Following a dry and sunny morning, the going for the third and final day of the 2019 Randox Health Grand National Festival, Grand National Day, Saturday, April 6 has been changed at 11.15am to:
Grand National Course - Good to Soft (from Good to Soft, Soft at Canal Turn)
Mildmay and Hurdle Courses - Good, Good to Soft in places (from Good to Soft, Good in places)
JOCKEY CHANGES
1.40; 8 FORZA MILAN will be ridden by MARK WALSH
3.40; 10 UNOWHATIMEANHARRY will be ridden by MARK WALSH
5.15; 1 ANIBALE FLY will be ridden by MARK WALSH, 17 REGAL ENCORE will be ridden by JONATHAN BURKE
Mark Walsh has been confirmed as replacing the injured Barry Geraghty on Randox Health Grand National top-weight Anibale Fly (5.15), and earylier on Forza Milan (1.40) and Unowhatimeanharry (3.40).
Jonathan Burke replaces Walsh on Regal Encore in the Grand National.
Geraghty, owner J P McManus' principal retained rider and a former Grand National winner on Monty's Pass in 2003, broke a leg yesterday when his mount Peregrine Run fell at the third-last in the Randox Health Topham Chase.
Walsh stood in for him afterwards on the Grade 1 novice hurdle winner Champ.
TIGER WEAK AS RANDOX HEALTH GRAND NATIONAL LOOMS
The day has finally arrived. The 172nd running of the £1-million Randox Health Grand National takes centre-stage at 5.15pm this afternoon ahead of a worldwide television audience of 600 million and a place in racing folklore up for grabs.
The build-up to this year's renewal of the world's richest and most famous chase has rightly centred on the Gordon Elliott-trained Tiger Roll (Davy Russell, 11st 5lb) who bids to become the first horse since Red Rum (1937, 1974 & 1977) to win multiple renewals of the four and a quarter-mile handicap chase.
However, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding has drifted throughout the week. The 4/1 favourite on Monday, Tiger Roll still heads favouritism at 5/1 with Betway, official betting partner of the Randox Health Grand National Festival, but sustained each-way support for a plethora of his rivals has left Betway keen to take on the nine-year-old son of Authorized.
Below is Betway's latest Randox Health Grand National market (at 10am). Betway is paying out on the first six home for each-way purposes in this year's Randox Health Grand National (one fifth the odds).
Randox Health Grand National - Betway bet: 5/1 Tiger Roll; 9/1 Rathvinden; 14/1 Anibale Fly, Pleasant Company, Vintage Clouds; 16/1 Jury Duty, Rock The Kasbah; 18/1 Joe Farrell, Lake View Lad; 22/1 Ramses De Teillee; 25/1 Dounikos, Step Back; 28/1 One For Arthur, Walk In The Mill; 33/1 Tea For Two, Up For Review; 40/1 Ballyoptic, General Principle, Go Conquer, Livelovelaugh, Minella Rocco; 50/1 Monbeg Notorious, Noble Endeavor, Singlefarmpayment, Ultragold, Vieux Lion Rouge; 66/1 A Toi Phil, Captain Redbeard, Folsom Blue, Mala Beach, Regal Encore; 80/1 Bless The Wings, Valseur Lido, Valtor, Warriors Tale; 100/1 Blow By Blow, Don Poli, Magic Of Light, Outlander; 125/1 Just A Par **1/5 1-2-3-4-5-6**
RANDOX HEALTH GRAND NATIONAL BETTING SPECIALS
The £1-million Randox Health Grand National takes place at 5.15pm and the race that stops a nation is also the most competitive betting heat of the year.
With that in mind, Betway, official betting partner of the Randox Health Grand National Festival, have provided punters with a number of Grand National specials which they bet on.
County Meath trainer Gordon Elliott saddles 11 runners in the 172nd running of the world's most famous chase courtesy of Tiger Roll, Jury Duty, Dounikos, Bless The Wings, General Principle, Folsom Blue, Noble Endeavor, A Toi Phil, Blow By Blow, Mala Beach and Monbeg Notorious.
Last year's winner Tiger Roll is the 5/1 favourite with Betway for the four and a quarter-mile handicap chase, but punters can get 7/4 about Elliott training the winner of the Aintree showpiece.
Other specials include all 40 horses to clear the first fence at 6/4 and an Irish 1-2-3 in the race, something which happened last year, at 3/1.
Below is the full list of Betway's Randox Health Grand National specials:
All horses to clear the first fence: 6/4
Gordon Elliott to train the winner: 7/4
Irish 1-2-3: 3/1
Female to train or ride the winner: 5/1
All horses to jump the first four fences in the Grand National: 20/1
False Start: No: 1/2 and Yes: 6/4
Winner to be leading at the first: Yes: 1/2 and No: 6/4
Winning distance: three to nine lengths inclusive: 6/4; Over nine lengths: 15/8; Under three lengths: 2/1
Winning weight: 11st or more: 8/11; Less than 11st: 11/10
GRAND NATIONAL LANDMARKS
Oldest jockey: Richard Johnson, the current champion Jump jockey and rider of Rock The Kasbah, is 41. The oldest jockey to win the Randox Health Grand National was Dick Saunders, who was 48 when he triumphed on Grittar in 1982.
