More than 1000 people turned up in Lambourn to applaud the victory of Many Clouds in the Crabbie’s Grand National. Pic: John Grossick (Courtesy of Great British Racing).
By Simon Jackson.
Many Clouds heads 126 entries for the 2016 Crabbie’s Grand National where he bids to become the first horse to win back to back Grand Nationals for more than 40 years.
The last horse to win success Nationals was Red Rum who won the world’s greatest steeplechase in 1973, 1974 and 1977 and finished second in 1975 and 1976.
The Oliver Sherwood-trained Many Clouds was put in as the 12-1 favourite with Betfred as entries were unveiled for the four mile, two furlong and 74 yard contest at Aintree on April 9.
The number of entries are the biggest for 10 years, the news delighting Andrew Tulloch, Jockey Club Racecourses’ regional head of racing for the north west and clerk of the course at Aintree.
“We could not have wished for a better set of entries for the 2016 Crabbie’s Grand National, with a big increase on last year in terms of numbers and a significant presence of high-class horses,” he said.
“Many Clouds defied 11st 9lb, 1lb off top-weight, when successful in 2015 and it will be interesting to see how the handicap is framed by Phil Smith with Silviniaco Conti, Don Poli and Sir Des Champs all entered.
“Everything is in place for what should be a spectacular 169th running of the Crabbie’s Grand National.”
Betfred spokesman Andrew Griffiths added: “There is a high-class entry for the 2016 Crabbie’s Grand National and it will be fascinating discover the weights in a fortnight’s time.
“Many Clouds is our clear 12/1 favourite following his excellent effort at Cheltenham last weekend as he bids to become the first back-to-back winner in over 40 years.”
The 2016 Crabbie’s Grand National entries
Grade 3 handicap chase, £1,000,000 total prize fund. Saturday, April 9, 2016, four miles, two and a half furlongs (4m 2f 74yds). Maximum field 40 runners.
| Horse | Age | Owner | Trainer |
| AACHEN | 12 | Tony Bloom | Venetia Williams |
| AERLITE SUPREME (IRE) | 9 | M J Haines | Evan Williams |
| ALVARADO (IRE) | 11 | William & Angela Rucker | Fergal O’Brien |
| AMIGO (FR) | 9 | A L Cohen & Willsford Racing | David Pipe |
| ANY CURRENCY (IRE) | 13 | Cash Is King | Martin Keighley |
| BALLY BEAUFORT (IRE) | 8 | R J Rexton | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| BALLYCASEY (IRE) | 9 | Susannah Ricci | Willie Mullins IRE |
| BALLYNAGOUR (IRE) | 10 | Allan Stennett | David Pipe |
| BEAR’S AFFAIR (IRE) | 10 | G B Barlow | Nicky Henderson |
| BENBENS (IRE) | 11 | S Such & C G Paletta | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| BENVOLIO (IRE) | 9 | Patricia Thompson | Paul Nicholls |
| BIG WATER (IRE) | 8 | Elm Row Racing Syndicate | Alan Swinbank |
| BISHOPS ROAD (IRE) | 8 | Alan Halsall | Kerry Lee |
| BLACK THUNDER (FR) | 9 | Donlon, MacDonald, Fulton & Webb | Paul Nicholls |
| BLESS THE WINGS (IRE) | 11 | Adrian Butler/S P O’Connor | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| BOB FORD (IRE) | 9 | The JJ Partnership | Rebecca Curtis |
| BOSTON BOB (IRE) | 11 | Andrea & Graham Wylie | Willie Mullins IRE |
