Just 13 horses came out at the latest scratchings stage for this year’s £925,000 John Smith’s Grand National meaning 98 contenders go forward for what will be the richest Jump race ever run in Britain when taking place at 4.15pm at Aintree on Saturday, April 10.
There has been no rise in the weights for the famous four and a half mile showpiece as the trio who head the handicap on 11st 10lb, Albertas Run, Madison Du Berlais and Notre Pere, are all among the acceptors.
Ellerslie George has been in fine form since joining Dorset trainer Nick Mitchell from Howard Johnson’s County Durham yard in the summer, and the 10-year-old is being primed for a tilt at the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday, April 10.
Mitchell’s charge has triumphed twice from four starts this term, each time ridden by owner Guy Henderson’s amateur rider son Robert. Those victories include a career best effort in the Listed Badger Ales Trophy Handicap Chase at Wincanton in November, when Ellerslie George saw off The Tother One by a length and a half.
The gelding’s latest start, in the victorchandler.com Handicap Chase at Ascot on January 23, saw him finish eighth of the 13 runners.
Mitchell revealed: “At the moment we are planning to go to Aintree for the John Smith’s Grand National. He’s fine after his last run when we were forced to go to Ascot with him. The ground was far too soft - he doesn’t like soft ground. He had a bit of a broken preparation with cancellations and a foot problem, which is absolutely fine now, so we took him there to get a run into him. He had a good blow and has come on.
“If it remains dry, we are hoping to go to Newbury on Saturday. If not, we might have to go straight to Aintree but it all depends on the weather and the ground.”
Henderson is not qualified to continue the partnership in the John Smith’s Grand National, but with Ellerslie George having completed the famous course twice previously, Mitchell has had plenty of interest from jockeys keen to take the ride at Liverpool.
The trainer continued: “Robert is not qualified to ride him but I have a couple of jockeys up my sleeve - there are a few who are keen to ride him. As I said to them, I’ll get this weekend out of the way and then probably make a decision.
When he ran in the totesport.com Becher Chase the ground was heavy and in last season’s John Smith’s Topham he made a bad mistake at the first, went down on his nose and never got back into it. But he got round both times, he has experience of the fences and you never know.”
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has five horses remaining in one of the few big races still to elude him, including the antepost favourite Tricky Trickster. Last year’s John Smith’s Grand National third My Will and Taranis, both also possibles for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, Nozic and Big Fella Thanks complete Nicholls’ team.
Six of the last 11 John Smith’s Grand Nationals have gone to Irish raiders and there are 31 remaining contenders who could add to that impressive record.
Among the leading Irish-trained contenders are totesport.com Becher Chase winners Vic Venturi and Black Apalachi, who finished first and second in the recent Grade Two Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse, and the Gordon Elliott-trained Backstage, who has not run over fences since August.
Elliott has also kept the 2007 John Smith’s Grand National hero Silver Birch in the field, although he is not guaranteed to get a run with a maximum of 40 runners allowed to go to post. The 13-year-old is currently number 69 in the list of entries.
The 2006 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition, who has a weight of 11st 1lb, remains in the race, while trainer Willie Mullins has seven entries still engaged including Snowy Morning, who finished third in the 2008 John Smith’s Grand National and ninth in last year’s renewal.
Silver Birch is one of three past John Smith’s Grand National winners still in the 2010 field. Last year’s 100/1 shock scorer Mon Mome along with the 2008 victor Comply Or Die, who finished second in 2009, also go forward.
Indeed, the first six from last year’s race could meet again. As well as Mon Mome, Comply Or Die and My Will, the first three home in 2009, fourth-placed State Of Play, Cerium (fifth) and Big Fella Thanks, who came sixth, are all still in this year’s contest.
Comply Or Die’s trainer David Pipe has no less than nine entries still remaining including The Package, who is currently favourite for the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase at Cheltenham while among the other leading contenders is last season’s Irish Grand National hero Niche Market, star of Bob Buckler’s stable, and Welsh National hero Dream Alliance, who boasts a great rags-to-riches story.
