Horse Talk with Simon Jackson:

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DEFINITLY RED heads the weights with 11st 10lb for the £1-million Randox Health Grand National at Aintree at 5.15pm on Saturday, April 14.

The Brian Ellison-trained nine-year-old was one of the leading contenders for the 2017 National, but was pulled up on the first circuit due to a tack problem.

Definitly Red, a 20-1 shot for the National, has been in great form this season, with Grade 2 wins in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree in December and the BetBright Trial Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham on January 27.

Blaklion, trained by dual Grand National winner Nigel Twiston-Davies, is the 10/1 favourite and has been allotted 11st 6lb after his 12-length victory in the Randox Health Becher Handicap Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree in December.

Twiston-Davies, who won the Grand National with Earth Summit (1998) and Bindaree (2002), has a total of six entries in this year’s race. Along with Blaklion he has – Bristol de Mai (11st 9lb), Flying Angel (10st 7lb), Double Ross (10st 2lb), Cogry (9st 11lb) and Splash of Ginge (9st 11lb).

Twiston-Davies said: “My initial impression is that the weights are as we expected them to be.

“Bristol De Mai will not be running. He is being aimed at the Betway Bowl at Aintree instead. The owners have decided not to run him in the National this year but he could maybe go for the race in the future.

“We have the Becher Chase in the bag with Blaklion already this season. We will ride Blaklion differently this year in the National. Stamina is not a particular worry – I think he was beaten eight lengths in the race last year. No blame on Noel (Fehily) last year – he kicked on a mile from home – maybe if we don’t kick on a mile from home this year we can make up that ground.

“Blaklion goes to Haydock next for the Betfred Grand National on Saturday. I think it makes more sense at the moment to go to Haydock as there is a good space between that race and Aintree. He is also still in the Gold Cup, which is tempting, but we will probably not go Cheltenham. I am not ruling it out, we will just have to see what happens.

“I have done some research looking at the weights. Red Rum used to win with top-weight and there are quite a few over the years who have won with big weights, including Neptune Collonges and Many Clouds in recent years.

“I don’t know whether it sounds a bit silly but Blaklion reminds me of Red Rum. He is small and very neat over his fences. When you watch the way he has twice jumped around Aintree, he doesn’t seem to make a mistake and is very agile. He seems a clever little horse.

“He doesn’t really compare to my previous National winners. I would say Blaklion is more of natural than those two – Earth Summit was a good old slogger while Bindaree was a very, very talented horse who didn’t have to try that hard.

Twiston-Davies added: “Flying Angel has just had a wind operation. He is next run will be at Aintree, although I don’t know in which race yet.

“Cogry and Splash Of Ginge look like they won’t get in. Double Ross jumped beautifully at Aintree last time when the saddle slipped going round the Canal Turn and could be interesting.

“The whole thing about the Grand National these days is that it is such a competitive race. You used to have horses going round with 12 stone while now the weight range is now between 11st 10lb and something like 10st 4lb – it’s not a huge difference.”

The Randox Health Grand National
Grade 3 handicap chase, £1 million total prize fund. Aintree April 14, 2018.
4m 2f 74yds over the Grand National fences. Maximum field of 40 plus four reserves.

