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."
LATEST
ODDS FROM BETFRED - OFFICIAL BETTING PARTNER OF THE 2013 JOHN SMITH'S GRAND
NATIONAL
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.
¼ 1-2-3-4 - All
Quoted
John Smith's Grand
National Specials
9/4 Irish-trained winner
4/1 Willie Mullins-trained
winner
6/1 Andrea & Graham
Wylie-owned winner
6/1 Paul Nicholls-trained
winner
12/1 Barry Geraghty-ridden
winner
12/1 Female-ridden winner
12/1 AP McCoy-ridden
winner
12/1 Ruby Walsh-ridden
winner
16/1 Donald McCain-trained
winner
Win Only - Singles Only
JOHN
SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL - SPECIALS
9/4 Irish-trained horse to
win Grand National
4/1 Willie Mullins to
train Grand National winner
6/1 Andrea & Graham
Wylie to own Grand National winner
6/1 Paul Nicholls to train
Grand National winner
12/1 Barry Geraghty to
ride Grand National winner
12/1 Female Ridden to ride
Grand National winner
12/1 Tony McCoy to ride
Grand National winner
12/1 Ruby Walsh to ride
Grand National winner
16/1 Donald McCain to
train Grand National winner
Win only. Singles only.
BREAKDOWN OF ENTRIES BY
TRAINER WITH PAST SUCCESSES IN THE JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL
7 Entries
Willie Mullins IRE
(2005 Hedgehunter)
6 Entries
Gordon Elliott IRE (2007
Silver Birch)
5 Entries
Donald McCain (2011
Ballabriggs)
Jonjo O'Neill (2010
Don't Push It)
4 Entries
Paul Nicholls (2012
Neptune Collonges)
David Pipe (2008 Comply
Or Die)
Nigel Twiston-Davies (2002
Bindaree, 1998 Earth Summit)
3 Entries
Peter Bowen
Philip Hobbs
Dessie Hughes IRE
Tim Vaughan
Venetia Williams (2009
Mon Mome)
2 Entries
Noel Meade IRE
Sue Smith
Tom Taaffe IRE
Ted Walsh IRE (2000
Papillon)
1 Entry
Kim Bailey (1990 Mr
Frisk)
David Bridgwater
Mick Channon
Tom Cooper IRE
Rebecca Curtis
Henry Daly
Tom George
Tom Gibney IRE
Noel Glynn IRE
John Halley IRE
Jessica Harrington IRE
Nicky Henderson
Jo Hughes
Martin Keighley
Charlie Longsdon
Martin Lynch IRE
Arthur Moore
Neil Mullholland
Tom Mullins IRE
Ferdy Murphy
Colm Murphy IRE
John Needham
Paul Nolan IRE
Yann-Marie Porzier FR
Richard Rowe
Evan Williams
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 
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