Record Irish-trained contingent as 112 entered for 2019 Randox Health Grand National at Aintree – the world’s richest chase

The 2019 Randox Health Grand National has attracted a very strong entry of 112 horses – up from 104 in 2018 and 109 in 2017 – including a record 47 trained in Ireland – the previous highest number of Irish-trained entries was 40 in 2018.

With a prize fund of £1 million, the world’s greatest chase is the most valuable Jump race in the world and takes place over four miles, two furlongs and 74 yards and 30 fences at Aintree at 5.15pm on Saturday, April 6, day three of the Randox Health Grand National Festival. This year sees the 172nd running of the great Aintree chase.

Irish trainer Gordon Elliott gained his second Randox Health Grand National victory in 2018 when Tiger Roll held on by a head from the fast-finishing Pleasant Company (Willie Mullins IRE).

Tiger Roll is 20/1 joint-favourite with Betway, the official betting partner of the Randox Health Grand National Festival, as he bids to become the first horse since Red Rum in 1973-1974 to win back-to-back renewals.

County Meath-based Elliott, also successful with Silver Birch in 2007, is the trainer with most entries in 2019, with a total of 22 horses engaged. His contingent also contains last year’s third Bless The Wings (80/1), recent Thyestes Chase runner-up Alpha Des Obeaux (33/1), the 2018 Irish Grand National hero General Principle (33/1) and last season’s Thyestes Chase scorer Monbeg Notorious (50/1), plus G1 winners Outlander (50/1) and Shattered Love (40/1).

Two other ‘National’ winners among the Elliott-trained contingent are Out Sam (40/1), who took the Cork Grand National in October, and Jury Duty (40/1), successful in the G1 Grand National Hurdle at Far Hills, USA, in October.

Tiger Rolls’ owner, the Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary through his Gigginstown House Stud, has now won the Randox Health Grand National twice – his other victory came with Rule The World in 2016 – and he has 14 entries as he seeks a record-equalling third success this year.

In addition to Pleasant Company (33/1), Ireland’s multiple champion Jump trainer Willie Mullins has nine other contenders to choose from. These include last season’s Irish Grand National runner-up Isleofhopendreams (40/1), 2018 Leinster National winner Pairofbrowneyes (50/1) and Rathvinden (33/1), who landed the four-mile G2 National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2018.

Some Neck (40/1), a G2 winner this season, Thyestes Chase third Up For Review (40/1) and Total Recall (40/1), winner of the valuable Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury in 2017, also feature among the 10 entries from the County Carlow handler.

The most successful British current trainer in the Randox Health Grand National is Gloucestershire-based Nigel Twiston-Davies, who has won the great race twice, courtesy of Earth Summit (1998) and Bindaree (2002). Twiston-Davies is the best-represented British trainer in 2019 with nine entries. These are headed by Go Conquer (40/1), who put up a good performance to win the valuable Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster on January 26.

Twiston-Davies’ entries also include the high-class Bristol De Mai (50/1), successful in the latest two renewals of the G1 Betfair Chase at Haydock Park, as well as 2017 Randox Health Becher Chase winner Blaklion (40/1) and Ballyoptic (33/1), second in last season’s G3 Scottish Grand National.

Twiston-Davies said: “Go Conquer came out of the Sky Bet Chase well.

“It was a really good performance at Doncaster and we have always thought a lot of him.

“The ground was in his favour up there and the trip suited, so everything went well for him.

“Go Conquer jumps and stays well. He has been entered in the Grand National and I think that is something we will consider.

“Others who are under consideration for the Grand National include Blaklion, Ballyoptic and a few others."

The 2017 Randox Health Grand National went to One For Arthur (Lucinda Russell, 33/1), who became only the second winner of the Aintree spectacular to be trained in Scotland after Rubstic (1979). He missed last season and unseated Tom Scudamore on his seasonal reappearance in the G2 Betway Many Clouds Chase at Aintree on December and parted company with his Grand National-winning jockey Derek Fox last time out in the G2 Peter Marsh Handicap Chase at Haydock Park on January 19.

