Aintree Grand National Meeting Guide 2019 - Racing TVi
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2019
Aintree Grand National
Meeting Guide
2019 Grand National
meeting, Aintree
FULL RUNNING ORDER
Grand National Thursday - 4 April Welcome to the 2019 Randox Health
1.45pm Devenish Nutrition Manifesto Novices’ Chase
(Grade 1) (4000m) Grand National Festival
2.20pm Doom Bar Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle
(Grade 1) (3400m) Three days of top-class racing built around one of Britain’s most
2.50pm Betway Bowl Chase (Grade 1) (5000m) iconic sporting events, the Grand National.
3.25pm Betway Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) (4000m)
4.05pm Randox Health Foxhunters’ Chase (4200m) Well over £3million in prize money is on offer across the 21 races.
4.40pm Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (3200m) Indeed, only three jumps racedays in the UK all year long offer four
5.15pm Goffs UK Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open NHF Race Grade 1 races – and two of those are at this meeting.
(Grade 2) (3400m)
However, there is no doubting the highlight of the three days, the
Ladies Day, Friday - 5 April world’s most famous horseracing contest over jumps.
1.45pm Merseyrail Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (4000m)
2.20pm Betway Top Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (3400m) Since the inaugural running at Aintree Racecourse way back in 1839,
2.50pm Betway Mildmay Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (5000m) when Lottery became the first winner, victory in the Grand National
3.25pm JLT Melling Chase (Grade 1) (4000m) has been the pinnacle of ambition for owners, trainers and jockeys.
4.05pm Randox Health Topham Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (4200m)
4.40pm Doom Bar Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (5000m) Actors, aristocrats, business people, comedians, celebrities, media
5.15pm Weatherbys Racing Bank Standard Open NHF Race moguls, politicians, pop stars, sporting heroes, Kings, Queens
(Grade 2) (3400m) and Princes have all tried for glory, but only a fortunate few have
succeeded.
Grand National Day, Saturday - 6 April
1.45pm Gaskells Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (5000m) It is one of the biggest tests for racehorse and rider, who must
2.25pm Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (4000m) complete two circuits of the iconic Grand National course - with a total
3.00pm Doom Bar Maghull Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (3200m) of 30 fences to be jumped over nearly 7000m.
3.40pm Ryanair Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (5000m)
4.20pm Betway Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (5000m) Some of the race’s famous landmarks, such as Becher’s Brook, the
5.15pm Randox Health Grand National (6900m) Canal Turn, Valentine’s Brook and The Chair, are well known to the
6.20pm Pinsent Masons Handicap Hurdle (3300m) millions who watch the race each year.
GRAND NATIONAL KNOWLEDGE
FAVOURITES LONGEST ODDS JOCKEYS WINNER’S AGE
FIVE of the last 25 WINNERS FIVE HORSES have won the TO FOLLOW NINE-YEAR-OLD HORSES have
have been favourites or joint- Grand National at 100/1, FIVE RACES TAKE PLACE EACH won 45 of the 171 runnings of
favourites. The most recent most recently the VENETIA YEAR over the Grand National the Grand National, but more
favourite to win was DON’T WILLIAMS-TRAINED MON fences, and the current rider recently EIGHT-YEAR-OLDS
PUSH IT IN 2010. No favourite MOME in 2009. His victory was with the best record is SAM have done best, winning three
has started at 5/1 or less since the first at those odds since WALEY-COHEN with six victories of the last four renewals – MANY
1975, but TIGER ROLL could FOINAVON memorably avoided over the course. Just in behind is CLOUDS (2015), ONE FOR
well be an even shorter price a pile-up in front of him to score RUBY WALSH with five. ARTHUR (2017) AND TIGER
this year as he bids to win the in 1967. ROLL (2018).
race for the second year running.
