The WORLD FAMOUS Grand National news and info

[Kev]

Aintree Racecourse is the home of the world's most celebrated, most talked about, most magical race, the Martell Cognac Grand National. No other racecourse can compare to the sheer romance of Aintree. The mere mention of the name conjures up memories of triumph and tragedy, of battle and bravery, of victory and conquering the odds.

Today, Aintree Racecourse is one of the most sophisticated, forward thinking sporting venues in the world. It holds the richest National Hunt Race in Europe and attracts TV audiences worldwide of around 600 million. Only figures like these speak for the sheer passion the race evokes on a global basis.

1950-1960



1950 - Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth had her first horse in this race, "Monaveen", which finishes sixth while "Freebooter" won at 10-1.

1952 - Mrs Topham employed her own commentators for the race, which "Teal" won at 100-7.

1953 - "Early Mist" won for Irish Trainer, Vincent O'Brien.

1954 - "Royal Tan" won, trained by Vincent O'Brien.

1955 - Vincent O'Brien notched up his 3rd National win in a row with "Quare Times".

1956 - The greatest mystery ever on a racecourse occurred with "Devon Loch". It was coronation year, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II's horse, "Devon Loch", was clear coming up to the elbow at the end of the National when he went to jump a non existent obstacle, slipped along the turf and came to a halt being beaten by "ESB". Was it the shadow of the Chair Fence that made him jump? Was it the huge crowd that frightened him with the tremendous crescendo of noise that was about to greet a Royal Grand National winner? We will never know, but Devon Loch will always be known as the unluckiest Aintree loser of all time.

1959 - This year saw the heroic riding of Tim Brookshaw who rode "Wyndburgh" into second place despite having to ride without irons from Bechers Brook second time around. "Oxo" won the race at 8-1.

1960-1970

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1960 - Saw the first ever televised Grand National with the great Peter O'Sullevan starting his affiliation with Aintree and the Grand National. "Merryman II" won the race in a time of 9 minutes and 26 seconds.

1961 - The Russians came in the shape of two horses, "Grifel" and "Reljef" but they failed to complete the course with the race won by "Nicholas Silver", the second grey horse to win the National.

1967 - "Foinavon" won at 100-1 as he was the only horse to negotiate fence 23 at the first time of asking. "Popham Down" ran right across the fence causing complete chaos for the rest of the field. The selling race which took place the day before, saw a horse dead heat for first place that would later bring the Grand National back to its place at the heart of the nation - that horse was called "Red Rum".

1968 - American film star Gregory Peck owned the favourite, "Different Class" who finished third with victory going to "Red Alligator" ridden by Brian Fletcher.

1970-1980

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1973 - "Red Rum" won his first National in a record time of 9 minutes and 2 seconds. The race revolved around Red Rum and a great Australian chaser called Crisp, both 9-1 joint favourites. Crisp had 12-0 on his back and Red Rum had 10-5. The Australian horse led for a lot of the way but was just run out of it in the last few strides. It was a memorable Grand National and the start of a legend of "Red Rum".

1974 - "Red Rum" at 11-1 won for the second time, with his jockey, Brian Fletcher, taking his third win in the race.

1975 - The News of the World was the new sponsor of the race with prize money of £38,000 which went to "L'Escargot" at 13-2, beating "Red Rum".

1976 - "Red Rum" finished second, this time to 14-1 shot "Rag Trade". Once again the legendary horse was valiant in defeat carrying 11 stone 10 pounds around the course and only being beaten by a couple of lengths.

1977 - History was made! "Red Rum" at 9-1 won his third Grand National beating "Churchtown Boy" by 25 lengths. This remains the most moving piece of Aintree's history as this horse captured the heart of the nation. Also in this year Miss Charlotte Brew became the first woman ever to ride in the race but her mount, "Barony Fort", refused with 4 fences still to jump.

1980-1990

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1980 - "Ben Nevis", 40-1, from the USA won the race worth nearly £46,000 and this year saw the death of Aintree's owner, Mrs Topham.

1981 - Another Aintree legend saw "Aldaniti" ridden by Bob Champion into first place. Aldaniti had been plagued with injuries throughout his career and Bob Champion had fought to recover from cancer. Aldaniti led from the eleventh fence and beat Spartan Missile, ridden by 54 year old amateur jockey John Thorne, by four lengths. The race was now worth £51,324.

1982 - Mrs Geraldine Rees became the first woman to complete the course and last year's winner "Aldaniti" fell at the first fence. thingy Saunders, aged 48, won on Grittar, the 7-1 favourite.

1983 - The first lady of Aintree, trainer Jenny Pitman, won the race with "Corbiere" ridden by Ben De Haan.

