Smith has been compressing the h'cap since 2010.His first attempt was a bit of a botch job with only 6 horses getting into the race from Valentines second time around. I'm in favour of the best beasts running but not positive discrimination to the detriment of other contenders. Ted Walsh makes a valid point about about the respective ratings of Tidal Bay (171) and Seabass (154) and how PS has burdened them in this race at a difference of 8lb's. It resembles a limited h'cap these days. Thats not to say it won't be a thrilling race.
Personally I prefer it now, 40 horses can win the race, and not just those who carry less than 11 stone.
Theres always going to be trainers who will feel aggrieved by PS's handicapping of this race Personally , i think he has done a fine job of it
That remains to be seen Smokin'!! You are right about the trainers...impossible to please even half of them.
Nicholls saying he may well swerve Cheltenham all together with Tidal Bay and go straight to Aintree, claiming the handicapper has given his charge "an outstanding chance". Must say I agree.
Now that is interesting Oddy considering the options the Wylies have in the GN...very surprising actually. Is he a totally reformed and rehabilitated character or will he sulk and strop at Aintree?
Timeform Weight-Adjusted Ratings 185 TIDAL BAY 180 BESHABAR 180 CAPPA BLEU 180? OSCAR TIME 179+ WYCK HILL 179 QUEL ESPRIT 179? IMPERIAL COMMANDER 178 ALBERTAS RUN 178 HARRY THE VIKING 178 RARE BOB 178 ROBERTO GOLDBACK 178? JESSIES DREAM 178$ WEIRD AL Selected Others 176+ PRINCE DE BEAUCHENE 176 BALLABRIGGS 176 THE PACKAGE 174p KATENKO 173 JOIN TOGETHER 172 SEABASS 172 SUNNYHILLBOY 170+ COLBERT STATION 168+ ON HIS OWN That may change Rons mind, he loves a Timeform top-rated
It pains one somewhat to say this, given who owns him, but I really think that HARRY THE VIKING has the potential to run away with the heat this term and give Mr Nicholls, the forum’s third favourite trainer, back to back Grand National victories. Although the old boy has been somewhat below par this term he has been trained specifically for the Aintree showpiece all season and seemingly has a very attractive weight of 10-2 – I really do think he has the potential to be a good stone better than his current mark of 140. The distance should be no trouble as well given that he was a staying on 2nd in the 4 mile NH Chase at last years Cheltenham Festival. On that occasion he was beaten 2 lengths by TeaForThree but is now 11 pounds better off with that one – further proof of his attractive handicap perch and his ability to perform against very decent campaigners. Is also usually a very sound jumper with the ability to both travel well and quicken impressively at the business end of a contest – three attributes that you need at Aintree over the big ‘uns. Is currently number 54 in the list but would be fairly confident that enough would come out to allow Harry The Viking to get in at the foot of the weights. 33/1 looks a very attractive price re this one, methinks.
I would have to say the Package has a very nice weight ..... jumps soundly and would prefer good ground. He ran well in the Hennessy behind Bobsworth and seems back in good form. You can ignore his last run over hurdles as it was on heavy ground but he travelled nicely for quite a bit of the way. I also think its worth noting that the trainer is thinking of taking the Package to the Grimthorpe next as opposed to Cheltenham. He would most likely find better ground at Doncaster and the race would likely take less out of him. I think at 25-1 its a cracking each way bet.