Kinross-based Russell, who trains the horse for the Two Gold Widows, reported: “One For Arthur is in good form.

“He has been fine since Haydock and he will either run again at Haydock in the Grand National Trial (February 16) or go to Kelso. We are yet to make a decision.

“Obviously, the long-term plan is to return to Aintree in April.”

The other Scottish-trained entry is Lake View Lad (Nick Alexander, 33/1), who has registered impressive successes this season for owner Trevor Hemmings in the Listed Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle and the G3 Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby.

Entries with proven form over the Grand National fences include Walk In The Mill (Robert Walford, 33/1), successful in the Becher Chase at Aintree on December 8 and an intended runner last year when getting in as third reserve only to be found lame on the day, and Ultragold (Colin Tizzard, 40/1), twice the winner of the Randox Health Topham Chase (2017 & 2018).

Ultragold’s trainer Colin Tizzard has five entries in total, with his quintet also including this season’s G3 Welsh National hero Elegant Escape, who was last seen when a closing second in the G2 BetBright Trial Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham on January 26 and is Betway’s other 20/1 joint favourite.

More leading contenders include the Hemmings-owned Vintage Clouds (Sue Smith, 25/1), third in last season’s G3 Scottish Grand National behind Joe Farrell (Rebecca Curtis, 40/1), plus Rock The Kasbah (Philip Hobbs, 25/1), who captured a valuable G3 handicap chase at Cheltenham in November.

Hemmings, going after a record fourth Randox Health Grand National winner, could also be represented by a third entry Warriors Tale (Paul Nicholls, 33/1), the Betway Grand Sefton Chase winner over the Grand National fences in December.

Weights for the Randox Health Grand National are unveiled at the iconic Cunard Building in Liverpool on Tuesday, February 12, for the first time - the weights’ ceremony has previously been held in London.

The Randox Health Grand National is the only race for which senior BHA chase handicapper Martin Greenwood is able to deviate from official ratings in allotting weights. Greenwood is handicapping the Randox Health Grand National for the first time in 2019 following the retirement of Phil Smith, who officiated from 1999 to 2018.

John Baker, Managing Director at Aintree Racecourse, said today: “We are thrilled that the Randox Health Grand National has such a strong entry for its 172nd running at Aintree on April 6.

“The great race has attracted more entries that ever before from Ireland and it is a remarkable statistic that the record 47 Irish-trained horses amount to 42 per cent of the total entries this year.

“We are counting down until Tuesday, February 12, when the weights for the 2019 Randox Health Grand National will be revealed at that great Liverpool landmark, the Cunard Building.

“We have sold all Grandstands and Festival Zone tickets for Grand National Day, with only Steeplechase Enclosure tickets left.”

A maximum of 40 runners can take part in the 2019 Randox Health Grand National at Aintree Racecourse at 5.15pm on Saturday, April 6.

Randox Health Grand National, Betway Bet:

20/1 Tiger Roll, Elegant Escape

25/1 Vintage Clouds, Rock The Kasbah

33/1 Mall Dini, Rathvinden, Abolitionist, Valtor, Pleasant Company, Alpha des Obeaux, Vieux Lion Rouge, Step Back, Lake View Lad, Ballyoptic, Ms Parfois, Anibale Fly, Warriors Tale, General Principle, One For Arthur, Walk In The Mill

40/1 Go Conquer, Shattered Love, Isleofhopendreams, Folsom Blue, Joe Farrell, Jury Duty, Auvergnat, Fact of The Matter, Royal Vacation, Some Neck, The Young Master, Cogry, Total Recall, Ramses De Teillee, Allysson Monterg, Traffic Fluide, Acapella Bourgeois, Ultragold, Up For Review, Minella Rocco, Missed Approach, Out Sam, Impulsive Star, Noble Endeavor, Blaklion             

50/1 Baie Des Iles, Mr Diablo, Willie Boy, Monbeg Notorious, Outlander, Pairofbrowneyes, Bristol de Mai, Calett Mad, The Last Samuri, Daklondike, Don Poli, The Dutchman, Yala Enki, Singlefarmpayment, Give Me A Copper, Rogue Angel, Black Corton