1984 - "Hallo Dandy" won the race but, despite his achievement he was to become the subject of horror a few years later when he was found disshevelled and neglected in a field. He is now enjoying a happy retirement at the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre.

1985 - "Last Suspect" at 66-1 and trained by Captain Tim Forster won £54,000 for the owner, The Duchess of Westminster.

1987 - "Maori Venture" won £64,000 pounds for his owner, octogenarian Mr Jim Joel.

1988 - "Rhyme 'n' Reason" won £85,000 for Juliet Reed despite sprawling on all fours at Bechers Brook on the first circuit.

1990-2000

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1990 - The first horse to win in under 9 minutes - Mr Frisk takes first place in 8 minutes and 47 seconds. A few weeks later Mr Frisk went on to win the Whitbread Gold Cup and became one of the few horses ever to do the big race double.

1991 - What a coincidence! The Seagram Grand National was won by a horse called "Seagram" winning £90,000 for the owners.

1992 - The giant 18 hands high "Party Politics" won despite a tube in his neck to help him breath. The prize money for the winner had now reached £99,943.

1993 - This National that wasn’t . First attempt and animal activists meddled at the start. When the race was eventually started Richard Dunwoody got the tape stuck round his neck and a false start was given. Unfortunately the flagman did not see the flag so he never signalled for a false start. Consequently some horses stopped at the start and some horses stopped halfway while 7 carried on to complete the course with "Esha Ness" and John White winning for trainer Jenny Pitman only to be told that the race was void.

1994 - Comedian Freddie Starr won the race with his horse "Minnehoma" trained by Martin Pipe and ridden by Richard Dunwoody.

1995 - Trainer, Jenny Pitman, won again with 40-1 "Royal Athlete" ridden by Irishman Jason Titley having his first ride in the big race.

1997 - A bomb scare disrupted the race and it was re-scheduled for Monday afternoon where it was won by "Lord Gyllene" ridden by Tony Dobbin.

2000-present


2000 - Irish father and son Ted and Ruby Walsh won the race with "Papillon" who was subject of a huge morning gamble dropping odds from 33-1 down to around 12-1 netting a supposed £1m coup.

2001 - Only 4 horses completed the course in very heavy going with Red Marauder ridden by Richard Guest the clear winner from Smarty in second place. Third and fourth respectively were Blowing Wind and Papillon after the jockeys remounted. These were the only four horses to complete the course.

2002 - A maximum field of 40 horses set off with The Last Fling taking up the lead early on until a fall at the Canal Turn on the second circuit. Bindaree and What's Up Boys then took up the lead and pulled free from the rest of the field resulting in a tight finish with Bindaree just taking the honours. Ten horses completed the race.

[LV]

Any tips for the big race, Kev? I fancy a 2 bob flutter on the race this year.

[Kev]

I wouldnt like to say but heres the lineup correct on Saturday 20th March....

Hedgehunter 12/1
Rince Ri 14/1
Clan Royal 14/1
Timbera 14/1
Jurancon 16/1
Harbour Pilot 16/1
Bear On Board 20/1
Monty’s Pass 20/1
Davids Lad 20/1
Amberleigh House 20/1
Bindaree 20/1
Joss Naylor 20/1
Swansea Bay 20/1
Macs Gildoran 25/1
Shardam 25/1
Artic Jack 25/1
Southern Star 25/1
Tyneandthyneagain 25/1
Lord Atterbury 25/1
Gunner Welburn 33/1
Akarus 33/1
Joe Blake 33/1
Take The Stand 33/1
Takagi 33/1
What Odds 33/1
Whats Up Boys 33/1
Exit Swinger 33/1
Blowing Wind 33/1
Kings Mistral 33/1
Le Coudray 33/1
First Gold 33/1
Ballybrophy 40/1
Bounce Back 40/1
Kelami 40/1
Fasgo 40/1
Kingsmark 40/1
Fondmort 40/1
Ardent Scout 40/1
The Bushkeeper 40/1
Wherareyounow 40/1
Alexander Banquet 40/1
Exit To Wave 40/1
Gola Cher 40/1
Iznogoud 40/1
Royal Auclair 40/1
Magical Bailiwick 40/1
Paladin 50/1
Red Striker 50/1
Risk Accessor 50/1
Royal Predica 50/1
Royal Atalza 50/1
Montifault 50/1
More Than A Stroll 50/1
Scots Grey 50/1
Arctic Copper 50/1
Shamawan 50/1
Just In Debt 50/1
The Bunny Boiler 50/1
You’re Agoodun 50/1
Hermes III 50/1
Alcapone 60/1

[LV]

It has to be 'Davids Lad' at 20 to1. Spendid.

