Wednesday, April 1, 2009

WATERING CONTINUES AT AINTREE

The official going on both the Mildmay and Hurdles courses remains GOOD with conditions on the Grand National course GOOD, GOOD to SOFT in places. (Going stick readings - Hurdle 7.8; Mildmay 7.6; National 7.3).

“I am pleased with the condition of the Grand National course and I intend to leave that as it is now,” said clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch. “We are now forecast to receive some rain on Friday night which is either going to be 1-2 millimetres or 4-5 milimetres depending upon who you listen to, but even if we get the uppermost of those estimates, it won’t be a problem and I would expect good ground for the big race.

“It has been a dry week and there isn’t any sign of any rain coming before Friday, so we will continue to selectively water the Mildmay and Hurdle courses where needed.

“The forecast is for it to be quite warm over the next couple of days and if we need to water further after racing on Thursday then we will do so.”

The warm weather might be disappointing for Tulloch, but it is good news for racegoers who can expect fine weather for the majority of the John Smith’s Grand National meeting.

Met Office forecaster Helen Chivers said: “Thursday is going to be dry and warm with plenty of sunshine and not a lot of wind and temperatures will be rising to 15 or 16C - it should be a beautiful spring day.

“On Friday it will be more cloudy with a bit of a breeze but it should get up to 13 or 14C, but then a weather front is due to arrive from the west on Friday that will bring colder temperatures.

“It doesn’t look like it will bring too much rain with it, probably just a couple of millimetres and it should be clear again by the end of Saturday morning, allowing the sun to break through in time for the start of racing, although it will be a little cooler at around 12C.”

DENMAN 4/5 TO TAKE FIRST-DAY HONOURS IN TOTESPORT BOWL

The Paul Nicholls-trained star chaser exceeded the expectations of many when an excellent second to Kauto Star in the Totesport.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham last month and comes into tomorrow’s Grade One three-mile-and-one-furlong contest having had a lighter campaign than many of his rivals.

Totesport spokesman George Primarolo said: “Denmania is alive and well again after Cheltenham and we expect the horse’s fans to want to be with him tomorrow, even if they have to back him at odds-on.”

Totesport Bowl - Totesport bet:
4/5 Denman, 7/2 Exotic Dancer, 8/1 Star de Mohaison, 11/1 Albertas Run. 12/1 Madison du Berlais, 16/1 Our Vic, 20/1 Air Force One, 66/1 Snoopy Loopy, The Listener, 100/1 Mister McGoldrick.

Prices available from 5.30pm to 10pm this evening and from 9.30am tomorrow.

CLAIRE BIDS TO JOIN SELECT GROUP OF WINNING WOMEN

Twelve-year-old Christy Beamish won the contest last year under Josh Guerriero, but Allen gained the ride this season and won a point-to-point in Shropshire on the horse before she pulled him up in the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase at last month’s Cheltenham Festival.

Allen, 23, said today: “Cheltenham doesn’t seem to suit him and I knew quite early in the race that things were not going to plan. He’s won weak races on undulating tracks, but he’s much happier on flat courses like Aintree.”

Christy Beamish was trained last year by Wolverhampton-based Paul Jones, who subsequently handed over responsibility for his yard of pointers and hunter chasers to his partner, vet Sue Taylor.

Allen, who was born and raised in Gloucestershire, but now lives near Kingsclere in Hampshire, rode Christy Beamish on Monday at Taylor’s yard.

She said: “He’s a freak. I schooled him over some National-type fences with spruce laid on them and they seemed to turn him on. It’s hard to explain, but he took hold of the bit as if to say, ‘Just hold on, I know what I’m doing’.”

Allen was less than seven weeks old when, in April 1986, Caroline Beasley became the first woman to ride a winner at Aintree. Beasley scored on Eliogarty in the John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase, a race subsequently taken by Polly Gundry in 2002 on Torduff Express and by Carrie Ford two years later on Forest Gunner. Anthea Farrell (nee Beaumont, but now Morshead) won the 1991 Topham Trophy on J J Henry.