Youngest jockey: James Bowen, who rides Outlander, is 18. The other teenager riding in this year's race is Jack Kennedy, 19 (Dounikos). The youngest jockey to be successful in the Randox Health Grand National was 17-year-old Bruce Hobbs (Battleship, 1938).
Oldest trainer: Jessica Harrington, trainer of Magic Of Light, is 71.
Youngest trainer: Richard Spencer, 30, officially the trainer of Outlander, who was bought out of Gordon Elliott's yard at the Goffs Aintree Sale after racing on Thursday for £165,000.
Most runners: trainer Gordon Elliott has 11 runners in the race. Prior to Thursday evening he had 13, but both Don Poli and Outlander were sold at the Goffs Aintree Sale after racing that day and will represent Phil Kirby and Richard Spencer respectively. The previous record was 10, held by Martin Pipe (2001).
Oldest horse: 14-year-old Bless The Wings, trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Robert Dunne, is the oldest horse in this year's Randox Health Grand National. If he wins, he will become the second oldest winner in the history of the race, following 15-year-old Peter Simple in 1853.
Youngest horse: there is one seven-year-old in the race, Ramses De Teillee, trained by David Pipe and ridden by David Noonan.
First-time jockeys: Andrew Ring (Blow By Blow), Luke Dempsey (Folsom Blue), Paddy Kennedy (Magic Of Light), Lizzie Kelly (Tea For Two), Danny Mullins (Up For Review). The last time a jockey riding in the race for the first time was victorious was 2017 (Derek Fox on One For Arthur).
First-time trainers: Jessica Harrington (Magic Of Light), Nick Alexander (Lakeview Lad), Richard Spencer (Outlander), Jane Williams (Tea For Two), Robert Walford (Walk In The Mill), Phil Kirby (Don Poli).
Most experienced jockey: Richard Johnson's ride on Rock The Kasbah will be his 21st in the race - a record. He has yet to win it, but has finished second twice (2002 What's Up Boys, 2014 Balthazar King).
Most successful current owner: Trevor Hemmings has won the race three times (Many Clouds, 2015; Ballabriggs, 2011; Hedgehunter, 2005). He has three runners in today's race - Lakeview Lad, Warriors Tale and Vintage Clouds - and, if one of them is victorious, Hemmings will become the winning-most owner in Randox Health Grand National history.
SEVEN FORMER CHAMPIONS TO PARADE
Aintree welcomes back seven legendary Randox Health Grand National winners to its popular Parade of Champions today. They will appear in the parade ring at 12.20pm, and will then parade on the track at 12.50pm.
Six of these great favourites have paraded on each of the past two days - Grand National Thursday and Ladies Day - with Don't Push It joining them today. The horses know they are back at the scene of their great triumphs and relish being the centre of attention again.
Aintree Racecourse would like to thank all the owners and connections of the horses for making this annual parade possible. The seven Grand National winners on show are:
BINDAREE (2002), 20/1 winner, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, ridden by Jim Culloty
Now 25, "Bindy" still lives happily at trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies' yard in Gloucestershire, watching the world go by from the paddock he shares with other retired favourites. He has been an ever-present in the Parade of Champions since 2006.
SILVER BIRCH (2007), 33/1 winner, trained by Gordon Elliott, ridden by Robbie Power
Described as "a legend" by staff at Gordon Elliott's yard in Ireland, 22-year-old Silver Birch divides his time between owner Brian Walsh's farm and Elliott's stables. He took part in the homecoming celebrations for triumphant stable mate Tiger Roll after last year's Randox Health Grand National.
MON MOME (2009), 100/1 winner, trained by Venetia Williams, ridden by Liam Treadwell
"Monnie" spends his retirement days hacking and being a bad influence on Sarah McQueen's point-to-pointers with whom he lives in Herefordshire. Sarah, who adores the 19-year-old, says he is the diva of the yard, always causing trouble and acting like a five-year-old.
DON'T PUSH IT (2010), 10/1 winner, trained by Jonjo O'Neill, ridden by A P McCoy
Don't Push It is now 19 and spends a happy retirement at his owner J P McManus' Martinstown Stud in Ireland grazing in a paddock he shares with his pal Sweeps Hill. He is a "day tripper" to Aintree this year, making the journey specifically for today's parade.
NEPTUNE COLLONGES (2012), 33/1 winner, trained by Paul Nicholls, ridden by Daryl Jacob
Winner by a nose of the closest renewal of the Grand National in history, 18-year-old "Nipper" was retired immediately after his 2012 Aintree success and lives happily in Shropshire with his companion Al Ferof at the yard of owner John Hales' daughter Lisa. He has raised thousands of pounds for Alder Hey Children's Hospital, where he visits every year at Grand National time.
