL 10-9-05 Mark Gichero Brendan Powell
31-4UP66 SILVER JACK (IRE) 10-9-05 Mrs J Batey Martin Todhunter
6P-061106 VICTORY GUNNER (IRE) 10-9-05 Ron Bartlett & F Ayres Craig Roberts
4PP02PP3 MR ED (IRE) 10-9-04 Gwilym Morris Peter Bowen
3-615203 HENRY'S PRIDE (IRE) 8-9-01 P J Hughes Developments Ltd Alison Thorpe
12/122/-4 TOULOUSE-LAUTREC (IRE) 12-9-01 John French Tom George
0126556 SECRETOFSHAMBHALA (IRE) 9-9-00 Michael McGinley Tom Mullins IRE
500P-6106 WONDERKID 8-9-00 Bill Moffett Tony Martin IRE
4P-24314 BENGO (IRE) 8-8-12 Willsford Racing Incorporated Ben De Haan
99 entries remain after March 31 five-day confirmation stage
21 Irish-trained entries
4 French-trained entries
THE FOLLOWING 16 HORSES WERE REMOVED AT THE MARCH 31 FIVE-DAY CONFIRMATION STAGE:
BILLYVODDAN (IRE), KNIGHT LEGEND (IRE), UNGARO (FR), ALEXANDER TAIPAN (IRE), ALWAYS WAINING (IRE), OVER THE CREEK, PATSY HALL (IRE), ROYAL COUNTY STAR (IRE), HOMER WELLS (IRE), URSUMMAN (IRE), COOL RUNNING (IRE), OSCAR INDIA (IRE), FINAL ACT (IRE), JUFUL TENNIS (FR), ROYAL AUCLAIR (FR), PATMAN DU CHARMIL (FR)
ELLIOTT BIDDING FOR MORE AINTREE SUCCESS
TAAFFE HAS HIGH HOPES
SILVER BIRCH ON TARGET FOR 2009
Although last year’s John Smith’s Grand National winning trainer Gordon Elliott will not be saddling a runner in this year’s renewal on Saturday, April 5, he could have another memorable week at Aintree with runners who hold live chances in their respective races.
Salford City, the 2004 Epsom Derby fifth and a Grade Two winner over hurdles in Ireland, is reported by the Irish trainer to be in top shape ahead of Friday’s £60,000 Littlewoods Direct Imagine Appeal Top Novices’ Hurdle (4.20pm), a Grade Two event over an extended two miles.
“He’s in great form. He worked very well around Fairyhouse with Nina (Carberry) last Monday (March 24). I was very happy with him and he’ll run on Friday, provided the ground is on the soft side of good,” explained Elliott today.
“It looks like a hot contest with Captain Cee Bee and a couple of others but if the ground comes up to suit, he’ll jump out and make it. We would be hoping that he would get placed. Nina will ride him again.
“I wouldn’t be worried about the fact that he has not run since November because he has worked at Dundalk as well as Fairyhouse so he is fit and well enough to take his chance.”
Captain Cee Bee, fresh from his Grade One Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle success at the Cheltenham Festival, is among the 28 entries for what looks to be a superb renewal of the £60,000 contest.
Also entered is Triumph Hurdle second Franchoek, Supreme Novices’ Hurdle fourth Kalahari King, the Paul Nicholls-trained Pierrot Lunaire, the Nicky Henderson-trained Khyber Kim and Pigeon Island from Nigel Twiston-Davies’ stable.
The Gordon Elliott-trained Harper Valley, entered in Thursday’s Grade One £130,000 John Smith’s 250th Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle (3.10pm), had his final prep race ahead of Aintree on the Flat at Dundalk on Friday and recovered his best form after a below-par run at Musselburgh in February with a comprehensive win in an extended mile and a half handicap. Conceding weight to his 10 rivals, he threw down his challenge entering the straight before quickening away to score by four and a half lengths.
Elliott added: “Harper Valley won very well at Dundalk and I was more than pleased with him. He has come out of his run in great form.
“Like a lot of our runners, if the ground is on the quick side he won’t run, but I’d be hopeful that it will be okay and that he will run a good race.”
Among his 19 rivals is JCB Triumph Hurdle winner Celestial Halo, along with Supreme Novices’ Hurdle runner-up Binocular.
Elliott has also entered Newton Bridge, a runner-up on his last two starts, in the Listed £60,000 John Smith’s Handicap Hurdle (5.30pm) on Thursday, but the seven-year-old might not make the cut.
“Newton Bridge might struggle to get in to the John Smith’s Handicap Hurdle, but there’s the £40,000 John Smith’s Winner’s Tipple Novices’ Handicap Chase for amateur riders on Saturday and, if he gets into that, he will run and won’t be too far away. Nina will ride him as well.
“He is also in good form and came out of his run over hurdles at Fairyhouse well. He ran a great race there and is fit and well.”
Meanwhile, Tom Taaffe, who will be represented in Saturday’s feature by both Slim Pickings and Tumbling Dice, is hoping for a big run from his In The High Grass in Friday’s £110,000 John Smith’s Topham Chase (3.45pm) over the National fences.
A winner on his latest start in a Listed three-mile chase at Cork, In The High Grass will carry 10st 4lb in the extended two miles and five furlong contest should the Michael Hourigan-trained top-weight Hi Cloy stand his ground.
“In The High Grass was confirmed this morning for the John Smith’s Grand National as well and it will literally be a 9.55am decision on Friday morning but at the moment he is going for the John Smith’s Topham Chase.
“If he gets into the National, he will go there. He has a great chance of getting in because he now goes to the top of the 10st 6lb horses.
“He won well at Cork - a slightly different type of fence and there will be a few more runners at Aintree but he has been schooling over Aintree style fences and he is very good in that department.
“I’d like genuine, nice ground. Irish good to yielding or good, safe ground would do me for all my runners over the three days. He has a good competitive weight for both races.”
Among the bumper 63 entries in the John Smith’s Topham Chase are the Paul Nicholls-trained pair of Natal and Gwanako, the Nicky Henderson-trained Kenzo III and the Tom George-trained Nacarat, while the Irish raiding party includes the Arthur Moore-trained Well Tutored and Vintage Treasure from Charles Byrne’s yard.
Silver Birch, last year’s John Smith’s Grand National winner who has been sidelined through injury this season, is also reported to be doing well and it is still the intention to bring him back for racing’s most famous chase next year.
“Silver Birch is great. He’s on the walker at the moment so it’s all systems go for next year but he won’t run for four or five months. He owes us nothing so we won’t risk him if he is not right but, at the moment, it is all looking good for a tilt at next year’s race,” explained Gordon Elliott.
The 161st running of the £800,000 John Smith’s Grand National is the highlight of the fantastic three-day John Smith’s Grand National Meeting, which commences on Thursday, April 3, and is the North West’s premier social event.
Friday, April 4, is the extremely popular Ladies’ Day, while John Smith’s Grand National Day, Saturday, April 5, commences at 12.40pm with the John Smith’s People’s Race, offering ordinary people the unique opportunity of competing in a real horse race.
Tickets remain available for all three days of the John Smith’s Grand National Meeting - go to www.aintree.co.uk or ring 0151 522 2929.
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
Archive