There is a second scratchings stage on March 23 ahead of the five-day confirmation deadline on April 5 and the final declaration stage on April 8.
THE 2010 JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL
Class 1, Grade 3, £925,000 total Prize Fund. 4.15pm, Aintree, Saturday, April 10, 2010, four miles and four furlongs.
Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer
1) 03-P1362 ALBERTAS RUN (IRE) 9-11-10 Trevor Hemmings Jonjo O'Neill
2) 101-3244 MADISON DU BERLAIS (FR) 9-11-10 Roger Stanley & Yvonne Reynolds II David Pipe
3) 12-1F544U NOTRE PERE (FR) 9-11-10 Tilly Conway Jim Dreaper IRE
4) 12/14P/-1 TARANIS (FR) 9-11-09 Angela Yeoman Paul Nicholls
5) 4-61r012 OUR VIC (IRE) 12-11-08 David Johnson David Pipe
6) 001-P346 MON MOME (FR) 10-11-07 Vida Bingham Venetia Williams
7) P151U-02 BLACK APALACHI (IRE) 11-11-06 Gerard Burke Dessie Hughes IRE
8) 15-5003 JOE LIVELY (IRE) 11-11-06 Richard Dimond Colin Tizzard
9) 0-211501 VIC VENTURI (IRE) 10-11-06 James Dunne Dessie Hughes IRE
10) 1/P002-0 COMPLY OR DIE (IRE) 11-11-05 David Johnson David Pipe
11) 201-423 DON'T PUSH IT (IRE) 10-11-05 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
12) 43-3U2404 MADE IN TAIPAN (IRE) 8-11-04 Frances Duffin/Sean Corby Tom Mullins IRE
13) 401-0352 NICHE MARKET (IRE) 9-11-04 Graham Regan Bob Buckler
14) 22121-21 TRICKY TRICKSTER (IRE) 7-11-04 Chris Giles Paul Nicholls
15) P15P-14 CASEY JONES (IRE) 9-11-03 Gillian Burke Noel Meade IRE
16) 31FU-364 CLOUDY LANE 10-11-03 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain Jnr
17) PUPP/-21P DREAM ALLIANCE 9-11-03 The Alliance Partnership Philip Hobbs
18) 1P00-60 NOZIC (FR) 9-11-03 Sam Mcvie Paul Nicholls
19) 3201-11 POSSOL (FR) 7-11-03 Neville Statham Henry Daly
20) 553-205 MY WILL (FR) 10-11-02 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
21) 3606-4F PABLO DU CHARMIL (FR) 9-11-02 Joe Moran David Pipe
22) P230411 WAR OF ATTRITION (IRE) 11-11-01 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE
23) 0112313 BACKSTAGE (FR) 8-11-00 MPR & Capranny Syndicate Gordon Elliott IRE
24) P6-51110 BALLYHOLLAND (IRE) 9-11-00 Cathal McGovern Colin McBratney IRE
25) FP-1P1P BEAT THE BOYS (IRE) 9-11-00 New Club Ladies Nigel Twiston-Davies
26) 100-000U PREISTS LEAP (IRE) 10-11-00 John O'Donohue/Tom O'Leary Tom O'Leary IRE
27) 212//U1-2(1)(1) ROULEZ COOL 7-11-00 Robert Waley-Cohen Robert Waley-Cohen
28) 314F-01 CAN'T BUY TIME (IRE) 8-10-13 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
29) 1P1-01313 LE BEAU BAI (FR) 7-10-13 Glass Half Full Richard Lee
30) 11411P SEVEN IS MY NUMBER (IRE) 8-10-13 David Johnson David Pipe
31) 1103223 SNOWY MORNING (IRE) 10-10-13 Quayside Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
