The 2009 John Smith’s Grand National, worth a record £900,000, has 88 acceptors going forward following the passing of the second scratchings deadline, details of which are revealed today.
Several horses that ran well at the Cheltenham Festival could head for the John Smith’s Grand National, at Aintree on Saturday, April 4, including My Will, the current 10/1 joint-favourite with Aintree’s official betting partner, totesport, and Roll Along who both ran well when fifth and sixth respectively in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday, March 13.
My Will is one of five possible contenders from the yard of champion trainer Paul Nicholls, who is still seeking his first John Smith’s Grand National success. The other acceptors from Nicholls’ Somerset yard are Nozic, the 2006 totesport Becher Chase victor Eurotrek the progressive Big Fella Thanks and Cornish Sett.
Tom George has his string in fine form this season and is looking forward to running Kilbeggan Blade in the John Smith’s Grand National. The 10-year-old has won three of his four starts this season, scoring twice at Towcester and at Sandown, and completed his John Smith’s Grand National preparation by finishing second in a novices’ hurdle at Warwick on March 8.
The Gloucestershire-based handler said: “I see that Kilbeggan Blade is now set to carry 10st 4lb and it looks like we will definitely get into the John Smith’s Grand National. The race has been the plan since he won his second London National (at Sandown) in December.
“That was his only start over fences this term and we not only did this to protect his mark but also because he seems to run better over fences after a spin over hurdles. His two victories at Sandown came on the back of hurdle appearances and he really enjoys a bit of a change.
“His run at Warwick should have put him just right for Aintree and it was a matter of getting a run into him rather than expecting him to win. He’s only had four starts all season and he’ll be going into the John Smith’s Grand National a fresh horse which is the key to him.
“He looks like he stays all day and he’s a great jumper. The reason he likes Sandown so much is because there is such an emphasis on jumping and I think he will enjoy the Grand National fences.
“The one thing we really need to look at is who will ride him on the day but I think the fact that we have 10st 4lb makes it a lot easier.”
Currently sharing favouritism with My Will is the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Butler’s Cabin, an eye-catching fifth behind Character Building in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase at Cheltenham last week. Another horse to run at the Cheltenham Festival was last year’s John Smith’s Grand National hero Comply Or Die, who performed well for a long way when seventh in the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase.
Horses trained in Ireland have won the John Smith’s Grand National no less than half a dozen times since 1999 and another strong challenge is in prospect this year with a total of 25 Irish contenders still engaged. Prominent among these are the Dessie Hughes-trained Black Apalachi, who proved his ability over the course with an authoritative victory in the totesport.com Becher Chase at the Northwest Racing Masters in November, the 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition, last year’s runner-up King Johns Castle, who recently returned to action with a promising effort over hurdles at Naas, and Snowy Morning, who finished third in 2008. Other leading contenders from the other side of the Irish Sea include last year’s Irish Grand National victor Hear The Echo, Southern Vic, who represents Ted Walsh, successful with Papillon in 2000, and Chelsea Harbour.
Also included among the acceptors are Rambling Minster, who put himself firmly in line for a crack at the world’s most famous chase with a superb display of jumping when successful in the Blue Square Gold Cup at Haydock Park on February 14, the 2006 Hennessy Gold Cup victor State Of Play and Cloudy Lane from the stable of Donald McCain, who finished sixth in 2008.
The next acceptance stage for the John Smith’s Grand National is at the five-day stage on Monday, March 30. The maximum field size for the John Smith’s Grand National is 40 runners.
The following 17 horses have been officially scratched by their trainers:
EXOTIC DANCER (FR), MADISON DU BERLAIS (FR), STAR DE MOHAISON (FR), NOTRE PERE (FR), IMPERIAL COMMANDER (IRE), ONE COOL COOKIE (IRE), BALLYFITZ, MIKO DE BEAUCHENE (FR), L’ANTARTIQUE (FR), OPERA MUNDI (FR), SIMON, SILVERBURN (IRE), GARDE CHAMPETRE (FR), PIRAYA (FR), LOTHIAN FALCON, OULART, HOOPY (IRE)