“It’s been a massive ambition to ride at Aintree,” said Allen, “especially being a Berkeley girl. I was brought up following the Berkeley Hunt [in Gloucestershire] on my pony over big hedges and ditches, so when I got into point-to-pointing it became my dream to ride at Aintree. I’m just so lucky to get the chance.”

Allen was Britain’s national champion woman point-to-point rider in 2007 and finished runner-up to Polly Gundry last season. She has ridden 86 pointing winners and had one ride over the Mildmay fences when second in a hunter chase last year.

Her boyfriend is Chris Bonner, head lad to trainer Andrew Balding and a former amateur rider who finished third in the 1995 Grand National on Over The Deel and fourth the following season on Sir Peter Lely.

Allen said: “Chris has been giving me plenty of advice, including ‘Sit back, don’t fall off and look like a muppet’, and ‘if you go a stupid speed you’ll go arse over head’.”

NEWMILL CHASES PAST GLORIES IN THE JOHN SMITH’S MELLING CHASE

The County Cork handler revealed today: “Newmill has come out of the Cheltenham race well and is in good order. He looked like he was staying on in the Champion Chase. I don’t think he has the pace for two miles any more, so I was pleased with him.

“It looks like he might get his ground for the first time in two years. Even at Cheltenham the ground was not quick enough for him and I would like to know what he would have done if it had been.

“We have to be realistic about his age. He is 11 now and he has definitely never come back to the level of his wins in the two Champion Chases at Cheltenham and Punchestown. Those wins came on good and good to firm ground and that is what he really wants.

“Racing is racing, so we will see what happens. He has been placed a few times this season and it is great to have him in one piece and still running at his age. He has had a few problems but we keep patching him up and he keeps on going.”

Voy Por Ustedes is bidding for back-to-back victories in the John Smith’s Melling Chase, having taken the prize 12 months ago from Master Minded. The Alan King-trained eight-year-old was sent off the 4/5 favourite for the Grade One Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month but found Imperial Commander two lengths his superior on that occasion.

Howard Johnson is set to unleash Tidal Bay from his County Durham stable. The talented eight-year-old won both the Grade One Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham and the Grade One John Smith’s Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree last year. Tidal Bay was below peak fitness when fourth to Imperial Commander in the Ryanair Chase last time and heads to Aintree with a big chance.

Tom George is enjoying a fantastic campaign, the biggest success thus far being Nacarat’s impressive Grade Three Racing Post Trophy triumph in February. The grey, who was so impressive at Kempton, will be ridden by Tony McCoy for this drop down in trip from three miles.

Petit Robin crossed the line one place in front of Newmill in the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Nicky Henderson-trained six-year-old will seek to maintain his progress stepped up to two and a half miles for the first time.

The Andrew Balding-trained Briareus ran well for a long way in the Queen Mother Champion Chase before falling at the last when a beaten fourth.

Alongside Newmill, the Irish challenge includes the Dessie Hughes-trained Ryanair Chase third Schindler’s Hunt and Queen Mother Champion Chase fifth Scotsirish from the Willie Mullins yard.

Paul Nicholls has declared two runners, those being last season’s Grade One Kerrygold Champion Chase runner-up Natal and Grade One Tingle Creek Chase third Takeroc. Exotic Dancer, a leading contender for Thursday’s totesport Bowl, has been declared by trainer Jonjo O’Neill.

STATE NIBBLED AT AS NATIONAL MARKET BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE

Offshore Account has been nibbled into 33/1 (from 40s) to give Charlie Swan a National winner from his first runner in the race, while there has been sustained support for State Of Play, who is now a 12/1 shot (from 14s).

“The John Smith’s Grand National market is now beginning to take shape and, barring any surprise withdrawals, My Will should head the betting when the final declarations are announced on Thursday morning,” said totesport spokesman George Primarolo.

“Several horses have been nibbled at in recent days and as a consequence, we’ve laid a good spread of the runners. State Of Play and Offshore Account are the latest two to be cut but it's unlikely we've seen the last of the gambles in this year's race.”