32) 22506-P3 AIR FORCE ONE (GER) 8-10-12 Brian Walsh (Co. Kildare) Charlie Mann
33) 2U136-2U BIG FELLA THANKS 8-10-12 Maggie Findlay & Paul Barber Paul Nicholls
34) 113-4123 DEUTSCHLAND (USA) 7-10-12 Allan McLuckie Willie Mullins IRE
35) 4/2D133- LOUPING D'AINAY (FR) 11-10-12 Jean-Paul Senechal Francois Cottin FR
36) 143301-0 CHARACTER BUILDING (IRE) 10-10-11 Mrs E Wright John Quinn
37) F0-5260 CHELSEA HARBOUR (IRE) 10-10-11 Frances Duffin/Sean Corby Tom Mullins IRE
38) 02U-301F DOONEYS GATE (IRE) 9-10-11 Thomas Gilligan Willie Mullins IRE
39) P2-205P0 GONE TO LUNCH (IRE) 10-10-11 Gary Lever Jeremy Scott
40) 4116-6P KORNATI KID 8-10-11 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs
41) 60/144-P STATE OF PLAY 10-10-11 William & Angela Rucker Evan Williams
42) 00-1210 ELLERSLIE GEORGE (IRE) 10-10-10 Guy Henderson Nick Mitchell
43) 112130- FOLLOW THE PLAN (IRE) 7-10-10 Cavan Developments Bloodstock Oliver McKiernan IRE
44) 2P-4P154 BALLYFITZ 10-10-09 Fred Mills & Wayne Mills Nigel Twiston-Davies
45) 043545U CONNA CASTLE (IRE) 11-10-09 Kings Syndicate Jimmy Mangan IRE
46) P23-15P EQUUS MAXIMUS (IRE) 10-10-09 Greenstar Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
47) 02P5-01 ERIC'S CHARM (FR) 12-10-09 Martin St Quinton & Peter Deal Oliver Sherwood
48) 212/0-000 KING JOHNS CASTLE (IRE) 11-10-09 J P McManus Arthur Moore IRE
49) 0F2-30546 OLLIE MAGERN 12-10-09 Roger Nicholls Nigel Twiston-Davies
50) 330-30U2 ARBOR SUPREME (IRE) 8-10-08 J P McManus Willie Mullins IRE
51) 03-635P CANE BRAKE (IRE) 11-10-08 Mount Temple Racing Sydicate Tom Taaffe IRE
52) 36244/-66 LENNON (IRE) 10-10-08 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
53) 02P-253 MALJIMAR (IRE) 10-10-08 Jane Williams Nick Williams
54) 0/1P025/- NEW ALCO (FR) 9-10-08 D McGowan & S Murphy Ferdy Murphy
55) U01-4U5 IRISH RAPTOR (IRE) 11-10-07 Caroline Beresford-Wylie Nigel Twiston-Davies
56) 6P/6220- MR POINTMENT (IRE) 11-10-07 Judith Wilson Paul Murphy
57) F-051FP PARSONS PISTOL (IRE) 8-10-07 Robert Bagnall Noel Meade IRE
58) 000-33010 PIRAYA (FR) 7-10-07 Terry Neill David Pipe
59) 13-012401 RAZOR ROYALE (IRE) 8-10-07 Colin Cornes Nigel Twiston-Davies
60) 03-0231 THE PACKAGE 7-10-07 David Johnson David Pipe
61) 11-035B0 HELLO BUD (IRE) 12-10-06 Seamus Murphy Nigel Twiston-Davies
62) P31314/-5 IRIS DE BALME (FR) 10-10-06 Lee Power & Geoff Peck Sean Curran
63) 1P6-142 PALYPSO DE CREEK (FR) 7-10-06 Alan Halsall Charlie Longsdon
64) 11P/11-1 TRUST FUND (IRE) 12-10-06 Lord Daresbury Richard Barber
65) 23/32-31 ABBEYBRANEY (IRE) 9-10-05 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
66) 50PP/05- CERIUM (FR) 9-10-05 Judith Wilson Paul Murphy
67) P63/52-P FLINTOFF (USA) 9-10-05 Andrew Flintoff & Paul Beck Venetia Williams
