Thursday, April 2, 2009

JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL MEETING
RACENEWS RACECOURSE SERVICE
FIRST DAY, THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2009

Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer Jockey
1) 16-0431F CLOUDY LANE 9-11-10 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain Jnr Jason Maguire
2) 61U1F234 CHELSEA HARBOUR (IRE) 9-11-08 Frances Duffin Tom Mullins IRE Emmet Mullins
3) 332-56F2 SNOWY MORNING (IRE) 9-11-08 Quayside Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE Andrew McNamara
4) 16UP-100 KNOWHERE (IRE) 11-11-07 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies Paddy Brennan
5) P211-P00 COMPLY OR DIE (IRE) 10-11-06 David Johnson David Pipe Timmy Murphy
6) 40-255550 OLLIE MAGERN 11-11-06 Roger Nicholls Nigel Twiston-Davies Mr Sam Waley-Cohen
7) 4-2P51P04P STAN (NZ) 10-11-06 Paul Beck Venetia Williams Aidan Coleman
8) 20F2-P151 BLACK APALACHI (IRE) 10-11-05 Gerard Burke Dessie Hughes IRE Denis O’Regan
9) 501-556U HEAR THE ECHO (IRE) 8-11-05 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE Davy Russell
10) 140-0F10 PREISTS LEAP (IRE) 9-11-05 John D O'Donohue Tom O'Leary IRE Philip Enright
11) 32023/-55 MY WILL (FR) 9-11-04 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh
12) 411P/1P/- EUROTREK (IRE) 13-11-03 Paul Green Paul Nicholls Sam Thomas
13) 2560-14 STATE OF PLAY 9-11-02 William & Angela Rucker Evan Williams Paul Moloney
14) 2-322U13 BIG FELLA THANKS 7-11-01 Paul Barber & Maggie Findlay Paul Nicholls Christian Williams
15) 00-210200 MON MOME (FR) 9-11-00 Vida Bingham Venetia Williams Liam Treadwell
16) F/02421/-0 SILVER BIRCH (IRE) 12-11-00 Brian Walsh (Co. Kildare) Gordon Elliott IRE Robbie Power
17) 03F-0005 BUTLER'S CABIN (FR) 9-10-13 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill Tony McCoy
18) 1111/U2-2 OFFSHORE ACCOUNT (IRE) 9-10-13 Brian Polly Charlie Swan IRE David Casey
19) 23/54-1P PARSONS LEGACY (IRE) 11-10-12 Rodney Offer Philip Hobbs Richard Johnson
20) F0612/-P0 REVEILLEZ 10-10-12 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill Mark Walsh
21) 00146P6P FUNDAMENTALIST (IRE) 11-10-11 Colin Cornes Nigel Twiston-Davies David England
22) 1/P133/3-0 GOLDEN FLIGHT (FR) 10-10-11 John & Barbara Cotton Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty
23) 03F0-4212 L'AMI (FR) 10-10-11 J P McManus Enda Bolger IRE Robert Thornton
24) 332-245P BATTLECRY 8-10-10 Trevor Hemmings Nigel Twiston-Davies Tom Scudamore
25) P00-F120 CORNISH SETT (IRE) 10-10-10 Peter Hart Paul Nicholls Nick Scholfield
26) 042-P610 FLEET STREET 10-10-10 Henry Ponsonby Nicky Henderson Andrew Tinkler
27) 1222100 MUSICA BELLA (FR) 9-10-10 Jean-Paul Senechal Francois Cottin FR Philip Carberry
28) 63-111314 CAN'T BUY TIME (IRE) 7-10-09 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill Noel Fehily
29) 113P//-3P1 DARKNESS 10-10-09 Lady Lloyd-Webber Charles Egerton Wayne Hutchinson
30) F323111 IRISH INVADER (IRE) 8-10-09 Sackcloth & Ashes Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE Paul Townend
31) 46-56511 RAMBLING MINSTER 11-10-09 The Lingdale Optimists Keith Reveley James Reveley
32) 5F/-06U343 SOUTHERN VIC (IRE) 10-10-09 Brenda Graham Ted Walsh IRE Niall Madden
33) 20P-1112 KILBEGGAN BLADE 10-10-07 Kevin & Anne Doocey Tom George Graham Lee
34) 4124021 BROOKLYN BROWNIE (IRE) 10-10-06 Kieren Gaffney & Neil Stevenson Malcolm Jefferson Phil Kinsella
35) 1-P504P0 HIMALAYAN TRAIL 10-10-06 Anne Gittins Jimmy Mangan IRE Paddy Flood
36) 3/00010-0 ARTEEA (IRE) 10-10-05 Judith Wilson David Pipe Johnny Farrelly
37) 0P/50PP-0 CERIUM (FR) 8-10-05 Judith Wilson Paul Murphy Keith Mercer
38) 050-2403 IDLE TALK (IRE) 10-10-05 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain Jnr Brian Harding
39) 0F2U6-P00 KELAMI (FR) 11-10-05 Halewood International Ltd Lisa Williamson Derek Laverty
40) 0/232P5/- ZABENZ (NZ) 12-10-05 Michael Watt & Sarah Hobbs Philip Hobbs Tom O’Brien

FOUR RESERVES NAMED - reserves can only be utilised if any of the above 40 horses is officially withdrawn before 9.30am on Friday, April 3
r1) 2U41U-02 MALJIMAR (IRE) 9-10-04 Jane Williams Nick Williams Daryl Jacob
r2) 211-1113 COMPANERO (IRE) 9-10-03 W M G Black Howard Johnson Peter Buchanan
r3) 0333P0P IRON MAN (FR) 8-10-03 Roddy Owen & Paul Fullagar Peter Bowen -
r4) 4B0-4000F PATSY HALL (IRE) 9-10-02 C P Byrne Tony Martin IRE Robert Colgan



MY WILL REMAINS MARKET FAVOURITE AS TOP 40 STAND THEIR GROUND FOR THE JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL


The first 40 horses in the weights for Saturday’s John Smith’s Grand National have all been declared at the 48-hour stage with the Paul Nicholls-trained favourite My Will eased slightly to 15/2 by totesport. Butler’s Cabin, who is the chosen mount of champion jockey AP McCoy, is second favourite at 9/1 and Keith Reveley’s first National runner Rambling Minster is 11/1.

George Primarolo, spokesman for Aintree’s official betting partner totesport, said: “I would imagine My Will is going to go off favourite given the fact that Ruby Walsh is on him but now we know that AP McCoy is on Butler’s Cabin, he’ll have his supporters and I’ll be absolutely amazed if one of those two is not favourite on Saturday.

