Kim Bailey, who landed the
1990 John Smith's Grand National with Mr Frisk, believes a return to better
ground will suit his John Smith's Grand National contender The Rainbow
Hunter when he lines up in the world's most famous chase on Saturday, April
6, at Aintree.
The progressive
nine-year-old, one of 73 horses going forward for the £975,000 Aintree contest
following the first scratchings' deadline yesterday, February 26, (details of
which are revealed today) entered the John Smith's Grand National picture with
a decisive half-length victory over Loch Ba in a three-mile handicap chase at
Ascot in November.
The second, third and
fourth have all won competitive handicaps since but The Rainbow Hunter was
pulled up in heavy ground at Chepstow on December 8. He returned to form after
a short break when fourth in a Listed handicap chase at Ascot on February 16,
behind fellow Aintree hopefuls Cappa Bleu and Saint Are.
Bailey revealed: "The
Rainbow Hunter is still on course for the John Smith's Grand National. He came
out of his run at Ascot very well and I think he will improve for that.
"He wants good ground
- it was very gluey at Ascot. He found it hard to jump out of that ground because
he is not very big and finds it quite difficult. He will go on soft but not
when the going is like that.
"He seems to stay
well and his size wouldn't concern me around Aintree because I ran Docklands
Express around there and he was smaller. It all depends on how they jump.
"I'm hoping there is
more to come from him because he seems to be improving and I think the ground
will make a big difference.
"He is in at
Cheltenham but I have not made a decision about whether or not he runs there
first."
The Rainbow Hunter is a
50/1 chance with Betfred, the official betting partner of the John Smith's
Grand National meeting.
Donald McCain enjoyed a
memorable victory in the 2011 John Smith's Grand National will Ballabriggs,
and the 12-year-old is among the Cheshire handler's four remaining entries for
this year's renewal.
McCain, who is 14/1 to
train the winner with Betfred, said: "Everything has gone smoothly with
Ballabriggs' preparation this time - we are very happy with him. He will
complete his preparation in the same Kelso event he has run in for the last two
years.
"He is 12 years old
but Amberleigh House won it at 12. Ballabriggs is an Aintree horse - he likes
the place."
McCain is also responsible
for the enigmatic but highly talented Weird Al and progressive
nine-year-old Across The Bay, who captured a Grade Two hurdle over three
miles at Haydock on February 16, while Cloudy Lane is more likely to
miss the race to run in the John Smith's Fox Hunters' on the first day of the
meeting, Thursday, April 4.
"Weird Al was running
a nice race last year when he fell at the fourth last," continued McCain.
"His form has been disappointing this season but he is a little bit that
way. He seemed to be taking to Aintree quite well last year.
"It was slightly
unusual that Across The Bay's last race was over hurdles but he won a Grade Two
at Haydock. He stays, he jumps and is a young and improving horse, who is going
the right way. If he took to the place, he could run a massive race."
Irish champion trainer
Willie Mullins has clarified his running plans for the Aintree showpiece, with
On His Own heading his four remaining entries. The lightly-raced
nine-year-old was travelling strongly when coming down at Becher's Brook on the
second circuit last year but returned to action this term with a comfortable
success in the Grade Two Boyne Hurdle at Navan on February 19. He is now the
8/1 favourite with Betfred.
Gordon Elliott captured
the John Smith's Grand National in 2007 with Silver Birch and has six
contenders going forward headlined by Chicago Grey and Roi Du Mee.
Chicago Grey completed his preparation for Aintree with a smooth success in the
Grade Two Red Mills Chase at Navan on February 19, while Roi Du Mee lowered the
colours of leading fancy Prince De Beauchene in the Grade Two Bobbyjo
Chase at Fairyhouse on Sunday. Seabass, who ran an excellent race to
finish third in last season's John Smith's Grand National, came home third
under Katie Walsh with another Aintree aspirant Rare Bob shaping nicely
in fourth for trainer Dessie Hughes.