John Smith's Grand National - totesport bet:
7 My Will, 9 Butler's Cabin, 10 Rambling Minster, 12 State Of Play, 14 Black Apalachi, Hear The Echo, 16 Big Fella Thanks, Comply Or Die, Southern Vic, Parsons Legacy, 20 L'Ami, Darkness, Irish Invader, 22 Kilbeggan Blade, 25 Snowy Morning, Himalayan Trail, Maljimar, 33 Chelsea Harbour, Cloudy Lane, Brooklyn Brownie, Flintoff, Cornish Sett, Offshore Account, 40 bar.

a quarter of the odds 1-2-3-4

THE 2009 JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL REMAINING ENTRIES WITH OFFICIAL ODER OF ELIMINATION

A maximum of 40 horses can run - final declaration stage 10.00am, Thursday, April 2.

Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer Probable Jockey
16-0431F CLOUDY LANE 9-11-10 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain Jnr Jason Maguire
SCRATCHED WAR OF ATTRITION (IRE) 10-11-09 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE OFFICIALLY SCRATCHED 31/03/09
61U1F234 CHELSEA HARBOUR (IRE) 9-11-08 Frances Duffin Tom Mullins IRE Emmet Mullins
332-56F2 SNOWY MORNING (IRE) 9-11-08 Quayside Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE -
16UP-100 KNOWHERE (IRE) 11-11-07 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies Paddy Brennan
P211-P00 COMPLY OR DIE (IRE) 10-11-06 David Johnson David Pipe Timmy Murphy
40-255550 OLLIE MAGERN 11-11-06 Roger Nicholls Nigel Twiston-Davies Mr Sam Waley-Cohen
4-2P51P04P STAN (NZ) 10-11-06 Paul Beck Venetia Williams Aidan Coleman
20F2-P151 BLACK APALACHI (IRE) 10-11-05 Gerard Burke Dessie Hughes IRE Denis O’Regan
501-556U HEAR THE ECHO (IRE) 8-11-05 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE Davy Russell
140-0F10 PREISTS LEAP (IRE) 9-11-05 John D O'Donohue Tom O'Leary IRE Philip Enright
32023/-55 MY WILL (FR) 9-11-04 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh
411P/1P/- EUROTREK (IRE) 13-11-03 Paul Green Paul Nicholls Sam Thomas
2560-14 STATE OF PLAY 9-11-02 William & Angela Rucker Evan Williams Paul Moloney
2-322U13 BIG FELLA THANKS 7-11-01 Paul Barber & Maggie Findlay Paul Nicholls Christian Williams
00-210200 MON MOME (FR) 9-11-00 Vida Bingham Venetia Williams -
F/02421/-0 SILVER BIRCH (IRE) 12-11-00 Brian Walsh (Co. Kildare) Gordon Elliott IRE Robbie Power
03F-0005 BUTLER'S CABIN (FR) 9-10-13 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill -
1111/U2-2 OFFSHORE ACCOUNT (IRE) 9-10-13 Brian Polly Charlie Swan IRE David Casey
23/54-1P PARSONS LEGACY (IRE) 11-10-12 Rodney Offer Philip Hobbs Richard Johnson
F0612/-P0 REVEILLEZ 10-10-12 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill -
00146P6P FUNDAMENTALIST (IRE) 11-10-11 Colin Cornes Nigel Twiston-Davies David England
1/P133/3-0 GOLDEN FLIGHT (FR) 10-10-11 John & Barbara Cotton Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty
03F0-4212 L'AMI (FR) 10-10-11 J P McManus Enda Bolger IRE -
332-245P BATTLECRY 8-10-10 Trevor Hemmings Nigel Twiston-Davies Tom Scudamore
P00-F120 CORNISH SETT (IRE) 10-10-10 Peter Hart Paul Nicholls Nick Scholfield
042-P610 FLEET STREET 10-10-10 Henry Ponsonby Nicky Henderson Andrew Tinkler
1222100 MUSICA BELLA (FR) 9-10-10 Jean-Paul Senechal Francois Cottin FR Philip Carberry
63-111314 CAN'T BUY TIME (IRE) 7-10-09 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill -
113P//-3P1 DARKNESS 10-10-09 Lady Lloyd-Webber Charles Egerton Dominic Elsworth