“There’s been a good spread of money throughout the week and it’s been a case of a different horse for a different day: Parsons Legacy has been popular and there’s been money for State Of Play. Darkness was backed at the beginning of the week and, of course, there was the gamble on L’Ami last week. The Irish horses have been drifting and I think that’s because of the forecast good ground. Hear The Echo has been the best supported of the Irish raiders over the last few days.”


John Smith’s Grand National - totesport betting:
My Will 15/2, Butler’s Cabin 9/1, Rambling Minster 11/1, State Of Play 12/1, Black Apalachi 14/1, Hear The Echo 14/1, Big Fella Thanks 16/1, Comply Or Die 16/1, Southern Vic 16/1, Parsons Legacy 16/1, L’Ami 20/1, Darkness 20/1, Irish Invader 20/1, Kilbeggan Blade 25/1, Snowy Morning 25/1, Himalayan Trail 25/1, Brooklyn Brownie 25/1, Chelsea Harbour 33/1, Cloudy Lane 33/1, Cornish Sett 33/1, Offshore Account 33/1, Can’t Buy Time 40/1, Preists Leap 40/1, Battlecry 50/1, Golden Flight 50/1, Idle Talk 50/1, Knowhere 50/1, Mon Mome 50/1, Silver Birch 50/1, Eurotrek 66/1, Fleet Street 66/1, Arteea100/1, Fundamentalist 100/1, Kelami 100/1, Musica Bella 100/1, Ollie Magern 100/1, Reveillez 100/1, Stan 100/1, Zabenz 100/1, Cerium 200/1. RESERVES: Maljimar 25/1, Companero 50/1, Patsy Hall 66/1, Iron Man 100/1.

First four places a quarter the odds.

TOTESPORT’S JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL SPECIALS

Irish-trained winner 2/1
Irish-trained 1-2 7/1
Donald McCain Jr-trained winner 25/1
Paul Nicholls-trained winner 9/2
Previous Grand National winner (Aintree) to win again 14/1

Winning weight:
11st and above 11/10
Under 11st 4/6
Win only, all quoted

Number of finishers:
8 or fewer 20/1
9-12 (incl) 5/1
13-16 (incl) 5/2
17-20 (incl) 5/2
21-25 (incl) 10/3
26-30 (incl) 8/1
31 or more 33/1

Winning distance:
0-1.5 lengths (incl) 3/1
Over 1.5 lengths to 3 lengths 11/4
Over 3 lengths to 10 lengths 2/1
Over 10 lengths 3/1
Win only, all quoted.

Irish-trained winner of the Grand National:
Black Apalachi 5/1, Hear The Echo 5/1, Southern Vic 6/1, Irish Invader 7/1, L’Ami 7/1, Himalayan Trail 8/1, Snowy Morning 8/1, Chelsea Harbour 10/1, Offshore Account 10/1, Preists Leap 14/1, Silver Birch 16/1.

Each-way 1/5 the odds a place 1-2-3 all quoted.

David Pipe National specials:
Comply Or Die to finish in the first four 4/1
David Pipe to train the winner 14/1
David Pipe to train a horse placed in the first four 7/2

All specials singles only.


GOING UPDATE

Today’s going ahead of the John Smith’s Grand National Meeting is

GOOD on the Mildmay and Hurdle Courses

and

GOOD, GOOD TO SOFT IN PLACES on the Grand National Course

“There’s been no change to the official going overnight and we have been selectively watering the Mildmay Course since 6am this morning. We will review the situation later on as to whether we water again overnight after racing,” said Aintree’s Director of Racing and Clerk of the Course Andrew Tulloch.

The forecast is for a dry, sunny day today with a maximum temperature of 17 degrees, with cloud increasing overnight.

Friday’s forecast is for a dry day with sunny spells, a maximum temperature of 15 degrees and variable amounts of cloud. Some rain is anticipated overnight after racing on Friday with most expected to fall between 3am and 8am on Saturday morning.

On Saturday, John Smith’s Grand National Day, it is expected to be dry by late morning with skies brightening by lunchtime to give a sunny afternoon. There is a low risk of a few light showers during the afternoon.

ELSWORTH LOSES DARKNESS RIDE TO HUTCHINSON IN JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL


Dominic Elsworth has lost the ride on fancied John Smith’s Grand National contender Darkness.

Wayne Hutchinson will now ride the ten-year-old, who is trained by Charles Egerton and owned by Lady Lloyd-Webber.

Elsworth, who has not ridden in races since suffering a badly-bruised shoulder at Towcester a week ago today, said this morning: “I’m not riding Darkness. I took a phone call last night from Charles Egerton who said I couldn’t ride the horse.

“He said they didn’t know whether I would make it back or not. I’m gutted because I turned down two other rides in the race.”

Elsworth, 29, who had been expecting to ride in his seventh John Smith’s Grand National, said: “I’m fit, and I’m booked to ride for [trainer] Lucy Wadham at Aintree tomorrow.”

The jockey’s misfortunes began when taking a fall from Dance Island in a handicap hurdle. A scan revealed nothing was broken, but he has to pass the doctor before returning to the saddle tomorrow.




McCOY ON BUTLER’S CABIN AND MARK WALSH GETS CALL UP FOR REVEILLEZ

Riding plans for J P McManus’s four Jonjo O’Neill-trained John Smith’s Grand National runners have been decided, with Tony McCoy opting to ride hotly-fancied Butler’s Cabin.

Noel Fehily, who rides regularly for O’Neill when McCoy is not available, will be on Can’t Buy Time, Robert Thornton has been given the mount on L’Ami, while conditional jockey Mark Walsh, from Kildare in Ireland, will take his first John Smith’s Grand National ride on Reveillez.

Commenting on Walsh’s booking, Frank Berry, McManus’s racing manager, said: “Mark is an up-and-coming young man who has ridden for the boss in Ireland and been lucky for us.”

Walsh will be making his debut in the big race, but he won the opening event on John Smith’s Grand National day 2004, the Martell Cordon Bleu Handicap Hurdle, on Puck Out for McManus and trainer Christy Roche. In that same year he rode over the National fences when fifth on the O’Neill-trained Farinel in Forest Gunner’s Grand Sefton Chase at Aintree’s North West Masters meeting.

Walsh said today: “I got a phone call this morning from my agent, Garry Cribbin, to say I was booked for Reveillez. It’s great news. I’m delighted.

“I’ve never sat on the horse, but as a winner of the Jewson’s Novices’ Chase [at the Cheltenham Festival] he’s shown a bit of class form. I’m just hoping for a clear run and a bit of luck.