66/1 Sandymount Duke, Kilcrea Vale, Shantou Village, Livelovelaugh, American, Sizing Codelco, Exitas, Edwulf, Ziga Boy, Dounikos, Sub Lieutenant, Tea For Two, Looking Well, Rathlin Rose, Magic of Light, Mala Beach, Captain Redbeard, Call It Magic, Master Dee, Milansbar, Blow By Blow, Morney Wing, Kingswell Theatre, Van Gogh du Granit, Ballyhill, Vieux Morvan, Ballydine, Ballyarthur, Ned Stark, Westerner Point

80/1 Regal Encore, Red Infantry, Splash of Ginge , Bless The Wings

100/1 A Toi Phil, Measureofmydreams, Polidam, Potters Corner, Lieutenant Colonel, Woods Well, Scoir Mear, Just A Par, Back To The Thatch, Jarob, Highland Lodge, Skipthecuddles, The Storyteller, Carole's Destrier, Borice, Valseur Lido

Randox Health Grand National

Grade 3 handicap chase, £1 million total prize fund. Aintree, 5.15pm Saturday, April 6, 2019. 4m 2f 74yds over the Grand National fences. For seven-year-olds and upwards who, up to and including March 19 have started in a steeple chase during the current season and been placed first, second, third or fourth in a steeple chase with an official distance description of' two miles seven and a half furlongs' or more at any time during the horse’s career, Horses must also be allotted a rating of 125 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including February 10. Horses which are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain or Ireland at closing may also be entered. Such horses may be eligible for a weight providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse's racecourse performances up to and including February 10 would merit a minimum rating of 125. To qualify, horses must have run at least three times in chases run under the Rules of Racing of the same Recognised Racing Authority up to and including February 10. At the Handicapper's discretion, such horses may be allocated a rating. The decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final. Entries closes January 29, entries revealed January 30 (112 entries), weights revealed February 12, first scratchings deadline February 26, second scratchings deadline March 19, five-day confirmations April 1, final declarations 10am April 4. Maximum field of 40 plus four reserves.

