 |
| Aintree Grand National - 14th April 2012 |
Becauseicouldntesee On Course for Biggest Test
01/02/12
Many of the best chasers in training are among the entries announced today for the 2012 running of the world’s most famous Jump race, the John Smith’s Grand National.
 |
This year’s contest, taking place at Aintree on Saturday, April 14, has record prize money of 975,000 and among those engaged are Hedgehunter, s for 12 of those including Apt Approach, winner of the Grade Two Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles on January 19.
 |
County Clare handler Noel Glynn is hoping that Becauseicouldntsee, (33/1 with Betfred) who fell at the second fence in last year’s John Smith’s Grand National, can fare considerably better in the 2012 race over four and a half miles and 30 fences.
The nine-year-old is set to run in the National Trial at Punchestown on Sunday as a stepping stone to Aintree.
Glynn reported: “The John Smith’s Grand National is the plan again for Becauseicouldntsee and I hope that we get a bit further than last year! Hopefully, he will run in the National Trial at Punchestown on Sunday and we will take it from there.
“For such a good jumper, he had two nasty falls last year including at Leopardstown over Christmas, when he would have been there or thereabouts. He hurt his hip during that race but it’s all sorted now and he is moving good.
“I am just a little afraid that those falls might have affected him mentally, so I am just hoping that he can post a clear round on Sunday to get his confidence back.
“He had no sort of preparation for Aintree last season after suffering a cut leg and we would love to get him back there.”
Other Irish-trained entries include the Shark Hanlon-trained Alfa Beat, who was bought for 75,000 in May by America’s champion Jump owner Irv Naylor as a John Smith’s Grand National prospect. The eight-year-old won the Kerry National at Listowel in September.
The Arthur Moore-trained Organisedconfusion won the 2011 Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse, while the rapidly-improving Seabass, winner of the Grade A Leopardstown Handicap Chase on Saturday, has been entered by trainer Ted Walsh, who landed the 2000 John Smith’s Grand National with Papillon.
 |
 |
1/10P-13 WEIRD AL (IRE) 9 Brannon, Dennis, Dick, Holden Donald McCain
11PB-P1 WEST END ROCKER (IRE) 10 Barry Winfield & Tim Leadbeater Alan King
1P-6P60 WYMOTT (IRE) 8 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain
82 entries
31 Irish-trained