“Things have gone well for me in Ireland this season. I’ve had 19 winners [he needs one more for a personal best] and I won the [Grade 2] Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park on Glenfinn Captain, who is owned by J P and trained by Tom Taaffe.”

The 23-year-old, who is a cousin of former jockey David Walsh, first came to Aintree as a boy with his father, John, who runs a food supplies business and has owned the occasional horse.

“I remember walking the National course with my father and brother,” said Walsh. “The fences seemed big, but I wanted to ride over them. I’ll be walking the course again on Saturday morning with Slippers Madden [who won the race in 2006 on Numbersixvalverde]. He’s been there and done the business so I’ll be looking for some good advice.”

Of McCoy’s decision to ride Butler’s Cabin, Berry said: “It was a toss-up between that one and L’Ami and not an easy choice. The ground was a factor. Butler’s Cabin was running well last year, but the second Becher’s [where he fell] is still a long way from home.

“Robert was always going to ride one of our team and he’s now on L’Ami. He’s a straight-forward ride, and although he fell last year he was good round there the year before.

“Noel is on Can’t Buy Time. He jumps well, likes good ground and put up a good effort in the four-miler at Cheltenham [fourth to Tricky Trickster].”


FROM EQUICIZER TO THE REAL THING FOR TREADWELL

While thousands of youngsters watch the John Smith’s Grand National on television and dream of taking part in the big race, Liam Treadwell has enthusiastically driven home the winner.

He explained: “I used to record the race, and then watch it at home while riding an equicizer [mechanical horse].”

On Saturday Treadwell gets a chance to experience the real thing when riding the Venetia Williams-trained Mon Mome, who will be his first ride over the National fences.

Treadwell said this morning: “I got a call yesterday evening to say I would ride the horse. I guessed it was between me and Will Biddick, and I’m delighted to be given the chance.

“I’ve ridden Mon Mome in races and know him well enough. He took to Aintree last year [when tenth under Aidan Coleman] and I’m hopeful he will do so again. A lot of fancied horses go there and don’t enjoy the fences, but he got round. I’ll have a chat to Venetia before Saturday, take some advice from more experienced jockeys and hopefully get an idea about how best to ride the race.”

Treadwell has ridden Mon Mome in two ‘Nationals’ – they were second in the 2006 Welsh version behind Halcon Genelardais and eighth in Iris De Balme’s Scottish model last season. “He’s run some smashing races on heavy ground, but Aintree brings out different demands in horses, and he acted round there last year,” said Treadwell.

Brought up in Sussex, Treadwell’s parents, John and Lorraine, worked as grooms for John Dunlop (his father still does) and their son began his racing career on the Flat. He said: “I rode out for John Dunlop from the age of 15, then left school and did one season with Amanda Perrett followed by one with Dandy Nicholls. Eventually the weight caught up with me, but in my heart of hearts I had always wanted to be a jump jockey. There was something exciting about riding over fences.

“I went to Venetia’s as a conditional jockey and spent three seasons there and was given some cracking opportunities, and I still ride out there once a week, but I also ride the majority of Nick Gifford’s horses.

“Every jump jockey wants to ride in the [John Smith’s] Grand National, but just being involved in the build up, and being part of the race, is something I’ve always wanted to do.”





EGERTON CONFIRMS HUTCHINSON
FOR DARKNESS


Charles Egerton, trainer of John Smith’s Grand National contender Darkness, confirmed this morning that Wayne Hutchinson will ride his horse in Saturday’s race.

Egerton had booked Dominic Elsworth for the ride on the 20/1 hope, but the jockey suffered a fall on Dance Island at Towcester a week ago and, although intending to ride at the Grand National Meeting on Friday (he is booked to ride El Dancer for Lucy Wadham), Egerton decided to make the switch.

“Dominic has never sat on the horse before and was due to school him this week. But on Monday he was having his CAT scan and on Tuesday he was still not fit enough to ride, so Wayne schooled him that day.

“If Dominic had ridden the horse before it would have been different and I waited five days for him to be fit to school Darkness. I had to make a decision as to what was in the best interests of the horse and the owner. I feel very sorry for Dominic, but I’m running a business and sometimes it isn’t easy. Sometimes you have to drop players from the squad when you think they’re not fit enough.

“It’s incredible bad luck for Dominic and I have to say that he’s been very honest about it. He told me that he was hoping to ride, but warned me that I should look for a substitute in case.”



HUTCHINSON JUMPS AT OPPORTUNITY ON DARKNESS


The first phone call that Wayne Hutchinson made this morning when he learned he had been given the ride on Darkness in Saturday’s John Smith’s Grand National was to the jockey he displaced, Dominic Elsworth.

“He’s a very good friend and of course I feel for him,” he said.

Hutchinson had schooled Darkness at Charles Egerton’s Heads Farm Stables on Tuesday, as Elsworth was not available, but only learnt of his booking at 10:30 this morning.

“The horse schooled really well when I rode him and obviously I’m very excited,” he said.

For Hutchinson, who was scheduled to be at Chepstow on Saturday, it will be a second ride in the John Smith’s Grand National. Two years ago, he rode Tikram for trainer Alan King, but parted company with his mount at the first.

This season started late for Hutchison, who was out for seven months with a cruciate ligament injury.

“I wasn’t fit to ride till November, but the knee’s perfect now and I’ve had a fantastic season. I had my first ever Cheltenham Festival winner on Oh Crick last month and now I’m really looking forward to Saturday.”




EILE ON TARGET FOR FOURTH JOHN SMITH’S AINTREE HURDLE

Al Eile is as fond of the Aintree track as any horse in training and his trainer John Queally reports that the prodigious nine-year-old is “on target” for a fourth success in the John Smith’s Aintree Hurdle on Saturday, to match the record number of wins in the race.

Al Eile has won three of the last four editions of the race, his only defeat coming in 2006 when his lacklustre display bewildered the horse’s connections at the time. “We still don’t know for certain, but I think he picked up an injury at Cheltenham in the [Smurfit Kappa] Champion Hurdle,” said Queally.

Although Al Eile was fourth behind Brave Inca at Cheltenham that day, the horse has never raced at the track since, the trainer believing that the undulations don’t suit his horse. “Aintree, Leopardstown, Haydock, Listowel; all suit the horse perfectly because they are flatter tracks,” he said.

Preparation for this year’s John Smith’s Aintree Hurdle was curtailed by an injury to El Aile. “He picked up a little niggle in October, it was a slight ligament injury,” said Queally.

