Cash injection for Aintree National

JOHN SMITH’S have boosted prize money in the Grand National by £100,000, meaning the 2008 renewal of the world’s most famous race will be worth a record £800,000 to the winner.

The news was announced as this year’s winner of the race, Silver Birch, was paraded by trainer Gordon Elliott at his Trim stables in County Meath yesterday ahead of a return to action next autumn.

The 10-year-old was spring-heeled over the gigantic fences in April to provide Elliott with success on the world stage, but he has been ruled out for the current campaign after heat was found in his near-fore leg.