TIDAL BAY will carry top weight of 11st 10lb in the 2014 Crabbie’s Grand National on April 5 after the weights were unveiled in London. Although he will have to carry the welter burden, Paul Nicholls’ veteran has been given a solid chance by handicapper Phil Smith, especially having stayed on into second over an inadequate 3m at Leopardstown last weekend. This will be Tidal Bay’s 43rd and final race of an amazing career. It would be a fitting finale if he was to win. Four of the last five winners of the race have carried 11 stone or more and Tidal Bay is generally around the 16/1 mark.
Last year’s third TEAFORTHREE has a respectable 10st 12lb but the one that catches my eye is the 2013 Scottish National winner GODSMEJUDGE. He has 10st 11lb and that is a workable mark. He disappointed last time out but his spring-heeled jumping and abundant stamina should come into play at Aintree.
MONBEG DUDE is the other ante-post co-favourite in most Grand National betting markets and he put up a career-best performance when scoring at Cheltenham in December.
Ireland’s champion trainer Willie Mullins, winner of the 2005 race with Hedgehunter, has eight chances of enhancing his National record. His leading contenders, both priced around 25/1, are ON HIS OWN (11st 3lb) and Paddy Power Chase winner ROCKYABOYA, who is joint 88th on the list with a weight of 9st 11lb.
Other leading contenders from Ireland include the Ted Walsh-trained COLBERT STATION, who has been allotted 11st, and stablemate SEABASS (11st 2lb). The latter finished third in 2012 when carrying 10st 12lb and 13th when sent off 11/2 favourite last year with 11st 2lb on his back.
Nicholls has seven entered in all, including HAWKES POINT (10st 6lb), who could line up in Saturday’s Betfred Grand National Trial at Haydock Park on his first start since being beaten a head in the Welsh National on December 28. Stablemate ROCKY CREEK, who finished runner-up in the Argento Chase at Cheltenham on his latest run, has 11st 5lb.
Nicky Henderson, who has yet to win the National, is well represented at the top end of the handicap with three of the five highest-weighted horses. The 2011 Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup and dual King George VI Chase winner LONG RUN, who is set to run at Kelso on Thursday, has 11st 9lb, while Hennessy Gold Cup hero TRIOLO D’ALENE has been allotted 11st 6lb. HUNT BALL, who has yet to have his first start for Henderson, has been given a weight of 11st 7lb.
A total of 114 entries go forward into the race and no less than 82 of those are in the handicap. There is maximum field size of 40 (with an additional four reserves).
John Baker, Regional Director of Jockey Club Racecourses North West, said: “We saw an excellent entry to coincide with both the beginning of Crabbie’s Grand National association and the first £1-million renewal and BHA Senior Handicapper Phil Smith has as ever spent many hours framing the weights to ensure an ultra-competitive contest on Saturday, April 5.
“That is highlighted by the fact that no less than 82 of the entries are currently in the handicap, with connections of horses based across Britain and Ireland setting their sights on landing the most famous and valuable prize in Jump racing.”