1
Thursday 4 April
IN FOCUS: Betway Aintree Hurdle (Race 4)
Sent off at the head of the betting for the Champion Hurdle at
Cheltenham last month, both Buveur D’Air and Apple’s Jade get the
chance to show their true colours on the opening day of the meeting. DAY 1 - THE KEY STATS
The Gordon Elliott-trained Apple’s Jade was the marginal favourite at •R
ace 1 - Nine of the 10 winners so far of the Manifesto Novices’
Cheltenham, after completing a Grade One hat-trick with a scintillating Chase had come here from the Cheltenham Festival, but all had
display in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown. However, the been beaten at that meeting.
star mare completely failed to fire and finished a well-beaten sixth.
•R
ace 2 - Eight of the last 19 winners of the Doom Bar 4-y-o
Nicky Henderson’s Buveur D’Air was bidding to become the sixth Hurdle had lined up in the Finesse Hurdle at Cheltenham earlier
horse in history to win three Champion Hurdles, but only made it as in the season – the race was run this year by Fakir D’Oudaires.
far as the third flight before taking off too soon, hitting the hurdle and French-bred horses also have a notably good record in the race.
coming to grief - the first fall of his 17-race jumping career. He will bid
to bounce back in the 4000m contest that he won two years ago. •R
ace 3 – The Betfred Bowl is an unusually good race for older
horses. In its 35 renewals to date, the winner has been aged 10
Melon, twice runner-up in the Champion Hurdle, is one of three or over a remarkable 15 times, with 11-year-olds rolling back the
possible starters for reigning Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins, years for eight of those victories. Horses who have run in the Gold
along with Benie des Dieux and Faugheen. Cup at Cheltenham are not profitable to follow in this contest.
The best bet – Pentland Hills (Race 2) •R
ace 4 – Nicky Henderson has won the race in four of the last
Backing horses at Aintree who have produced career-best efforts only eight years, including with Buveur D’Air two years ago, who bids
weeks earlier at Cheltenham isn’t usually a profitable strategy, given to win the race for a second time. Previous winners have a good
how hard it can be at the end of a long campaign to keep producing record, while 29 of the 42 winners came here after running in the
big performances. Champion Hurdle.
‘However, Pentland Hills did so much wrong and yet still managed to •R
ace 6 – Inexperienced chasers have a good record in the ‘Red
claim the Triumph Hurdle on just his second public appearance over Rum’, with novices – those in their first season over fences –
obstacles. The time of his victory was good and his jumping improved often coming out on top of their more-exposed rivals.
as the race went on. He will take some beating if turning out again.’
2
Friday 5 April
IN FOCUS: Betway Mildmay Novices’ Chase (Race 3)
Early indications suggest that the RSA Chase at last month’s
Cheltenham Festival might turn out to be one of the great races of DAY 2 - THE KEY STATS
the year, three exciting performers scrapping it out up the hill.
•R
ace 2 - The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is the usual route into
It was Topofthegame who came out in front for Paul Nicholls and Harry this contest for the winner and, interestingly, three of the last
Cobden there and the seven-year-old bids to confirm his status as the seven winners all finished second at Cheltenham. All three of
most exciting staying novice chaser around by following up here. those were trained by Nicky Henderson, who has an excellent
record in this race.
Interestingly, though, he has different rivals to prove himself against
here with the talented mare La Bague Au Roi taking the eye, especially •R
ace 3 – Experience is the key in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase
given the weight allowance she receives. with the vast majority of winners having won at least a couple
of races over fences. It’s 10 years since any horse who hadn’t
Warren Greatrex was always inclined to give Cheltenham a miss in order previously finished in the first two in a Grade 1 took this.
to wait for this race and she had Topofthegame a length and a half
behind at Kempton earlier this season under the same weight terms. •R
ace 4 – The first two home in the Champion Chase at
Cheltenham have an excellent record when coming on here,
The best bet – Dallas Des Pictons (Race 6) with Politologue bidding to continue that run here.
