Ms Parfois could aim to bridge 68-year gap in Randox Health Grand National

 

Monday, February 18, 2019 – It has been 68 years since a mare won the Randox Health Grand National when Nickel Coin came home six lengths in front of Royal Tan. In more recent years, the latest mare to be placed was Dubacilla, fourth behind Royal Athlete in 1995.

A mare on the trail for the 2019 renewal of the world’s greatest and most valuable chase, which has a prize fund of £1 million and is staged at Aintree on Saturday, April 6, is Ms Parfois (Anthony Honeyball, 10st 2lb). She is a 33/1 chance with Betway, official betting partner of the Randox Health Grand National Festival.

The eight-year-old enjoyed a fine spring in 2018, when she finished runner-up at both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals. At Cheltenham, she was the half-length runner-up to fellow Randox Health Grand National aspirant Rathvinden (Willie Mullins IRE, 10st 10lb, 28/1 with Betway) in the four-mile G2 National Hunt Novices' Chase while at Aintree she went down by just under four lengths to Terrefort in the G1 Betway Mildmay Novices' Chase over three miles and a furlong. On her one outing so far this season, Ms Parfois came home sixth in the valuable G3 Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase at Newbury in December.

 

Honeyball, who is based in Dorset, revealed: “I have had a good look at the weights and Ms Parfois is on 146, which is her actual rating. If she got in the National, the top-weight ran and the ground was suitable, you would have to think she would run well.

 

“She ran very well at Aintree last year when second in the G1 novices’ chase. We have just had a bit of a topsy-turvy season really and the horses were not right earlier on. It is hard to know where we are at the moment although some of them have come out and won recently.

 

“If we can get Ms Parfois running like she was last season, there has to be a big race in her if the ground is soft to heavy, or soft, good to soft would be fine with some rain about.

 

“At the moment we are looking at taking her to the Leinster National in early March and we are also looking at the Midlands National, Aintree and the Irish National for her.

 

“It has been very difficult as we wanted to run Ms Parfois in a mares’ race at Exeter the other day and that was abandoned. We also looked at Wincanton over the weekend but the ground was not suitable. Either of those races would have been a good baby step for her but now she will have to go straight into the deep end in one of the big handicaps.

 

“The only race she would be entered in at the Cheltenham Festival is the Ultima Handicap Chase, but unfortunately that race takes place on about the only day that her owner won’t be able to go racing. Because of the season we have had, he doesn’t want to miss her when she runs.

 

“Ms Parfois wasn’t right when she ran in the Ladbrokes Trophy, which was a shame because that looked a golden opportunity for her. We are ready to have another go with her now and see where we are.”

 

Ms Parfois races in the colours of Dorset-based book distributor Martyn Chapman. He was born in 1951 – the year of Nickel Coin’s Grand National victory.

 

Honeyball could also be represented in the 2019 Randox Health Grand National by Regal Encore (10st 8lb, 66/1 with Betway). The J P McManus-owned 11-year-old finished eighth, beaten 28 lengths, in the 2017 Randox Health Grand National. He reappeared this season in the a Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle Qualifier at Aintree in October, when coming home sixth to another Randox Health Grand National contender, Abolitionist (Dr Richard Newland, 10st 1lb, 33/1) and was last seen at Ascot on Saturday, February 16, when an encouraging third in the Listed Swinley Handicap Chase.

 

Honeyball continued:  “Regal Encore ran very, very well in the 2017 Grand National and was definitely value for a lot closer than he actually finished – he hunted and popped round before making up a lot of ground. He got a bit tired before staying on again.

 

“He is pretty versatile as regards the ground. Anything from good through to good to soft or even soft is fine for him.”

 

Tiger Roll now clear favourite following stunning G2 hurdle success at Navan yesterday

 

Tiger Roll (Gordon Elliott IRE, 11st 1lb) shot to the head of the market for the Randox Health Grand National with Betway when recording a stunning four-length victory in the G2 Boyne Hurdle at Navan yesterday.