FULL RUNNERS
Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer
1) 121-1532 TIDAL BAY (IRE) 13-11-10 Andrea & Graham Wylie Paul Nicholls
2) 132-54U LONG RUN (FR) 9-11-09 Robert Waley-Cohen Nicky Henderson
3) 13-6060 HUNT BALL (IRE) 9-11-07 Atlantic Equine Nicky Henderson
4) 1-F21P20 ROI DU MEE (FR) 9-11-06 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
5) 301-131 TRIOLO D’ALENE (FR) 7-11-06 Sandy & Caroline Orr Nicky Henderson
6) 1113-22 ROCKY CREEK (IRE) 8-11-05 The Johnson & Stewart Families Paul Nicholls
7) 211-F443 KATENKO (FR) 8-11-04 Andrew Brooks Venetia Williams
8) 11FF-16 BOSTON BOB (IRE) 9-11-03 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE
9) 5-10661 ON HIS OWN (IRE) 10-11-03 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE
10) 3/F1115- BOG WARRIOR (IRE) 10-11-02 Gigginstown House Stud Tony Martin IRE
11) 13/230-6 SEABASS (IRE) 11-11-02 Gunners Syndicate Ted Walsh IRE
12) P0P-553 KAUTO STONE (FR) 8-11-01 Robin Geffen Paul Nicholls
13) 2U11-11 MOSSEY JOE (IRE) 11-11-01 Barry Connell Enda Bolger IRE
14) 145-F405 QUITO DE LA ROQUE (FR) 10-11-01 Gigginstown House Stud Colm Murphy IRE
15) 110-012 CANTLOW (IRE) 9-11-00 J P McManus Paul Webber
16) 1U-03U0 COLBERT STATION (IRE) 10-11-00 J P McManus Ted Walsh IRE
17) 30-3626 RUBI LIGHT (FR) 9-11-00 Bill Hennessy Robbie Hennessy IRE
18) 1112212 TONER D’OUDAIRIES (FR) 7-11-00 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
19) 22P52-U4 WALKON (FR) 9-11-00 McNeill Family Alan King
20) 20P-111 BALTHAZAR KING (IRE) 10-10-13 The Brushmakers Philip Hobbs
21) P-21221U CARLINGFORD LOUGH (IRE) 8-10-13 J P McManus John Kiely IRE
22) P06-52P WAYWARD PRINCE 10-10-13 John & Mrs Hilary Parrott Hilary Parrott
23) 155-P03 CAPE TRIBULATION 10-10-12 David Abell Malcolm Jefferson
24) -450311 MR MOONSHINE (IRE) 10-10-12 Douglas Pryde, Jim Beaumont & David van der Hoeven Sue Smith
25) 06203-0 TEAFORTHREE (IRE) 10-10-12 Conyers, O’Reilly, Roddis, Zeffman Rebecca Curtis
26) 010-501 ACROSS THE BAY (IRE) 10-10-11 Scotch Piper Syndicate Donald McCain
27) F11111 DOUBLE SEVEN (IRE) 8-10-11 J P McManus Martin Brassil IRE
28) 2131-5P GODSMEJUDGE (IRE) 8-10-11 Favourites Racing Alan King
29) 0/530P-1 PLANET OF SOUND 12-10-11 Charles Lloyd-Baker Philip Hobbs
30) 11-1PRP BATTLE GROUP 9-10-10 Jolly Boys Outing Johnny Farrelly
31) 65-0510 BUCKERS BRIDGE (IRE) 8-10-10 Ann & Alan Potts Partnership Henry de Bromhead IRE
32) 11/PP-501 LION NA BEARNAI (IRE) 12-10-10 The Lock Syndicate Tom Gibney IRE
33) 12-3004 PRINCE DE BEAUCHENE (FR) 11-10-10 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE
34) 5/3/1/P1/MASSINI’S MAGUIRE (IRE) 13-10-09 Alan Peterson Tim Vaughan
35) 13P-341 MONBEG DUDE (IRE) 9-10-09 Oydunow Michael Scudamore
36) 00PU-20 QUANTITATIVEEASING (IRE) 9-10-09 J P McManus Enda Bolger IRE