Neverthless at Dundalk in February, in his first outing since last year’s Aintree victory, Al Eile put down a marker, winning a 1m 4f race at the all-weather track with some ease.

“Last year, he ran in the same race at Dundalk, but finished down the field [seventh behind Harchibald] and though he finished quite well then, nobody noticed him,” said Queally.

The good ground which is likely for Saturday’s race will suit the horse perfectly, but Al Eile will have to defeat one of the largest - if not the largest - field ever assembled for the event, with 17 runners declared. The field includes Celestial Halo, second in the Champion Hurdle, Katchit, who was sixth in the same race, and former double Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle winner Hardy Eustace.

Morley Street set the record for victories in the John Smith’s Aintree’s Hurdle winning four successive races from 1990 to 1993. Al Eile can’t quite match that, but four out of five wouldn’t be bad.

PUNTERS MAKING OVERTURES TO HEBRIDEAN

Denman and Big Buck’s may be the headliners on today’s card, but punters are latching on to another horse from the Paul Nicholls’ stable, after the trainer talked up his chances in his Racing Post column.

Hebridean, owned by J P McManus, has come in from to 5/2 with totesport and Corals for the Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle (2:35), having been available earlier at 7/2. The horse, who skipped the Cheltenham Festival meeting, is still available at 11/4 with William Hill, but possibly not for long.

Sky Bet report a “monster plunge” in the John Smith’s Red Rum Handicap Chase (4.20). Valain, tipped by Pricewise in the Racing Post, has come in for sustained support, down to 9/1 from 16/1 with that company and also with Ladbrokes.

The Charlie Swan-trained horse is not the only one that punters have latched on to in the two-mile chase: Vinmix de Bessy, trained by Gary Moore at Brighton, is 9/1 from 11/1 with Paddy Power while Bambi de l’Orme, with Tony McCoy riding for the Ian Williams’ stable, is now 7/1 from 9/1 with the same bookie.

In the day’s opener, the John Smith’s Liverpool Hurdle (2.00), the Pettitfour, from the Nigel Twiston-Davies’ stable has been backed. Both totesport and William Hill have brought the horse down to 18/1 from 25/1.

In the final race of the day, the Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle (5.30), William Hill are reporting considerable interest in the Paul Murphy-trained Hernando Royal, which is now just 9/1 from 12/1.

In Saturday’s John Smith’s Grand National, the news that champion jockey Tony McCoy has chosen Butler’s Cabin has inevitably brought the money flooding in. Ladbrokes report that it’s the most popular horse of the day, but are still holding Butler’s Cabin, which McCoy also rode in last year’s race, at 10/1 second favourite.







First Race: John Smith’s Liverpool Hurdle
Winner’s Quotes
BIG BUCK’S, EARS PRICKED

Big Buck’s reinforced his position as the best staying hurdler in training with an emphatic victory in the John Smith’s Liverpool Hurdle, beating a re-invigorated Mighty Man by three and a quarter lengths.

Trainer Paul Nicholls admitted that there were minor anxieties before the meeting about the horse holding his form. “I suppose I was always a bit nervous when they’ve had a hard race at Cheltenham, but Big Buck’s is a very, very good horse,” he said

There weren’t anxieties in the race, though is his nature, the horse came off the bridle mid-race: “At Cheltenham he was on and off the bridle, that’s just him. That’s just the nature of him. I knew he was going to pick up. And then suddenly the horse got there too soon,” said the trainer.

“Ruby knows the horse and he said to me he knew that he was going to win all the way he just didn’t want to get there too soon. Big Buck’s pricks his ears a little bit, you just have to make up his mind for him. He ducks and dives, but when you’ve got that much talent under you, it’s easy,” added the trainer.

Nicholls confirmed that the horse would not be switched to chasing in the foreseeable future. “He won’t go chasing now. He looks like being the best for the moment over hurdles, so we’re just going to stay there,” he said.

He will have an entry for Punchestown, but it will be totally ground dependent. If the ground’s right he could go. We’re not in a hurry with him. If he went to Punchestown it wouldn’t matter if he had a nice long holiday afterwards.

“It was a fine training performance by Henry (Daly) to get his horse (Mighty Man) so well again after the injuries he has had and he ran a blinding race. He was the horse to beat so all credit to them but Big Buck's is a very, very good horse.

"In hindsight, his defeat in the Hennessy was probably the best thing that could have happened to him, but I wasn't best pleased at the time.

"He will definitely be staying over hurdles next season and we won't be going chasing. As long as there is Kauto Star and Denman and all those lads are at the top of their game, and Big Buck's is at the top of his game over hurdles, there is no point in changing."

Walsh added: “He's a very good horse and he has a lot of class. He was a tad free early on but he soon switched off and he's just a very good horse.

"I was going by Tony turning in and said to him I didn't know how well we were going because I thought that Richard was travelling quite well in front. As we straightened up and I went for a gap between the other two, he has just come alive.”


First race
The John Smith’s Liverpool Hurdle Race
Placed quotes


MIGHTY RUN IN DEFEAT


Aintree specialist Mighty Man’s last win was in this same race two years ago and, making only his second start since suffering a serious injury in his subsequent appearance at Punchestown in April 2007, he delighted connections with a game run in second behind Big Buck’s. Having led round the home turn, the nine-year-old, who also won the John Smith’s Liverpool Hurdle in 2006 and the John Smith’s Top Novices’ Hurdle the previous year, appeared to scupper his chance of victory when blundering at the final flight of hurdles.

Trainer Henry Daly said: “He’s run a cracking race and has been beaten by a very good horse fair and square but he’s run a really nice race. Even if he’d jumped the last I don’t think he’d have won though we might have been a little bit closer. He just doesn’t make mistakes usually, maybe it was a bit of bounce but I don’t know. It was a great race and he does seem to enjoy it round here (Aintree).”

Outlining future plans, Daly added: “There’s a possibility he might go for the Long Distance Hurdle at Haydock, otherwise he’ll be finished for the season. There’s no chance whatsoever of him returning to Punchestown.”





Race 1: John Smith's Liverpool Hurdle
Placed quotes

FAIR ALONG IS MR CONSISTENCY


Consistent Fair Along ran another fine race in the Grade 2 John Smith's Liverpool Hurdle, finishing third to the season's champion staying hurdler, Big Buck's.

Fitted with a tongue strap for the first time, Fair Along, who was ridden by Rhys Flint, was in contention to the second-last flight, but could not quicken with the winner.

Trainer Philip Hobbs said: "I'm delighted he's run so well, and probably up to his very best. He got closer to the winner here than at Cheltenham [when ninth to Big Buck's in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle].