 

The 2018 Randox Health Grand National hero is now 12/1 clear favourite with Betway. If successful at Aintree on April 6, the nine-year-old would become the first horse to record back-to-back victories since the great Red Rum in 1973 and 1974. Trainer Gordon Elliott confirmed after yesterday’s success that Tiger Roll will now head to the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham on March 13 ahead of the Randox Health Grand National.

 

Weights for the 2018 Randox Health Grand National were revealed on February 12 at the iconic Cunard Building in the heart of Liverpool. Bristol De Mai (Nigel Twiston-Davies, 33/1) heads the weights on 11st 10lb. The eight-year-old is a four-time G1 winner, including the last two renewals of the G1 Betfair Chase at Haydock Park.

 

The 20/1 joint-second favourites with Betway are this season’s Welsh Grand National victor Elegant Escape (Colin Tizzard, 11st 4lb) and Mall Dini (Pat Kelly IRE, 10st 4lb), who shaped well when sixth in the valuable Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park on January 24.

 

With a prize fund of £1 million, the world's greatest chase is the most valuable Jump race globally 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.

 

Latest odds from Betway, official betting partner of the Randox Health Grand National Festival

 

12/1 Tiger Roll

 

20/1 Elegant Escape, Mall Dini

 

25/1 Anibale Fly, General Principle, Give Me A Copper, Pleasant Company, Rock The Kasbah, Step Back, Up For Review, Vintage Clouds, Walk In The Mill

 

28/1 Rathvinden

 

33/1 Abolitionist, Alpha des Obeaux, Blaklion, Bristol De Mai, Captain Redbeard, Dounikos, Lake View Lad,, Minella Rocco, Missed Approach, Ms Parfois, One For Arthur, Ramses de Teillee, Royal Vacation, Total Recall, Traffic Fluide, Ultragold, Valtor

 

40/1 BAR

 

Each-Way: 1/4 odds, 1-2-3-4

 