David Bridgwater's Wyck
Hill, recently purchased by leading Irish owner J P McManus, failed to
enhance his John Smith's Grand National credentials in the Grade Three Racing
Plus Chase at Kempton Park on Saturday but Quinz, trained by Philip
Hobbs, and Nicky Henderson's Roberto Goldback ran eye-catching races to
finish fourth and fifth respectively.
More John Smith's Grand
National clues could be uncovered this weekend with the six-day entries for the
Grimthorpe Handicap Chase at Doncaster and Listed Premier Chase at Kelso
featuring a number of Aintree contenders.
Champion trainer Paul
Nicholls is hoping to send Betfred Becher Handicap Chase runner-up Join
Together and Sir Alex Ferguson's Harry The Viking to Doncaster,
where they could clash with The Package, Calgary Bayand Mr
Moonshine, who all hold John Smith's Grand National entries.
John Smith's Grand
National - Betfred prices:
8/1 On His Own, 10/1
Prince De Beauchene, 12/1 Seabass, 14/1 Cappa Bleu, 16/1 Colbert Station, Join
Together, 20/1 Chicago Grey, Sunnyhillboy, 22/1 Teaforthree, 25/1 Beshabar,
Harry the Viking, Katenko, Roi Du Mee, The Package, 33/1 Alfie Sherrin,
Ballabriggs, Balthazar King, Frisco Depot, Imperial Commander, Magnanimity,
Quinz, Roberto Goldback, Wyck Hill, 40/1 Across the Bay, Big Fella Thanks,
Bostons Angel, Jessies Dream, Lion Na Bearnai, Oscar Time, Quel Esprit,
Quiscover Fontaine, Quito De La Roque, Tofino Bay, Weird Al, What A Friend,
50/1 Albertas Run, Always Waining, Bob Lingo, Forpadydeplasterer, Joncol, Lost
Glory, Midnight Chase, Planet of Sound, Problema Tic, Romanesco, Saint Are,
Tartak, The Rainbow Hunter, Treacle, 66/1 Any Currency, Auroras Encore,
Backstage, Becauseicouldntsee, Calgary Bay, Mr Moonshine, Ninetieth Minute,
Pearlysteps, Poker De Sivola, Rare Bob, Soll, Summery Justice, Swing Bill,
Tarquinius, Viking Blond, 100/1 Cloudy Lane, Gullible Gordon, Major Malarkey,
Mathui, Mumbles Head, Odysseas, Pentiffic, Tatenen, 200/1 Mortimers Cross
EACH WAY ¼ THE ODDS A PLACE
1-2-3-4. ALL QUOTED - ANTE POST RULES APPLY
John Smith's Grand
National Specials from Betfred:
5/4 Irish-trained winner
3/1 Willie Mullins-trained winner
4/1 Andrea & Graham Wylie-owned winner
7/1 Ruby Walsh-ridden winner
7/1 Ted Walsh-trained winner
8/1 Paul Nicholls-trained winner
9/1 Jonjo O'Neill-trained winner
10/1 Female-ridden winner
12/1 A P McCoy-ridden winner
14/1 Barry Geraghty-ridden winner
14/1 Donald McCain-trained winner
16/1 Sir Alex Ferguson-owned winner
WIN ONLY. SINGLES ONLY
THE 2013
JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL
Class 1,
Grade 3, £975,000 total prize fund. 4.15pm, Aintree, Saturday, April
6, 2013, about 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 (73 go forward, 11
scratched), 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, February 25.