AURORAS ENCORE (2013), 66/1 winner, trained by Sue Smith, ridden by Ryan Mania
17-year-old "Auroras" still lives at Sue Smith's yard in West Yorkshire and enjoys life out in the open air near Ilkley Moor with his friends. He is a very laidback and chilled character in the field, but when he comes to Aintree and feels the atmosphere, he gets very excited again.
PINEAU DE RE (2014), 25/1 winner, trained by Dr Richard Newland, ridden by Leighton Aspell
16-year-old "Peenie Weenie" is still very active as, apart from parading and hunting, he is successfully evented by Lizzie Doolittle. Lizzie says he is a very clever horse, has a brilliant attitude and could have reached the very top in eventing had he not been a racehorse.
2019 RANDOX HEALTH GRAND NATIONAL TO PLAY BIG PART IN DETERMINING CHAMPION SIRE
There was a time when the prize money for the Grand National so dwarfed the rest of the Jump season that the sire of the winner was pretty much guaranteed to be champion sire, no matter what happened elsewhere.
For instance, the sole winners during the season for 1920s champion sires General Symons, Day Comet and Marco were their National winners, respectively Sergeant Murphy (1923), Double Chance (1925) and Sprig (1927).
The most recent extreme example came in 1962, when the £20,238 earned by Kilmore gave his sire Zalophus the championship, ahead of top-class stallions Fortina and Vulgan. That season Kilmore was the only winner for Zalophus (who stood in Co Tipperary), and the National the only race he won.
As the Jump season began to develop and expand, and top prizes became more evenly spread, the Grand National's influence on earnings (by which stallions are ranked) began to decline. The 1975/76 champion Menelek would have won his title even without Rag Trade's £37,420 contribution, and after that it was not until the 2007/08 season that a champion sire also supplied the National winner, Old Vic with Comply Or Die.
Old Vic needed Comply Or Die's £450,640 Aintree prize to see off Presenting, as did Presenting in 2010/11, when Ballabriggs won £535,135 to help keep his sire ahead of runner-up Oscar.
The £1 million purse for this year's Randox Health Grand National, the world's richest and greatest chase, could be the key to the Jump sires' title. The first prize for the famous race is £500,000, and the top six in a tight race for the crown - Oscar, Presenting, King's Theatre, Beneficial, Milan and Flemensfirth - are currently split by less than that.
All have Randox Health Grand National representatives, some more fancied than others.
Oscar is responsible for Lake View Lad; Presenting for Pleasant Company, Joe Farrelland Up For Review; King's Theatre for Regal Encore; Beneficial for Livelovelaugh and Mala Beach; Milan for Monbeg Notorious, One For Arthur, and Singlefarmpayment; and Flemensfirth for Magic Of Light and Noble Endeavor.
Do you share your birthday with a Randox Health Grand National runner?
February
24 One For Arthur
24 Blow By Blow
March
2 Vieux Lion Rouge
13 Rock The Kasbah
14 Tiger Roll
14 Livelovelaugh
16 Mala Beach
16 A Toi Phil
19 Lake View Lad
19 Warriors Tale
24 Bless The Wings
28 Minella Rocco
April
5 Just A Par
6 Outlander
6 Folsom Blue
8 Ramses De Teillee
8 Up For Review
8 Valseur Lido
12 Go Conquer
15 Pleasant Company
15 General Principle
21 Don Poli
22 Ballyoptic
23 Step Back
24 Dounikos
24 Magic Of Light
25 Noble Endeavor
25 Vintage Clouds
30 Captain Redbeard
May
8 Tea For Two
11 Walk In The Mill
12 Regal Encore
13 Valtor
18 Monbeg Notorious
20 Rathvinden
22 Ultragold
25 Jury Duty
25 Singlefarmpayment
25 Joe Farrell
28 Anibale Fly
It's in the stars - which horse has the best horoscope?
Pisces
One For Arthur 24 Feb
Blow By Blow 24 Feb
Vieux Lion Rouge 2 Mar
Rock The Kasbah 13 Mar
Tiger Roll 14 Mar
Livelovelaugh 14 Mar
Mala Beach 16 Mar
A Toi Phil 16 Mar
Lake View Lad 19 Mar
Warriors Tale 19 Mar
Aries
Bless The Wings 24 Mar
Minella Rocco 28 Mar
Just A Par 5 April
Outlander 6 April
Folsom Blue 6 April
Ramses De Teillee 8 April
Up For Review 8 April
Valseur Lido 8 April
Go Conquer 12 April
Pleasant Company 15 April
General Principle 15 April
Taurus
Don Poli 21 April
Ballyoptic 22 April
Step Back 23 April
Dounikos 24 April
Magic Of Light 24 April
Noble Endeavor 25 April
Vintage Clouds 25 April
Captain Redbeard 30 April
Tea For Two 8 May
Walk In The Mill 11 May
Regal Encore 12 May
Valtor 13 May
Monbeg Notorious 18 May
Rathvinden 20 May
Gemini
Ultragold 22 May
Jury Duty 25 May
Singlefarmpayment 25 May
Joe Farrell 25 May
Anibale Fly 28 May
