Albertas Run, Madison Du Berlais and Notre Pere jointly head the handicap on 11st 10lb in the 2010 John Smith’s Grand National the today’s unveiling of the weights for the world’s most famous Jump race.
The John Smith’s Grand National, which will have a record £925,000 in prize money when run on Saturday, April 10, at Aintree is the only race in which the British Horseracing Authority’s Head of Handicapping Phil Smith can use his discretion to determine the weight each horse will carry.
The weights were announced today in London at the Official Launch of the 2010 John Smith’s Grand National attended by connections of many of the leading contenders and such is the quality of this year’s entry that only 14 of the 111 remaining entries are not currently in the handicap.
Antepost favourite Tricky Trickster, winner of Saturday’s AON Chase at Newbury, has been allotted 11st 4lb, the same weight as the Newbury runner-up Niche Market, winner of last season’s Irish Grand National.
There are three former John Smith’s Grand National winners in the 2010 race of whom Mon Mome, who sprang a 100/1 shock last year, is the highest-weighted on 11st 7lb. He carried 11st to victory in the 2009 running, from which the first six home are all entered again.
Comply Or Die, who won the 2008 John Smith’s Grand National off 10st 9lb, has been allotted 11st 5lb this year, 1lb less than he carried when finishing second to Mon Mome last season. Silver Birch, who carried 10st 6lb to victory in 2007, has been given 10st 5lb this year.
Irish-trained raiders have enjoyed a great recent run in the John Smith’s Grand National, winning six of the last 11 renewals, and there are 38 entries bidding to add to that record this season.
Silver Birch’s trainer Gordon Elliott has aimed Backstage at the Aintree showpiece all season and the eight-year-old has been allotted 11st. Jimmy Mangan, successful in the 2003 John Smith’s Grand National with Monty’s Pass, is represented by Thyestes Handicap Chase winner Whinstone Boy (10st 4lb) and the 11-year-old Conna Castle (10st 9lb).
The 2006 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition, trained by Mouse Morris for Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, landed a Grade Two success over hurdles at Navan on Sunday and has been given 11st 1lb.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has five entries as he bids to win the John Smith’s Grand National for a first time. As well as Tricky Trickster, they include Big Fella Thanks (10st 12lb), who finished sixth under 11st 1lb last year, and recent Grade Two Argento Chase winner Taranis (11st 9lb).
Other leading contenders include Welsh National winner Dream Alliance (11st 3lb), the Dessie Hughes-trained Black Apalachi (11st 6lb) and Possol (11st 3lb), who has been kept over hurdles so far this season.
Julian Thick, Managing Director of Aintree Racecourse, commented: “It is unprecedented to have 87 per cent of the field in the handicap for the John Smith’s Grand National and it is fantastic that such a high-class field will line up on Saturday, April 10, in what will be the most valuable Jump race ever run in Britain with £925,000 in prize money.”