F323111 IRISH INVADER (IRE) 8-10-09 Sackcloth & Ashes Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE -
46-56511 RAMBLING MINSTER 11-10-09 The Lingdale Optimists Keith Reveley James Reveley
5F/-06U343 SOUTHERN VIC (IRE) 10-10-09 Brenda Graham Ted Walsh IRE Niall Madden
20P-1112 KILBEGGAN BLADE 10-10-07 Kevin Doocey & Mrs A Doocey Tom George Graham Lee
4124021 BROOKLYN BROWNIE (IRE) 10-10-06 K S Gaffney & Neil Stevenson Malcolm Jefferson Phil Kinsella
1-P504P0 HIMALAYAN TRAIL 10-10-06 Anne Gittins Jimmy Mangan IRE Paddy Flood
3/00010-0 ARTEEA (IRE) 10-10-05 Judith Wilson David Pipe Johnny Farrelly
0P/50PP-0 CERIUM (FR) 8-10-05 Judith Wilson Paul Murphy Keith Mercer
050-2403 IDLE TALK (IRE) 10-10-05 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain Jnr Brian Harding
0F2U6-P00 KELAMI (FR) 11-10-05 Halewood International Ltd Lisa Williamson Derek Laverty
0/232P5/- ZABENZ (NZ) 12-10-05 Michael Watt Philip Hobbs Tom O’Brien
Current cut-off point
Horses below are now in elimination order
2U41U-02 MALJIMAR (IRE) 9-10-04 Jane Williams Nick Williams Daryl Jacob
211-1113 COMPANERO (IRE) 9-10-03 W M G Black Howard Johnson -
0U01344 POMME TIEPY (FR) 6-10-03 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE -
U44P-3140 NICHE MARKET (IRE) 8-10-03 Graham Regan Bob Buckler Harry Skelton
P2P-P0PP MATTOCK RANGER (IRE) 9-10-03 Barouche Stud Ireland Ltd Noel Meade IRE -
0333P0P IRON MAN (FR) 8-10-03 Roddy Owen & Paul Fullagar Peter Bowen -
P2P63-52 FLINTOFF (USA) 8-10-02 Andrew Flintoff & Paul Beck Venetia Williams -
4B0-4000F PATSY HALL (IRE) 9-10-02 C P Byrne Tony Martin IRE Robert Colgan
140-306F BIBLE LORD (IRE) 8-10-02 Martin Tedham Andrew Turnell Mark Grant
64P3-015 DIX VILLEZ (FR) 10-10-02 Gigginstown House Stud Paul Nolan IRE -
101PP6-6 BAGAN (FR) 10-10-02 The Centaur Group Partnership VII Martin Todhunter -
11P1-3PFP BEAT THE BOYS (IRE) 8-10-02 New Club Ladies Nigel Twiston-Davies -
3/2F01P- IN THE LOOP (IRE) 11-10-01 Ben-Hill Syndicate Roy Wilson IRE -
421101 SEYMOUR WELD 9-10-01 Charles Pogson Charles Pogson -
2/223F0- PAK JACK (FR) 9-10-01 The Pak Jack Partnership Richard Phillips -
P00-P304 NADOVER (FR) 8-10-01 George Storey Charlie Mann -
22/-22P43 NINE DE SIVOLA (FR) 8-10-00 The DPRP Sivola Partnership Ferdy Murphy -
210123-P5 TOM SAYERS (IRE) 11-10-00 Capt Bill Edwards-Heathcote Philip Hobbs -
0-321230 OODACHEE 10-9-12 Modreeny Syndicate Charlie Swan IRE -
12366/-4 KINGS ADVOCATE (IRE) 9-9-11 Conor Clarkson Tom Taaffe IRE -
U1-52541 OUT THE BLACK (IRE) 11-9-10 James Drummond Philip Hobbs -
62P-30P0 DUN DOIRE (IRE) 10-9-10 Dunderry Racing Syndicate Tony Martin IRE Ken Whelan
P4220-0P WITHOUT A DOUBT 10-9-10 Malcolm Denmark Carl Llewellyn -
02P-P4F0 LE TOSCAN (FR) 9-9-10 Judith Wilson David Pipe -
0P0/03-03P PUNTAL (FR) 13-9-10 Terry Neill David Pipe -
21/-2426U ALEXANDERTHEGREAT (IRE) 11-9-08 Six Blokes Venetia Williams -
5/5400-P0 MILAN DEUX MILLE (FR) 7-9-08 Judith Wilson David Pipe -
41/F400-23P2 SANDHURST (IRE) 9-9-05 John Duddy Edgar Byrne -
4213140P MALKO DE BEAUMONT (FR) 9-9-04 David Sturdy Alan Brown -
5/6P0-42P5 LORD KILLESHANRA (IRE) 10-9-04 G F Gingell Colin Tizzard -
U-2130U63 LYSANDER (GER) 10-9-04 The Piranha Partnership Ian Williams -
P06-350FP PASS ME BY 10-9-02 Paul Beck Suzy Smith -
1110PP MONT MISERE (FR) 13-9-01 Judith Wilson Paul Murphy Michael O’Connell