	Horse	Age	Wgt	Rating	Owner	Trainer
1)	DEFINITLY RED (IRE)	9	11-10	165	Phil & Julie Martin	Brian Ellison
2)	BRISTOL DE MAI (FR)	7	11-09	164	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Nigel Twiston-Davies
3)	EDWULF	9	11-09	164	J P McManus	Joseph O’Brien IRE
4)	OUTLANDER (IRE)	10	11-08	163	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
5)	MINELLA ROCCO (IRE)	8	11-07	162	J P McManus	Jonjo O’Neill
6)	BLAKLION	9	11-06	161	Simon Such & Gino Paletta	Nigel Twiston-Davies
7)	SUB LIEUTENANT (IRE)	9	11-05	160	Gigginstown House Stud	Henry de Bromhead IRE
8)	ANIBALE FLY (FR)	8	11-04	159	J P McManus	Tony Martin IRE
9)	THE LAST SAMURI (IRE)	10	11-04	159	Paul & Clare Rooney	Kim Bailey
10)	MALA BEACH (IRE)	10	11-03	158	Chris Jones	Gordon Elliott IRE
11)	VALSEUR LIDO (FR)	9	11-03	158	Gigginstown House Stud	Henry de Bromhead IRE
12)	AMERICAN (FR)	8	11-02	157	The Jago Family Partnership	Harry Fry
13)	TOTAL RECALL (IRE)	9	11-01	156	Slaneyville Syndicate	Willie Mullins IRE
14)	ALPHA DES OBEAUX (FR)	8	11-00	155	Gigginstown House Stud	Mouse Morris IRE
15)	GOLD PRESENT (IRE)	8	11-00	155	John & Barbara Cotton	Nicky Henderson
16)	NOBLE ENDEAVOR (IRE)	9	10-13	154	Chris Jones	Gordon Elliott IRE
17)	PERFECT CANDIDATE (IRE)	11	10-13	154	ISL Recruitment	Fergal O’Brien
18)	SIZING CODELCO (IRE)	9	10-13	154	Ann & Alan Potts Limited	Colin Tizzard
19)	CAUSE OF CAUSES (USA)	10	10-12	153	J P McManus	Gordon Elliott IRE
20)	SHANTOU FLYER (IRE)	8	10-12	153	Carl Hinchy	Richard Hobson
21)	CARLINGFORD LOUGH (IRE)	12	10-11	152	J P McManus	John Kiely IRE
22)	O O SEVEN (IRE)	8	10-11	152	Christopher Hanbury	Nicky Henderson
23)	TENOR NIVERNAIS (FR)	11	10-11	152	Boultbee Brooks Ltd	Venetia Williams
24)	GO CONQUER (IRE)	9	10-10	151	Paul & Clare Rooney	Jonjo O’Neill
25)	TRAFFIC FLUIDE (FR)	8	10-10	151	Galloping On The South Downs Partnership	Gary Moore
26)	VICENTE (FR)	9	10-10	151	Trevor Hemmings	Paul Nicholls
27)	ACAPELLA BOURGEOIS (FR)	8	10-09	150	Slaneyville Syndicate	Willie Mullins IRE
28)	RATHVINDEN (IRE)	10	10-09	150	Ronnie Bartlett	Willie Mullins IRE
29)	REGAL ENCORE (IRE)	10	10-09	150	J P McManus	Anthony Honeyball
30)	TIGER ROLL (IRE)	8	10-09	150	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
31)	VIEUX LION ROUGE (FR)	9	10-09	150	Prof Caroline Tisdall & John Gent	David Pipe
32)	A GENIE IN ABOTTLE (IRE)	7	10-08	149	Gigginstown House Stud	Noel Meade IRE
33)	AS DE MEE (FR)	8	10-08	149	The Stewart Family & Judi Dench	Paul Nicholls
34)	CHASE THE SPUD	10	10-08	149	Christine Banks	Fergal O’Brien
35)	ROCK THE KASBAH (IRE)	8	10-08	149	Diana Whateley	Philip Hobbs
36)	SEEYOUATMIDNIGHT	10	10-08	149	Quona Thomson	Sandy Thomson
37)	WARRIORS TALE	9	10-08	149	Michelle & Dan Macdonald	Paul Nicholls
38)	BELLSHILL (IRE)	8	10-07	148	Andrea & Graham Wylie	Willie Mullins IRE
39)	FLYING ANGEL (IRE)	7	10-07	148	Rob Rexton	Nigel Twiston-Davies
40)	GAS LINE BOY (IRE)	12	10-07	148	The Three Graces	Ian Williams

 