Press Release: 84 FOR 2013 JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL AT AINTREE WILLIAMS HOPES CAPPA CAN GIVE WALES FIRST SUCCESS SINCE 1905 The 166th running of the world's greatest chase, the John Smith's Grand National, has attracted a high-class entry of 84, an increase of two on the 2012 figure. With a prize fund of £975,000, the John Smith's Grand National remains the most valuable jump race in Europe and among the richest in the world. The Aintree contest will take place over the new distance of four miles, three furlongs and about 110 yards on Saturday, April 6, with the start moved closer to the first fence. The maximum permitted field is 40 runners, with up to four reserves on standby. Seven-time champion jump trainer Paul Nicholls landed his first John Smith's Grand National in dramatic fashion last year when Neptune Collonges got the better of Sunnyhillboy by a nose in the closest finish ever seen to the great race. Neptune Collonges was retired following his famous victory but Sunnyhillboy (20/1 with Betfred, official betting partner of the 2013 John Smith's Grand National) could bid to go one better. The 2012 third and fourth, Seabass (20/1) and Cappa Bleu (25/1), are both entered again. Trainer Evan Williams, based in the Vale of Glamorgan, has confirmed Cappa Bleuis on course for a second tilt at the John Smith's Grand National. The lightly-raced 11-year-old encountered trouble in running last year and his trainer believes the experience will have stood him in good stead ahead of this year's renewal. Williams commented: "The John Smith's Grand National has been the plan for Cappa Bleu ever since he crossed the line last year. "He ran a very promising race last year. He got a few bumps along the way and was lucky to stand up with some loose horses and fallers around him. I thought he did incredibly well to finish as close as he did. "He is a very unexposed horse and his inexperience probably caught him out last year, but hopefully he will benefit from that this time around. "Everything has been very good with him since his comeback at Carlisle (second of five in November) and, given the way the weather has been, I am delighted we managed to get the run into him when we did. "Since he ran, it has been very wet and very heavy ground doesn't suit him. When he encountered that for the first time in the Welsh National in 2011, it took me a long time to get him back after that. "I didn't want to run him in that sort of ground again this season because I want to get him to Aintree as fresh as I possibly can. "He holds entries this weekend but he will be entered everywhere as I am very keen to get another run or two into him before Aintree. I will give him every opportunity to run but, as I have said all season, if the ground is very heavy, he won't run." Cappa Bleu is one of eight entries trained in Wales, along with recent Welsh National second Teaforthree (Rebecca Curtis), Always Waining, who has won the last three runnings of the John Smith's Topham Chase over the Grand National fences, Gullible Gordon and Mumbles Head (all with Peter Bowen) and 2011 Scottish Grand National winner Beshabar, Saint Are and Tartak (all with Tim Vaughan). The only horse trained in Wales to win the John Smith's Grand National was Kirkland way back in 1905. Nicholls has four chances to gain a second John Smith's Grand National this year, headed by Tidal Bay(20/1). The 12-year-old has been revitalised since joining the Somerset handler and landed the Grade One Lexus Chase at Leopardstown, Ireland, over Christmas. Nicholls could also be represented by What A Friend (25/1) and Harry The Viking (25/1), who are both part-owned by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, as well as Join Together (20/1), who was second over the famous fences in the Betfred Becher Chase in December. Jonjo O'Neill, who went so close with Sunnyhillboy last year having trained Don't Push It to win in 2010, has five entries in 2013. In addition to Sunnyhillboy, the Gloucestershire-based handler could also be represented by the multiple Grade One scorer Albertas Run, Cheltenham Festival winner Alfie Sherrin, Lost