CARLINGFORD Lough and Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Lord Windermere have been jointly-allotted top-weight of 11st 10lb for the £1million Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree on April 11. The weights were unveiled at noon today at the Royal Opera House in London’s Covent Garden. The Grand National is the only handicap in which the British Horseracing Authority’s Head of Handicapping Phil Smith has total discretion over the weights and can deviate from the normal handicap ratings.
As a result, Carlingford Lough will be able to run off a mark of 161, despite having an official rating of 166 after a victory under A P McCoy in the Grade One Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown on February 8.
Oliver Sherwood’s Many Clouds has been given 11st 9lb, while champion trainer Paul Nicholls has four entries near the top of the weights – Sam Winner (11st 8lb), Unioniste (11st 6lb), Rocky Creek (11st 3lb) and Rolling Aces (11st 3lb). The Somerset handler is also responsible for Rebel Rebellion (10st 12lb), Mon Parrain (10st 11lb) and Benvolio (10st 8lb).
Nicky Henderson is yet to win the Crabbie’s Grand National and his two entries, Rajdhani Express and Hadrian’s Approach, have been given 11st 4lb and 11st respectively.
Pineau De Re (Dr Richard Newland), bidding to become the first horse since Red Rum to win back-to-back Grand Nationals, has 11st (10st 6lb in 2014), while last year’s runner-up Balthazar King (Philip Hobbs) has been handed 11st 2lb (10st 13lb in 2014).
Shutthefrontdoor, who was recently taken out of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in favour of a tilt at Aintree, has been given 11st 2lb and is the 12/1 clear favourite with Betfred, the official betting partner of the Crabbie’s Grand National Festival. His trainer Jonjo O’Neill took the spoils with Don’t Push It in 2010 and has three other contenders in 2012 runner-up Sunnyhillboy (10st 8lb), Burton Port (10st 5lb) and Merry King (10st 5lb). Other early reaction from bookmakers is to install Shutthefrontdoor as their clear favourite.
The last two winners of the Scottish Grand National, Al Co (Peter Bowen) and Godsmejudge (Alan King) have both been allotted 10st 8lb. Monbeg Dude (Michael Scudamore), winner of the 2012 Welsh National and seventh at Aintree last year, has been given 10st 7lb. In fact GODSMEJUDGE stands out in the Grand National betting markets at 25/1. He comes alive in the spring and his whole season has been geared towards this one race.
The Crabbie’s Grand National
– embargoed noon today, Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Grade 3, £1,000,000 Total Prize Fund. 4.15pm, Aintree, Saturday, April 11, 2015. Four miles, three and a half furlongs. For seven-year-olds and upwards which, up to and including March 23, 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 15. Horses which 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 15 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 15. At the Handicapper’s discretion, such horses may be allocated a rating. The decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final. No penalties after publication of the weights. Entries closed February 3, entries revealed January 4 (98 entries – 1 subsequently scratched, 1 not qualified). Weights revealed Tuesday, February 17. First scratchings’ deadline February 25. Second scratchings’ deadline March 18. Five-day confirmation stage March 31. Final declaration stage 10.00am, April 3. MAXIMUM 40 RUNNERS
Horse | Wgt | Rating | Owner | Trainer | |
1) | CARLINGFORD LOUGH (IRE) | 11-10 | 161 | J P McManus | John Kiely IRE |
2) | LORD WINDERMERE (IRE) | 11-10 | 161 | Dr Ronan Lambe | Jim Culloty IRE |
3) | MANY CLOUDS (IRE) | 11-09 | 160 | Trevor Hemmings | Oliver Sherwood |
4) | SAM WINNER (FR) | 11-08 | 159 | Angela Yeoman | Paul Nicholls |
