The Grand National weights come out on Tuesday
Pic: Courtesy Jockey Club Racecourses

By Simon Jackson

The weights for the 2014 Grand National will be announced on Tuesday at the Abbey Road Studios in north London that were made famous by Liverpool’s most famous band, The Beatles.

The world’s greatest steeplechase is contested at Aintree racecourse on the outskirts of Liverpool and this year has attracted 115 entries for the four miles and three and a half furlong contest on April 5, that for the first time offers prizemoney of £1million.

In previous years the weights had been announced at functions held in hotels in central London. But this year North West regional director of Jockey Club Racecourses, John Baker – a self confessed Beatles fan – and his team wanted to try something different.

“We are going to go to Abbey Road,” Baker, told the Liverpool Echo. “We want to do it in London still but we want to bring a bit of Liverpool to the event and do something a little bit different.

“We came up with it in the team. We were just knocking about a few ideas and this one came up. I am a massive Beatles fan so it works for me.

“Studio one is a really big studio so you can seat about 250 people in it, which is where the do will be.
“The drinks reception will be in studio two and all the press stuff in studio three. It is a fantastic venue, it has got a lot of history.

“They don’t do that many events. They don’t let that many people in to do them so we think it will be a really big hook.

“Studio two is where the Beatles recorded their first album in 24 hours and we thought it would be a little bit different and I think it will be an exciting venue to do it at.

“There is a lot of history there, within the venue they leave out some of the old pianos and that sort of thing so people can see and touch and go behind the scenes.”

Crabbie’s Grand National entries – Monbeg Dude, Triolo d’Alene, Alfie Sherrin, Colbert Station, Godsmejudge, Hawkes Point, Katenko, Long Run, On His Own, Rocky Creek, Rockyaboya, Same Difference, Teaforthree, Tidal Bay, Across The Bay, Alvarado, Balthazar King, Battle Group, Carlingford Lough, Chance Du Roy, Double Seven, Home Farm, Merry King, Mossey Joe, Mountainous, Our Father, Planet Of Sound, Prince De Beauchene, Raz De Maree, Roi Du Mee, Romanesco, Seabass, Soll, Standing Ovation, Sunnyhillboy, The Rainbow Hunter, Vintage Star, Well Refreshed, Away We Go, Big Shu, Bog Warrior, Boston Bob, Buckers Bridge, Cantlow, Court By Surprise, Goulanes, Kauto Stone, Mon Parrain, Mr Moonshine, Pandorama, Rose Of The Moon, Sire Collonges, There’s No Panic, Toner d’Oudairies, Up The Beat, White Star Line, Wyck Hill, Baile Anrai, Burton Port, Cape Tribulation, Golan Way, Goonyella, Gullible Gordon, Junior, Kruzhlinin, Last Time d’Albain, Living Next Door, Massini’s Maguire, Midnight Appeal, Night In Milan, Out Now, Pete The Feat, Pineau De Re, Quantitativeeasing, Renard, Rubi Light, Saint Are, Shakalakaboomboom, Swing Bill, Tatenen, The Package, Twirling Magnet, Undertheboardwalk, Vesper Bell, Victrix Gale, Walkon, Wayward Prince, Highland Lodge, Hunt Ball, Ikorodu Road, Liberty Counsel, Lion Na Bearnai, Lost Glory, Mart Lane, Minella For Value, One In A Milan, Orpheus Valley, Quel Esprit, Quinz, Quiscover Fontaine, Quito De La Roque, Real Milan, Sir Du Bearn, Solix, Storm Survivor, Tarquinius, Tranquil Sea, Wrong Turn, Any Currency, Bob Ford, Merlin’s Wish, Ringa Bay, Sergeant Pink, Tour Des Champs, Whodoyouthink.