37) 2/5PU-01 SUNNYHILLBOY (IRE) 11-10-09 J P McManus Jonjo O’Neill
38) 1/F0211-2 BIG SHU (IRE) 9-10-08 H Duffy/R J Robinson/Miss C M Woods Peter Maher IRE
39) 42/-500P BURTON PORT (IRE) 10-10-08 Trevor Hemmings Jonjo O’Neill
40) P-25P434 JUNIOR 11-10-08 Middleham Park Racing LI David Pipe
41) 0P/124-0 OUR FATHER (IRE) 8-10-08 The Ives & Johnson Families David Pipe
42) 203-061 SIRE COLLONGES (FR) 8-10-08 Angela & Bill Tincknell Paul Nicholls
43) 12/034/-P MON PARRAIN (FR) 8-10-07 John & Barbara Cotton Paul Nicholls
44) 241-3315 MOUNTAINOUS (IRE) 9-10-07 Walters Plant Hire & James & Jean Potter Richard Lee
45) 4UP-261 THE RAINBOW HUNTER 10-10-07 May We Never Be Found Out Partnership Kim Bailey
46) 2P-1262 VINTAGE STAR (IRE) 8-10-07 Trevor Hemmings Sue Smith
47) 0400-1P CHANCE DU ROY (FR) 10-10-06 Miss I D Du Pre Philip Hobbs
48) 212P-42 HAWKES POINT 9-10-06 Graham Roach Paul Nicholls
49) P513-35 HOME FARM (IRE) 7-10-06 Chris Jones Arthur Moore IRE
50) 2-44110 KRUZHLININ (GER) 7-10-06 Paul & Clare Rooney Donald McCain
51) 35F201 PINEAU DE RE (FR) 11-10-06 J A Provan Dr Richard Newland
52) 3-20116 WHITE STAR LINE (IRE) 10-10-06 Exors of the late Patsy Byrne Dessie Hughes IRE
53) 01R03/3- GOLAN WAY 10-10-05 W R B Racing 58 Tim Vaughan
54) 421-0102 MIDNIGHT APPEAL 9-10-05 David Sewell Alan King
55) P0-FP13P PETE THE FEAT (IRE) 10-10-05 G J Larby & P J Smith Charlie Longsdon
56) 125010 TWIRLING MAGNET (IRE) 8-10-05 Gay Smith Jonjo O’Neill
57) 302-FU0 VESPER BELL (IRE) 8-10-05 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
58) 400123- AWAY WE GO (IRE) 11-10-04 O’Gorman Partnership Willie Mullins IRE
59) 01631P MART LANE (IRE) 9-10-04 Jim Stewart Dr Richard Newland
60) 001140 RENARD (FR) 9-10-04 ROA Arkle Partnership Venetia Williams
61) 612-00P SAME DIFFERENCE (IRE) 8-10-04 Mrs R Vaughan Nigel Twiston-Davies
62) 5/4/14PP-0 THE PACKAGE 11-10-04 The Johnson Family David Pipe
63) 11P-03P WELL REFRESHED 10-10-04 Patrick Wilmott Gary Moore
64) 15211-P0 RAZ DE MAREE (FR) 9-10-03 Dessie Hughes Dessie Hughes IRE
65)114P-01 ROSE OF THE MOON (IRE) 9-10-03 Middleham Park Racing XXXIII & Partners David O’Meara
66) 0/11220/- SHAKALAKABOOMBOOM (IRE) 10-10-03 Liam Breslin Nicky Henderson
67) 606F0-12 TATENEN (FR) 10-10-03 The Stewart Family Richard Rowe
68) 6R3-51P ALVARADO (IRE) 9-10-02 William & Angela Rucker Fergal O’Brien
69) 356-24P HIGHLAND LODGE (IRE) 8-10-02 The Unusual Suspects Emma Lavelle
70) 51433-0 LAST TIME D’ALBAIN (FR) 10-10-02 Fontstown Syndicate Liam Cusack IRE
71) 1P-130P LOST GLORY (NZ) 9-10-02 J P McManus Jonjo O’Neill
72) 20-2553 MERRY KING (IRE) 7-10-02 F Gillespie Jonjo O’Neill
73) 23-F3P4 ONE IN A MILAN (IRE) 9-10-02 Paul Langford Evan Williams
74) 1/P10//02-6 PANDORAMA (IRE) 11-10-02 B Mellon/P McBride/Michael D Muldoon Noel Meade IRE
