Grand National 2017 entries

At first glance Blaklion , Highland Lodge , Carlingford Lough and Vics Canvas look interesting.

Think Elliott holds all the aces this year.

Highland Lodge, Maggio and Regal Encore for me so far... Highland Lodge OR 140, will be interesting what weight this one is given, 140 maybe tight... this is Maggio's target so far so good with this one, being kept over hurdles... Regal Encore a horse I've followed since it won its AW bumper, when it popped up the race before last I clawed a few losses back, last start at Chelters 'nothing to see here', may be going for the Midlands Nat and maybe the Scot and/or Ire versions, entered for the big one but not heard it's a target but not overly concerned with these colours... do like the Romford Pele, backed it last year, anyone heard anything about this one?

Yes I agree he has said he's going to give these kind of horses a helping hand and rightly so in my book.

Weights out Tuesday 14th...

Need to be around an or145 to get in this year

Tonight but not sure of the time

Highland Lodge given 148, no.42 on the list... happy days...

The Randox Health Grand National
Grade 3 handicap chase, £1 million total prize fund. Aintree, 5.15pm Saturday, April 8, 2017. 4m 2f 74yds over the Grand National fences. For seven-year-olds and upwards who, up to and including March 20 have been placed first, second, third or fourth in a steeple chase with an official distance description of' two miles seven and a half furlongs' or more and which are allotted a rating of 120 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including February 12. Horses which are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain or Ireland at closing may also be entered. Such horses may be eligible for a weight providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse's racecourse performances up to and including February 12would merit a minimum rating of 120. To qualify, horses must have run at least three times in chases run under the Rules of Racing of the same Recognised Racing Authority up to and including February 12. At the Handicapper's discretion, such horses may be allocated a rating. The decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final. Entries closes January 31, entries revealed February 1 (110 entries, Otago Trial (IRE) subsequently scratched), weights revealed February 14, first scratchings deadline February 28, second scratchings deadline March 21, five-day confirmations April 3, final declarations 10am April 8. Maximum field of 40 plus four reserves.

    HORSE    Age    Wgt    Rating    Owner    Trainer
1)     OUTLANDER (IRE)    9    11-10    166    Gigginstown House Stud    Gordon Elliott IRE
2)     CHAMPAGNE WEST (IRE)    9    11-09    165    Roger Brookhouse    Henry de Bromhead IRE
3)     EMPIRE OF DIRT (IRE)    10    11-08    164    Gigginstown House Stud    Gordon Elliott IRE
4)    DON POLI (IRE)    8    11-07    163    Gigginstown House Stud    Gordon Elliott IRE
5)    CARLINGFORD LOUGH (IRE)    11    11-06    162    J P McManus    John Kiely IRE
6)    THE LAST SAMURI (IRE)    9    11-05    161    Paul & Clare Rooney    Kim Bailey
7)    ALARY (FR)    7    11-04    160    Ann & Alan Potts    Colin Tizzard
8)    ALELCHI INOIS (FR)    9    11-03    159    L McMahon/Mrs F Murphy/F Mangan    Willie Mullins IRE
9)    MINELLA ROCCO (IRE)    7    11-02    158    J P McManus    Jonjo O'Neill
10)    DEVILS BRIDE (IRE)    10    11-01    157    Gigginstown House Stud    Henry de Bromhead IRE
                             
11)    MORE OF THAT (IRE)    9    11-01    157    J P McManus    Jonjo O'Neill
12)    LORD SCOUNDREL (IRE)    8    11-00    156    Gigginstown House Stud    Gordon Elliott IRE
13)    PERFECT CANDIDATE (IRE)    10    11-00    156    ISL Recruitment    Fergal O'Brien
14)    SAPHIR DU RHEU (FR)    8    11-00    156    The Stewart Family    Paul Nicholls
15)    SHANTOU FLYER (IRE)    7    11-00    156    Carl Hinchy    Rebecca Curtis
16)    ROAD TO RICHES (IRE)    10    10-13    155    Gigginstown House Stud    Noel Meade IRE
17)    SAUSALITO SUNRISE (IRE)    9    10-13    155    Diana Whateley    Philip Hobbs
18)    CAROLE'S DESTRIER    9    10-12    154    Carole Skipworth    Neil Mulholland
19)    CLARCAM (FR)    7    10-12    154    Gigginstown House Stud    Gordon Elliott IRE
20)    FOXROCK (IRE)    9    10-12    154    Barry Connell    Ted Walsh IRE
                             