Form
Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer
1) P12/123-
ALBERTAS RUN (IRE) 12-11-10 Trevor Hemmings Jonjo O'Neill
2) 51U/1P/-2
IMPERIAL COMMANDER (IRE) 12-11-08 Our Friends in the North Nigel
Twiston-Davies
3) 13-3361 QUITO
DE LA ROQUE (FR) 9-11-07 Gigginstown House Stud Colm Murphy IRE
4) P/33F0-0
WHAT A FRIEND 10-11-07 Ged Mason & Sir Alex Ferguson Paul
Nicholls
5) 4-F0211 KATENKO
(FR) 7-11-06 Andrew Brooks Venetia Williams
6) 3PF-4PP WEIRD
AL (IRE) 10-11-06 Brannon Dick Holden Donald McCain
7) 51/51-12 PRINCE
DE BEAUCHENE (FR) 10-11-05 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE
8) 1113-04 QUEL
ESPRIT (FR) 9-11-05 Red Barn Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
9) 440/-U31 BIG
FELLA THANKS 11-11-04 Crossed Fingers Partnership Tom George
10) 0-1U355 ROBERTO
GOLDBACK (IRE) 11-11-04 Simon Munir Nicky Henderson
11) 1113-23 SEABASS
(IRE) 10-11-04 Gunners Syndicate Ted Walsh IRE
12) 5110-P4 CALGARY
BAY (IRE) 10-11-03 Camilla Radford Mick Channon
13) 111121 ROI
DU MEE (FR) 8-11-03 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
14) 21/46-P0
BALLABRIGGS (IRE) 12-11-02 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain
15) 310-3P4 MIDNIGHT
CHASE 11-11-02 Lady Clarke Neil Mulholland
16) P012-5P SUNNYHILLBOY
(IRE) 10-11-02 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
17) 11-0620 TEAFORTHREE
(IRE) 9-11-01 T437 Rebecca Curtis
18) 3-11201 ACROSS
THE BAY (IRE) 9-11-00 Scotch Piper Syndicate Donald McCain
19) 11P3-02 JOIN
TOGETHER (IRE) 8-11-00 Ian Fogg & Paul Barber Paul Nicholls
20) 5/230-53
PLANET OF SOUND 11-11-00 Charles Lloyd-Baker Philip Hobbs
21) 113065 BOB
LINGO (IRE) 11-10-13 J P McManus Tom Mullins IRE
22) 413-5211 COLBERT
STATION (IRE) 9-10-13 J P McManus Ted Walsh IRE
23) 121412 TOFINO
BAY (IRE) 10-10-13 Gigginstown House Stud Dessie Hughes IRE
24) 4-2P153 FORPADYDEPLASTERER
(IRE) 11-10-12 Goat Racing Syndicate Thomas Cooper IRE
25) P1/B1F-1
ON HIS OWN (IRE) 9-10-12 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins
IRE
26) 0-35233 JONCOL
(IRE) 10-10-11 Kay Browne Paul Nolan IRE
27) 10511-P LION
NA BEARNAI (IRE) 11-10-11 The Lock Syndicate Tom Gibney IRE
28) P0F1-12 BALTHAZAR
KING (IRE) 9-10-10 The Brushmakers Philip Hobbs
29) 5/5/4-14P
THE PACKAGE 10-10-10 David Johnson David Pipe
30) 06F226 BOSTONS
ANGEL (IRE) 9-10-09 Elder Scouller Jessica Harrington IRE
31) 1334-22 CAPPA
BLEU (IRE) 11-10-09 William & Angela Rucker Evan Williams
32) 32/4-4U6 OSCAR
TIME (IRE) 12-10-09 Robert
Waley-Cohen/Sir Martin & Steve Broughton Martin Lynch IRE
33) 044001-0
ALWAYS WAINING (IRE) 12-10-08 Mr & Mrs Peter Douglas Peter Bowen
34) 31P/PP-4 QUINZ
(FR) 9-10-08 Andrew Cohen Philip Hobbs
35) 0/015U-60
TATENEN (FR) 9-10-08 The Stewart Family Richard Rowe
36)
1/U121/5- BESHABAR (IRE) 11-10-07 Middleham Park Racing X &
Ann Burrows Tim Vaughan
37)
