Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Grand National News
Last year's winner Mon Mome features among 75 horses remaining in the John Smith's Grand National following the latest entry stage.
The 10-year-old landed the Aintree spectacular as a 100-1 shot last season, but will be a fraction of those odds this time having finished a tremendous third in last week's Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Ryanair Chase winner Albertas Run was a notable scratching, but both Madison du Berlais and Notre Pere remain at the head of the weights with 11st 10lb.
Mon Mome will carry 11st 7lb should those two stand their ground, but trainer Venetia Williams will not be too concerned if the weights rise.
"At the end of the day, it's only a matter of 3lb, it's not the be all and end all. Three pounds is not a major difference in the great scheme of things," she said.
"His preparation has gone a lot better than it did last year and we have got a blueprint to follow. We were all very buoyed by what we saw him do at Cheltenham.
"It might have been a bit cheeky running in the Gold Cup as a prep race for the National, but there was £50,000 for third place and we were delighted with what he did. The hill at Cheltenham compensated for the extra mile he will get in the National."
Big Fella Thanks and Tricky Trickster remain among the Aintree possibles for Paul Nicholls, while Dessie Hughes has two leading chances with Vic Venturi and Black Apalachi. But also taken out were 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition, Taranis and Possol.
Handicapper Phil Smith believes Cheltenham Festival winner Chief Dan George is best-in at the weights, but he is in 57th position on the list and needs 17 to come out to get a run.
Smith said: "He has won twice since I did the weights and would be 12lb higher now. The only problem is he has a 50-50 chance of getting in."