Randox Health Grand National

Grade 3 handicap chase, £1 million total prize fund. Aintree, 5.15pm Saturday, April 6, 2019. 4m 2f 74y 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 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 who 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 - 2 not qualified), 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	Wgt	Rating	Owner	Trainer
1)	BRISTOL DE MAI (FR)	8	11-10	168	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Nigel Twiston-Davies
2)	ANIBALE FLY (FR)	9	11-06	164	J P McManus	Tony Martin IRE
3)	ALPHA DES OBEAUX (FR)	9	11-04	162	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
4)	ELEGANT ESCAPE (IRE)	7	11-04	162	John Romans	Colin Tizzard
5)	THE STORYTELLER (IRE)	8	11-03	161	Pat Sloan	Gordon Elliott IRE
6)	VALTOR (FR)	10	11-02	160	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Nicky Henderson
7)	EDWULF	10	11-01	159	J P McManus	Joseph O'Brien IRE
8)	TIGER ROLL (IRE)	9	11-01	159	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
9)	OUTLANDER (IRE)	11	11-00	158	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
10)	DON POLI (IRE)	10	10-13	157	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
11)	GO CONQUER (IRE)	10	10-13	157	Paul & Clare Rooney	Nigel Twiston-Davies
12)	SUB LIEUTENANT (IRE)	10	10-13	157	Gigginstown House Stud	Henry de Bromhead IRE
13)	BLAKLION	10	10-12	156	Simon Such & Gino Paletta	Nigel Twiston-Davies
14)	MALA BEACH (IRE)	11	10-12	156	Chris Jones	Gordon Elliott IRE
15)	YALA ENKI (FR)	9	10-12	156	Hills of Ledbury (Aga)	Venetia Williams
16)	BALLYOPTIC (IRE)	9	10-11	155	Mills & Mason Partnership	Nigel Twiston-Davies
17)	BLACK CORTON (FR)	8	10-11	155	The Brooks, Stewart Families & J Kyle	Paul Nicholls
18)	LAKE VIEW LAD (IRE)	9	10-11	155	Trevor Hemmings	Nick Alexander
19)	MINELLA ROCCO (IRE)	9	10-11	155	J P McManus	Jonjo O'Neill
20)	PLEASANT COMPANY (IRE)	11	10-11	155	Malcolm Denmark	Willie Mullins IRE
21)	AMERICAN (FR)	9	10-10	154	The Jago Family Partnership	Harry Fry
22)	DOUNIKOS (FR)	8	10-10	154	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
23)	ONE FOR ARTHUR (IRE)	10	10-10	154	Two Golf Widows	Lucinda Russell
24)	RATHVINDEN (IRE)	11	10-10	154	Ronnie Bartlett	Willie Mullins IRE
25)	SHATTERED LOVE (IRE)	8	10-10	154	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
26)	SIZING CODELCO (IRE)	10	10-10	154	Ann & Alan Potts Limited	Colin Tizzard
27)	TOTAL RECALL (IRE)	10	10-10	154	Slaneyville Syndicate	Willie Mullins IRE
28)	TRAFFIC FLUIDE (FR)	9	10-10	154	Galloping On The South Downs Partnership	Gary Moore
29)	ROCK THE KASBAH (IRE)	9	10-09	153	Diana Whateley	Philip Hobbs
30)	WARRIORS TALE	10	10-09	153	Trevor Hemmings	Paul Nicholls
31)	AUVERGNAT (FR)	9	10-08	152	J P McManus	Enda Bolger IRE
32)	REGAL ENCORE (IRE)	11	10-08	152	J P McManus	Anthony Honeyball
33)	ROYAL VACATION (IRE)	9	10-08	152	Jean Bishop	Colin Tizzard
34)	A TOI PHIL (FR)	9	10-07	151	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
35)	JURY DUTY (IRE)	8	10-07	151	Sideways Syndicate	Gordon Elliott IRE
36)	MAGIC OF LIGHT (IRE)	8	10-07	151	Ann & Alan Potts Limited	Jessica Harrington IRE
37)	MASTER DEE (IRE)	10	10-07	151	Paul & Clare Rooney	Fergal O'Brien
38)	MONBEG NOTORIOUS (IRE)	8	10-06	150	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
39)	NOBLE ENDEAVOR (IRE)	10	10-06	150	Chris Jones	Gordon Elliott IRE
40)	SANDYMOUNT DUKE (IRE)	10	10-06	150	Ronnie Wood	Jessica Harrington IRE
41)	THE LAST SAMURI (IRE)	11	10-06	150	Paul & Clare Rooney	Harry Fry
42)	ACAPELLA BOURGEOIS (FR)	9	10-05	149	Slaneyville Syndicate	Willie Mullins IRE
43)	RAMSES DE TEILLEE (FR)	7	10-05	149	John White & Anne Underhill	David Pipe
44)	TEA FOR TWO	10	10-05	149	Jane Williams & Len Jakeman	Jane Williams
45)	DAKLONDIKE (IRE)	7	10-04	148	Prof Caroline Tisdall	David Pipe
46)	MALL DINI (IRE)	9	10-04	148	Philip Reynolds	Patrick Kelly IRE
47)	CALETT MAD (FR)	7	10-03	147	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Nigel Twiston-Davies
48)	STEP BACK (IRE)	9	10-03	147	Cracker and Smodge Partnership	Mark Bradstock
49)	THE DUTCHMAN (IRE)	9	10-03	147	SprayClad UK	Colin Tizzard
50)	ULTRAGOLD (FR)	11	10-03	147	Brocade Racing John Romans Terry Warner	Colin Tizzard

 

