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| Aintree Grand National 2011 |
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John Smith’s Grand National ahead of her bid to land jump racing’s most famous prize with Silver By Nature.
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The nine-year-old is one of 74 horses going forward to the 950,000 contest, run at Aintree on Saturday, April 9, following today’s scratchings stage and Tayside-based Russell is looking forward to the race following Silver By Nature’s win in the totesport Grand National Trial at Haydock Park last month.
"It was a fantastic day at Haydock,” said Russell. “The horse had not run quite so well this season but we felt he was coming back to himself and it was great to see him annihilate the field at Haydock.
"He is definitely better on soft ground but he was very competitive on good ground at Perth a couple of years ago when he came down. He is maybe a better horse on heavy ground but he acts on good to soft.
"His owner (Geoff Brown) is chairman of St Johnstone Football Club. He is the longest standing chairman in Scotland. We made our minds up to come here after Haydock. He was never worried about having a runner in the National, he just wanted one to be competitive. He was there the day the horse was foaled and he adores him.
"Oscar Time for the Waley-Cohens would be a great story. Aintree always throws up a great story and hopefully there will be another one.”
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“It’s lovely ground out there,” said Murphy. “Big Fella Thanks looks fantastic and I think he would have a very good chance.
"I think we will ride him more conservatively this year. To be fair to Barry Geraghty, he was thrust into the race last year at the last minute after Ruby (Walsh) got injured and the horse ran with the choke out a little bit.
"Hopefully we'll ride him the same way this time that Graham (Lee) did when he won on Amberleigh House, that’s to hunt round and leave it late and take our time and get the horse to settle.”
Chief Dan George, a faller at Cheltenham last week, is also on course for the John Smith’s Grand National.
His Cartmel-based trainer, Jimmy Moffatt, said: "He is a great jumper but racing is a great leveller. He had a tardy start (at Cheltenham) and never got into a rhythm. He was asked to do things that he would never be asked to do.
"He ended up a bit battered and bruised but he is now full of himself. He is a good jumper and I'm looking forward to bringing him back here.
"He missed out by two last year and (handicapper) Phil Smith told me that if he had got in, he would probably have gone off favourite.
"It is just a job to get a horse to the parade ring. But, after that, if he gets into a rhythm over the first three or four fences and jumps well, he should go well. I school him at home. If everything goes right for him, he would have a good chance."
British Horseracing Authority Head of Handicapping Phil Smith was also at the lunch and he pinpointed a few contenders who had fared well since the weights were revealed last month.
“Arbor Supreme is interesting as he is going to be the top of the 10st 3lb horses to get in because he has subsequently run very well in Ireland and I’ve got him 8lb higher now,” said Smith.
“From this stage onwards, there are usually four or five horses that drop out from the top 40 horses which means he is very likely to get a run.
“As well as Arbor Supreme, the horses that are technically well in include Silver By Nature, by 7lb, Racing Post Chase winner Quinz, who is due to be 9lb higher, KING FONTAINE (IRE) 8-10-06 Malcolm Jefferson
33) 0/144/P3- STATE OF PLAY 11-10-06 Evan Williams
34) 005P-1P HELLO BUD (IRE) 13-10-05 Nigel Twiston-Davies
35) 566U-3431 IN COMPLIANCE (IRE) 11-10-05 Dessie Hughes IRE
36) 6-220001 SANTA'S SON (IRE) 11-10-05 Howard Johnson
37) 2P/00-11P WEST END ROCKER (IRE) 9-10-05 Alan King
38) 0C21-046 BLUESEA CRACKER (IRE) 9-10-04 James Motherway IRE
39) 16F-0P5 CAN'T BUY TIME (IRE) 9-10-04 Jonjo O'Neill
40) 000-3056 CHARACTER BUILDING (IRE) 11-10-04 John Quinn
41) 1215/1P/-5 ORNAIS (FR) 9-10-04 Paul Nicholls
42) 00P-234P PIRAYA (FR) 8-10-04 David Pipe
43) PP2/111/- SURFACE TO AIR 10-10-04 Chris Bealby
44) 301050 THAT'S RHYTHM (FR) 11-10-04 Martin Todhunter
45) 0U2F-0P2 ARBOR SUPREME (IRE) 9-10-03 Willie Mullins IRE
46) 1F3U-P1U FRANKIE FIGG (IRE) 9-10-03 Howard Johnson
47) 1P0-053U ONE COOL COOKIE (IRE) 10-10-03 Charlie Swan IRE
48) 013111- OUR MONTY (IRE) 8-10-03 Willie Mullins IRE
49) P5U-42P ROYAL ROSA (FR) 12-10-03 Howard Johnson
50) 0P1-0060 ALWAYS WAINING (IRE) 10-10-02 Peter Bowen
51) 421001 GOLDEN KITE (IRE) 9-10-02 Adrian Maguire IRE
52) 41/313-01 SKIPPERS BRIG (IRE) 10-10-02 Nicky Richards
53) 1F4/22-1P BELON GALE (IRE) 8-10-01 Howard Johnson
54) 3/402P-0 FAASEL (IRE) 10-10-01 David Pipe
55) 3P-02043 LE BEAU BAI (FR) 8-10-01 Richard Lee
56) 0D61-0F MERIGO (FR) 10-10-01 Andrew Parker
57) 321112 PUTNEY BRIDGE 9-10-01 Keith Goldsworthy
58) 256-0216 ASKTHEMASTER (IRE) 11-10-00 Robert Tyner IRE
59) 363221- DEV (IRE) 11-10-00 Gordon Elliott IRE
60) F123-P22 GILES CROSS (IRE) 9-10-00 Victor Dartnall
61) 11U0-66 SADDLERS STORM (IRE) 9-10-00 Tony Martin IRE
62)11P61/0/- STARZAAN (IRE) 12-10-00 Hughie Morrison
63)60U0-60 AMBOBO (USA) 11-9-13 Martin Brassil IRE
64) 05241P DUERS (IRE) 9-9-13 Paul Magnier IRE
65) 31-PP11P SAGALYRIQUE (FR) 7-9-13 Donald McCain
66) 311120- TOBY JUG 10-9-13 Sarah Humphrey
67) 5/2613-P GALANT NUIT (FR) 7-9-12 Ferdy Murphy
68) 3131-32 JUNIOR 8-9-12 David Pipe
69) 00-50642 THE SAWYER (BEL) 11-9-12 Bob Buckler
70) 40F-04452 BALLYFITZ 11-9-09 Nigel Twiston-Davies
71) P0-24U344 I'MONCLOUDNINE (IRE) 8-9-09 Neil Mulholland
72) PF4-536 POMME TIEPY (FR) 8-9-09 Willie Mullins IRE
73) F/116PP- TREACLE (IRE) 10-9-04 Bjorn Nielsen IRE
74) 560-P2322 REGAL HEIGHTS (IRE) 10-9-02 Tom George
Withdrawls: DEEP PURPLE, TATENEN, TRICKY TRICKSTER, DREAM ALLIANCE, SNOWY MORNING, GULLIBLE GORDON, MEANUS DANDY, THE SLIOTAR
