Horse Racing: Pearl heads Aintree weights

Florida Pearl heads the weights for the Martell Grand National.

The Pertemps King George VI Chase winner tops the handicap for the Aintree showpiece on 11st 12lb.

One pound behind Florida Pearl is French horse First Gold, who finished fourth at Kempton and has since suffered a season-ending injury.

It is the first time the top weight in the world's most famous steeplechase has been allocated less than 12st since Master Oats headed the field on 11st 10lb in 1996.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding had 11st 13lb when second-top behind See More Business last year, though he withdrew before the race was run.

Stable companion Alexander Banquet has 11st 6lb, compared to 11st 9lb in 2001.

Fellow leading Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup hopes Behrajan and Rince Ri have 11st 8lb with Marlborough on 11st 7lb but the presence of such class horses has not led to a compression of the handicap.

Over 30 horses figure on at least the minimum weight of 10st, including Norman Mason's 2001 National winner Red Marauder (10st 9lb) and his stable-companion Red Striker (10st 8lb).

Richard Guest, assistant to Mason, is satisfied with the burdens given to the yard's entries.

"10-9 looks a nice handy weight (for Red Marauder) although I suppose they'll be going up, I suppose he's (the handicapper) taken the National factor into account.

"Red Striker and Red Ark (9-8) seem to be on fair enough marks at first glance but the plan is that we will only run one of them.

"I hope we can get Red Marauder there. He's the main man really but if the ground was fast we would run Red Ark instead," Guest said.

Last year's only other finishers are each entered again, with Smarty on 9st 10lb and the remounted pair Blowing Wind and Papillon (the 2000 winner) on 10st 1lb and 10st 11lb respectively.

Supreme Glory, on the second line of betting at 16/1 with bookmakers William Hill, has been allotted 10st 5lb, a weight which agrees with the gelding's trainer.

"It is about what I was expecting and I am very happy with that. It looks like it will work out as I hoped with him running under 10-12 or 10-13," Pat Murphy said.

"I have thought of him as a National horse for two years. He jumps extremely well and stays well but he has developed more speed and he is not an out-and-out slogger."

Moor Lane, trained by Ian Balding, has 9st 7lb and has been installed as 14/1 ante-post favourite by Hills.

A total of 139 horses have been allocated a weight for the 6 April contest, with five of the original entries not qualified.