74 horses remain after five-day confirmation stage - one officially scratched since
20 Irish-trained
1 French-trained

A maximum of 40 horses can run - final declaration stage 10.00am, Thursday, April 2.

VIC CAN RUB IT IN FOR CODD

Codd, who recently won the Cheltenham Festival’s Fulke Walwyn/Kim Muir Chase on Character Building, said today: “I won on Agus A Vic at Leopardstown [in February] when Pat told me to get a lead for as long as possible and everything went to plan. When we hit the front on the run-in I simply had to shove him out to the line. He travelled and jumped extremely well that day so I’m hoping he will adapt to Aintree.”

Agus A Vic invariably races in mid-division during the early part of races, but Codd seemed unfazed about the possibility of traffic problems in such a large field. He said: “I’m not too worried about that. I just want a good position and a nice lead, but he’s very careful and knows what he’s doing.

“You need a horse that can go down to one of those big fences and back off when it’s wrong. If I can get him over the first two or three I’ll be very confident. I’ve had four rides over the National fences, and only got round once on Gordon Elliott’s Fable [10th in the 2007 John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase], so I want to improve on that.”

Eight-year-old Agus A Vic is Ireland’s leading hunter chaser. He flopped in last year’s Christie’s Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival when becoming worked up before the race and then breaking a blood vessel, but landed Punchestown’s Champion Hunters’ Chase in April and trounced a large field in the Raymond Smith Memorial Hunters’ Chase at Leopardstown in February.

Immediately after that victory Martin said the John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase would be the next target and Agus A Vic has been kept fresh for the big race.

Codd has ridden the horse twice, on the first occasion when pulling him up in a point-to-point at Tattersalls Farm.

“That was three years ago when he was only five,” said Codd. “He made one mistake then slipped on a bend and I wasn’t hard on him after that. He’s a mature horse now.”

A former conditional jockey who reverted to riding as an amateur, Codd is a key player on Ireland’s point-to-point circuit and currently lies second in the national riders’ table with 46 winners, 22 behind clear leader Derek O’Connor.

Of his Cheltenham win on the John Quinn-trained Character Building, who he held up until the last possible moment, Codd said: “A Festival winner is a dream for any jockey, let alone an amateur who spends most of his life riding out five or six lots each day before going pointing at weekends.

“John gave me a lot of confidence before the race, although he did say, ‘I don’t mind if you come too late and get beaten, but it will be a different matter if you come too soon’.”

There is a maximum field of 30 for the John Smith’s Fox Hunters’. In fact 40 horses wanted to run which meant 10 were eliminated from the race.