21)    ROI DES FRANCS (FR)    8    10-12    154    Gigginstown House Stud    Gordon Elliott IRE
22)    WONDERFUL CHARM (FR)    9    10-11    153    Robin Geffen & Sir John Ritblat    Paul Nicholls
23)    WOUNDED WARRIOR (IRE)    8    10-11    153    Gigginstown House Stud    Noel Meade IRE
24)    BLAKLION    8    10-10    152    Sarah Such & Gino Paletta    Nigel Twiston-Davies
25)    DROP OUT JOE    9    10-10    152    The Jesters    Charlie Longsdon
26)    TENOR NIVERNAIS (FR)    10    10-10    152    Boultbee Brooks Ltd    Venetia Williams
27)    TIGER ROLL (IRE)    7    10-10    152    Gigginstown House Stud    Gordon Elliott IRE
28)    A TOI PHIL (FR)    7    10-09    151    Gigginstown House Stud    Gordon Elliott IRE
29)    LE MERCUREY (FR)    7    10-09    151    Chris Giles & Colm Donlon    Paul Nicholls
30)    THE GAME CHANGER (IRE)    8    10-09    151    Gigginstown House Stud    Gordon Elliott IRE
                             
31)    CAUSE OF CAUSES (USA)    9    10-08    150    J P McManus    Gordon Elliott IRE
32)    MAGGIO (FR)    12    10-08    150    Douglas Pryde/Jim Beaumont    Patrick Griffin IRE
33)    REGAL ENCORE (IRE)    9    10-08    150    J P McManus    Anthony Honeyball
34)    THE YOUNG MASTER    8    10-08    150    Dajam & The Old Masters    Neil Mulholland
35)    DEFINITLY RED (IRE)    8    10-07    149    Phil Martin    Brian Ellison
36)    DOUBLE SHUFFLE (IRE)    7    10-07    149    Crossed Fingers Partnership    Tom George
37)    HOUBLON DES OBEAUX (FR)    10    10-07    149    Mrs Julian Blackwell    Venetia Williams
38)    PLEASANT COMPANY (IRE)    9    10-07    149    Malcolm Denmark    Willie Mullins IRE
39)    UCELLO CONTI (FR)    9    10-07    149    Simon Munir/Isaac Souede    Gordon Elliott IRE
40)    VIEUX LION ROUGE (FR)    8    10-07    149    Prof Caroline Tisdall & John Gent    David Pipe
                             
41)    BALLYNAGOUR (IRE)    11    10-06    148    Allan Stennett    David Pipe
42)    HIGHLAND LODGE (IRE)    11    10-06    148    Bowes Lodge Stables    James Moffatt
43)    JUNCTION FOURTEEN (IRE)    8    10-06    148    Martin St Quinton & Tim Syder    Emma Lavelle
44)    O'FAOLAINS BOY (IRE)    10    10-06    148    Trembath, Hyde, Outhart & Hill    Rebecca Curtis
45)    ONE FOR ARTHUR (IRE)    8    10-06    148    Two Golf Widows    Lucinda Russell
46)    VIVALDI COLLONGES (FR)    8    10-06    148    The Gi Gi Syndicate    Paul Nicholls
47)    BISHOPS ROAD (IRE)    9    10-05    147    Alan Halsall    Kerry Lee
48)    LORD WINDERMERE (IRE)    11    10-05    147    Dr Ronan Lambe    Jim Culloty IRE
49)    SAINT ARE (FR)    11    10-05    147    David Fox    Tom George
50)    VICENTE (FR)    8    10-05    147    John Hales & Ian Fogg    Paul Nicholls
                             