Glory and Mister Hyde. The name McCain is synonymous with the John Smith's Grand National, with the late Ginger McCain sending out the great Red Rum to three Grand National victories in the 1970s followed by Amberleigh House in 2004 and his son Donald enjoying success with Ballabriggs in 2011. Ballabriggs, sixth in 2012, is one of five entries for Donald McCain this year along with Across The Bay, Cloudy Lane,who has run three times in the John Smith's Grand National and won the John Smith's Fox Hunters over the big fences last season, Fabalu and Weird Al. The progressive Wyck Hill, successful on four of his last six starts, comes from the stable of David Bridgwater. As a jockey, Bridgwater finished second in the 1996 Grand National on Encore Un Peu. There are a total of 32 Irish-trained entries, with Ireland's champion jump trainer Willie Mullins having seven hopefuls, more than any other handler. The Mullins septet includes the leading contenders Prince De Beauchene, a winner over the Mildmay course at the 2011 John Smith's Grand National meeting and On His Own, who was still travelling well in third when falling at Becher's on the second circuit of last season's John Smith's Grand National. The duo are the 16/1 joint favourites with Betfred. Mullins saddled Hedgehunter to land the Aintree showpiece in 2005. Another Irish trainer to have previously sent out the winner of the John Smith's Grand National is Ted Walsh, who was triumphant with Papillon in 2000. He has two strong contenders this year, including last year's third Seabass, ridden by his amateur rider daughter Katie, and Colbert Station (20/1), who entered the reckoning for the John Smith's Grand National when taking a valuable handicap chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. Gordon Elliott enjoyed a dream start to his training career when Silver Birch collected the 2007 John Smith's Grand National and his six entries this year include the high-class Jessies Dream, who has not been seen out since finishing second in the 2011 Grade One RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival behind the Jessica Harrington-trained Bostons Angel. The last two winners of the Irish Grand National - Organisedconfusion (2011) and Lion Na Bearnai (2012) - are also engaged, while leading owner J P McManus has seven possibles spread across five trainers. There is one entry from France,experienced chaser Odysseas, who is trained by Yann Porzier. Nigel Twiston-Davies is the most successful current trainer in the John Smith's Grand National, having enjoyed two successes with Earth Summit (1998) and Bindaree (2002). He has four entries this year, headed by the 2010 Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Imperial Commander (25/1), who made an excellent return to action on Saturday, January 26 following nearly two years when just touched off in the Argento Chase at Cheltenham. David Pipe, who saddled Comply Or Die to win the John Smith's Grand National in 2008, also has four to choose from including the talented performer The Package, while Venetia Williams, trainer of the shock 100/1 winner Mon Mome in 2009, has three possible starters - Katenko, the winner of his last two races, Summery Justice and Pentiffic. It is 23 years since Kim Bailey landed the Grand National with Mr Frisk and the trainer has one entry this year, The Rainbow Hunter, successful on two of his last three starts. Weights for the John Smith's Grand National are framed by the British Horseracing Authority's Head of Handicapping, Phil Smith, and will be revealed at the annual John Smith's Grand National launch on Tuesday, February 12. The John Smith's Grand National is the only race in the calendar where the handicapper is permitted to use his own discretion and judgment, rather than relying on central ratings. John Baker, North West Regional Director, Jockey Club Racecourses, commented: "It is very satisfying to see the number of entries for the John Smith's Grand National has been maintained. "Interest in the great race clearly remains as strong as ever among owners and trainers. "The quality of the entries also shines through with multiple Grade One winners Tidal Bay and Albertas Run, while the Irish-trained contingent looks very powerful. "Everyone now eagerly awaits the unveiling on the weights on Tuesday, February 12."