The idea of a horse having been beaten in handicap company proving
to be a great bet in a Grade 1 contest is, perhaps, a little counter- •R
ace 5 – Previous form over the Grand National fences is
intuitive. However, Dallas Des Pictons emerged from his latest run valuable with 10 of the last 15 winners having had experience of
when second in the Martin Pipe Hurdle, with huge credit. the course previously.
Sent on two out, he was run down close home by the strongly- •R
ace 6 – The Sefton Novices’ Hurdle has thrown up some big-
supported Early Doors, but the way he travelled through the race priced winners in the last 10 years, including those at 20/1, 25/1,
suggested that he is a horse of considerable talent and he can only 25/1 and 33/1 – so don’t be afraid to look for a surprise success.
continue to progress, having had just five races over hurdles so far.
He steps back up in distance to 5000m here but connections are
confident that the extra test of stamina will bring out the best in him.
3
Saturday 6 April
IN FOCUS: Ryanair Stayers’ Hurdle (Race 4)
Yorkshire trainer Jedd O’Keeffe is hoping for rain so that he can allow
his stable star and recent Cheltenham runner-up Sam Spinner to bid
for another Grade 1 prize here. DAY 3 - THE KEY STATS
Roksana, a winner at the same meeting for Dan Skelton, is another •R
ace 1 - In common with some of the other handicaps at
intriguing possible starter as she comes up against the boys after that Aintree, this race has produced a significant number of winners
latest quality performance against other mares. still in their novice seasons with seven of the last 13 still being
novices. Two years ago, novices finished first, second and fourth.
The remarkable Supasundae, second in this race 12 months ago and a
regular at this level for Jessie Harrington, is usually as reliable as they •R
ace 2 - The Mersey Novices’ Hurdle shows an unusually good
come, but disappointed at Cheltenham. Can he bounce back on a record for horses who have bypassed the Cheltenham Festival
quicker surface that might well suit? in order to run here, with six winners in the last 22 years missing
that meeting altogether.
The best bet - Arch My Boy (Race 2)
•R
ace 3 - Experience of steeplechasing is important among these
Those looking for a lively outsider might consider this Newmarket- novices. Four of the last five winners came here having won at
trained hope in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle. He was a hopeless jumper least three times over fences already during the season.
at first, but his technique looked much improved last time and his Flat
form is decent. •R
ace 4 - Of the 15 winners so far of this contest, an impressive
10 had finished in the first five in the Stayers’ Hurdle at
Cheltenham on their way here – the first five in that race last
month were Paisley Park, Sam Spinner, Faugheen, Bapaume
and Wholestone.
4
Spotlight on some 2019 Randox Health
Grand National contenders
Tiger Roll Lake View Lad
FORM: 11-411 FORM: 23-113
TRAINER: GORDON ELLIOTT TRAINER: NICK ALEXANDER
LIKELY JOCKEY: DAVY RUSSELL LIKELY JOCKEY: HENRY BROOKE
Bids to become the first horse since Red Rum Progressive soft-ground-loving steeplechaser
in 1974 to win back-to-back Grand Nationals who has come into his own this season since
and comes here flying on the back of a being stepped up in trip, thriving with experience. Looked an ideal
crushing victory in the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham. Could sort for this contest when winning at Wetherby and followed that
well go off one of the shortest-priced favourites in this race’s history, up with another good run at Cheltenham. Owner Trevor Hemmings
but trainer Gordon Elliott is full of confidence after a pleasing loves this race more than any other and bids for a fourth victory
schooling session at The Curragh last week. with a strong-looking hand.
