 |
| Aintree Grand National - 14th April 2012 |
Synchronised, owned by J P McManus and trained by Jonjo O'Neill, has been allotted top-weight of 11st 10lb for this year's John Smith's Grand National, which takes place over four and a half miles and 30 fences at Aintree on Saturday, April 14.
 |
The weights were revealed today for Jump racing's most famous event at the official John Smith's Grand National Launch in London and the competitiveness of this year's race is illustrated by the fact that 69 of the 82 entries (84 per cent) are in the handicap.
The John Smith's Grand National, which has record prize money of 975,000 this year, is the only race of the year for which the weights are specially framed by the British Horseracing Authority's Head of Handicapping, Phil Smith.
Ballabriggs, who carried 11st to victory in 2011 for owner Trevor Hemmings, trainer Donald McCain and jockey Jason Maguire, is second in the weights with 11st 9lb this year. Synchonised and Ballabriggs are the t 16/1 second favourites with Betfred, the betting partner of the John Smith's Grand National meeting.
Mon Mome, who sprang a 100/1 surprise in the 2009 John Smith's Grand National, is the other past winner among the entries. He carried 11st when winning three years ago, 11st 7lb when falling at the 26th in 2010 and this year has been given 10st 8lb (40/1 Betfred).
Irish-trained raiders have a tremendous recent record in the John Smith's Grand National, winning six of the last 13 runnings, and they have strength in numbers this year, ing for 31 entries. An Irish-trained winner is priced at 11/4 by Betfred.
Ireland's champion trainer Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday.
Stablemate On His Own (20/1), winner of the Thyestes Chase for owners Graham and Andrea Wylie, has 10st 11lb, while Blazing Tempo (40/1), the only mare entered, will have to overcome 11st 4lb after winning the Grade Two Normans Grove Chase at Fairyhouse on January 22. Apt Approach (25/1) has 11st 1lb on the back of his Grade Two Kinloch Brae Chase victory last month, while Scotsirish (11st 2lb & 50/1) and Prince De Beauchene (10st 6lb & 20/1) are two others of Mullins' formidable dozen.
 |
The David Pipe-trained Junior, the 14/1 market leader with Betfred, failed to get in the field last year but has a certain place in 2012 with 11st 2lb.
The Henrietta Knight-trained Calgary Bay (25/1), winner of the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster last month, has been given 11st 6lb, while the runner-up that day, Shakalakaboomboom (25/1), has 10st 12lb as he bids to give trainer Nicky Henderson a first victory in the John Smith's Grand National. Henderson also has the lightly-raced Burton Port (11st 7lb & 25/1), another owned by Hemmings, and Quantitativeeasing (11st 2lb & 33/1) for McManus.
 |
High-class hunter-chaser VIKING BLOND (FR) 7-10-00 Caroline Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
70) R-120U3 QHILIMAR (FR) 8-9-13 Whites of Coventry & Stephen Dunn Charlie Longsdon
71) PP24U6 SOME TARGET (IRE) 8-9-10 Captain Conflict Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
72) 0-31504 NEPTUNE EQUESTER 9-9-09 Koo's Racing Club Brian Ellison
73) 32-3P40 ANY CURRENCY (IRE) 9-9-08 Cash Is King Martin Keighley
74) 0-42026 OUR ISLAND (IRE) 7-9-07 David Fox Tim Vaughan
75) 11PPP0 SCHINDLER'S GOLD (IRE) 10-9-07 Dr Richard & Laura Newland Dr Richard Newland
76) 31P/-FP3 ABBEYBRANEY (IRE) 11-9-05 Sue Johnson George Bewley
77) 660-P42 SADDLERS STORM (IRE) 10-9-05 Billy Moffett, R T & J McLoughlin Tony Martin IRE
78) 05-34106 SMOKING ACES (IRE) 8-9-05 J P McManus Tom Taaffe IRE
79) 50-PP0F KING FONTAINE (IRE) 9-9-04 Trevor Hemmings Malcolm Jefferson
80) 6-12026 ANOTHER PALM (IRE) 7-9-03 M J M Racing Syndicate Noel Meade IRE
81) 12-20P3 BALLYVESEY (IRE) 7-9-02 Roddy Owen & Paul Fullagar Peter Bowen
82) 0P3-5U2 MINELLA THEATRE (IRE) 9-9-00 Middleham Park Racing XXIV & Dan Gilbert Lawney Hill
82 entries
31 Irish-trained