| BROADWAY BUFFALO (IRE) | 8 | Jo Tracey | David Pipe |
| BUYWISE (IRE) | 9 | T Hywel Jones | Evan Williams |
| CARLINGFORD LOUGH (IRE) | 10 | J P McManus | John Kiely IRE |
| CAUSE OF CAUSES (USA) | 8 | J P McManus | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| COGRY | 7 | Graham and Alison Jelley | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| COMPETITIVE EDGE (IRE) | 9 | J P McManus | Conor O’Dwyer IRE |
| CORRIN WOOD (IRE) | 9 | Dermot Hanafin Robert Rose Ian Whitfield | Donald McCain |
| DARE TO ENDEAVOUR | 9 | Aidan Ryan | Eric McNamara IRE |
| DARK LOVER (GER) | 11 | The Dark Lovers | Jamie Snowden |
| DOING FINE (IRE) | 8 | Carl Hinchy | Rebecca Curtis |
| DON POLI (IRE) | 7 | Gigginstown House Stud | Willie Mullins IRE |
| DOUBLE ROSS (IRE) | 10 | Options O Syndicate | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| DOUBLE SEVEN (IRE) | 10 | J P McManus | Martin Brassil IRE |
| DROMNEA (IRE) | 9 | Mrs A M Daly | Mouse Morris IRE |
| EMPEROR’S CHOICE (IRE) | 9 | The Bellamy Partnership | Venetia Williams |
| FINANCIAL CLIMATE (IRE) | 9 | Sara Fillery & Friends | Oliver Sherwood |
| FIREBIRD FLYER (IRE) | 9 | R E R Williams | Evan Williams |
| FIRST LIEUTENANT (IRE) | 11 | Gigginstown House Stud | Mouse Morris IRE |
| FOXROCK (IRE) | 8 | Barry Connell | Ted Walsh IRE |
| GALLANT OSCAR (IRE) | 10 | J P McManus | Tony Martin IRE |
| GAS LINE BOY (IRE) | 10 | The Three Graces | Jim Best |
| GILGAMBOA (IRE) | 8 | J P McManus | Enda Bolger IRE |
| GODSMEJUDGE (IRE) | 10 | Favourites Racing Ltd | David Dennis |
| GOLDEN CHIEFTAIN (IRE) | 11 | Brocade Racing | Colin Tizzard |
| GOLDEN WONDER (IRE) | 10 | P M Cooney | Sandra Hughes IRE |
| GOONYELLA (IRE) | 9 | Ann & Alan Potts Partnership | Jim Dreaper IRE |
| GRAY HESSION (IRE) | 9 | A D Gray | Jonjo O’Neill |
| HADRIAN’S APPROACH (IRE) | 9 | Richard & Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes | Nicky Henderson |
| HARRY THE VIKING | 11 | Jim Beaumont & Quona Thomson | Sandy Thomson |
| HIGHLAND LODGE (IRE) | 10 | Bowes Lodge Stables | James Moffatt |
| HOLYWELL (IRE) | 9 | Gay Smith | Jonjo O’Neill |
| HOME FARM (IRE) | 9 | Chris Jones | Henry de Bromhead IRE |
| HOUBLON DES OBEAUX (FR) | 9 | Mrs Julian Blackwell | Venetia Williams |
| IKORODU ROAD | 13 | W J Odell | Graeme McPherson |
| INDIAN CASTLE (IRE) | 8 | Askew Dick Hernon Reynard | Ian Williams |
| JUST A PAR (IRE) | 9 | Graham Roach & Paul Barber | Paul Nicholls |
| KATENKO (FR) | 10 | Andrew Brooks | Venetia Williams |
| KATKEAU (FR) | 9 | Prof Caroline Tisdall, J A Gent, R C Wilkin | David Pipe |
| KNOCK HOUSE (IRE) | 7 | Tim Radford | Mick Channon |
| KRUZHLININ (GER) | 9 | Paul & Clare Rooney | Philip Hobbs |
| LE REVE (IRE) | 8 | Pat Betts | Lucy Wadham |
| LIVING NEXT DOOR (IRE) | 10 | John Breslin | Tony Martin IRE |
| LONG RUN (FR) | 11 | Robert Waley-Cohen | Robert Waley-Cohen |
| LORD WINDERMERE (IRE) | 10 | Dr Ronan Lambe | Jim Culloty IRE |
| MAGGIO (FR) | 11 | Douglas Pryde/James Beaumont | Patrick Griffin IRE |
| MANY CLOUDS (IRE) | 9 | Trevor Hemmings | Oliver Sherwood |