41)	PLEASANT COMPANY (IRE)	10	10-07	148	Malcolm C Denmark	Willie Mullins IRE
42)	THE DUTCHMAN (IRE)	8	10-07	148	SprayClad UK	Colin Tizzard
43)	BEEVES (IRE)	11	10-06	147	Paul & Clare Rooney	Jennie Candlish
44)	SAINT ARE (FR)	12	10-06	147	David Fox	Tom George
45)	UCELLO CONTI (FR)	10	10-06	147	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Gordon Elliott IRE
46)	VYTA DU ROC (FR)	9	10-06	147	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Nicky Henderson
47)	CAROLE’S DESTRIER	10	10-05	146	Carole Skipworth	Neil Mulholland
48)	LONG HOUSE HALL (IRE)	10	10-05	146	Carl Hinchy	Dan Skelton
49)	POLIDAM (FR)	9	10-05	146	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Willie Mullins IRE
50)	RAZ DE MAREE (FR)	13	10-05	146	James Swan	Gavin Cromwell IRE
51)	ABOLITIONIST (IRE)	10	10-04	145	Mark Albon, John Provan & Chris Stedman	Dr Richard Newland
52)	BAIE DES ILES (FR)	7	10-04	145	Zorka Wentworth	Ross O’Sullivan IRE
53)	BUYWISE (IRE)	11	10-04	145	T Hywel Jones	Evan Williams
54)	CHILDRENS LIST (IRE)	8	10-04	145	Susannah Ricci	Willie Mullins IRE
55)	I JUST KNOW (IRE)	8	10-04	145	M B Scholey & the late R H Scholey	Sue Smith
56)	MAGGIO (FR)	13	10-04	145	Douglas Pryde/James Beaumont	Patrick Griffin IRE
57)	PENDRA (IRE)	10	10-04	145	J P McManus	Charlie Longsdon
58)	VIRGILIO (FR)	9	10-04	145	C J Edwards, D Futter, A H Rushworth	Dan Skelton
59)	CAPTAIN REDBEARD (IRE)	9	10-03	144	Stuart Coltherd	Stuart Coltherd
60)	HOUBLON DES OBEAUX (FR)	11	10-03	144	Mrs Julian Blackwell	Venetia Williams
61)	LORD WINDERMERE (IRE)	12	10-03	144	Dr Ronan Lambe	Jim Culloty IRE
62)	SILSOL (GER)	9	10-03	144	Michelle & Dan Macdonald	Paul Nicholls
63)	THIRD INTENTION (IRE)	11	10-03	144	Robert & Sarah Tizzard	Colin Tizzard
64)	THREE FACES WEST (IRE)	10	10-03	144	Paul & Clare Rooney	Philip Hobbs
65)	WILD WEST WIND (IRE)	9	10-03	144	Simon Clarke	Tom George
66)	BLESS THE WINGS (IRE)	13	10-02	143	Adrian Butler & S P O’Connor	Gordon Elliott IRE
67)	DOUBLE ROSS (IRE)	12	10-02	143	Options O Syndicate	Nigel Twiston-Davies
68)	FINAL NUDGE (IRE)	9	10-02	143	Corbett Stud	David Dennis
69)	MILANSBAR (IRE)	11	10-02	143	Robert Bothway	Neil King
70)	MORNING ASSEMBLY (IRE)	11	10-02	143	Clipper Logistics Group Ltd	Pat Fahy IRE
71)	DELUSIONOFGRANDEUR (IRE)	8	10-01	142	McGoldrick Racing 3	Sue Smith
72)	ROAD TO RICHES (IRE)	11	10-01	142	Gigginstown House Stud	Noel Meade IRE
73)	THUNDER AND ROSES (IRE)	10	10-01	142	Gigginstown House Stud	Mouse Morris IRE
74)	SAMETEGAL (FR)	9	10-00	141	John & Barbara Cotton	Paul Nicholls
75)	VINTAGE CLOUDS (IRE)	8	10-00	141	Trevor Hemmings	Sue Smith
76)	WALK IN THE MILL (FR)	8	10-00	141	Baroness Harding	Robert Walford
77)	GENERAL PRINCIPLE (IRE)	9	9-12	139	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
78)	VIC DE TOUZAINE (FR)	9	9-12	139	Andrew Brooks & G Moore	Venetia Williams
79)	VIEUX MORVAN (FR)	9	9-12	139	M L Bloodstock	Joseph O’Brien IRE
80)	WOUNDED WARRIOR (IRE)	9	9-12	139	Gigginstown House Stud	Noel Meade IRE
81)	ARBRE DE VIE (FR)	8	9-11	138	Susannah Ricci	Willie Mullins IRE
82)	BALLYALTON (IRE)	11	9-11	138	John Westwood	Ian Williams
83)	BONNY KATE (IRE)	8	9-11	138	Patricia Hunt	Noel Meade IRE
84)	COGRY	9	9-11	138	Graham & Alison Jelley	Nigel Twiston-Davies
85)	MISSED APPROACH (IRE)	8	9-11	138	Alan & Andrew Turner	Warren Greatrex
86)	MYSTEREE (IRE)	10	9-11	138	Mrs Lynne Maclennan	Michael Scudamore
87)	SIR MANGAN (IRE)	10	9-11	138	Frank McAleavy	Dan Skelton
88)	SPLASH OF GINGE	10	9-11	138	John Neild	Nigel Twiston-Davies
89)	BRAQUEUR D’OR (FR)	7	9-10	137	Corsellis & Seyfried	Paul Nicholls
90)	MINELLA DADDY (IRE)	8	9-10	137	Roddy Owen & Paul Fullagar	Peter Bowen
91)	PAIROFBROWNEYES (IRE)	9	9-10	137	Fibbage Syndicate	Willie Mullins IRE
92)	RELENTLESS DREAMER (IRE)	9	9-10	137	Nigel Morris	Rebecca Curtis
93)	KNOCK HOUSE (IRE)	9	9-09	136	Tim Leslie	Donald McCain
94)	THE YOUNG MASTER	9	9-08	135	Mike Burbidge & The Old Masters	Neil Mulholland
95)	ALFIE SPINNER (IRE)	13	9-06	133	Alan Beard & Brian Beard	Kerry Lee
96)	HENRI PARRY MORGAN	10	9-06	133	Ednyfed & Elizabeth Morgan	Peter Bowen
97)	PHIL’S MAGIC (IRE)	8	9-06	133	Lyreen Syndicate	Tony Martin IRE
98)	BRAVISSIMO (FR)	7	9-05	132	Susannah Ricci	Willie Mullins IRE
99)	DANCING SHADOW (IRE)	9	9-05	132	The Dancing Shadows	Victor Dartnall
100)	ROGUE ANGEL (IRE)	10	9-05	132	Gigginstown House Stud	Mouse Morris IRE
101)	THEBARROWMAN (IRE)	8	9-04	131	D Keys	Adrian Keatley IRE
102)	OUT SAM	9	9-03	130	D Charlesworth	Gordon Elliott IRE
103)	KRACKATOA KING	10	9-00	127	JC Harrison Lee & T Howard Partnership	Kerry Lee
104)	GOODTOKNOW	10	8-13	126	Burling Lee MacEchern Nolan Potter	Kerry Lee
105)	POORMANS HILL (IRE)	7	NQ	120	V Caldwell/Mrs K Caldwell	Gordon Elliott IRE