Anibale Fly Pleasant
FORM: 34-622
Company
TRAINER: TONY MARTIN FORM: 0P2-00
LIKELY JOCKEY: BARRY GERAGHTY TRAINER: WILLIE MULLINS
Fourth in the National last year having LIKELY JOCKEY: DAVID MULLINS
overcome a couple of poor early jumps and Back for a third attempt at the big race, having finished an excellent
produced arguably the performance of his life at Cheltenham last second 12 months ago on heavy ground that surely wouldn’t have
month when chasing home Al Boum Photo in the Gold Cup. Should suited as well as a quicker surface. Big, long-striding horse with an
be happier on better ground than was the case on heavy going last effortless action and plenty to like about his prospects, although his
year and must have major claims, although carrying such a big two runs this season haven’t promised a great deal.
weight to victory won’t be easy.
Rock The Kasbah
Rathvinden FORM: P2-616
FORM: BU14-1 TRAINER: PHILIP HOBBS
TRAINER: WILLIE MULLINS LIKELY JOCKEY: RICHARD JOHNSON
LIKELY JOCKEY: RUBY WALSH Champion jockey has done no better than
Strong stayer whose stamina for this second in 20 previous attempts, but looks
marathon trip is more assured than most after to have another excellent chance of ending
his success over 6400m in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham his wait for victory in this race. Sound jumper and a strong stayer,
last year. Also comes here fresh after just one appearance so far who has been kept back for this contest since before Christmas,
during this campaign, comfortably beating Alpha Des Obeaux in the but about who regular positive bulletins have kept emerging in the
Bobbyjo Chase – a conditions event that is a popular springboard meantime. Interesting contender despite lack of Aintree experience.
for Irish runners coming here.
Step Back
Vintage Clouds FORM: 311-76
FORM: 33-1P2 TRAINER: MARK BRADSTOCK
TRAINER: SUE SMITH LIKELY JOCKEY: NICO DE BOINVILLE
LIKELY JOCKEY: DANNY COOK Shown up well from the front before tiring
Likeable and tough performer who has close home in both starts this season. Form
always looked the right type for this race and claims are centred upon his convincing victory
now gets his chance having narrowly failed to make the line-up over Rock The Kasbah in Sandown’s Bet365 Gold Cup last April,
12 months ago. Flopped in the Welsh National in December but where he stayed on strongly up the closing hill, looking every inch a
bounced back after wind surgery to run a cracker at Cheltenham potential Grand National contender. Small stable has shown before
and reported to have come out of that race well. Trainer has what they can do with a smart young steeplechaser.
previous winning experience in this contest.
5
The Key Grand National Stats
Look for lighter weights Course form useful
Although horses with big weights have won this race, it is clear that A notable 10 of the last 12 Grand National winners had run at least
horses at the lower end of the handicap still fare better overall. Only once before at Aintree, often using the Topham Chase or the Becher
one of the first 15 home in 2017 carried 70kg or more and only one Chase as a chance to gain some experience of the fences.
of the first seven managed the same last year.
Coming back from a break
Cheltenham run no disadvantage Although a number of the leading contenders are returning here
Although Tiger Roll was the first horse since 1991 to win this race after an absence, the statistics show it isn’t easy to win that way – all
having scored at Cheltenham, plenty of Grand National winners have but one of the last 28 Grand National winners had raced within eight
come here having run at the Festival (seven in the last 20 years). weeks of the race.
Henderson still looking for first National Staying power
Reigning champion trainer Nicky Henderson has saddled 40 starters Unsurprisingly, proven stamina is an essential component in the
in the Grand National without success, a disappointing eight of make-up of any Grand National contender. The last horse to win the
them having got no further than the first fence. race having not previously won over at least 4800m was 49 years ago.
Big prices can win Left is right
With seven of the last 12 winners sent off at 100/1, 66/1, 33/1 (x3) Experience of racing on a left-handed circuit seems surprisingly
and 25/1 (x2), outsiders have a good recent record in the race. important. In the last decade, approaching 200 horses who had run
However, it’s also worth pointing out that nine of the last 16 came a dozen or fewer times on a left-handed track lined up in the Grand
from the top eight in the betting market! National. None were winners.
6
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