EXOTIC DANCER CAMP HOPE TO TURN THE TABLES ON DENMAN

The Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old faces stiff competition however, not least from the 2007 totesport Bowl victor Exotic Dancer, partnered by Tony McCoy. The Jonjo O’Neill-trained nine-year-old landed the Grade One Lexus Chase at Leopardstown in December before finishing third in the totesport Gold Cup, a run that leaves him with two and a half lengths to find with Denman.

Barry Simpson, racing manager to Exotic Dancer’s owner Sir Robert Ogden, revealed today: “Exotic Dancer ran pretty much to his form level in finishing two and a half lengths behind Denman in the Gold Cup. He was well beaten by Kauto Star, but I think we saw an exceptional performance from Kauto Star that day.

“He has come out of the race well and the difference between this season and last is that he has enjoyed a trouble free passage this time around. He has avoided the problems that troubled him last year.

“If we were not confident of turning the form around with Denman, we would not be running him. Different configuration of tracks can bring about different results. I’m not saying that Aintree won’t suit Denman but different courses can produce different results and we often see a turn around of Cheltenham form at this meeting. We have been on the receiving end of that ourselves in the past.”

While O’Neill has also declared last season’s Grade One RSA Chase hero Alberta’s Run, Ogden’s second colours will be sported by the Nicholls-trained Star De Mohaison, winner of that same race in 2006 and successful on both occasions he has raced at Aintree. The eight-year-old finished a distant 13th in the totesport Gold Cup last time.

Simpson said of Ruby Walsh’s mount: “Star De Mohaison was a huge disappointment in the Gold Cup. We did not realistically expect him to win but he ran very flat. His great strengths are his ability to jump and his high cruising speed, neither of which were in evidence last time - this is a recovery mission.

“On his best form, receiving 10lb from Grade One winners like Denman and Exotic Dancer would put him in with a good chance. But that is old form and you have to go on current form. He has run a couple of nice races this season but has lacked the zest of his novice year when the expectations were not dissimilar to those surrounding Denman at the same stage of his career.

“He does want better ground though, so that is in his favour and he is in better form than he was going into Cheltenham. Paul also feels he is a spring horse so we will have to see.

“Star De Mohaison is also entered in the handicap on Saturday and could go to Ayr for the Scottish Grand National, so we will see how he gets on tomorrow and then decide where he goes.”

David Pipe trained Our Vic to cause an upset when overhauling Kauto Star to win the totesport Bowl by a nose in the 2008 renewal and the Pond House handler will be hoping the 11-year-old can bounce back from two disappointing runs this season.

Pipe has also declared Grade Three Hennessy Gold Cup victor Madison Du Berlais, who will be partnered as usual by Tom Scudamore as he bids to consign to history a below-par run in the Gold Cup.

The Listener, thrice a Grade One winner, is set to line up for trainer Nick Mitchell, while Air Force One, Mister McGoldrick and Snoopy Loopy complete the field.

The meeting commences in style with the £100,000 Grade Two John Smith’s Liverpool Hurdle in which the Nicholls-trained Big Buck’s seeks a four-timer, having swept aside all-comers to clinch the Grade One Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

The six-year-old faces nine rivals in the three-mile contest, including the Henry Daly-trained Mighty Man who is unbeaten in three previous starts at the course. Mighty Man won this race in 2006 and 2007, as well as the Grade Two Top Novices’ Hurdle in 2005 and ran a fine race following a two-year absence when fifth to Big Buck’s at Cheltenham last time.

Others to note include the tough Lough Derg from the Pipe yard and Grade Two Long Distance Hurdle winner Duc De Regniere, trained by Nicky Henderson.

The Alan King-trained Walkon and Starluck, trained by Alan Fleming, second and fourth respectively in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, lock horns again in the £130,000 Grade One Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle (2.35pm) over two miles.

The top-class field of 13 also includes the Irish-trained raider Kyrie Eleison from the Dessie Hughes yard, successful in a Grade Two at Fairyhouse in February.