"We fitted a tongue tie after that run because we thought he might have a breathing issue - that wasn't definite and I'm not sure the tongue tie has worked today, because when a horse has a palate problem it can be intermittent."

Asked whether Fair Along might go back over fences at some point in his career, Hobbs hesitated, then said: "He's probably more likely to go Flat racing than over fences. I should think he will go to Punchestown and then start next season in the Cesarewitch [at Newmarket] in October ahead of another jumps season. I doubt he'll get into handicaps again after his performances this season."


GOING AFTER THE FIRST RACE


Ruby Walsh, rider of the 5/6 winner Big Buck’s, described the going as “Beautiful.”

Richard Johnson, rider of second placed Mighty Man, said: “It is just on the slow side of good.”

Rhys Flint, rider of third placed Fair Along, thought the ground “Good.”

Barry Geraghty, rider of Duc De Regniere, said: ”It was a little bit dead for my fella.”

Paddy Brennan, rider of Pettifour, said: “Proper good ground, beautiful.”

Davy Condon, rider of Faasel, said: “It is a bit dead.”

AP McCoy, rider of Hills Of Aran, described the ground as “Good.”

Jason Maguire, rider of Master Eddy, said: “Beautiful.”

Denis O’Regan, rider of No Refuge, said: “It is beautiful good ground.”



Second race
The Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle Race
Winner’s quotes

WALKON CHEERS LIVERPOOL FAITHFUL WITH WIDE-MARGIN VICTORY

The flying grey Walkon, runner-up to Zaynar in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on his last start, went one better with a scintillating 13-length triumph in the Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle.

His delighted trainer Alan King said: “Zaynar must be one hell of a horse as he beat us fair and square and he’s done it twice. But that was impressive today, very few horses got into it.

“It developed into a two-horse race and the one thing we knew with our lad is that he would gallop all the way to the line. He’s struck into himself on one front leg and lost a plate on the other so he’s got a few war wounds but he’s finished for the season now and he’ll be alright.”

Looking ahead to next season, King indicated that he would not necessarily aim the rangey French-bred at the Champion Hurdle, for which he has been given a quote of 14/1 with Paddy Power, cut from 33/1 after today’s win.

He said: “We might go down the Arkle route but I change my mind very regularly. I’m just going to enjoy today and enjoy the summer and we’ll see what the autumn brings. I would imagine he’ll start over hurdles in the autumn. He’s a nice horse to have and I don’t think he’s just a Triumph Hurdle horse - he’s got a lot of size and scope.”

“I said beforehand that I thought that we might just be vulnerable to one or two of the speed horses but very few got into the race. It was a proper test and I couldn't have been more pleased with him.

The winning rider Robert Thornton commented: "He actually dawdled round and I thought that he was always in second gear. I just wondered whether anything was travelling well behind us turning in but there wasn't and he has done it well.

"I missed a flight down the back. He just took his eye of it for a minute but he has jumped very well. He's very tough - he always pulls out plenty and he tried very hard in the Triumph.

"He has deserved to win a race like that. I thought that we were going to win coming to the last at Cheltenham but he was beaten by a better horse on the day.

"There's loads off improvement in him - he's just a frame of a horse at the moment and he will jump a fence some time. I would rather take 12/1 for the Arkle rather than the Champion Hurdle!"

SECOND RACE PLACED QUOTES
MATALAN 4-Y-O NOVICES’ HURDLE (GRADE 1)

VAUGHAN DELIGHTED WITH SKI RUN

Ski Sunday proved no match for the runaway 13-length winner Walkon in the Matalan 4YO Novices’ Hurdle but his trainer Tim Vaughan was delighted with the effort.

“The best horse won and it’s a pleasure to be here in second, as it was when he was runner-up at Cheltenham [in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle] but he really deserves to win a big one,” said Vaughan. “We’ll have a look at the Scottish Champion Hurdle or the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock but otherwise we could put him away and bring him back early next season.

“It’s obscene how much he has improved this season and we’ll have to see what the handicapper does with him.”

Alan Fleming, trainer of third-place Starluck, was pleased with the level of form that his horse has maintained, but wondered what might have been.

"In hindsight, we probably should have missed Cheltenham and taken the horse straight to Aintree, but I’m not complaining. The horse has run a fabulous race, we’ve been in the winner’s enclosure at Cheltenham [where the horse was fourth] and Aintree and it’s more than we ever would have expected when we bought him. And Walkon, the horse that’s beaten him, is probably the most improved horse in training. Starluck will have a rest now and we’re looking forward to next season."




THIRD RACE PLACED QUOTES
totesport BOWL CHASE (GRADE 2)

Winner

MADISON TAKES DRAMATIC totesport BOWL

A fall two from home by evens favourite Denman gifted the totesport Bowl to the front-running 12/1 chance Madison Du Berlais, who held off Exotic Dancer to score by four and a half lengths under Tom Scudamore.

The winner, who had beaten Denman on his seasonal comeback in February, was bouncing back from a lacklustre run in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

“Maybe he sulked a bit in the Gold Cup but he has put in a terrific performance today and it was a great ride by Tom. After two fences, you could see that he was different to when he ran at Cheltenham - maybe it's the flat track,” said winning trainer David Pipe.

"He a tough customer and he has been at Pond House for a long time. The likes of him, Lough Derg and Tamarinbleu are horses that we bought as youngsters in France and they have been around for years. It's a great credit to everyone at home and it’s a long home straight out there!

Scudamore added: “He's very, very tough. I was a bit worried when Denman came upsides me but I knew that we would keep jumping and galloping.

"I heard Denman coming through and I knew it was going to be tough, but to be fair he didn’t head me and I think I would have held him. The best news to have come out of the race is that Denman is OK and it's always sad to see great champions fall. We have still beaten a horse like Exotic Dancer at level weights.

“Madison has jumped from fence to fence and given me a tremendous thrill today. He has been a superstar for me and a great flagbearer for the yard this season.

“He was fantastic today. Hopefully, it was a joy to watch, he was certainly a joy to ride. He really enjoyed it today and so did I.

“I was beaten too early on him at Cheltenham to blame the track, but he wouldn’t be the first horse to have disappointed there he is still only eight. He has a lot of scope and is still a young horse and hopefully has a big future. His jumping is very neat and effective.

"This was great for the yard as we didn’t have any winners at Cheltenham. We haven't had as good a season as we would have liked but days like this certainly make it easier.

"The horse is very special to me - he's won a Hennessy and he's my first winner round Aintree for a few years. He's been very good to me, as has the trainer.”