| MENDIP EXPRESS (IRE) | 10 | David Maxwell Racing Limited | Philip Hobbs |
| MIDNIGHT PRAYER | 11 | The Legends Partnership | Alan King |
| MILBOROUGH (IRE) | 10 | Helen Cross | Ian Duncan |
| MON PARRAIN (FR) | 10 | David Maxwell Racing Limited | Paul Nicholls |
| MORNING ASSEMBLY (IRE) | 9 | Clipper Logistics Group Ltd | Pat Fahy IRE |
| MOUNTAINOUS (IRE) | 11 | Hartley Phillips Roseff Shields | Kerry Lee |
| MR MOONSHINE (IRE) | 12 | Douglas Pryde, Jim Beaumont, David van der Hoeven 1 | Sue Smith |
| NED STARK (IRE) | 8 | The Dunkley & Reilly Partnership | Alan King |
| NIGHT IN MILAN (IRE) | 10 | Richard Collins | Keith Reveley |
| NO SECRETS (IRE) | 12 | Malcolm Denmark | Tony Martin IRE |
| O’FAOLAINS BOY (IRE) | 9 | Trembath, Hyde, Outhart & Hill | Rebecca Curtis |
| ON HIS OWN (IRE) | 12 | Andrea & Graham Wylie | Willie Mullins IRE |
| ONENIGHTINVIENNA (IRE) | 7 | Judith Luff | Philip Hobbs |
| OPEN HEARTED | 9 | Craig Buckingham | Dan Skelton |
| OPERATING (IRE) | 9 | Paul & Clare Rooney | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| OUR FATHER (IRE) | 10 | The Ives & Johnson Families | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| PAINT THE CLOUDS | 11 | Peter Deal & Jill & Robin Eynon | Warren Greatrex |
| PENDRA (IRE) | 8 | J P McManus | Charlie Longsdon |
| PERFECT CANDIDATE (IRE) | 9 | ISL Recruitment | Fergal O’Brien |
| PINEAU DE RE (FR) | 13 | John Provan | Dr Richard Newland |
| PORTRAIT KING (IRE) | 11 | James Beaumont & Douglas Pryde | Patrick Griffin IRE |
| PRESENT VIEW | 8 | Sir Chips Keswick | Jamie Snowden |
| RATHLIN | 11 | Masters Of The Hall 2 | Micky Hammond |
| RIGADIN DE BEAUCHENE (FR) | 11 | Andrew Wiles | Venetia Williams |
| RIVAGE D’OR (FR) | 11 | Gigginstown House Stud | Tony Martin IRE |
| ROCKY CREEK (IRE) | 10 | The Johnson & Stewart Families | Paul Nicholls |
| ROGUE ANGEL (IRE) | 8 | Gigginstown House Stud | Mouse Morris IRE |
| ROI DU MEE (FR) | 11 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| ROYALE KNIGHT | 10 | Chris Stedman & R J Corsan | Dr Richard Newland |
| RULE THE WORLD | 9 | Gigginstown House Stud | Mouse Morris IRE |
| RUSSE BLANC (FR) | 9 | Mark Jackson | Kerry Lee |
| SAINT ARE (FR) | 10 | David Fox | Tom George |
| SAM WINNER (FR) | 9 | Angela Yeoman | Paul Nicholls |
| SAROQUE (IRE) | 9 | Andrew Brooks | Venetia Williams |
| SEABASS (IRE) | 13 | Gunners Syndicate | Ted Walsh IRE |
| SEEBRIGHT | 9 | Mrs D J Fleming | Victor Dartnall |
| SHOTGUN PADDY (IRE) | 9 | Axom (XXXVI) | Emma Lavelle |
| SHUTTHEFRONTDOOR (IRE) | 9 | J P McManus | Jonjo O’Neill |
| SILVINIACO CONTI (FR) | 10 | Potensis Bloodstock Ltd & Chris Giles | Paul Nicholls |
| SIR DES CHAMPS (FR) | 10 | Gigginstown House Stud | Willie Mullins IRE |
| SOLL | 11 | Derrick Mossop | David Pipe |
| SPLASH OF GINGE | 8 | John Neild | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| SPRING HEELED (IRE) | 9 | Dr Ronan Lambe | Jim Culloty IRE |
| STANDING OVATION (IRE) | 9 | The Bravo Partnership | David Pipe |
| SUMMERY JUSTICE (IRE) | 12 | Mrs H Brown | Venetia Williams |
| THE DRUIDS NEPHEW (IRE) | 9 | The Stonehenge Druids | Neil Mulholland |
