grand
national 2007 /
Paul Nicholls Dominates John Smith’s Topham Chase
27/03/07
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls is responsible for five of the eight
top-weighted horses for the 2007 John Smith’s Topham Chase, run
over two miles, five and a half furlongs of the Grand National course
at Aintree on Friday, April 13. The 84 entries and weights for the £100,000
event are revealed today.
Hoo La Baloo
© racing-images.co.uk
 |
The John Smith’s Topham Chase is being run as an open handicap
for the first time in recent years, and Phil Smith, the senior British
Horseracing Board jump handicapper, has used his discretion to frame
a special handicap for the race, rather than having to rely solely
on the ratings. The race has also changed this year to become an early-closing
contest.
Nicholls’ entries include top weight Nozic (11st 12lb), who
has progressed with each outing this season and followed wide-margin
victories at Chepstow and Uttoxeter with a fine second under top weight
in the VC Casino.com Gold Cup at Newbury on March 3.
Thisthatandtother (11st 10lb), last seen running seventh behind stable
companion Taranis in the Grade Two Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham on March
15, and Le Volfoni (11st 2lb), fourth to Idole First in the Grade Three
Racing Post Plate at Prestbury Park the same day, are other entries
for the Ditcheat handler.
Four times Grade One winner Hi Cloy is among a 20-strong Irish-trained
entry. The classy 10-year-old, trained in Co Limerick by Michael Hourigan,
captured the Grade One John Smith’s Melling Chase at Aintree
in 2006, and could make his debut over the big fences next month in
the John Smith’s Topham Chase, for which he has been allotted
11st 5lb.
Other Irish entries include the Mouse Morris-trained Fota Island (11st
9lb), who chased home compatriot Hi Cloy in the John Smith’s
Melling Chase last year, while Willie Mullins, who landed this prize
in 2002 with Its Time For A Win, has three entries, including Our Ben
(11st 5lb), a good third to star mare Celestial Wave in a Grade Three
hurdle at Gowran Park on January 25.
Other interesting contenders include the Henry Daly-trained Palarshan
(10st 7lb), who made an excellent return after two years on the sidelines
when runner-up to Idole First in the Racing Post Plate at Cheltenham.
McKelvey (10st 5lb) returned to winning ways over hurdles at Bangor
on March 24, and is one of four entries for Peter Bowen, and Tysou
(10st 9lb), trained by last year’s winning handler Nicky Henderson,
was a never-nearer eighth to Andreas in the Johnny Henderson Grand
Annual Chase at Cheltenham on March 16.
John Spearing’s Hakim (9st 9lb) chased home Liberthine in the
John Smith’s Topham Chase last year, having captured the totepool
Grand Sefton Chase at Aintree in 2005.
Charles Barnett, Managing Director at Aintree Racecourse, said: "We’re
delighted that the conditions changes we have made to the John Smith’s
Topham Chase have worked so well in year one."
THE JOHN SMITH’S TOPHAM CHASE (HANDICAP)
Class 2, £100,000 Total Prize Fund. Aintree, Friday, April 13.
For 5yo+, two miles, five and a half furlongs (over the Grand National
course). Entries closed March 21 (84 entries), entries & weights
revealed March 27. Penalties: after March 24, a winner of a chase 4lb
(no penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 12lb). Six-day
confirmation stage April 7, final declaration stage, 10.00am, April
12. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including
the racing of Monday, March 26.
Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer
122112 NOZIC (FR) 6-11-12 S Mcvie Paul Nicholls
3F-2520 THISTHATANDTOTHER (IRE) 11-11-10 Graham Roach Paul Nicholls
3-22U30 ARMATURK (FR) 10-11-10 Trevor Hemmings Paul Nicholls
222-565 FOTA ISLAND (IRE) 11-11-09 J P McManus Mouse Morris IRE
653236 HI CLOY (IRE) 10-11-05 Susan McCloy Michael Hourigan IRE
P3-42F3 OUR BEN 8-11-05 Trevor Hemmings Willie Mullins IRE
632-364 LE VOLFONI (FR) 6-11-02 A F Banks Paul Nicholls
335301 HOO LA BALOO (FR) 6-11-00 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
112220 DAVENPORT DEMOCRAT (IRE) 9-10-12 P M Racing Syndicate Willie
Mullins IRE
1/-2P040 VODKA BLEU (FR) 8-10-09 David Johnson David Pipe
P-36P40 TYSOU (FR) 10-10-09 Bill Brown Nicky Henderson
442250 LIVINGSTONEBRAMBLE (IRE) 11-10-09 Favourites Racing Willie
Mullins IRE
63403 GROUND BALL (IRE) 10-10-08 J P McManus Charlie Swan IRE
125-130 GALLANT APPROACH (IRE) 8-10-08 Byrne Bros (Formwork) Limited
Charles Egerton
431532 ON THE NET (IRE) 9-10-08 A M O'Grady Eoghan O'Grady IRE
111130 MILAN DEUX MILLE (FR) 5-10-07 Fergus & Judith
Wilson David Pipe
5036P/-2 PALARSHAN (FR) 9-10-07 Sumner Wellesley Henry Daly
163-53U GRAPHIC APPROACH (IRE) 9-10-07 Mr & Mrs
Peter Orton Charles Egerton
15R-R40 ALWAYS 8-10-05 Mrs A Long John Long IRE
21201U IRISH RAPTOR (IRE) 8-10-05 Caroline Beresford-Wylie Nigel Twiston-Davies
2-41061 MCKELVEY (IRE) 8-10-05 N Elliott Peter Bowen
1/104-02 BROOKLYN BREEZE (IRE) 10-10-05 Ashleybank Investments Limited
Len Lungo
22006F MAURICE (FR) 7-10-04 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain Jnr
02-1043 BRIERY FOX (IRE) 9-10-03 Vicky Reed Helen Plumbly Jane Trafford
Henry Daly
020P-00 LORD OF ILLUSION (IRE) 10-10-03 Sharon Nelson Tom George
502224 LIGHT ON THE BROOM (IRE) 11-10-01 John Stafford Gerard Stack
IRE
0-5520P PUNTAL (FR) 11-10-01 Terry Neill David Pipe
5211-1P UMBRELLA MAN (IRE) 11-10-00 Mrs J Dollar & Mrs
M Hall Emma Lavelle
435-6F0 TURTHEN (FR) 6-10-00 Clive Smith Paul Nicholls
13F330 DIX VILLEZ (FR) 8-10-00 Gigginstown House Stud Paul Nolan IRE
5F1505 DARBY WALL (IRE) 9-10-00 Matthew Cahill Enda Bolger IRE
4F0-143 WELL TUTORED (IRE) 8-9-13 M F Bailey Arthur Moore IRE
P0-5120 SONEVAFUSHI (FR) 9-9-13 Brian Dice Venetia Williams
PP03-F1 SCOTS GREY 12-9-13 Henry Ponsonby Nicky Henderson
252-6F5 WITHOUT A DOUBT 8-9-12 Malcolm Denmark Carl Llewellyn
0PU45P MACS FLAMINGO (IRE) 7-9-12 Craith Syndicate Pat Fahy IRE
3-20P30 NO FULL (FR) 6-9-12 Patrick Delaney Jnr Paul Webber
0F-263P JUST IN DEBT (IRE) 11-9-11 Gill and Bill Hazeldean Martin
Todhunter
P00551 UNDENIABLE 9-9-10 Keith Nicholson Sue Smith
54U000 IRON MAN (FR) 6-9-10 Roddy Owen & Paul
Fullagar Peter Bowen
4P600U ROSS COMM 11-9-10 Kevin Treanor Sue Smith
214//33-P PATRICKSNINETEENTH (IRE) 10-9-10 The