Horse	Age	Owner	Trainer
A TOI PHIL (FR)	9	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
ABOLITIONIST (IRE)	11	M Albon, J A Provan & C E Stedman	Dr Richard Newland
ACAPELLA BOURGEOIS (FR)	9	Slaneyville Syndicate	Willie Mullins IRE
ALLYSSON MONTERG (FR)	9	David Fox	Richard Hobson
ALPHA DES OBEAUX (FR)	9	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
AMERICAN (FR)	9	The Jago Family Partnership	Harry Fry
ANIBALE FLY (FR)	9	J P McManus	Tony Martin IRE
AUVERGNAT (FR)	9	J P McManus	Enda Bolger IRE
BACK TO THE THATCH (IRE)	7	M R & Mrs C J Barnwell	Henry Daly
BAIE DES ILES (FR)	8	Zorka Wentworth	Ross O'Sullivan IRE
BALLYARTHUR (IRE)	9	Graham and Alison Jelley	Nigel Twiston-Davies
BALLYDINE (IRE)	9	Alan Halsall	Charlie Longsdon
BALLYHILL (FR)	8	Simon Such & Gino Paletta	Nigel Twiston-Davies
BALLYOPTIC (IRE)	9	Mills & Mason Partnership	Nigel Twiston-Davies
BLACK CORTON (FR)	8	The Brooks, Stewart Families & Jeremy Kyle	Paul Nicholls
BLAKLION	10	Simon Such & Gino Paletta	Nigel Twiston-Davies
BLESS THE WINGS (IRE)	14	Adrian Butler/S P O'Connor	Gordon Elliott IRE
BLOW BY BLOW (IRE)	8	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
BORICE (FR)	8	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Gordon Elliott IRE
BRISTOL DE MAI (FR)	8	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Nigel Twiston-Davies
CALETT MAD (FR)	7	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Nigel Twiston-Davies
CALL IT MAGIC (IRE)	9	Zorka Wentworth	Ross O'Sullivan IRE
CAPTAIN REDBEARD (IRE)	10	Stuart Coltherd	Stuart Coltherd
CAROLE'S DESTRIER	11	Mrs C Skipworth	Neil Mulholland
COGRY	10	Graham and Alison Jelley	Nigel Twiston-Davies
DAKLONDIKE (IRE)	7	Prof Caroline Tisdall	David Pipe
DON POLI (IRE)	10	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
DOUNIKOS (FR)	8	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
EDWULF	10	J P McManus	Joseph O'Brien IRE
ELEGANT ESCAPE (IRE)	7	J P Romans	Colin Tizzard
EXITAS (IRE)	11	P Middleton & M Lowther	Phil Middleton
FACT OF THE MATTER (IRE)	9	The Sandylini Racing Partnership	Jamie Snowden
FOLSOM BLUE (IRE)	12	Core Partnership	Gordon Elliott IRE
GENERAL PRINCIPLE (IRE)	10	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
GIVE ME A COPPER (IRE)	9	Done, Ferguson, Kyle, Mason & Wood	Paul Nicholls
GO CONQUER (IRE)	10	Paul & Clare Rooney	Nigel Twiston-Davies
HIGHLAND LODGE (IRE)	13	Cheveley Park Stud	James Moffatt
IMPULSIVE STAR (IRE)	9	Robert Waley-Cohen & Men Holding	Neil Mulholland
ISLEOFHOPENDREAMS	12	Kilbroney Racing	Willie Mullins IRE
JAROB	12	Chris Jones	Gearoid O'Loughlin IRE
JOE FARRELL (IRE)	10	M Sherwood, N Morris & R Curtis	Rebecca Curtis
JURY DUTY (IRE)	8	Sideways Syndicate	Gordon Elliott IRE
JUST A PAR (IRE)	12	M Scott	James Moffatt
KILCREA VALE (IRE)	9	Alan Spence	Nicky Henderson
KINGSWELL THEATRE	10	John J Murray	Michael Scudamore
LAKE VIEW LAD (IRE)	9	Trevor Hemmings	Nick Alexander
LIEUTENANT COLONEL	10	G Thompson	Sophie Leech
LIVELOVELAUGH (IRE)	9	Susannah Ricci	Willie Mullins IRE
LOOKING WELL (IRE)	10	David Wesley Yates	Nicky Richards
MAGIC OF LIGHT (IRE)	8	Ann & Alan Potts Limited	Jessica Harrington IRE
MALA BEACH (IRE)	11	Chris Jones	Gordon Elliott IRE
MALL DINI (IRE)	9	Philip J Reynolds	Patrick Kelly IRE
MASTER DEE (IRE)	10	Paul & Clare Rooney	Fergal O'Brien
MEASUREOFMYDREAMS (IRE)	11	T Howley Jnr/A J O'Ryan/D McDonnell	Gordon Elliott IRE
MILANSBAR (IRE)	12	Robert Bothway	Neil King