5) | BOSTON BOB (IRE) | 11-07 | 158 | Andrea & Graham Wylie | Willie Mullins IRE |
6) | UNIONISTE (FR) | 11-06 | 157 | John Hales | Paul Nicholls |
7) | RAJDHANI EXPRESS | 11-04 | 155 | Robert Waley-Cohen | Nicky Henderson |
8) | ROI DU MEE (FR) | 11-04 | 155 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
9) | FIRST LIEUTENANT (IRE) | 11-03 | 154 | Gigginstown House Stud | Mouse Morris IRE |
10) | ROCKY CREEK (IRE) | 11-03 | 154 | The Johnson & Stewart Families | Paul Nicholls |
11) | ROLLING ACES (IRE) | 11-03 | 154 | David Martin, Paul Barber & Ian Fogg | Paul Nicholls |
12) | BALTHAZAR KING (IRE) | 11-02 | 153 | The Brushmakers | Philip Hobbs |
13) | HOME FARM (IRE) | 11-02 | 153 | Chris Jones | Henry de Bromhead IRE |
14) | SHUTTHEFRONTDOOR (IRE) | 11-02 | 153 | J P McManus | Jonjo O’Neill |
15) | ALDERWOOD (IRE) | 11-01 | 152 | J P McManus | Thomas Mullins IRE |
16) | DOUBLE ROSS (IRE) | 11-01 | 152 | Options O Syndicate | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
17) | HADRIAN’S APPROACH (IRE) | 11-00 | 151 | Richard & Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes | Nicky Henderson |
18) | KATENKO (FR) | 11-00 | 151 | Andrew Brooks | Venetia Williams |
19) | PINEAU DE RE (FR) | 11-00 | 151 | John Provan | Dr Richard Newland |
20) | BACK IN FOCUS (IRE) | 10-13 | 150 | Andrea & Graham Wylie | Willie Mullins IRE |
21) | BALLYCASEY (IRE) | 10-13 | 150 | Susannah Ricci | Willie Mullins IRE |
22) | REBEL REBELLION (IRE) | 10-12 | 149 | Woodhouse, Sutton & Dobson | Paul Nicholls |
23) | SPRING HEELED (IRE) | 10-12 | 149 | Dr Ronan Lambe | Jim Culloty IRE |
24) | DOLATULO (FR) | 10-11 | 148 | Chasemore Farm | Warren Greatrex |
25) | MON PARRAIN (FR) | 10-11 | 148 | John & Barbara Cotton | Paul Nicholls |
26) | CARLITO BRIGANTE (IRE) | 10-10 | 147 | 06 Zoo Ltd | Karen McLintock |
27) | LIVING NEXT DOOR (IRE) | 10-10 | 147 | John Breslin | Tony Martin IRE |
28) | POOLE MASTER | 10-10 | 147 | Geoff Thompson | David Pipe |
29) | SHOTGUN PADDY (IRE) | 10-10 | 147 | Axom (XXXVI) | Emma Lavelle |
30) | CAUSE OF CAUSES (USA) | 10-09 | 146 | J P McManus | Gordon Elliott IRE |
31) | NIGHT IN MILAN (IRE) | 10-09 | 146 | Richard Collins | Keith Reveley |
32) | RUBI LIGHT (FR) | 10-09 | 146 | Bill Hennessy | Robert Hennessy IRE |
33) | THE DRUIDS NEPHEW (IRE) | 10-09 | 146 | The Stonehenge Druids | Neil Mulholland |
34) | AL CO (FR) | 10-08 | 145 | Frank Lloyd | Peter Bowen |
35) | BENVOLIO (IRE) | 10-08 | 145 | Patricia Thompson | Paul Nicholls |
36) | GODSMEJUDGE (IRE) | 10-08 | 145 | Favourites Racing (Syndication) Ltd | Alan King |
37) | SUNNYHILLBOY (IRE) | 10-08 | 145 | J P McManus | Jonjo O’Neill |
38) | CORRIN WOOD (IRE) | 10-07 | 144 | Dermot Hanafin Robert Rose Ian Whitfield | Donald McCain |
39) | MAKE A TRACK (IRE) | 10-07 | 144 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
40) | MONBEG DUDE (IRE) | 10-07 | 144 | Oydunow | Michael Scudamore |
41) | TEAFORTHREE (IRE) | 10-07 | 144 | Conyers, O’Reilly, Roddis, Zeffman | Rebecca Curtis |
42) | THE RAINBOW HUNTER | 10-07 | 144 | May We Never Be Found Out Partnership | Kim Bailey |
43) | ACROSS THE BAY (IRE) | 10-06 | 143 | Scotch Piper Syndicate | Donald McCain |
44) | MY MURPHY (IRE) | 10-06 | 143 | Hans Zindel | Liam Burke IRE |
45) | PRINCE DE BEAUCHENE (FR) | 10-06 | 143 | Prince & Paupers Syndicate | Willie Mullins IRE |
46) | SAINT ARE (FR) | 10-06 | 143 | David Fox | Tom George |
47) | BURTON PORT (IRE) | 10-05 | 142 | Trevor Hemmings | Jonjo O’Neill |
48) | MERRY KING (IRE) | 10-05 | 142 | Frank Gillespie | Jonjo O’Neill |
49) | OSCAR TIME (IRE) | 10-05 | 142 | Robert Waley-Cohen | Robert Waley-Cohen |
50) | TRANQUIL SEA (IRE) | 10-05 | 142 | Jean & Clemmie Shipp | Warren Greatrex |
51) | BOB FORD (IRE) | 10-04 | 141 | The Bob Ford Partnership | Rebecca Curtis |
52) | CEDRE BLEU (FR) | 10-04 | 141 | Tangledupinblue | Charlie Mann |