105 entries (1 not qualified)

Randox Health Grand National – Betway odds

10/1 Blaklion

14/1 Total Recall

20/1 Definitly Red, Gold Present, Minella Rocco, The Last Samuri

25/1 Cause Of Causes, Edwulf

28/1 Vicente

33/1 Abolitionist, Bristol De Mai, Vyta Du Roc, Ucello Conti, Vieux Lion Rouge, Gas Line Boy, Anibale Fly, Bellshill, Noble Endeavor, Wild West Wind

40/1 Go Conquer, Mala Beach, Milansbar, Outlander, Polidam, Saint Are, Seeyouatmidnight, Valseur Lido

50/1 Acapella Bourgeois, A Genie In Abottle, Wounded Warrior, Tiger Roll, Final Nudge, Pendra, Buywise, Vieux Morvan, Arbre De Vie, Rogue Angel, Sametegal, American, Baie Des Iles, Carlingford Lough, Chase The Spud, Childrens List, Cogry, Delusionofgrandeur, Morning Assembly, Pairofbrowneyes, Pleasant Company, Rathvinden, Raz De Maree, Sub Lieutenant, The Dutchman, The Young Master, Three Faces West, Warriors Tale, Bless The Wings, As De Mee, Vintage Clouds

66/1 Shantou Flyer, Relentless Dreamer, Perfect Candidate, O O Seven, Mysteree, Missed Approach, Minella Daddy, Lord Windermere, General Principle, Alpha Des Obeaux, Vic De Touzaine, Braqueur D’Or, Bonny Kate, Ballyalton, Walk In The Mill, Bravissimo, Henri Parry Morgan, I Just Know, Out Sam, Regal Encore, Road To Riches, Rock The Kasbah, Silsol, Sir Mangan, Sizing Codelco, Splash Of Ginge, Thunder And Roses

80/1 Double Ross, Flying Angel, Long House Hall, Tenor Nivernais, Virgilio

100/1 Thebarrowman, Alfie Spinner, Knock House, Phil’s Magic, Houblon Des Obeaux, Goodtoknow, Dancing Shadow, Beeves, Captain Redbeard, Krackatoa King, Maggio, Third Intention, Traffic Fluide

Horse Talk with Simon Jackson. Showcasing horse racing in London and the south east.