68) 56/-33P5 ROYAL ROSA (FR) 11-10-05 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
69) 0F-26r2 SILVER BIRCH (IRE) 13-10-05 Brian Walsh (Co. Kildare) Gordon Elliott IRE
70) 2F0-2260 COE (IRE) 8-10-04 Trevor Hemmings Sue Smith
71) P-3PP46 KNOWHERE (IRE) 12-10-04 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
72) 3025-056 OODACHEE 11-10-04 Modreeny Syndicate Charlie Swan IRE
73) P4F1311 WHINSTONE BOY (IRE) 9-10-04 Whinstone Syndicate Jimmy Mangan IRE
74) 0P03-40 FAASEL (IRE) 9-10-03 Hush Hush Partnership David Pipe
75) 30-01233 MUMBLES HEAD (IRE) 9-10-03 Karen Bowen Peter Bowen
76) P/1r40P- OFFICIER DE RESERVE (FR) 8-10-03 Seasons Holidays Venetia Williams
77) 456-2320 SIZING AUSTRALIA (IRE) 8-10-03 Ann & Alan Potts Partnership Henry de Bromhead IRE
78) 1/1///P6-4U TRABOLGAN (IRE) 12-10-03 Trevor Hemmings Nicky Henderson
79) 115-3001 CHIEF DAN GEORGE (IRE) 10-10-02 Maurice Chapman Jimmy Moffatt
80) 111P20 DUERS (IRE) 8-10-02 Kate Kelly/Kate Ronan Paul Magnier IRE
81) P01-1U0 BALLYTRIM (IRE) 9-10-01 Violet O'Leary Willie Mullins IRE
82) 20-0U00 OFFSHORE ACCOUNT (IRE) 10-10-01 Brian Polly Charlie Swan IRE
83) 0/-P220P6 PAK JACK (FR) 10-10-01 The Pak Jack Partnership Richard Phillips
84) 51-63F3 BOYCHUK (IRE) 9-10-00 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs
85) 366//4-54 KINGS ADVOCATE (IRE) 10-10-00 Maine Syndicate Tom Taaffe IRE
86) 1/3F-116P TREACLE (IRE) 9-10-00 Bjorn Nielsen Tom Taaffe IRE
87) 145-261 GALANT NUIT (FR) 6-9-13 David Parry Ferdy Murphy
88) 00F421 ANOTHERCOPPERCOAST (IRE)10-9-12 Eileen Queally Paul Roche IRE
89) 31F4-22 BELON GALE (IRE) 7-9-12 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
90) 45-0600P POMME TIEPY (FR) 7-9-12 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
91) 61021-02D MERIGO (FR) 9-9-10 Raymond & Anita Anderson Green Andrew Parker
92) 53414-00 CHIARO (FR) 8-9-09 Andrew Cohen Philip Hobbs
93) 5/44-U335P ACCORDING TO JOHN (IRE) 10-9-08 Sir Robert Ogden Nicky Richards
94) 24-512P0 LORUM LEADER (IRE) 9-9-07 Dr Richard & Laura Newland Dr Richard Newland
95) 1342/-0PP OVER THE CREEK 11-9-04 David Johnson David Pipe
96) 253-346 COSSACK DANCER (IRE) 12-9-01 The United Front Partnership Mark Bradstock
97) 0/13P/-FP52 WEE ROBBIE 10-9-00 P H Betts (Holdings) Ltd Nick Gifford
98) 2U1/P6P-4P OFFALY (IRE) 9-8-12 The Pole to Pole Partnership Pru Townsley
98 entries remain after March 2 scratchings deadline
31 Irish-trained
1 French-trained
THE FOLLOWING 13 ENTRIES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED: IRISH INVADER (IRE), SIEGEMASTER (IRE), ONE COOL COOKIE (IRE), BERONI (IRE), DARKNESS, JAYO (FR), ROYAL COUNTY STAR (IRE), KILCREA CASTLE (IRE), BIBLE LORD (IRE), PARSONS LEGACY (IRE), GLENFINN CAPTAIN (IRE), KILBEGGAN BLADE, OLD BENNY