53) | CHANCE DU ROY (FR) | 10-04 | 141 | Daphne Du Pre | Philip Hobbs |
54) | GAS LINE BOY (IRE) | 10-04 | 141 | Mick Fitzgerald Racing Club | Philip Hobbs |
55) | SUPER DUTY (IRE) | 10-04 | 141 | Brannon, Dick, Hernon & Holden | Ian Williams |
56) | WYCK HILL (IRE) | 10-04 | 141 | J P McManus | David Bridgwater |
57) | ALVARADO (IRE) | 10-03 | 140 | William & Angela Rucker | Fergal O’Brien |
58) | BUDDY BOLERO (IRE) | 10-03 | 140 | Malcolm Denmark | Tony Martin IRE |
59) | COURT BY SURPRISE (IRE) | 10-03 | 140 | Nick Mustoe | Emma Lavelle |
60) | OWEGA STAR (IRE) | 10-03 | 140 | Anthony Callan/Siobhan Callan | Peter Fahey IRE |
61) | PORTRAIT KING (IRE) | 10-03 | 140 | Marie Davis | Maurice Phelan IRE |
62) | RIVER CHOICE (FR) | 10-03 | 140 | Fergus Wilson | Richard Chotard FR |
63) | BAILEYS CONCERTO (IRE) | 10-02 | 139 | United Five Racing & Andrew Sayer | Dianne Sayer |
64) | DUKE OF LUCCA (IRE) | 10-02 | 139 | Lesley Field | Philip Hobbs |
65) | ELY BROWN (IRE) | 10-02 | 139 | Countrywide Vehicle Rentals Taxi Hire | Charlie Longsdon |
66) | KRUZHLININ (GER) | 10-02 | 139 | Paul & Clare Rooney | Donald McCain |
67) | RENARD (FR) | 10-02 | 139 | ROA Arkle Partnership | Venetia Williams |
68) | ROYALE KNIGHT | 10-02 | 139 | Chris Stedman & Robert Corsan | Dr Richard Newland |
69) | SOLL | 10-02 | 139 | Derrick Mossop | David Pipe |
70) | THEATRICAL STAR | 10-02 | 139 | Brocade Racing | Colin Tizzard |
71) | RAZ DE MAREE (FR) | 10-01 | 138 | James Swan | Sandra Hughes IRE |
72) | BROADWAY BUFFALO (IRE) | 10-00 | 137 | Jo Tracey | David Pipe |
73) | GREEN FLAG (IRE) | 10-00 | 137 | John Adam | Lucinda Russell |
74) | GUESS AGAIN (IRE) | 10-00 | 137 | Malcolm Denmark | Tony Martin IRE |
75) | MAGGIO (FR) | 10-00 | 137 | Mike Deren | Patrick Griffin IRE |
76) | THE PACKAGE | 10-00 | 137 | The Johnson Family | David Pipe |
77) | GALLANT OSCAR (IRE) | 9-13 | 136 | Garrett Kelly | Tony Martin IRE |
78) | GOONYELLA (IRE) | 9-13 | 136 | Ann & Alan Potts Partnership | Jim Dreaper IRE |
79) | SYDNEY PAGET (IRE) | 9-13 | 136 | Roger O’Byrne | Donald McCain |
80) | VINTAGE STAR (IRE) | 9-13 | 136 | Trevor Hemmings | Sue Smith |
81) | ALPHA VICTOR (IRE) | 9-12 | 135 | Denton, Kinsey, Osborne Hse, Wesley-Yates | William Kinsey |
82) | MOUNTAINOUS (IRE) | 9-12 | 135 | Walters Plant Hire & James & Jean Potter | Richard Lee |
83) | IKORODU ROAD | 9-11 | 134 | John Odell | Graeme McPherson |
84) | MART LANE (IRE) | 9-11 | 134 | Geoff Thompson | Sophie Leech |
85) | ANY CURRENCY (IRE) | 9-09 | 132 | Cash Is King | Martin Keighley |
86) | HARRY THE VIKING | 9-09 | 132 | Jim Beaumont, Douglas Pryde & Quona Thomson | Sandy Thomson |
87) | RIGADIN DE BEAUCHENE (FR) | 9-09 | 132 | Andrew Wiles | Venetia Williams |
88) | BALLYOLIVER | 9-08 | 131 | Richard Britten-Long | Venetia Williams |
89) | GLENQUEST (IRE) | 9-08 | 131 | Coolglen Syndicate | Stuart Crawford IRE |
90) | LACKAMON | 9-07 | 130 | Sue Smith | Sue Smith |
91) | STANDING OVATION (IRE) | 9-07 | 130 | The Bravo Partnership | David Pipe |
92) | LOCH BA (IRE) | 9-05 | 128 | Peter Taplin, Susan Bunney & Partners | Mick Channon |
93) | ROSE OF THE MOON (IRE) | 9-05 | 128 | Middleham Park Racing XXXIII & Partners | David O’Meara |
94) | AMERICAN SPIN | 9-03 | 126 | George Collacott & R Gadd | Luke Dace |
95) | TALES OF MILAN (IRE) | 9-01 | 124 | Phil Middleton | Phil Middleton |
96) | NEPTUNE EQUESTER | 9-00 | 123 | Jim Beaumont | Sandy Thomson |
I must say that I love the look of SOLL in this years Grand National.
David Pipe has definitely improved the horse and with very solid form in the National has to go close if we still have a bit of cut in the ground.
The question is if Tom Scu will ride? Or will he partner Monbeg Dude if that one takes his chance.
If both horses go to post and Tom Scu is on Soll then that is a big pointer to that horse’s chance.
Cheers
Roger