MINELLA ROCCO (IRE)	9	J P McManus	Jonjo O'Neill
MISSED APPROACH (IRE)	9	Alan & Andrew Turner	Warren Greatrex
MONBEG NOTORIOUS (IRE)	8	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
MORNEY WING (IRE)	10	The Steeple Chasers	Charlie Mann
MR DIABLO (IRE)	10	Aidan Glynn	Philip Dempsey IRE
MS PARFOIS (IRE)	8	M R Chapman	Anthony Honeyball
NED STARK (IRE)	11	Noel Moran & Valerie Moran	Gordon Elliott IRE
NOBLE ENDEAVOR (IRE)	10	Chris Jones	Gordon Elliott IRE
ONE FOR ARTHUR (IRE)	10	Two Golf Widows	Lucinda Russell
OUT SAM	10	D Charlesworth	Gordon Elliott IRE
OUTLANDER (IRE)	11	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
PAIROFBROWNEYES (IRE)	10	Fibbage Syndicate	Willie Mullins IRE
PLEASANT COMPANY (IRE)	11	Malcolm Denmark	Willie Mullins IRE
POLIDAM (FR)	10	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Willie Mullins IRE
POTTERS CORNER (IRE)	9	All Stars Sports Racing & J Davies	Christian Williams
RAMSES DE TEILLEE (FR)	7	John White & Anne Underhill	David Pipe
RATHLIN ROSE (IRE)	11	Fergus Wilson	David Pipe
RATHVINDEN (IRE)	11	Ronnie Bartlett	Willie Mullins IRE
RED INFANTRY (IRE)	9	Rob Little	Ian Williams
REGAL ENCORE (IRE)	11	J P McManus	Anthony Honeyball
ROCK THE KASBAH (IRE)	9	Diana Whateley	Philip Hobbs
ROGUE ANGEL (IRE)	11	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
ROYAL VACATION (IRE)	9	Jean Bishop	Colin Tizzard
SANDYMOUNT DUKE (IRE)	10	Ronnie Wood	Jessica Harrington IRE
SCOIR MEAR (IRE)	9	J P McManus	Thomas Mullins IRE
SHANTOU VILLAGE (IRE)	9	Mrs Jane Gerard-Pearse	Neil Mulholland
SHATTERED LOVE (IRE)	8	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
SINGLEFARMPAYMENT	9	N T Griffith & H M Haddock	Tom George
SIZING CODELCO (IRE)	10	Ann & Alan Potts Limited	Colin Tizzard
SKIPTHECUDDLES (IRE)	8	TyroneForSam	Graeme McPherson
SOME NECK (FR)	8	Susannah Ricci	Willie Mullins IRE
SPLASH OF GINGE	11	John Neild	Nigel Twiston-Davies
STEP BACK (IRE)	9	Cracker and Smodge Partnership	Mark Bradstock
SUB LIEUTENANT (IRE)	10	Gigginstown House Stud	Henry de Bromhead IRE
TEA FOR TWO	10	Jane Williams & Len Jakeman	Jane Williams
THE DUTCHMAN (IRE)	9	SprayClad UK	Colin Tizzard
THE LAST SAMURI (IRE)	11	Paul & Clare Rooney	Harry Fry
THE STORYTELLER (IRE)	8	Mrs Pat Sloan	Gordon Elliott IRE
THE YOUNG MASTER	10	Mike Burbidge & The Old Masters	Neil Mulholland
TIGER ROLL (IRE)	9	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
TOTAL RECALL (IRE)	10	Slaneyville Syndicate	Willie Mullins IRE
TRAFFIC FLUIDE (FR)	9	Galloping On The South Downs Partnership	Gary Moore
ULTRAGOLD (FR)	11	Brocade Racing J P Romans Terry Warner	Colin Tizzard
UP FOR REVIEW (IRE)	10	Andrea & Graham Wylie	Willie Mullins IRE
VALSEUR LIDO (FR)	10	Gigginstown House Stud	Henry de Bromhead IRE
VALTOR (FR)	10	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Nicky Henderson
VAN GOGH DU GRANIT (FR)	10	Fergus Wilson	David Pipe
VIEUX LION ROUGE (FR)	10	Prof Caroline Tisdall & John Gent	David Pipe
VIEUX MORVAN (FR)	10	M L Bloodstock Limited	Joseph O'Brien IRE
VINTAGE CLOUDS (IRE)	9	Trevor Hemmings	Sue Smith
WALK IN THE MILL (FR)	9	Baroness Harding	Robert Walford
WARRIORS TALE	10	Trevor Hemmings	Paul Nicholls
WESTERNER POINT (IRE)	10	Thade Quill Syndicate	Eoghan O'Grady IRE
WILLIE BOY (IRE)	8	Kate & Andrew Brooks	Charlie Longsdon
WOODS WELL (IRE)	8	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
YALA ENKI (FR)	9	Hills of Ledbury (Aga)	Venetia Williams
ZIGA BOY (FR)	10	Axom LI	Alan King