51)    VICS CANVAS (IRE)    14    10-05    147    Bodeen Bandits Partnership    Dermot McLoughlin IRE
52)    ZIGA BOY (FR)    8    10-05    147    Axom LI    Alan King
53)    JUST A PAR (IRE)    10    10-04    146    Paul Barber & the late Graham Roach    Paul Nicholls
54)    MEASUREOFMYDREAMS (IRE)    9    10-04    146    Gigginstown House Stud    Noel Meade IRE
55)    RAZ DE MAREE (FR)    12    10-04    146    James J Swan    Gavin Cromwell
56)    STELLAR NOTION (IRE)    9    10-04    146    Roger Brookhouse    Henry de Bromhead IRE
57)    AS DE MEE (FR)    7    10-03    145    The Stewart Family & Judi Dench    Paul Nicholls
58)    COCKTAILS AT DAWN    9    10-03    145    Robin Geffen & Sir John Ritblat    Nicky Henderson
59)    PENDRA (IRE)    9    10-03    145    J P McManus    Charlie Longsdon
60)    ROGUE ANGEL (IRE)    9    10-03    145    Gigginstown House Stud    Mouse Morris IRE
                             
61)    SEVENTH SKY (GER)    10    10-03    145    Fidelma Toole    Charlie Mann
62)    SHUTTHEFRONTDOOR (IRE)    10    10-03    145    J P McManus    Jonjo O'Neill
63)    GAS LINE BOY (IRE)    11    10-02    144    The Three Graces    Ian Williams
64)    GOODTOKNOW    9    10-02    144    Burling Daresbury MacEchern Nolan Potter    Kerry Lee
65)    THE ROMFORD PELE (IRE)    10    10-02    144    Trembath & Outhart    Rebecca Curtis
66)    THUNDER AND ROSES (IRE)    9    10-02    144    Gigginstown House Stud    Mouse Morris IRE
67)    TRIOLO D'ALENE (FR)    10    10-02    144    Sandy & Caroline Orr    Nicky Henderson
68)    VIEUX MORVAN (FR)    8    10-02    144    N H Bloodstock Ltd    Isabelle Pacault FR
69)    DOCTOR HARPER (IRE)    9    10-01    143    The Johnson Family    David Pipe
70)    GALLANT OSCAR (IRE)    11    10-01    143    J P McManus    Tony Martin IRE
                             
71)    LA VATICANE (FR)    8    10-01    143    Maria Bukhtoyarova    David Pipe
72)    BLESS THE WINGS (IRE)    12    10-00    142    Adrian Butler/S P O'Connor    Gordon Elliott IRE
73)    TOUR DES CHAMPS (FR)    10    10-00    142    Prestbury Racing Club    Samuel Drinkwater
74)    KNOCK HOUSE (IRE)    8    9-13    141    Tim Leslie    Donald McCain
75)    HADRIAN'S APPROACH (IRE)    10    9-12    140    Richard & Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes    Nicky Henderson
76)    BENBENS (IRE)    12    9-11    139    Sarah Such & Gino Paletta    Nigel Twiston-Davies
77)    POTTERS CROSS    10    9-11    139    Conyers, O'Reilly, Roddis, Zeffman    Rebecca Curtis
78)    SAMBREMONT (FR)    7    9-11    139    Shanakiel Racing Syndicate    Willie Mullins IRE
79)    STRAIDNAHANNA (IRE)    8    9-11    139    Margaret Scholey & Ray Scholey    Sue Smith
80)    VIVA STEVE (IRE)    9    9-11    139    Paul & Clare Rooney    Fergal O'Brien
                             
81)    CLOUDY TOO (IRE)    11    9-10    138    Formulated Polymer Products Ltd    Sue Smith
82)    LAMB OR COD (IRE)    10    9-10    138    Terry Warner    Philip Hobbs
83)    MILANSBAR (IRE)    10    9-10    138    Robert Bothway    Neil King
84)    POLIDAM (FR)    8    9-10    138    Simon Munir/Isaac Souede    Willie Mullins IRE
85)    DROMNEA (IRE)    10    9-09    137    Ann Daly    Mouse Morris IRE
86)    STREETS OF PROMISE (IRE)    8    9-09    137    Gempro    Michael Scudamore
87)    VYTA DU ROC (FR)    8    9-09    137    Simon Munir & Isaac Souede    Nicky Henderson
88)    BEEVES (IRE)    10    9-08    136    Paul & Clare Rooney    Jennie Candlish
89)    ROYALE KNIGHT    11    9-08    136    Chris Stedman & Robert Corsan    Dr Richard Newland
90)     ALFIE SPINNER (IRE)    12    9-07    135    Alan Beard & Brian Beard    Kerry Lee
                             