THE 2013 JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL Class 1, Grade 3, £975,000 total prize fund. 4.15pm, Aintree, Saturday, April 6, 2013, four miles, three and a half furlongs. For seven-year-olds and upwards who, up to and including March 18, 2013, have been placed first, second, third or fourth in a chase of three miles or more and which are allotted a rating of 120 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 10, 2013. Horses who are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain or Ireland at closing may also be entered. Such horses may be eligible for a weight providing the handicapper is satisfied that the horse's racecourse performances up to and including February 10 would merit a minimum rating of 120. To qualify, horses must have run at least three times in chases run under the Rules of Racing of the same Recognised Racing Authority up to and including February 10, 2013. At the handicapper's discretion, such horses may be allocated a rating. The decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final. The British Horseracing Authority has modified Rule (F)42.2.1 for the purposes of this race, such that racecourse performances up to and including Sunday, February 12, may be taken into account. A novice horse shall only be qualified to run in this race if it has run a minimum of three times in chases in Great Britain, Ireland or France in accordance with Rule (F)42.5. Highest weight 11st 10lb - no penalties after publication of the weights. Entries closed January 29, entries revealed January 30 (84 entries), weights revealed February 12, first scratchings' deadline February 26, second scratchings' deadline March 19. Five-day confirmation stage April 1, final declaration stage 10.00am, April 4. Maximum field size of 40, plus four reserves. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, January 28. Form Horse Age Owner Trainer P3-1120 ACROSS THE BAY (IRE) 9 Scotch Piper Syndicate Donald McCain P12/123- ALBERTAS RUN (IRE) 12 Trevor Hemmings Jonjo O'Neill 0513-30 ALFIE SHERRIN 10 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill 044001- ALWAYS WAINING (IRE) 12 Mr & Mrs Peter James Douglas Peter Bowen 3-614U4 ANY CURRENCY (IRE) 10 Cash Is King Martin Keighley 2-U0P45 AURORAS ENCORE (IRE) 11 D Pryde, J Beaumont & D P van der Hoeven Sue Smith P/5000/P- BACKSTAGE (FR) 11 MPR & Capranny Syndicate Gordon Elliott IRE 121/46-P BALLABRIGGS (IRE) 12 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain P0F1-12 BALTHAZAR KING (IRE) 9 The Brushmakers Philip Hobbs 2F-63PP BECAUSEICOULDNTSEE (IRE) 10 Noel Glynn Noel Glynn IRE 1/U121/5- BESHABAR (IRE) 11 Middleham Park Racing X & Ann Burrows Tim Vaughan 440/-U31 BIG FELLA THANKS 11 Crossed Fingers Partnership Tom George 051130 BOB LINGO (IRE) 11 J P McManus Tom Mullins IRE P-06F22 BOSTONS ANGEL (IRE) 9 Elder Scouller Jessica Harrington IRE 5110-P4 CALGARY BAY (IRE) 10 Camilla Radford Mick Channon 234-F21 CALL THE POLICE (IRE) 10 DD Racing Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE P//1334-2 CAPPA BLEU (IRE) 11 William & Angela Rucker Evan Williams 2B-0U63 CHICAGO GREY (IRE) 10 John Earls Gordon Elliott IRE 40//2161- CLOUDY LANE 13 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain 413-521 COLBERT STATION (IRE) 9 J P McManus Ted Walsh IRE 1P-4PP0 CROSS APPEAL (IRE) 7 John Corr Noel Meade IRE 120-25F FABALU (IRE) 11 Tim Leslie Donald McCain 64-2P15 FORPADYDEPLASTERER (IRE) 11 Goat Racing Syndicate Thomas Cooper IRE 21B-4FP FRISCO DEPOT 9 Waley-Cohen, Burke, Broughton, Broughton Charlie Longsdon 0/44-060 GULLIBLE GORDON (IRE) 10 Yeh Man Partnership Peter Bowen 112P-P0 HARRY THE VIKING 8 Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason, R Wood & P Done Paul Nicholls 51U/1P/-2 IMPERIAL COMMANDER (IRE) 12 Our Friends in the North Nigel Twiston-Davies 30/1122/- JESSIES DREAM (IRE) 10 David Johnson Gordon Elliott IRE 11P3-02 JOIN TOGETHER (IRE) 8 Ian Fogg & Paul Barber Paul Nicholls 20-3523 JONCOL (IRE) 10 Kay