75) 3P1-250 GOONYELLA (IRE) 7-10-01 Ann & Alan Potts Partnership Jim Dreaper IRE
76) 1162-0P GOULANES (IRE) 8-10-01 Roger Brookhouse David Pipe
77) 3400-10 IKORODU ROAD 11-10-01 W J Odell Matt Sheppard
78) 16-060P LIBERTY COUNSEL (IRE) 11-10-01 Neale/Murtagh Partnership Dot Love IRE
79) 14406-5 SWING BILL (FR) 13-10-01 Halewood International Ltd David Pipe
80) 113/04P-0 QUEL ESPRIT (FR) 10-10-00 Jackie Mullins Willie Mullins IRE
81) B/0010-54 SOLL 9-10-00 Derrick Mossop Jo Hughes
82) 66/3124/-0 UP THE BEAT 9-10-00 Mrs A M Varmen/R J D Varmen Willie Mullins IRE
83) 121114 MINELLA FOR VALUE (IRE) 8-9-13 Maxilead Limited John Butler
84) 1-2301P NIGHT IN MILAN (IRE) 8-9-13 Richard Collins Keith Reveley
85) 3000-04 SAINT ARE (FR) 8-9-13 David Fox Tim Vaughan
86) 22/0-P50P OUT NOW (IRE) 10-9-12 Dermot Cox/Nelius Hayes Edward O’Grady IRE
87) 62-5023 TRANQUIL SEA (IRE) 12-9-12 No Dramas Partnership 1 Warren Greatrex
88) 13/304-4 ALFIE SHERRIN 11-9-11 J P McManus Jonjo O’Neill
89) 1P0-332 COURT BY SURPRISE (IRE) 9-9-11 Nick Mustoe Emma Lavelle
90) U20441 ROCKYABOYA (IRE) 10-9-11 P W Mullins Willie Mullins IRE
91) 03F-000 ROMANESCO (FR) 9-9-11 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
92) 2B6-P51 THERE’S NO PANIC (IRE) 9-9-11 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
93) 62P-0B20 ORPHEUS VALLEY (IRE) 11-9-10 No Horse Box Syndicate Tom Gibney IRE
94) 6050F-03 QUISCOVER FONTAINE (FR) 10-9-10 J P McManus Enda Bolger IRE
95) F11110 STANDING OVATION (IRE) 7-9-10 The Bravo Partnership David Pipe
96) 103-00P WYCK HILL (IRE) 10-9-10 J P McManus David Bridgwater
97) 0-33412 BAILE ANRAI (IRE) 10-9-09 Massive Dan Skelton
98) 2110F0 GULLIBLE GORDON (IRE) 11-9-09 Karen Bowen Peter Bowen
99) PP/4-P05 QUINZ (FR) 10-9-09 Andrew Cohen Philip Hobbs
100) 1-24003 UNDERTHEBOARDWALK (IRE) 8-9-08 Independent Syndicate Tony Martin IRE
101) 6-1FF11 WRONG TURN (IRE) 8-9-08 John Breslin Tony Martin IRE
102) 0-P5325 ANY CURRENCY (IRE) 11-9-06 Cash Is King Martin Keighley
103) P023-42 REAL MILAN (IRE) 9-9-06 Diana Whateley Donald McCain
104) 6-5U024P SIR DU BEARN (FR) 8-9-06 Mickey Bowen Peter Bowen
105) F-04654 SOLIX (FR) 8-9-06 Paul Vogt Ian Williams
106) 3313F65 STORM SURVIVOR (IRE) 8-9-06 J P McManus Jonjo O’Neill
107) 013444 VICTRIX GALE (IRE) 8-9-06 Badgers Syndicate Tony Martin IRE
108) 000035 WHODOYOUTHINK (IRE) 9-9-06 Redgap Partnership Oliver McKiernan IRE
109) 004-26P TOUR DES CHAMPS (FR) 7-9-04 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
110) 13-2520P BOB FORD (IRE) 7-9-03 The Bob Ford Partnership Rebecca Curtis
111) 104F0U LIVING NEXT DOOR (IRE) 8-9-03 John Breslin Tony Martin IRE
112) 4-22112 MERLIN’S WISH 9-9-02 Miss R Toppin Martin Keighley
113) 121300 SERGEANT PINK (IRE) 8-8-11 Andrew Sayer Dianne Sayer
114) 0-P000P TARQUINIUS (FR) 11-8-11 Richard Gilbert Gordon Elliott IRE