[Kev]

Blowing Wind....he's my best bet

[Kev]

THE world-famous steeplechase is less than two weeks away and is known as the most unpredictable event in the racing calendar.

But now scientists at Liverpool University have come up with a formula for picking a Grand National winner.

The research team, which studied data from 15 years of the world's greatest steeplechase found horses who had successfully completed the course before were twice as likely to finish again.

They were also two-and-a-half times less likely to fall than those that had never run the race before.

The team at the university's Large Animal Hospital in Leahurst, Wirral, also found ground conditions and starting price influenced a horse's chance of completing the National.

Ground classed as soft or heavy leads to significantly fewer finishers, as evidenced by Red Marauder's win in the mud in 2001 when just four horses finished.

The most unusual finding was that the more notoriously difficult jumps were not the ones that posed the greatest trouble.

Dr Chris Proudman, senior lecturer in equine surgery, said: "Slightly surprisingly, we found the first fence was the most risky on the course, not Becher's Brook or The Chair. Horses with previous experience of the Grand National course who have not fallen are twice as likely to complete it.

"They do not necessarily have to have completed in the same race but in others which have the same fences but may be shorter or have fewer horses in them."

There are a number of other shorter races incorporating the National fences throughout the racing year.

The research, funded by Aintree Racecourse and part of a larger study of National Hunt racing, will be used in improving safety in jump racing for jockeys and racehorses.

Dr Proudman added: "Our research suggests that improved schooling over National-type fences or qualifying races over the Grand National course may improve completion rates and decrease the risk of horses falling." Dr Proudman is one of a team of vets from the university who look after the safety and welfare of horses throughout the three-day Aintree Festival.

The vets successfully treated Youlneverwalkalone with life-saving surgery after the horse broke a leg in last year's National.

Charles Barnett, managing director of Aintree Racecourse, said: "Equine welfare is our highest priority at Aintree and scientific research in this field was clearly required. We hope that we will be able to implement many of the recommendations outlined within the research in the future and are indebted to the work carried out by the University of Liverpool."

The Grand National is the longest race in the UK horse-racing calendar, covering 4.5 miles.

The event is watched by 70,000 people at Aintree and by around 600m people around the world on TV and the internet.

Data forecasts Ginger-trained success

THE horses Dr Proudman is tipping to finish this year's Grand National on Saturday April 3: Amberleigh House: "Trained by Ginger McCain, of Red Rum fame, this horse has a terrific record over the course. He was brought down one time but has never fallen." (20/1)

Monty's Pass: "He won the Grand National last year and did well in another race, the Topham Chase, on the same course." (16/1)

Bookmaker William Hill's top three to win the race are:

* Hedgehunter, 12/1

* Jurancon II, 14/1

* Rince Ri, 14/1

[Kev]

EVERY one of Liverpool's 2,400-plus city centre hotel beds is booked up ahead of this weekend's Grand National meeting.

Hotels and bars across the city are gearing up for Liverpool's biggest Aintree celebration yet, starting this Thursday.

The three-day event is expected to bring in excess of £35m to the region.

[LV]

I think they are showing the 'race' on a big screen in Chavasse Park on saturday.

[Kev]

I can't wait!

I'm not a betting man but its rude not to on National Day!!!

[Kev]

CELEBRITY chef Paul Heathcote was last night putting the finishing touches to a lavish new dining concept to be launched at his Grand National debut.

Amid the clatter of last minute interior design flourishes in the new Red Marauder lounge, he told the Daily Post: "It is our first time catering for Aintree and we are doing something we have never done before.

"We are creating individual buffets on each table with all local produce from Parma hams to Morecambe Bay shrimp.

"That will be followed by a selection of cheeses, and then the piece de resistance is a chocolate fountain on each table.

"Liquid chocolate will cascade down, and it will be served with almond bread and skewers, to eat like a fondue.

"The idea is to make the meal more sociable.

"People will have to pass things to each other, so we hope it will create a more lively atmosphere.

"Aintree wanted us to do something different to the usual three courses. This is totally different to anything they or we have done before and it is quite exciting."

Mr Heathcote's team of 150 staff will cater for around 500 guests in the sumptuously decorated Red Marauder lounge - at a cost £180 a head on Friday and £280 on Saturday.

Design touches include around twenty pillars filled with red light, red leather and Zebra print sofas, red plants and a self-service bar.

[Kev]

AINTREE directors were today unveiling plans for a major redevelopment which will increase the racecourse's permanent stand capacity in time for Capital of Culture year in 2008.

The expansion is expected to substantially reduce the overall cost of Aintree's multi-million pound temporary buildings, which this year held more than 60,000 of around 70,000 visitors on Grand National day.