Browne Paul Nolan IRE 4-F0211 KATENKO (FR) 7 A Brooks Venetia Williams 01236-1 LAMBRO (IRE) 8 Byerley Thoroughbred Racing Willie Mullins IRE 10511-P LION NA BEARNAI (IRE) 11 The Lock Syndicate Tom Gibney IRE 6P00-1F LITTLE JOSH (IRE) 11 Tony Bloom Nigel Twiston-Davies 011611 LOST GLORY (NZ) 8 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill PP-5220 MAGNANIMITY (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Dessie Hughes IRE 4P2P-26 MAJOR MALARKEY (IRE) 10 Baker, Dodd & Cooke Nigel Twiston-Davies 030U-06 MATUHI 10 Willsford Racing Incorporated David Pipe 310-3P4 MIDNIGHT CHASE 11 Lady Clarke Neil Mulholland 04-1311 MISTER HYDE (IRE) 8 Bensaranat Club & W McLuskey Jonjo O'Neill 1P-2215 MORTIMERS CROSS 12 John Needham John Needham 0-23602 MR MOONSHINE (IRE) 9 Sue Smith Sue Smith 1133FP MUMBLES HEAD (IRE) 12 Karen Bowen Peter Bowen 1F-3F60 NINETIETH MINUTE (IRE) 10 Dermot Cox Tom Taaffe IRE 33F425 ODYSSEAS (FR) 10 Mrs Jean Porzier Yann Porzier FR 4P1/B1F- ON HIS OWN (IRE) 9 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE F5U-540 ORGANISEDCONFUSION (IRE) 8 Grace Dunlop Arthur Moore IRE 632/4-4U OSCAR TIME (IRE) 12 Robert Waley-Cohen/Sir Martin & Simon Broughton Martin Lynch IRE 05r316 OUTLAW PETE (IRE) 9 J P McManus John Halley IRE 11/P10/-0 PANDORAMA (IRE) 10 R J Bagnall Noel Meade IRE 30/F2PP- PEARLYSTEPS 10 The Glazeley Partnership Henry Daly 0-00016 PENTIFFIC (NZ) 10 P Sinn, P Lawrence, L Sutcliffe, M Smith Venetia Williams 5/230-53 PLANET OF SOUND 11 Charles Lloyd-Baker Philip Hobbs (0)6U1/-50 POKER DE SIVOLA (FR) 10 David Johnson Ferdy Murphy 351/51-1 PRINCE DE BEAUCHENE (FR) 10 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE 1211-5F PROBLEMA TIC (FR) 7 Jo Tracey David Pipe F1113-0 QUEL ESPRIT (FR) 9 Red Barn Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE 131P/PP- QUINZ (FR) 9 Andrew Cohen Philip Hobbs 4010F-6 QUISCOVER FONTAINE (FR) 9 J P McManus Willie Mullins IRE 13-3361 QUITO DE LA ROQUE (FR) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Colm Murphy IRE 053B0-6 RARE BOB (IRE) 11 D A Syndicate Dessie Hughes IRE 000-1U3 ROBERTO GOLDBACK (IRE) 11 Simon Munir Nicky Henderson 511112 ROI DU MEE (FR) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE U1F102 ROMANESCO (FR) 8 Annie Flora Joan Bowles Gordon Elliott IRE 4U01-F4 SAINT ARE (FR) 7 David Fox Tim Vaughan 1//11113- SEABASS (IRE) 10 Gunners Syndicate Ted Walsh IRE 0-12136 SHAKERVILZ (FR) 10 Wicklow Bloodstock Limited Willie Mullins IRE 1/21B-00 SOLL 8 Derrick Mossop Jo Hughes 1P/1/401- SUMMERY JUSTICE (IRE) 9 Mrs H Brown Venetia Williams P012-5P SUNNYHILLBOY (IRE) 10 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill 00P-P14 SWING BILL (FR) 12 David Johnson David Pipe 1P1142 TARQUINIUS (FR) 10 Mrs M Furlong Gordon Elliott IRE 50-6440 TARTAK (FR) 10 Power Panels Electrical Systems Ltd Tim Vaughan 0/015U-6 TATENEN (FR) 9 The Stewart Family Richard Rowe P11-062 TEAFORTHREE (IRE) 9 T437 Rebecca Curtis 5/5/4-14P THE PACKAGE 10 David Johnson David Pipe 04-311P THE RAINBOW HUNTER 9 May We Never Be Found Out Partnership Kim Bailey 541-121 TIDAL BAY (IRE) 12 Andrea & Graham Wylie Paul Nicholls 1-12141 TOFINO BAY (IRE) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Dessie Hughes IRE 51423F- TREACLE (IRE) 12 Bjorn Nielsen Tom Taaffe IRE FP-023P VIKING BLOND (FR) 8 Caroline Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies 13PF-4P WEIRD AL (IRE) 10 Brannon Dick Holden Donald McCain 4P/33F0- WHAT A FRIEND 10 Ged Mason & Sir Alex Ferguson Paul Nicholls 11F2-11 WYCK HILL (IRE) 9 SAB Partnership David Bridgwater 84 entries 32 Irish-trained 1 French-trained