Third race
The totesport Bowl Steeple Chase
Placed quotes

‘ONE TOO GOOD’ FOR EXOTIC DANCER AGAIN AS O’NEILL GRABS SECOND AND THIRD

Trainer Jonjo O’Neill smiled ruefully as he hailed the achievement of his consistent place-getter Exotic Dancer, who was third in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup and had to settle for second behind Madison Du Berlais in the totesport Bowl after running on strongly to the line.

O’Neill said: “It was a great run but he always seems to meet one too good. He must be the unluckiest horse in training. He ran his heart out but I’ve seen him jump better. In a race like that a few mistakes take their toll at the end. Your just can’t afford to make them. You have to have everything going for you and it just didn’t go that way today.”

He added: “I’ll have to talk to Barry (Simpson, racing manager to owner Sir Robert Ogden) before I decide where he goes next.”

The trainer was also responsible for third-placed Albertas Run, owned by Trevor Hemmings.

He said: “Albertas Run ran a really good race. He did everything right but he just found two too good! I imagine he’ll go to Punchestown now.”

Race 3: totesport Bowl Chase
Quotes

DENMAN 'OKAY' SAYS NICHOLLS

Trainer Paul Nicholls said Denman was 'okay' following his fall in the totesport Bowl Chase.

Last year's totesport Gold Cup winner (and runner-up in that race last month) was upsides eventual winner Madison Du Berlais when guessing at the second-last fence, hitting the birch, and taking a heavy fall.

The nine-year-old quickly rose to his feet and cantered past the stands to the collection area, where he was examined by a vet. Screens were erected, as is normal practise on racecourses when horses are being treated by veterinary officers.

A horse ambulance drove onto the course and Denman walked on board to be taken away for further treatment.

Paul Nicholls said: "Denman's got a really nasty cut on the point of his elbow, but he seems okay.

"He was walking around behind the screens and walked onto the trailer [horse ambulance]. He's gone off to be examined by the vet."

Jockey Sam Thomas was clearly disappointed, and said: "He would have won. He just stepped at the fence - I don't know why.

"He jumped brilliantly up to that point, carried me into the fences and felt good."


Race 4: John Smith's Fox Hunters' Chase
Quotes

THOMAS PUTS TRUST IN FUND

Trust Fund, ridden by Thomas Greenall in the colours of his father, Aintree chairman Lord Daresbury, powered to victory in the John Smith's Fox Hunters' Chase.

Victory gilded the hugely-successful career of Dorset-based point-to-point trainer Richard Barber, who has saddled hundreds of winners, including four in the Christie's Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham, but whose CV lacked an Aintree success. Trust Fund put that right when holding last year's winner Christy Beamish and Irish raider Having A Cut by four lengths and three and three-quarters of a length.

Lord Daresbury, who won the John Smith's Fox Hunters' Chase in 1982 on Lone Soldier (25-1), has four sons who are all riding in races at present. Ollie won last year's Christie's Foxhunter Chase on Amicelli and became Britain's point-to-point champion, and, now Thomas has won the Aintree version, he will bid to emulate his brother in the point-to-point title - he currently lies third. Another brother, Jake, fell in today's race at the Canal Turn on Sonevafushi.

Thomas, who was second in this race on Sikander A Azam [in 2004], said of Trust Fund: "I was worried the trip would be too short because he won over a mile further at Chepstow last month, but when we came to the run-in I knew they would struggle to get past.

"He over-jumped at a couple of fences, including the first, and we were lucky at Becher's where he stood back and went a bit long. I wasn't worried about being so far back at that stage because we were only half travelling and I knew I could pick up the tempo."

A former amateur champion under Rules, the winning rider suffered a serious liver injury last year, but has come back and concentrated on riding in point-to-points.

Asked if he could emulate Ollie and win the national title, he said: "I would say that's harder than winning this race today."

Richard Barber said: "I had to beg Lord Daresbury to let me run the horse at Chepstow in a bid to win and ensure we didn't get balloted out of this race. I wasn't worried about the drop back in trip.

"I wouldn't want to run him again if the ground gets too lively because he had a bit of heat in a leg last year and we had to put him away.

"I said to Tom get a tow, be in the first seven or eight, get him jumping and then creep into it if he's good enough."

Lord Daresbury said: "Aintree is very special to me and it's wonderful to see Thomas
win today. He hasn't really had the best run of luck, and with Oliver having big success last year this really is a fairytale.

"It's quite extraordinary that all four of my sons are so keen and riding so well. I cannot believe it. I hope Oliver will get back soon after his fall at Cheltenham [broken ribs, punctured lung and bruised spleen] and he could win the amateur title under Rules, and Thomas is going well in the point-to-point title, so if we could pull that double off it would be the dream team.

"I haven't talked to Richard about plans for Trust Fund, but he jumped really well, so he might go to Punchestown [for the Champion Hunters' Chase] and then Stratford [for the Pertemps Cup]."

Fourth race
The John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase
Placed quotes



ANOTHER GREAT ROUND FROM LAST YEAR’S WINNER CHRISTY BEAMISH

Last year’s winner Christy Beamish put in another superb round under jockey Claire Allen to finish four lengths behind the winner Trust Fund in the John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase.

Trainer Sue Taylor said: “He’s a star. He likes it here and he hates Cheltenham. Every time we’ve taken him there he’s hated it but he’s 12 now and we’ve now learned not to take him there, so we’ll stick to Aintree. We’re delighted with him.”

Christy Beamish was trained by Taylor’s partner Paul Jones when victorious last year but now runs under the vet’s name.

She said: “It’s just my name on the ticket this year but nothing’s changed, it’s still the same team.”

Having A Cut, in only his fifth steeplechase, finished third. Trainer Edward O’Grady was more than satisfied with the seven-year-old’s performance. “That’s not bad for a first-season chaser. We’re very happy with that,” he said.

Phil Cunningham, owner of 2007 2,000 Guineas winner Cockney Rebel is also successful with his string of jumpers and watched McEvoy post a good round to finish fourth.

Cunningham said: “It was amazing. I must admit there were concerns over his jumping but after he’d taken the Canal Turn we knew we had a contender. He probably got there a little bit early but what a great ride. He’s a dream of a horse, isn’t he?

“ I was standing next to my wife and after about two or three fences I just put my head down and said ‘I can’t watch this’. My heart felt like it was beating outside of my body, it was the strangest feeling. At least on the flat there are no fences between you and the finish post!”




Fifth Race: John Smith’s Red Rum Handicap Chase
Winner’s Quotes

OH CRICK MAKES IT TWO FOR KING

Oh Crick made it a 23/1 double on the day for trainer Alan King, with the six-year-old, who was marginally behind at the final fence, outstaying Lord Jay Jay to win the John Smith’s Red Rum Handicap Chase by a length.

