Having established a big reputation on the Irish point-to-point scene for Co Wexford-based trainer John Berry during 2003, winning impressively at Wexford (twice) and Loughrea, Bewleys Berry made his first appearance under Rules in a bumper at Gowran Park in April, 2004, when he saw off 15 rivals in fine style to score by eight lengths. That victory prompted big-spending owner Graham Wylie to pull out the cheque book to secure Bewleys Berry, who was transferred to the Co Durham yard of Howard Johnson. He made his debut for his new connections in an extended two-mile novice hurdle at Hexham on December 15, 2004, recording a facile six-length success. On his next start 12 days later at Ayr over an extra half mile, Bewleys Berry suffered his first reverse at the hands of the promising Villon, but regained the winning thread in a Grade Two event over three miles at Doncaster in January, 2005, defeating Indy Mood by 10 lengths. Sent to the Cheltenham Festival that March, Bewleys Berry fell at the fifth flight in the Grade Two Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle, and failed to figure next time at Aintree in the John Smith's Sefton Novices' Hurdle, pulling up behind Asian Maze. His chasing career got off to a great start when he recorded a decisive 12-length success at Wetherby in November, 2005, however that was to be his first, and so far only, victory over fences. Although he ran some good races as a novice, including when a close third to Darkness in the Grade One Feltham Novices' Chase at Sandown in December, 2005, Bewleys Berry failed to figure at both the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals, finishing a well-beaten sixth in the Grade One Royal & SunAlliance Chase behind Star De Mohaison, and pulling up behind that same rival in the Grade Two John Smith's Mildmay Novices' Chase. Bewleys Berry ran respectably on his first outing of the current campaign at Ascot on October 28, coming home fourth to See You Sometime in a valuable three-mile contest, and then produced a fine performance to chase home Eurotrek in the totesport.com Becher Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree on November 19, going down by eight lengths in the three mile, two furlong event. On his most recent appearance in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup over an extended three and a half miles at Haydock on February 17, Bewleys Berry failed to see out the race in very testing conditions, trailing home in ninth place behind Heltornic.

Race Record: Starts: 14; Wins: 4; 2nd: 3; 3rd: 1; Win and Place prize money: £70,527

Andrea & Graham Wylie
Multi-millionaire Graham Wylie, 47, from Whitley Bay, made his money in the computer software industry. After graduating from Newcastle University in 1980 with a degree in Computer Science and Statistics, he founded Sage with David Goldman, Phil Lever and Paul Muller, selling accountancy software. The company grew through acquisition and floated on the stock exchange in 1989. After stepping down as managing director of Sage in May, 2003, Wylie sold a number of shares and pocketed over £120 million. Wylie is the son of Scottish parents - his father was a coalminer from Stirling and his mother a seamstress form Hawick, where Wylie was born. A huge Newcastle United fan, he married Andrea Storey in 2003 at Slaley Hall, Northumberland - the event was described as the Anorth-east's wedding of the decade, and was attended by over 250 guests, including Alan Shearer and Sir Bobby Robson. Pop superstar Ronan Keating performed at the couple's wedding (for a reputed £175,000), singing When You Say Nothing At All, from the 1999 film Notting Hill, which the couple saw on their first date. The first horse the pair owned - a flashy grey picked out at Howard Johnson's Crook stable - was Lord Transcend, named after Andrea's hair and beauty salon in Hexham. Lord Transcend won at 33/1 on his debut at Newcastle in March, 2002, and went on to prove himself a high-class horse over hurdles and fences, winning six times in all, before a leg injury sustained at Haydock in January, 2006, cut short his racing career. Having caught the >racing bug' through the success of Lord Transcend, Graham and Andrea Wylie have invested millions of pounds in the racing industry and currently own around 120 horses, including a Flat string, all in training with Howard Johnson. At Doncaster's 2003 May Sale, Graham Wylie set a then record for a jump horse when paying 340,000 guineas for Royal Rosa, which was a wedding present for his wife. He enjoyed a superb Cheltenham Festival in 2005, taking the World Hurdle with Inglis Drever, the Supreme Novices' Hurdle with Arcalis and the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle with No Refuge, while this year Inglis Drever reclaimed his Ladbrokes World Hurdle title. Graham Wylie founded a new company, Technology Services Group (TSG), in 2003. He owns Close House Country Club and golf course and Gosforth Shopping Centre, and was awarded a CBE for his services to industry in the 2004 New Year's Honours list. The Wylies live close to Hexham in Northumberland.

Grand National Record: No previous runners

Howard Johnson
Born in Barnard Castle, Co Durham, on August 11, 1953, Howard Johnson began training in 1984 and sent out his first winner, Tabriz Gold, at Kelso on February 26, 1985. He was involved with the pony club from a young age and assisted his father Roy, who trained a few horses under permit at the family's White Lea Farm on the outskirts of Crook in Co Durham as well as tending a 100-strong dairy herd. Johnson spent two years learning the ropes with Arthur Stephenson and initially harboured hopes of becoming a Flat jockey, something that never materialised. He had a few rides and ended his riding career as an amateur. He still combines cattle farming with training at White Lea Farm, although over the past four years he has considerably stepped up his training operation, largely thanks to the investment of owner Graham Wylie. Wylie's investment in the Johnson yard played dividends at the 2005 Cheltenham Festival with three winners - Arcalis in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, No Refuge in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle and Inglis Drever in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle. Inglis Drever landed a second Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the 2007 Cheltenham Festival while other significant successes for Johnson include the Betfred Gold Cup (1994 Ushers Island) and the National Hunt Challenge Cup Chase at Cheltenham (1993 Ushers Island). His successes at Aintree include the John Smith's Melling Chase with Direct Route in 1999 and 2000 and Grey Abbey in the 2005 Betfair Bowl. His owners include former Newcastle United captain Alan Shearer. Wylie who owns most of the 161 horses he has in training this year although Johnson shares ownership on horses that run under the Transcend Bloodstock banner. He is married to Sue, daughter of former trainer Ray Hawkey. Hawkey acts as Johnson=s assistant trainer.

John Smith’s Grand National record: 1991 Old Applejack (8th); 1992 Old Applejack (7th); 1994 Ushers Island (UR 3rd); 1995 Over The Deel (3rd); 1996 Over The Deel (9th), 1998 Joe White (PU bef 15th), Winter Belle (PU bef 21st); 1999 Castle Coin (UR 24th); 2005 Ballybough Rasher (Ref 22nd); 2006 Tyneandthyneagain (Fell 1st)