Betting (from Betfred) 16/1 On His Own, Prince De Beauchene; 20/1 Colbert Station, Join Together, Katenko, Seabass, Sunnyhillboy, Tidal Bay; 25/1 Beshabar, Cappa Bleu, Harry The Viking, Imperial Commander, Roberto Goldback, Roi Du Mee, Teaforthree, The Package, What A Friend; 33/1 Across The Bay, Albertas Run, Alfie Sherrin, Ballabriggs, Balthazar King, Big Fella Thanks, Bostons Angel, Frisco Depot, Lambro, Lion Na Bearnai, Organisedconfusion, Oscar Time, Outlaw Pete, Romanesco, Saint Are, Tofino Bay, Weird Al, Wyck Hill; 40/1 Call The Police, Jessies Dream, Little Josh, Lost Glory, Magnanimity, Mister Hyde, Planet Of Sound, Quel Esprit, Quiscover Fontaine, Quito De La Roque, Tarquinius; 50/1 Always Waining, Any Currency, Auroras Encore, Becauseicouldntsee, Bob Lingo, Chicago Grey, Cross Appeal, Forpadydeplasterer, Joncol, Mr Moonshine, Ninetieth Minute, Pandorama, Problema Tic, Quinz, Rare Bob, Shakervilz, Summery Justice, Swing Bill, Tartak, The Rainbow Hunter, Treacle; 66/1 Backstage, Calgary Bay, Cloudy Lane, Midnight Chase, Odysseas, Pearlysteps, Pentiffic, Poker De Sivola, Soll, Viking Blond; 100/1 Fabalu, Gullible Gordon, Major Malarkey, Matuhi, Mortimers Cross, Mumbles Head, Tatenen.
FAVOURITE SEABASS GIVEN 11st 2lb IN 2013 JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL The Ted Walsh-trained Seabass, who finished third in last year’s John Smith’s Grand National, has been allotted 11lb 2lb in the 166th running of the great chase, for which the weights are unveiled this morning. Betfred, betting partner at the John Smith’s Grand National meeting, make Seabass - who carried 10st 12lb in 2012 - one of their 14/1 co-favourites to go two places better this year and Walsh reports the 10-year-old to be bang on course for the £975,000 John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday, April 6. “Seabass will run somewhere in the next three weeks to a month. There is just over seven weeks to Liverpool so I would like to get a run into him. The Bobbyjo Chase at Naas and the Racing Plus Chase at Kempton are possible targets,” said Walsh. But, speaking before seeing the full weights, he added: “I don’t know how Seabass can get over 11st this year if Tidal Bay is rated 171 and my horse is rated 154. Whatever Phil Smith does, he does - it is immaterial to me and I can’t change it. You don’t have to be a great mathematician to subtract 54 from 71.” The weights for Jump racing’s most famous prize were announced at the John Smith’s Grand National Launch in London today. It is the only race for which the weights are specifically framed by the British Horseracing Authority’s Head of Handicapping, Phil Smith. This year’s weights are headed on 11st 10lb (rated 162) by the mercurial but hugely-talented Tidal Bay (16/1), who boasts three wins over hurdles and fences at Aintree. After saddling 52 beaten horses in the John Smith’s Grand National, Tidal Bay’s handler Paul Nicholls finally saw his luck change last year when Neptune Collonges prevailed. The champion trainer is also represented by Join Together (10st 12lb, 20/1), who has not been seen since finishing runner-up in the Betfred Becher Chase at Aintree on December 8, and a pair part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson - 2010 Betfred Bowl winner What A Friend (11st 5lb, 33/1) and Harry The Viking (10st 2lb, 25/1). Tidal Bay’s owners, Andrea and Graham Wylie, boast an enviable hand this year and account for Betfred’s two other 14/1 co-favourites with Seabass. On His Own (10st 10lb) and Prince De Beauchene (11st 3lb) are among seven entries bidding to give Willie Mullins, successful with Hedgehunter in 2005, a second John Smith’s Grand National victory. A strong Irish-trained entry of 31 includes another top contender from Ted Walsh’s stable in J P McManus’s Colbert Station (10st 11lb, 20/1), winner of the Paddy Power Handicap Chase over three miles at Leopardstown on December 27 and the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle qualifier at Punchestown on February 3. “Like Seabass, Colbert Station will possibly have one more run. I have no idea where he will go at this stage as he only recently ran. I would also be looking at running him in three weeks to a month’s time, which will be ideal timing for the National.” Nearly all of Colbert Stations’s races have come on soft or heavy ground but this does not concern Walsh: “I wouldn’t be worried about the ground for Colbert Station as it is never anything worse than good jumping ground at Aintree. “He has 10st 6lb in the Racing Plus Chase at Kempton and is 3lb higher in England than he is in Ireland, which makes him worse off with Seabass in England.” Walsh’s daughter Katie achieved the highest-ever John