| THE LAST SAMURI (IRE) | 8 | Paul & Clare Rooney | Kim Bailey |
| THE ROMFORD PELE (IRE) | 9 | Trembath & Outhart | Rebecca Curtis |
| THIRD INTENTION (IRE) | 9 | Robert and Sarah Tizzard | Colin Tizzard |
| THUNDER AND ROSES (IRE) | 8 | Gigginstown House Stud | Sandra Hughes IRE |
| TOUR DES CHAMPS (FR) | 9 | Caroline Mould | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| TRIOLO D’ALENE (FR) | 9 | Mr & Mrs Sandy Orr | Nicky Henderson |
| TURBAN (FR) | 9 | Edward O’Connell | Willie Mullins IRE |
| UCELLO CONTI (FR) | 8 | Simon Munir | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| UNIONISTE (FR) | 8 | John Hales | Paul Nicholls |
| VALSEUR LIDO (FR) | 7 | Gigginstown House Stud | Willie Mullins IRE |
| VICS CANVAS (IRE) | 13 | Bodeen Bandits Partnership | Dermot McLoughlin IRE |
| VIEUX LION ROUGE (FR) | 7 | Prof Caroline Tisdall & John Gent | David Pipe |
| WONDERFUL CHARM (FR) | 8 | Robin Geffen | Paul Nicholls |
| WOODFORD COUNTY | 9 | The Englands and Heywoods | Philip Hobbs |
| WOUNDED WARRIOR (IRE) | 7 | Gigginstown House Stud | Noel Meade IRE |
| WYCK HILL (IRE) | 12 | J P McManus | David Bridgwater |
| ZIGA BOY (FR) | 7 | Axom LI | Alan King |
Crabbie’s Grand National (Betfred odds): 12/1 Many Clouds; 20/1 Don Poli; 25/1 Goonyella, Just A Par, Kruzhlinin, Shutthefrontdoor, Silviniaco Conti, The Druids Nephew, Triolo D’Alene; 33/1 Double Seven, First Lieutenant, Holywell, O’Faolains Boy, On His Own, Onenightinvienna, Saint Are, Soll, The Last Samurai, Thunder And Roses, Ucello Conti, Valseur Lido, Midnight Prayer, Ziga Boy; 40/1 Alvarado, Bishops Road, Black Thunder, Bless The Wings, Cause Of Causes, Gallant Oscar, Godsmejudge, Le Reve, Living Next Door, Morning Assembly, Mountainous, Rocky Creek, Royale Knight, Shotgun Paddy, Sir Des Champs, The Romford Pele, Vieux Lion Rouge, Wounded Warrior, Firebird Flyer, Gilgamboa, Long Run, Night In Milan, Pineau De Re, Saroque; 50/1 Aachen, Bally Beaufort, Ballynagour, Bears Affair, Boston Bob, Buywise, Carlingford Lough, Double Ross, Highland Lodge, Home Farm, Houblon Des Obeaux, Katenko, Mon Parrain, Open Hearted, Roi Du Mee, Sam Winner, Unioniste, Vics Canvas, Wonderful Charm, Broadway Buffalo, Dare To Endevour, Dromnea, Emperors Choice, Golden Wonder, Gray Hession, Ned Stark, Portrait King, Rivage D’Or, Rule The World, Woodford County; 66/1 Ballycasey, Benbens, Bob Ford, Foxrock, Hadrians Approach, Knock House, Lord Windermere, Maggio, Mendip Express, Perfect Candidate, Present View, Seabass, Spring Heeled, Third Intention, Amigo, Any Currency, Benvolio, Competitive Edge, Gas Line Boy, Golden Chieftain, Harry The Viking, Indian Castle, Katkeau, Milborough, No Secrets, Operating, Paint The Clouds, Pendra, Rathlin, Rigadin De Beauchene, Rogue Angel, Splash Of Ginge, Standing Ovation, Turban; 100/1 Aerlite Supreme, Big Water, Cogry, Corrin Wood, Dark Lover, Doing Fine, Financial Climate, Ikorodu Road, Mr Moonshine, Our Father, Russe Blanc, Seebright, Summery Justice, Tour Des Champs, Wyck Hill
Each Way 1/4 The Odds A Place 1-2-3-4. Ante Post Rules Apply.
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