It was also a second successive big meeting win for the horse who had brought the trainer his only victory at the Cheltenham Festival, when he won the final race of the four days, the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase. “There’s not many who do the double,” said the delighted trainer.

King explained that it had taken some time to work out how to get the best out of his horse. “We tried to make him a two and a half miler, but he wasn’t getting the trip. Being the prat that I am it took me three or four races to work it out. He’s a proper two miler really,” he said.

The horse had come alongside Lord Jay Jay between the last two fences, but King explained that it was important not to send him on too early. “He stops in front, so he doesn’t want to be there too soon,” he said.

“He’s tough and he only just does enough and he keeps himself well handicapped because he never wins by far,” he added.

Robert Thornton, who was not on board for the Cheltenham victory, rode a confident race. He said: “They didn’t go as quick as I thought they would and I was travelling very well down the back. My only trouble was the two loose horses, who were on the outside. I was a bit crowded by them. Once he got out it was fine. He jumped very well today.

King has not ruled out the horse ending its season at Punchestown. “It’s a possibility, we’ll see. He’s thriving at the minute,” said the trainer.

The trainer also paid tribute to the owner, David Sewell. “He’s a delight to train for. He’s a very good winner, but more importantly, he’s a very good loser.”


Fifth race

The John Smith’s Red Rum Handicap Steeplechase
Placed quotes

ANOTHER AINTREE SECOND FOR LORD JAY JAY

Jan Jonhson, owner of second-placed Lord Jay Jay, named the nine-year-old after her own initials and was delighted with the exploits of the gelding who battled gamely with winner Oh Crick in the closing stages.

“I’m really proud of him and absolutely over the moon,” said Swansea resident Johnson. “We’ve been waiting for this ground as he really doesn’t like it soft. I’ve been begging Venetia (Williams) to enter him in this race.”

Johnson, who keeps Lord Jay Jay at home with her when he’s not in training and has two other jumpers with Venetia Williams, added: “I’m thrilled with second - as long as he comes home safe that’s fine with me. I love him to bits - I’ve had him since he was a three-year-old. I’m just so pleased that he ran really well - we were second at Aintree’s May meeting last year, just beaten on the line by Sou’wester - and I think today’s race was really competitive.”

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of third-placed Tramantano, added: "We were not far away and it was a very good effort given he didn’t have a clear run. He was nearly brought down on the back straight and they came across him at the last. We’ll stop and think now about whether he runs again this season."


Sixth race - The John Smith’s Manifesto Novices’ Steeplechase
Winner’s quotes

GEORGE CELEBRATES STYLISH FIRST AINTREE WINNER

Tartak gave Tom George a day to remember with an impressively easy victory in the John Smith’s Manifesto Novices’ Chase, the Gloucestershire trainer’s first at Aintree.

Formerly trained in France, the six-year-old, who was recording his fourth victory in the UK and who finished fifth in Cheltenham’s Arkle Chase, strolled to a seven-length win after travelling easily throughout.

Tom George said: "He has really been progressing. We took it very slowly when he came over and he was very edgy on his first run for me in June. We brought him along slowly and he has kept on improving.

"He is a very talented horse and when Paddy first rode him, before he ran at Newton Abbott, he said this is something very special. We were riding him wrong because he was very buzzy early on and we ended up making the running on him, which didn't suit him.

“At Cheltenham, he had a lot of bad luck in running and got very badly hampered at the top of the hill. He was a bit on edge that day but today he just grew into it. He ran at a nice even pace and jumped and travelled really well. He was a different horse today.

“We had a lot of bad luck in the Arkle but we were quite sweet on him before then so it wasn’t really a surprise to see him run so well today.

"I would have thought that he would stay three miles. He has the natural speed for two miles and it is always a good sign when they have the speed for two but probably get three.

"We will keep our options open as to whether he runs again this season. He has changed between Cheltenham and here but I wouldn't like to commit myself one way or the other."

“I have not had much luck at Aintree before this. It is good to have a winner here and I hope my luck continues.”

The trainer added: “David Fox of Power Panels Electrical Systems has been a great supporter of the yard and it’s been a pleasure to train four or five really lovely horses that he’s sent me.”


Race 6: John Smith's Manifesto Novices' Chase
Quotes

PURPLE DIGS DEEP

Glamorgan trainer Evan Williams, who runs State Of Play in the John Smith's Grand National on Saturday, collected some of the sponsor's money in this novices' chase, named after a dual Aintree hero.

The Williams-trained Deep Purple made the early running, but rallied after being headed by winner Tartak and third-placed Planet Of Sound before finishing second, beaten seven lengths.

At the ninth fence Deep Purple made a blunder that levered jockey Paul Moloney into the air, but he showed skill and balance to keep the partnership intact.

Williams said: "That was great horsemanship. The horse is prone to the odd error, but Paul did brilliantly. We've finished second and, while meaning no disrespect to the winner, that mistake may have cost us the race, but it was a great contest.

"The horse is tough and I don't know why people crab him. He had a little problem behind the saddle when pulled up at Kempton at Christmas, but apart from that he's been so consistent. He loves racing so we'll look at Ayr and Punchestown."

Asked about State Of Play, Williams said: "He looked great when I saw him this morning. You can't make any plans in a race like the National, but it was always our aim to have him very, very fresh, and we've been really pleased with his prep.

"He's been over some very small Aintree-style fences. We jumped McEvoy over them and he's run well to finish fourth in the [John Smith's] Fox Hunters' Chase, so that's all we could do.

"He's got a bit of weight [11st 2lb] but plenty of horses have won the National with more than 11st, and he won a Hennessy under 11st 4lb."

Philip Hobbs, trainer of Planet Of Sound, said: "He made mistakes at the third last and last which obviously didn't help, but at the same time he was beaten then so I'd have to be a bit disappointed, especially with the favourite [Chapoturgeon] going out at the first.

"I don't know if he'll run again this season - we'll just see how he is."


SEVENTH RACE WINNING QUOTES
SILVER CROSS HANDICAP HURDLE

SAD DAY ENDS ON SUNNY NOTE FOR JONJO

Trainer Jonjo O’Neill won the closing Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle on a day on which one of his stable stars, Exotic Dancer, died of a suspected heart attack after racing earlier in the day.

“That was a little bit of help and it just shows what racing is like - you are on the ground and come back a bit,” said O’Neill.