30/1122/- JESSIES DREAM (IRE) 10-10-07 David Johnson Gordon
Elliott IRE
38) 51423F- TREACLE
(IRE) 12-10-07 Bjorn Nielsen Tom Taaffe IRE
39) 011611 LOST
GLORY (NZ) 8-10-06 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
40) 211-5F6 PROBLEMA
TIC (FR) 7-10-06 Jo Tracey David Pipe
41) 4U01-F43 SAINT
ARE (FR) 7-10-06 David Fox Tim Vaughan
42) 00P-P144 SWING
BILL (FR) 12-10-06 David Johnson David Pipe
43) 1F2-110 WYCK
HILL (IRE) 9-10-06 J P McManus David Bridgwater
44) B-0U631 CHICAGO
GREY (IRE) 10-10-05 John Earls Gordon Elliott IRE
45) P-52202 MAGNANIMITY
(IRE) 9-10-05 Gigginstown House Stud Dessie Hughes IRE
46) 010F-60 QUISCOVER
FONTAINE (FR) 9-10-05 J P McManus Willie Mullins IRE
47) 2F-63PP BECAUSEICOULDNTSEE
(IRE) 10-10-04 Noel Glynn Noel Glynn IRE
48) 1B-4FP5 FRISCO
DEPOT 9-10-04 Waley-Cohen, Burke, Broughton, Broughton Charlie
Longsdon
49) 112P-P0 HARRY
THE VIKING 8-10-04 Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason, R Wood & P Done
Paul Nicholls
50) 53B0-64 RARE
BOB (IRE) 11-10-04 D A Syndicate Dessie Hughes IRE
51) 04-311P4 THE
RAINBOW HUNTER 9-10-04 May We Never Be Found Out Partnership Kim Bailey
52) 0-23602 MR
MOONSHINE (IRE) 9-10-03 Sue Smith Sue Smith
53) 1133FP MUMBLES
HEAD (IRE) 12-10-02 Karen Bowen Peter Bowen
54) 0/F2PP-4
PEARLYSTEPS 10-10-02 The Glazeley Partnership Henry Daly
55) 2-U0P45F
AURORAS ENCORE (IRE) 11-10-01 D Pryde, J Beaumont & D P van der
Hoeven Sue Smith
56) 1F-3F604 NINETIETH
MINUTE (IRE) 10-10-01 Dermot Cox Tom Taaffe IRE
57) 0513-30 ALFIE
SHERRIN 10-10-00 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
58) 1P1142 TARQUINIUS
(FR) 10-10-00 Mary Furlong Gordon Elliott IRE
59) 030U-06 MATUHI
10-9-13 Willsford Racing Incorporated David Pipe
60) 3-614U4 ANY
CURRENCY (IRE) 10-9-12 Cash Is King Martin Keighley
61) 50-6440 TARTAK
(FR) 10-9-12 Power Panels Electrical Systems Ltd Tim Vaughan
62) P2P-265 MAJOR
MALARKEY (IRE) 10-9-11 Baker, Dodd & Cooke Nigel Twiston-Davies
63)
(0)6U1/-50 POKER DE SIVOLA (FR) 10-9-11 David Johnson Ferdy
Murphy
64) P/1/401-30
SUMMERY JUSTICE (IRE) 9-9-11 Mrs H Brown Venetia
Williams
65) P/5000/P-
BACKSTAGE (FR) 11-9-10 MPR & Capranny Syndicate Gordon Elliott
IRE
66) 1/21B-00 SOLL
8-9-10 Derrick Mossop Jo Hughes
67) 1F1020 ROMANESCO
(FR) 8-9-09 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
68) 023P25 VIKING
BLOND (FR) 8-9-09 Caroline Mould Nigel
Twiston-Davies
69) 2161-30 CLOUDY
LANE 13-9-08 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain
70) 000165 PENTIFFIC
(NZ) 10-9-06 P Sinn, P Lawrence, L Sutcliffe, M Smith Venetia
Williams
71) 33F425 ODYSSEAS
(FR) 10-9-05 Mrs Jean Porzier Yann Porzier FR
72) 0/44-060
GULLIBLE GORDON (IRE) 10-9-04 Yeh Man Partnership Peter Bowen
73) 1P-2215 MORTIMERS
CROSS 12-9-04 John Needham John Needham
73
entries remain
25
Irish-trained
1
French-trained
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