51)	BLOW BY BLOW (IRE)	8	10-02	146	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
52)	MS PARFOIS (IRE)	8	10-02	146	M R Chapman	Anthony Honeyball
53)	PAIROFBROWNEYES (IRE)	10	10-02	146	Fibbage Syndicate	Willie Mullins IRE
54)	SINGLEFARMPAYMENT	9	10-02	146	N T Griffith & H M Haddock	Tom George
55)	SOME NECK (FR)	8	10-02	146	Susannah Ricci	Willie Mullins IRE
56)	UP FOR REVIEW (IRE)	10	10-02	146	Andrea & Graham Wylie	Willie Mullins IRE
57)	VALSEUR LIDO (FR)	10	10-02	146	Gigginstown House Stud	Henry de Bromhead IRE
58)	VIEUX LION ROUGE (FR)	10	10-02	146	Prof Caroline Tisdall & John Gent	David Pipe
59)	ABOLITIONIST (IRE)	11	10-01	145	Mark Albon, John Provan & Chris Stedman	Dr Richard Newland
60)	GIVE ME A COPPER (IRE)	9	10-01	145	Done, Ferguson, Kyle, Mason & Wood	Paul Nicholls
61)	MISSED APPROACH (IRE)	9	10-01	145	Alan & Andrew Turner	Warren Greatrex
62)	FOLSOM BLUE (IRE)	12	10-00	144	Core Partnership	Gordon Elliott IRE
63)	GENERAL PRINCIPLE (IRE)	10	10-00	144	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
64)	LIVELOVELAUGH (IRE)	9	10-00	144	Susannah Ricci	Willie Mullins IRE
65)	VINTAGE CLOUDS (IRE)	9	10-00	144	Trevor Hemmings	Sue Smith
66)	WALK IN THE MILL (FR)	9	10-00	144	Baroness Harding	Robert Walford
67)	WILLIE BOY (IRE)	8	10-00	144	Kate & Andrew Brooks	Charlie Longsdon
68)	BALLYHILL (FR)	8	9-13	143	Simon Such & Gino Paletta	Nigel Twiston-Davies
69)	BLESS THE WINGS (IRE)	14	9-13	143	Adrian Butler & Stephen O'Connor	Gordon Elliott IRE
70)	CAPTAIN REDBEARD (IRE)	10	9-13	143	Stuart Coltherd	Stuart Coltherd
71)	POLIDAM (FR)	10	9-13	143	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Willie Mullins IRE
72)	BAIE DES ILES (FR)	8	9-12	142	Zorka Wentworth	Ross O'Sullivan IRE
73)	EXITAS (IRE)	11	9-12	142	P Middleton, M Lowther	Phil Middleton
74)	ISLEOFHOPENDREAMS	12	9-12	142	Kilbroney Racing	Willie Mullins IRE
75)	JOE FARRELL (IRE)	10	9-12	142	M Sherwood, N Morris & R Curtis	Rebecca Curtis
76)	JUST A PAR (IRE)	12	9-12	142	M Scott	James Moffatt
77)	RED INFANTRY (IRE)	9	9-12	142	Rob Little	Ian Williams
78)	SHANTOU VILLAGE (IRE)	9	9-12	142	Jane Gerard-Pearse	Neil Mulholland
79)	THE YOUNG MASTER	10	9-12	142	Mike Burbidge & The Old Masters	Neil Mulholland
80)	WESTERNER POINT (IRE)	10	9-11	141	Thade Quill Syndicate	Eoghan O'Grady IRE
81)	BALLYARTHUR (IRE)	9	9-10	140	Graham and Alison Jelley	Nigel Twiston-Davies
82)	BALLYDINE (IRE)	9	9-10	140	Alan Halsall	Charlie Longsdon
83)	COGRY	10	9-10	140	Graham and Alison Jelley	Nigel Twiston-Davies
84)	FACT OF THE MATTER (IRE)	9	9-10	140	The Sandylini Racing Partnership	Jamie Snowden
85)	OUT SAM	10	9-10	140	D Charlesworth	Gordon Elliott IRE
86)	VIEUX MORVAN (FR)	10	9-10	140	M L Bloodstock Limited	Joseph O'Brien IRE
87)	IMPULSIVE STAR (IRE)	9	9-09	139	Robert Waley-Cohen & Men Holding	Neil Mulholland
88)	KINGSWELL THEATRE	10	9-09	139	John J Murray	Michael Scudamore
89)	MR DIABLO (IRE)	10	9-09	139	Aidan Glynn	Philip Dempsey IRE
90)	CAROLE'S DESTRIER	11	9-08	138	Mrs C Skipworth	Neil Mulholland
91)	MILANSBAR (IRE)	12	9-08	138	Robert Bothway	Neil King
92)	BORICE (FR)	8	9-07	137	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Gordon Elliott IRE
93)	JAROB	12	9-07	137	Chris Jones	Gearoid O'Loughlin IRE
94)	MEASUREOFMYDREAMS (IRE)	11	9-07	137	T Howley Jnr/A J O'Ryan/D McDonnell	Gordon Elliott IRE
95)	ROGUE ANGEL (IRE)	11	9-07	137	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
96)	SPLASH OF GINGE	11	9-07	137	John Neild	Nigel Twiston-Davies
97)	ZIGA BOY (FR)	10	9-07	137	Axom LI	Alan King
98)	CALL IT MAGIC (IRE)	9	9-05	135	Zorka Wentworth	Ross O'Sullivan IRE
99)	HIGHLAND LODGE (IRE)	13	9-05	135	Cheveley Park Stud	James Moffatt
100)	KILCREA VALE (IRE)	9	9-05	135	Alan Spence	Nicky Henderson
101)	WOODS WELL (IRE)	8	9-05	135	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
102)	LOOKING WELL (IRE)	10	9-03	133	David Wesley Yates	Nicky Richards
103)	BACK TO THE THATCH (IRE)	7	9-02	132	M R & Mrs C J Barnwell	Henry Daly
104)	POTTERS CORNER (IRE)	9	9-02	132	All Stars Sports Racing & J Davies	Christian Williams
105)	MORNEY WING (IRE)	10	8-13	129	The Steeple Chasers	Charlie Mann
106)	NED STARK (IRE)	11	8-12	128	Noel Moran/Mrs Valerie Moran	Gordon Elliott IRE
107)	RATHLIN ROSE (IRE)	11	8-12	128	Fergus Wilson	David Pipe
108)	SCOIR MEAR (IRE)	9	8-11	127	J P McManus	Thomas Mullins IRE
109)	VAN GOGH DU GRANIT (FR)	10	8-11	127	Fergus Wilson	David Pipe