Sunnyhillboy beat only two horses home when well-backed for the Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on his last start and the trainer added: “We were fierce disappointed with him at Cheltenham and he was a lot more fancied that day than today - at least by me. The extra half mile today probably helped and everything just seemed to happen right and we might have ridden him wrong at Cheltenham.

“He won handily enough in the end and I’m not sure whether we’d go to Punchestown or not. It might depend on what the handicapper does.”


Seventh Race: Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle
Placed Quotes

BEDLAM BOY BATTLES ON LATE


Bedlam Boy did his best work in the closing stages of the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle - when he finished ninth - at the Cheltenham Festival and it was the same story in the Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle, the final race of the opening day of the John Smith’s Grand National Meeting, when he came through to finish third.

Trainer Ferdy Murphy explained that his late run was a question of how the race panned out. “The track is tight enough for him and he didn’t handle it that well. He’s a big horse and he’s probably better on a more galloping track. He got a little bit of traffic problems, but he did come through well,” said the trainer.

The jockey Davy Russell, deputising for the injured Graham Lee, reported back to the trainer that he felt that the horse could well have been better suited by softer ground. The horse’s two wins to date have come on heavy and soft ground.

Murphy, though, was more than satisfied. It’s a good run out of him. He’ll have a bit of a break and go chasing next year,” said the north Yorkshire handler.

Philip Hobbs, trainer of runner-up Prince Taime, said: “He’s run very well and stayed on to the line. He used to be very neurotic, but he’s settling down and growing up so we’re very pleased.
“He was third in the Imperial Cup and won at Haydock the other day. If we hadn’t run there we wouldn’t have gone up 6lb and might have won today, but that’s the way it goes. He had an easy time when it was so wet because he doesn’t go on soft ground, so we’ll keep him going. I’m sure there’s a decent handicap in him - possibly at Punchestown.”

BRENNAN SUSPENDED FOR A DAY

The stewards have suspended jockey Paddy Brennan for one day [Thursday, 16th April 2009] following his winning ride on Tartak in the John Smith’s Manifesto Novices’ Chase. The stewards found the jockey guilty of improper riding under Instruction H9 headed ‘Use of the Whip’, adjudging that he had used his whip with excessive frequency when clearly winning.

SUNNY START TO MEETING AS AINTREE TEAM ANTICIPATES LARGE CROWD FOR LADIES’ DAY

Warm spring sunshine greeted racegoers on the first day of three-day John Smith’s Grand National Meeting as Aintree’s Chairman Lord Daresbury celebrated a ‘home win’ in the John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase with Trust Fund, ridden by his son Tom Greenall.

“It’s been a great day, although it’s terribly sad to lose a horse like Exotic Dancer,” said Aintree’s Managing Director Julian Thick.

“We had a crowd of 25,218 - anything above 25,000 is a good start to the race meeting. Pre-sales on tickets for Ladies’ Day tomorrow are significantly higher than that and we’re expecting the crowd to be nearly double the size it was today. The crowd was down a bit on this day last year but that was largely hospitality sales.”


RECORD TOTESPORT PLACEPOT FOR FIRST DAY OF MEETING

Totesport, betting partner for the John Smith’s Grand National, enjoyed a record Placepot pool for the Thursday of the meeting, which hit £397,450.

GOING UPDATE

The going remains unchanged after the first day of the John Smith’s Grand National

GOOD on the Mildmay and Hurdle Courses

and

GOOD, GOOD TO SOFT IN PLACES on the Grand National Course


Andrew Tulloch, Aintree’s Director of the Racing and Clerk of the Course, said: “We are likely to water the National, Mildmay and Hurdle courses before racing tomorrow. We will put down around three to four millimetres of water to replace the moisture we’ve lost today and maintain the ground as it is. We’re likely to water the whole National course.”

Tomorrow’s forecast is for a dry day with sunny spells and variable amounts of cloud. Some rain is anticipated overnight after racing on Friday with most expected to fall between 3am and 8am on Saturday morning.

G4S LEADING RIDER AWARD

FIRST DAY STANDINGS

Jockey Win 2nd 3rd
Robert Thornton 2 - 1
Tony McCoy 1 1 -
Paddy Brennan 1 - 1
Ruby Walsh 1 - -
Mr Tom Greenall 1 - -
Tom Scudamore 1 - -
Richard Johnson - 2 1
Miss Claire Allen - 1 -
Seamus Durack - 1 -
Paul Moloney - 1 -
Liam Treadwell - 1 -
Rhys Flint - - 1
Mr J T McNamara - - 1
Timmy Murphy - - 1
Davy Russell - - 1


LEADING TRAINER

FIRST DAY STANDINGS

Trainer Win 2nd 3rd
Alan King 2 - -
Jonjo O’Neill 1 1 1
Paul Nicholls 1 - -
Richard Barber 1 - -
Tom George 1 - -
David Pipe 1 - -
Henry Daly - 1 -
Sue Taylor - 1 -
Tim Vaughan - 1 -
Evan Williams - 1 -
Venetia Williams - 1 -
Philip Hobbs - 1 2
Alan Fleming - - 1
Ferdy Murphy - - 1
Edward O’Grady IRE - - 1
Nigel Twiston-Davies - - 1


THURSDAY’S WINNERS

2.00pm JOHN SMITH’S LIVERPOOL HURDLE (GRADE TWO)
BIG BUCK’S (The Stewart Family) Paul Nicholls 6-11-10 Ruby Walsh 5/6f

2.35pm MATALAN ANNIVERSARY 4YO NOVICES’ HURDLE (GRADE ONE)
WALKON (McNeill Racing) Alan King 4-11-0 Robert Thornton 2/1f

3.10pm totesport BOWL CHASE (GRADE TWO)
MADISON DU BERLAIS (Roger Stanley & Yvonne Reynolds II) David Pipe 8-11-0 Tom Scudamore 12/1

3.45pm JOHN SMITH’S FOX HUNTERS’ CHASE
TRUST FUND (Lord Daresbury) Richard Barber 11-12-0 Mr Tom Greenall 13/2

4.20pm JOHN SMITH’S RED RUM HANDICAP CHASE (GRADE THREE)
OH CRICK (David Sewell) Alan King 6-11-1 Robert Thornton 7/1 co-fav

4.55pm JOHN SMITH’S MANIFESTO NOVICES’ CHASE (GRADE TWO)
TARTAK (Power Panels Electrical Systems Ltd) Tom George 6-11-4 Paddy Brennan 11/2

5.30pm SILVER CROSS HANDICAP HURDLE (LISTED)
SUNNYHILLBOY (JP McManus) Jonjo O’Neill 6-11-0 Tony McCoy 8/1

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