Smith’s Grand National placing for a female rider when third last year on Seabass, while McManus’s retained jockey Tony McCoy has been aboard Colbert Station for his two recent successes. But Walsh, also father of Ruby, stated that there is plenty of time to decide who will ride his duo. “The question of who will ride both horses is the least of my worries at the moment. My only worry is the two horses arrive at Liverpool in good form, healthy and well,” added the trainer. “Who rides them is a question for another day. I am not even thinking about it and there is no pressure on anybody. “Nobody has to make their mind up until I have to declare for the race - I don’t need to know if Tony McCoy is available or Ruby Walsh is available until they make their minds up and at the declaration stage will do for me.” Ballabriggs, who won the 2011 John Smith’s Grand National off 11 stone, has been allotted the same weight again this year, having finished sixth under 11st 9lb in 2012. Trainer Donald McCain is happy with the weight given to the 33/1 chance. “That weight is fine for Ballabriggs and it will be grand if the top horse (Tidal Bay) runs because then we will have a lovely racing weight,” said McCain. “He has come out of his race at Warwick OK. He will go to Kelso for the Premier Chase as he has done for the past two years and then on to Aintree.” There has been only one Welsh-trained Grand National winner, Kirkland in 1905, but the principality could field a formidable team this year with eight entries. Leading contenders include Welsh National runner-up Teaforthree (10st 13lb, 20/1), based in Pembrokeshire with Rebecca Curtis, and last year’s fourth, Cappa Bleu (10st 7lb, 25/1), whose trainer Evan Williams has had a runner reach the frame in the last four renewals. The three-time John Smith’s Topham Chase winner Always Waining (10st 6lb, 50/1) could step up in trip for Peter Bowen, while Tim Vaughan’s 2011 Scottish Grand National winner Beshabar (20/1) has 1lb less on 10st 5lb. The John Smith’s Grand National now regularly attracts some of the best chasers in training and among those engaged this year are the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander (33/1), who has 11st 6lb, and Albertas Run (11st 8lb, 33/1), winner of the 2010 Grade One John Smith’s Melling Chase at Aintree and two Ryanair Chases at Cheltenham. The Colm Murphy-trained Quito De La Roque (40/1), who bounced back to form when winning the Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles last month, has 11st 5lb. There is one entry based in France, the Yann Porzier-trained Odysseas, but the 100/1 shot is not certain to make the final line-up with a weight of 9st 3lb. Last year the 72nd horse in the weights at the time of the Launch was the lowest-weighted horse to make the line-up, which would equate to a weight of 9st 8lb this year. John Baker, Regional Director North West of Jockey Club Racecourses, commented: “The countdown really gets underway today to what promises to be both an ultra-competitive and high-class renewal of the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday, April 6. “Alongside the Aintree specialists and winners of many of the top staying handicaps, we also have some of the top chasers in training engaged, including a Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup victor. “Irish raiders have won six of the last 14 renewals and there is a particularly strong entry from Ireland that could enhance that record this year while there looks a real chance of a first Welsh-trained winner since 1905.” Continued.........
No Stick. I'm not surprised it's top rated. Had he showed he enjoyed the National fences and was carrying less weight than before I would definitely be interested. But as he hasn't, and at the age of 12, I wouldn't back him. Just out of interest does anyone know how Timeform's top rated have performed in the National over the last 10 years or so?
How much will the weights go up now then? cant see imperial commander running....any others at the top likely to come out?
So weights going up...any others at the top likely to come out? cant see imperial commander runnin....
