The final field of runners for the Grand National has been confirmed, with Gold Present’s ommision allowing Road To Riches to make the cut.
Nicky Henderson has a poor record in Nationals of any kind, but he’s had Gold Present earmarked for the race for the majority of the season. He hated the soft ground during the Cheltenham Festival – where he was the beaten favourite in the Ultima Handicap Chase – and after it became clear the juicy ground at Aintree wasn’t going to dry out, Henderson has pulled his charge from the race.
The first reserve on the list was Noel Meade’s eleven-year-old Road To Respect and he will take Gold Present’s spot in the field. Fellow Gigginstown representative, Thunder And Roses now occupies the first reserve slot, just ahead of Delusionofgranduer, Walk In The Mill and Vintage Clouds, as their connections hope some more of the top 40 depart between now and race day.
Most horses have now had their jockey booking confirmed, with Noel Fehily taking the ride on top weight Minella Rocco. Davy Russell has been handed the chance to win the Grand National on Tiger Roll, with Jack Kennedy taking the ride on Gordon Elliott’s teenager, Bless The Wings.
James Bowen will make his Grand National debut onboard Shantou Flyer, with Bryony Frost the first of two female debutant, renewing her partnership with Neil King’s Milansbar. Rachel Blackmore will partner Mouse Morris’ Alpha Des Obeaux, but all eyes will be on Irish counterpart Katie Walsh, who will lead Grand National hot-pot Baie Des Iles into battle.
Barry Geraghty has decided Anibale Fly is the best of JP McManus’ bunch, with former Grand National and Gold Cup winning jockey, Robbie Power getting the leg-up on reigning Welsh National winner, Raz De Maree.
Final Grand National Field
*Number) NAME age, weight, rating, trainer, jockey*
1) MINELLA ROCCO 8, 11-10, 162, Jonjo O’Neill, Noel Fehily
2) BLAKLION 9, 11-09, 161, Nigel Twiston-Davies, Sam Twiston-Davies
3) ANIBALE FLY 8, 11-07, 159, Tony Martin IRE, Barry Geraghty
4) THE LAST SAMURI 10, 11-07, 159, Kim Bailey, David Bass
5) VALSEUR LIDO 9, 11-06, 158, Henry de Bromhead IRE, Keith Donoghue
6) TOTAL RECALL 9, 11-04, 156, Willie Mullins IRE,
7) ALPHA DES OBEAUX 8, 11-03, 155, Mouse Morris IRE, Rachel Blackmore
8) PERFECT CANDIDATE 11, 11-02, 154, Fergal O’Brien, Alain Cawley
9) SHANTOU FLYER 8, 11-01, 153, Richard Hobson, James Bowen
10) TENOR NIVERNAIS 11, 11-00, 152, Venetia Williams,
11) CARLINGFORD LOUGH 12, 11-00, 152, John Kiely IRE, Mark Walsh
12) VICENTE 9, 10-13, 151, Paul Nicholls, Nick Scholfield
13) TIGER ROLL 8, 10-12, 150, Gordon Elliott IRE, Davy Russell
14) REGAL ENCORE 10, 10-12, 150, Anthony Honeyball, Richie McLernon
15) VIEUX LION ROUGE 9, 10-12, 150, David Pipe, Tom Scuadmore
16) CHASE THE SPUD 10, 10-11, 149, Fergal O’Brien, Paddy Brennan
17) WARRIORS TALE 9, 10-11, 149, Paul Nicholls, Sean Bowen
18) SEEYOUATMIDNIGHT 10, 10-11, 149, Sandy Thomson, Brian Hughes
19) GAS LINE BOY 12, 10-10, 148, Ian Williams, Robert Dunne
20) THE DUTCHMAN 8, 10-10, 148, Colin Tizzard, Harry Cobden
21) PLEASANT COMPANY 10, 10-10, 148, Willie Mullins IRE
22) UCELLO CONTI 10, 10-09, 147, Gordon Elliott IRE, Daryl Jacob
23) SAINT ARE 12, 10-09, 147, Tom George, Adrien Heskin
24) BEEVES 11, 10-09, 147, Jennie Candlish, Sean Quinlan
25) RAZ DE MAREE 13, 10-08, 146, Gavin Cromwell IRE, Robbie Power
26) I JUST KNOW 8, 10-07, 145, Sue Smith, Danny Cook
27) VIRGILIO 9, 10-07, 145, Dan Skelton, Harry Skelton
28) BAIE DES ILES 7, 10-07, 145, Ross O’Sullivan IRE, Katie Walsh
29) MAGGIO 13, 10-07, 145, Patrick Griffin IRE, Brendan Powell
30) PENDRA 10, 10-07, 145, Charlie Longsdon,
31) BUYWISE 11, 10-07, 145, Evan Williams, Adam Wedge
32) CHILDRENS LIST 8, 10-07, 145, Willie Mullins IRE,
33) LORD WINDERMERE 12, 10-06, 144, Jim Culloty IRE, Andrew Lynch
34) CAPTAIN REDBEARD 9, 10-06, 144, Stuart Coltherd, Sam Coltherd
35) HOUBLON DES OBEAUX 11, 10-06, 144, Venetia Williams, Charlie Deutsch
36) BLESS THE WINGS 13, 10-05, 143, Gordon Elliott IRE, Jack Kennedy
37) FINAL NUDGE 9, 10-05, 143, David Dennis, Gavin Sheehan
38) MILANSBAR 11, 10-05, 143, Neil King, Bryony Frost
39) DOUBLE ROSS 12, 10-05, 143, Nigel Twiston-Davies
40) ROAD TO RICHES 11, 10-05, 143, Noel Meade, Sean Flanagan
—————— Reserves ————————-
41) THUNDER AND ROSES 10, 10-04, 142, Mouse Morris
42) DELUSIONOFGRANDEUR 8, 10-04, 142, Sue Smith
43) WALK IN THE MILL 8, 10-03, 141, Robert Walford, Sam Waley-Cohen
44) VINTAGE CLOUDS 8, 10-03, 141, Sue Smith