Ski Sunday was runner-up to Silk Affair in the Grade Three Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham last time, while the Nicholls-trained Hebridean, a classy Flat performer for Aidan O’Brien last summer, won the Grade Two Adonis Hurdle at Kempton in February and missed Cheltenham to specifically target this race.

The £80,000 Red Rum Handicap Chase (4.20pm) over two miles is always a competitive affair and this year the race has a maximum field of 18 declared.

Bambi De L’Orme, victorious in 2007 for trainer Ian Williams, is the mount of Tony McCoy and comes to Aintree in good form, having finished runner-up behind the John Quinn-trained Leslingtaylor at Doncaster in February.

The King-trained Oh Crick saw off Moon Over Miami to win the Grade Three Johnny Henderson Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival. Lorient Express landed a hat-trick prior to disappointing in that race and represents trainer Venetia Williams, who landed the spoils 12 months ago with John Smith’s Grand National hope Stan.

Chapoturgeon, fresh from a smooth success in the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase at Cheltenham in March, heads the eight declarations in a very good running of the £80,000 Grade Two Manifesto Novices’ Chase (4.55pm)over two and a half miles.

The Philip Hobbs-trained Planet Of Sound steps up to two and a half miles having taken third spot in the Grade One Arkle Trophy won by Forpadydeplasterer. Tartak was fifth in that Cheltenham contest, one place ahead of Gauvain, while Calgary Bay, winner of the Grade Two Dipper Novices’ Chase in January, was 10th.

The day concludes with the £60,000 Listed Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle (5.30pm) which has attracted a full complement of 22 declarations, including the Pipe-trained Big Eared Fran, winner of a Grade Three contest at Sandown in March.

OWNER HOPES FOR A CHANGE OF LUCK WITH "PROBLEM HORSE" MALJIMAR

Having just about got over the heartbreak of seeing the nine-year-old caught and passed by Wichita Lineman in the last strides of the William Hill Trophy at Cheltenham last month, Nick and Jane Williams are gearing up for another potentially-fraught afternoon at Aintree as they attempt to keep their unlucky chaser cool in the build-up to the world’s most famous steeplechase.

But first they must hope that Maljimar can even make the final field, as he presently needs one more horse to come out of the race before he will be among the final 40.

“We've been in the same position before with Philson Run (fourth in 2007) and managed to get in to the race, but we've had so much bad luck with Maljimar that it wouldn't be a surprise if we didn't get in," said owner Jane Williams, whose husband Nick trains the horse.

“Nick and I have always liked horses by Un Desperado, the sire of Maljimar, and we went to the Doncaster Sales in 2006 specifically to buy him (they paid 9,000 guineas).

“To be honest, he's been a bit of a problem horse and we have on occasions struggled to keep him in one piece. He's not straightforward and he tends to boil over quickly sometimes.

“It was heartbreaking when he got caught on the line at Cheltenham, as that would have been our first winner at the Festival. But it wasn’t the first time that had happened with him as we thought we were going to have our first-ever winner at Cheltenham with him when he ran at Cheltenham in October 2007, but Knowhere came and caught him on the line.”
If he does make it into the final line-up, the Williams’ family will be doing their best to try and keep him calm during the usual big-race preliminaries.

“Not to put too a fine a point on it, he went absolutely nuts in the build-up to the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on his first start this season and threw his chance away before the race had even started,” explained Mrs Williams.

“He was much better at Cheltenham last month, but I am worried that he won't like the preliminaries, particularly the parade and especially if it’s a hot day.

“He’s very, very well at the moment, so well that he bit somebody yesterday morning. If we can get him down to the start without him boiling up then hopefully he'll run well, but it’s the Grand National and you can’t get your hopes up too high. We’ll come up for the day with two of the children and hopefully have a nice family day out.”

Mrs Williams also has high hopes for John Smith’s Maghull Novices’ Chase contender Cornas the same day.

"He was cruising in the Arkle Chase when he skidded on landing at the second-last fence and he totally lost his rhythm," she said. "He was fine afterwards and is in really good form again now. We're looking for a big run from him."

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

©Racenews
designed and produced by Racenews Internet Services