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| Aintree Grand National Meeting 2011 |
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Big Buck's and Long Run Among Entries for Aintree
04/04/11
Cheltenham Festival heroes are poised light up the first day of the John Smith’s Grand National meeting with totesport Gold Cup winner Long Run, Ladbrokes World Hurdle legend Big Buck’s and impressive Triumph Hurdle victor Zarkandar engaged in Liverpool Day’s three Grade One contests.
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Long Run, also victorious in the Grade One Peterborough Chase last season, was sixth in the 2010 John Smith’s Melling Chase after breaking blood vessels during the race, and ran well to be third in the Grade One Ascot Chase on unsuitably soft going behind Riverside Theatre in February.
Trainer Evan Williams revealed today: “The plan is to run Deep Purple in either the totesport Bowl or the John Smith’s Melling Chase the next day and we’ll just monitor things before making a decision.
“It was far too soft for his liking at Ascot last time and I thought he ran a very good race given the conditions. Fingers crossed the spring ground will be a lot more up his street.
“He is in good order and he has run well at Aintree in the past. He likes the old place and it has always been the plan to take him there after Ascot.”
Deep Purple finished second in the John Smith’s Manifesto Novices’ Chase at the 2009 meeting.
The totesport Bowl entries also include last year’s totesport Bowl victor What A Friend, dual John Smith’s Melling Chase victor Voy Por Ustedes (2008 & 2009) and the progressive Midnight Chase, fifth to Long Run at Cheltenham.
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