91)    EMPEROR'S CHOICE (IRE)    10    9-07    135    The Bellamy Partnership    Venetia Williams
92)    GOULANES (IRE)    11    9-07    135    Roger Brookhouse    Neil Mulholland
93)    LESSONS IN MILAN (IRE)    9    9-07    135    Trevor Hemmings    Nicky Henderson
94)    MOUNTAIN KING    8    9-07    135    Jack McKay/Paul McKay/Mark McKay    Gordon Elliott IRE
95)    OUT SAM    8    9-07    135    Swanee River Partnership    Warren Greatrex
96)    SIZING COAL (IRE)    9    9-07    135    Alan & Ann Potts Partnership    Jim Dreaper IRE
97)    DARE TO ENDEAVOUR    10    9-06    134    Aidan J Ryan    Eric McNamara IRE
98)    FATHER EDWARD (IRE)    8    9-06    134    Fergus Wilson    David Pipe
99)    SAMINGARRY (FR)    10    9-06    134    Nigel Hawke Racing Club & Partner    Nigel Hawke
100)     SILVER MAN    10    9-06    134    John Wardle    Jo Hughes
                             
101)    ALVARADO (IRE)    12    9-05    133    William & Angela Rucker    Fergal O'Brien
102)    MILBOROUGH (IRE)    11    9-05    133    Helen Cross    Ian Duncan
103)    THE CRAFTY BUTCHER (IRE)    10    9-04    132    P Byrne/P W Mullins/D Ryan/I Madigan    Willie Mullins IRE
104)    WALDORF SALAD    9    9-04    132    Alan Parker    Venetia Williams
105)    KATENKO (FR)    11    9-03    131    Andrew Brooks    Venetia Williams
106)    FEDERICI    8    9-02    130    Jon Glews    Donald McCain
107)    GONE TOO FAR    9    9-01    129    Fergus Wilson    David Pipe
108)    RACING PULSE (IRE)    8    9-01    129    Carl Hinchy    Rebecca Curtis
109)    KILLER CROW (IRE)    8    9-00    128    Gigginstown House Stud    Gordon Elliott IRE

Post Weights Initial Thoughts

Not getting a run at the moment are the winners of  :
1 Cheltenham Gold Cup
2 Irish Grand Nationals
1 Scottish Grand National
1 Welsh Grand National
1 Hennessey
1 RSA Chase
1 Bet365 Chase 


In addition Saint Are  ,Vic's Canvas and Alvarado , 2nd , 3rd and 4th respectively in the race previously are outside the 40.

Got to be every chance that The Last Samurai will carry top weight, no way is he winning it with 11 -10

Number 40 is 10-7 , only 17 pounds between them  , 16 pounds if you take into account Outlander not running according to the media.

Looking at the numeracy and quality there must be every chance that Gigginstown are successful again .... A Toi Phil for one is on a lovely mark.

I tell a lie- he fell in the Topham

ofailains boy also out

It's a 7yr old and we all know what happens to them

First pork scratchings tomorrow...

Five day decs out today... good and bad news por moi... Regal Encore stands his ground... market been constantly weak with this one, matched at 350 last week... I'm on at an average of 170 and hoping for a decent run for me money... trainer on fire presently... big shock Maggio coming out, didn't see that one coming... wedge down the drain... as for Highland Lodge lack of a recent run is a big negative... will be happy with a place with that one, on at 50s... will aim to do two or three others... do like TN and HDO of Venetia Williams but ground against those two... otherwise there are plenty sub 20/1 who appeal but not at the price... Raz De Mee, Stellar Notion and Saint Are three in the frame presently...

I'm finding it tough this year to nail it down to a couple of horses and think it is more competitive than usual. Getting drawn to Saphir du Rheu at the moment. He was a hype horse early in his career and get the feeling much better was expected. He does seem to have got his act together this year and shapes as though the extra distance is within his grasp. The national fences are not what they used to be and I think he is a big danger if he gets around.

What horses might come out before the final decs on thursday? Or will they all stand their ground? I haven't seen a great deal of trainer comment regarding any other runners