Large G & T Partnership
Paul Webber
1F15P6 LATIMER'S PLACE 11-9-10 Sir Christopher Wates Nick Gifford
31B114 TOMMY SPAR 7-9-10 Ralph Morgans Peter Bowen
21U03-P KASTHARI (IRE) 8-9-10 Elliott Brothers Howard Johnson
222-F50 HAKIM (NZ) 13-9-09 T N Siviter John Spearing
1P/-1P3 KENZO III (FR) 9-9-09 Killinghurst Park Stud Nicky Henderson
443P61 PATMAN DU CHARMIL (FR) 5-9-09 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
P4P6P5 WRAGS TO RICHES (IRE) 10-9-08 No Illusions Partnership Chris
Down
56200P KELREV (FR) 9-9-08 Len Jakeman, Flintham,
King & Roberts
Venetia Williams
r550-33 RISK ACCESSOR (IRE) 12-9-07 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
F4/-S344 OUT THE BLACK (IRE) 9-9-07 James Drummond Philip Hobbs
P23-131 SILVER JACK (IRE) 9-9-07 B Batey Martin Todhunter
40/11/P-5 YOUNG COLLIER 8-9-06 Wally Sturt Jim Old
0-61015 WHEREAREYOUNOW (IRE) 10-9-06 Mrs S Maxse Brendan Powell
05-0100 FLORIDA DREAM (IRE) 8-9-05 D J & S
A Goodman Nigel Twiston-Davies
452244 TURGEONEV (FR) 12-9-05 David Sills Tim Easterby
12-0222 COSSACK DANCER (IRE) 9-9-05 The United Front Partnership Mark
Bradstock
001U63 NEWBAY PROP (IRE) 8-9-05 W A Moffett Tony Martin IRE
6/0111-4 FIRST LOVE 11-9-04 The Queen Nicky Henderson
3P1000 EAST TYCOON (IRE) 8-9-04 Gay Smith Jonjo O'Neill
04-0PP2 LOST TIME (IRE) 10-9-04 J P McManus Christy Roche IRE
F-25050 ALMOST BROKE 10-9-04 Lucy Horner Gary Brown
4-41053 NELTINA 11-9-02 Jill Scrase Jill Scrase
P23FP2 GLENGARRA (IRE) 10-9-00 Starlight Racing David Gandolfo
20-333P ESPOIR DU BOCAGE (FR) 12-8-12 Judith
Wilson & T E Wilson
Michael Scudamore
P-62332 LORD RODNEY (IRE) 8-8-11 Estio Racing Peter Beaumont
251323 JIMMY BOND 8-8-11 P Chapman and Mrs J Higgins Kate Walton
232426 FLIGHT COMMAND 9-8-10 Nick Bannister Peter Beaumont
450400 PETERTHEKNOT (IRE) 9-8-09 Valerie Courtney Thomas Cooper IRE
334440 DUNBRODY MILLAR (IRE) 9-8-09 Dundon Else Partnership Peter
Bowen
3-31354 THEATRE KNIGHT (IRE) 9-8-06 Andrea & Graham
Wylie Howard Johnson
0-02130 ALAM (USA) 8-8-06 Dr Richard Newland Dr Richard Newland
35025P STAR PERFORMANCE (IRE) 12-8-05 Mrs C McKiernan Oliver McKiernan
IRE
4P50-40 FIORI 11-8-05 Wilson Imports I Patrick Haslam
25/P/F0-1 ABBEYTOWN (IRE) 10-8-04 Mike Futter Jeanette Riordan IRE
5040-P0 HIGH MOON (USA) 11-8-03 Fergus Wilson P T J Murphy
0500PP- SAFE ROUTE (USA) 9-8-03 Saferoute Syndicate Colm Murphy IRE
124503 SHANNON'S PRIDE (IRE) 11-8-02 JAS Partnership Richard Guest
26325 PHELANS FANCY (IRE) 9-8-01 John Phelan Michael O'Connor IRE
5UU111 CLEARLY IN MOTION (IRE) 10-7-12 Group Clean Ltd Charlie Mann
453214 FINZI (IRE) 9-7-09 The Meld Partnership Michael Scudamore
6543P0 CASSIA HEIGHTS 12-7-07 B Ridge & D
Hewitt Steve Brookshaw
54/0U-32 PILLAGING PICT 12-7-06 Messrs F T Walton Jimmy Walton
84 entries
20 Irish-trained
|