McManus runners dominate National entry

A RECORD entry of 152 has been received for the John Smith’s Grand National on April 9 with legendary owner JP McManus responsible for no less than 19 of those engaged.

The Jonjo O’Neill-trained Clan Royal came within three lengths of carrying McManus’s famous green and gold silks to victory in last year’s renewal of the Aintree showpiece, and he could try to go one better in the £700,000 contest this year.

Clan Royal filled the runner-up spot in 2004 and has been entered again along with the first seven home that day - winner Amberleigh House, Lord Atterbury (3rd), 2003 winner Monty’s Pass (4th), Spot Thedifference (5th), Smarty (6th) and Ardent Scout (7th). McManus has also entered the high-class First Gold, who is one of four French-trained entries, with the 2002 Queen Mother Champion Chase victor Flagship Uberalles an interesting entry.

Bindaree, the Aintree hero of 2002, is the third previous winner entered while the 2003 second and fourth, Supreme Glory and Gunner Welburn are amongst the possible runners - which are up 30 on last year, and top the previous high of 149 in 2003.

Novice Ollie Magern, Gold cup runner-up Sir Rembrandt, Ballycassidy, Grey Abbey and Royal Auclair, who are all set to contest Saturday’s Pillar Property Chase at Cheltenham, have been entered alongside other highly-rated chasers such as Celestial Gold, Native Upmanship, One Knight, Truckers Tavern and Valley Henry.

The Irish are responsible for 36 of the entries with their challenge headed by the Willie Mullins-trained Hedgehunter, who was third and still in contention when falling at the final fence last year.

Timbera, Davids Lad, Le Coudray, Native Upmanship and Rince Ri are other notable possibles from the Emerald Isle.

The totesport Becher Chase winner Silver Birch, the current ante-post favourite for the National, is one of seven entries for trainer Paul Nicholls, while other leading contenders include Joly Bey, Forest Gunner, winner of last year’s Fox Hunters’ and the Scottish-trained Strong Resolve.

O’Neill has 14 entries including his classy Keen Leader, while champion trainer Martin Pipe has 13 engaged.The weights for the race, run over four and a half miles, will be announced on Tuesday, February 8.

John Smith’s Grand National betting:

William Hill: 12-1 Clan Royal, 14-1 Silver Birch, 20-1 Amberleigh House, Celestial Gold, Grey Abbey, Joly Bey, Lord Atterbury, Royal Auclair, 25-1 Baron Windrush, Colonel Frank, First Gold, Frenchman’s Creek, Hedgehunter, Lord of Illusion, Monty’s Pass, Ollie Magern, One Knight, 33-1 bar.

Paddy Power: 12-1 Clan Royal, 14-1 Silver Birch, 16-1 Amberleigh House, 20-1 Lord Atterbury, 25-1 Celestial Gold, First Gold, Grey Abbey, Hedgehunter, Joly Bey, Timbera, One Knight, Royal Auclair, 28-1 Forest Gunner, Strong Resolve, 33-1 bar.

Totesport: 12-1 Clan Royal, 14-1 Silver Birch, 20-1 Amberleigh House, Lord Atterbury, Grey Abbey, Strong Resolve, 25-1 First Gold, Forest Gunner, Hedgehunter, Joly Bey, Royal Auclair, Timbera, 33-1 bar.

Coral: 12-1 Clan Royal, 14-1 Silver Birch, 16-1 Grey Abbey, 20-1 Celestial Gold, Chives, Frenchman’s Creek, Amberleigh House, Colonel Frank, 25-1 Bindaree, Forest Gunner, Fork Lightning, Granit D’Estruval, Joly Bey.