O'Regan Rides King Fontaine 05/04/11
Denis O'Regan has been named as the man charged with getting the best out of Malcolm Jefferson's lively outsider King Fontaine in this weekend's John Smith's Grand National.

Latest Grand National News 05/04/11
The John Smith’s Grand National takes place this Saturday at Aintree and the World’s most famous steeplechase remains the biggest event in UK racing.

Knight Expresses Calgary Stamina Concerns 01/04/11
Henrietta Knight has decided to let her classy performer Calgary Bay take his chance in the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree on April 9, but is far from certain that her charge will last home over the marathon four-miles-four-furlong trip.

Irish Raiders to Look Out For in the 2011 Grand National 31/03/11
For years, Irish trained horses have always been considered serious contenders and this year’s renewal looks set to be no different with seven of the top 17 in the betting.

Don’t Push It Heads 65 Aiming for Grand National Glory 05/04/11
Don’t Push It heads the 65 contenders going forward at the five-day confirmation stage for the 2011 renewal of the world’s greatest chase at Aintree on Saturday, April 9.

Run Up to the Grand National 31/03/11
The 2011 Grand National is just around the corner, and punters from both Britain and Ireland are looking forward to seeing some exceptional runners and their world-class trainers in action.

Killyglen Has Power for National Bid 31/03/11
Stuart Crawford is hoping Killyglen can bring home a victory for Northern Ireland in the Grand National on Saturday, April 9, when the nine-year-old gelding will have the assistance in the saddle of previous winner Robbie Power.

Amateurs at the Grand National 30/03/11
Amateur riders are able to participate in plenty of jump races but must have won at least 15 chases or hurdle races to guarantee a place in the John Smith's Grand National and the other races over the Grand National fences.

Glenside - A Classic Grand National Battler 29/03/11
Apparently, very few punters gave the 20-1 shot Glenside much of a chance of winning the 1911 Grand National.

Grand National – Runners and Finishers 29/03/11
The smallest number of Grand National finishers was two in 1928, when Tipperary Tim, the first 100-1 winner of the race beat the remounted Billy Barton by a distance, there were an amazing 42 runners in that National.

Red Rum - the Greatest of Them All
29/03/11
The late great Red Rum is undoubtedly the most well-known and successful Grand National horse of all time.

Tidal Bay Heads for Aintree 24/03/11
The importance of Cheltenham Festival performances to the Grand National is becoming more and more apparent as the Aintree race becomes increasingly attractive to top-quality horses.

Big Buck's and Long Run Among Entries for Aintree 04/04/11
Cheltenham Festival heroes are poised light up the first day of the John Smith’s Grand National meeting with totesport Gold Cup winner Long Run, Ladbrokes World Hurdle legend Big Buck’s and impressive Triumph Hurdle victor Zarkandar engaged in Liverpool Day’s three Grade One contests.

Friend Proves Popular in National Ante-Post Market 23/03/11
Punters have been latching on to champion trainer Paul Nicholls' apparent new first-string John Smith's Grand National contender What A Friend who ran such a great race to very nearly deprive the great Kauto Star of third place in last week's thrilling Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Russell Hoping Silver By Nature Can Take Grand National 23/03/11
Trainer Lucinda Russell is counting down the days until the John Smith’s Grand National ahead of her bid to land jump racing’s most famous prize with Silver By Nature.

Top Irish Contenders Remain in Grand National Mix 22/03/11
26 Irish-trained horses are still standing, after the second scratchings deadline on March 22, including Willie Mullins' The Midnight Club, who is 10/1 favourite for the marathon event.

Weld Will Attempt to Add the Grand National to His Role of Honour
22/03/11
It looks like Weld will attempt to add another event to his role of honour, by targeting Majestic Concorde at the Grand National in April.

Oscar Time Comes in for Strong Grand National Support 21/03/11
Maybe it is down to the 'Waley-Cohen' factor following the success of the family's brilliant Long Run in last week's Cheltenham Gold Cup, but there has been significant money for Irish raider Oscar Time, the mount of Sam Waley-Cohen.