 

109 entries remain - SKIPTHECUDDLES (IRE) & LIEUTENANT COLONEL not qualified, ALLYSSON MONTERG (FR) scratched

47 Irish-trained

 

About Aintree Racecourse / The Jockey Club

Aintree is home to The Randox Health Grand National, the most famous horse race in the world which is the climax to a three-day Festival meeting in April every year. The racecourse hosts five other fixtures and is a leading conference centre in the north west of England.

 

More information is available at aintree.thejockeyclub.co.uk

 

Aintree is part of The Jockey Club which stages thrilling sporting occasions including The Randox Health Grand National, The Cheltenham Festival and The Investec Derby. Millions of people every year enjoy the special experiences we offer through racing, music, food and entertainment. Governed by Royal Charter, every penny we make goes back into British Racing to help the sport thrive. We were founded in 1750 and today we are the largest commercial group in Britain's second-biggest spectator sport, operating 15 racecourses nationwide, The National Stud, Jockey Club Estates, Jockey Club Catering, Jockey Club Live and our charity, Racing Welfare.

For more information visit www.thejockeyclub.co.uk

 

For further information please contact:

 

Grant Rowley, Regional Communications Manager, The Jockey Club (North West) on 07884 655990 or email: Grant.Rowley@thejockeyclub.co.uk

 

Jessica Dalgliesh, Senior Communications Executive, The Jockey Club (North West) on 07464 491507 or email: Jessica.Dalgliesh@thejockeyclub.co.uk