Fontaine Runs Solid Grand National Trial 16/03/11
Malcolm Jefferson's King Fontaine returned to something closer to his best when staying-on fifth behind Bensalem in the Stewart Family Spinal Research Handicap Chase on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Midnight Chase Aims for Gold Cup Glory before John Smith's Grand National 02/03/11
Midnight Chase is 25/1 with totesport for the £950,000 John Smith’s Grand National over four and a half miles at Aintree on Saturday, April 9, and the progressive gelding’s participation will be decided after he contests the totesport Gold Cup at Cheltenham in a little over two weeks.

Smith Pleased With Weights Response But Neptune Defection Disappoints 02/03/11
It is a little over two weeks since Phil Smith, the British Horseracing Authority’s Head of Handicapping, released the eagerly anticipated weights for the 2011 John Smith’s Grand National.

Racing Post Victor Quinz in National Frame 26/02/11
Quinz further improved the already excellent records of Richard Johnson and Philip Hobbs in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton.

Big Fella Thanks and Character Building Continue on National Trail 23/02/11
Ferdy Murphy is delighted with John Smith’s Grand National hope Big Fella Thanks following the nine-year-old’s fourth place in the Grade One Ascot Chase at Ascot last Saturday, and is planning to get one more run into his charge before the Aintree spectacular on Saturday, April 9.

Silver By Nature On Course for Aintree Grand National 21/02/11
Silver By Nature is as short as 12-1 for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree after romping home under top-weight in his trial for the big race, the totesport.com Grand National Trial, at Haydock on Saturday (February 19).

Sun Sets on Dusk's National Hopes 18/02/11
An old tendon problem has resurfaced at exactly the wrong time and scuppered the plans to run the smart handicapper From Dawn To Dusk in the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree on April 9.

Grand National Favourite Ballabriggs to Carry 11st 15/02/11
The countdown to this year’s John Smith’s Grand National began in earnest on Tuesday (February 15) when the weights for the world’s most famous steeplechase were published.

Nicholls Enters Ten for Grand National 02/02/11
Paul Nicholls looks set to launch the biggest numerical assault on the John Smith’s Grand National as he bids to break his duck in the world’s most famous chase.

John Smith’s Grand National Legends – Shortlist Announced 16/02/11
John Smith’s and Aintree have announced their shortlist of ten ‘Legends’ aiming to be inducted into the John Smith’s Grand National Legends.

Red Rum Stable Has Another Contender in Ballabriggs 01/02/11
Donald McCain is back in the John Smiths Grand National News after the Trevor Hemmings owned Ballabriggs justified favouritism to win the victorchandler.com National Hunt Novices' Hurdle at Ayr on Monday.

State of Play's Eyes Remain Firmly Fixed on Grand National 28/01/11
State Of Play is being prepared for a tilt at the richest-ever running of the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday, April 9, entries for which close at noon on Tuesday, February 1, 2011.

O'Neill Hopeful of Repeat John Smith's Grand National Success with Don't Push It 20/01/11
Trainer Jonjo O’Neill is aiming to give last year’s John Smith’s Grand National hero Don’t Push It at least one more outing ahead of a return to Aintree as the 11-year-old tries to become the first horse since Red Rum (1973 & 1974) to win back-to-back renewals of the world’s greatest chase.

Don't Let Your New Year's Resolutions Go Up in Smoke! 07/01/11
Four-time champion jump jockey turned trainer Josh Gifford had several unsuccessful attempts at quitting smoking before pledging to kick the habit for good if his stable star Aldaniti triumphed in the Grand National in 1981.

Grand National Prize Fund Tops £950,000 in 2011 23/12/10
Aintree Racecourse today announced that prize money for the John Smith's Grand National will increase to a record £950,000 in 2011, a rise of £25,000 on the 2010 race.

John Kettley is a Grand National Weather Man 23/12/10
Thankfully, the John Smith’s Grand National has (touch wood) never been abandoned due to the weather, although the 1901 renewal took place on ground officially described as snow and downpours before the 2001 race threatened the day.

Red, Silver and Gold give John Smith's Grand National Winners a Festive Hue 14/12/10
The festive spirit is already upon us here at Aintree, the first doors on the advent calendar are open and thoughts are turning to turkey, carols, the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton and of course the benevolent chimney plunger himself, Father Christmas.

Vote McCoy as You Think of Spruce!
17/12/10
In the New Year, Aintree places a big order for coniferous evergreens as the racecourse prepares the unique Grand National course for the world’s greatest chase.

Vive le John Smith's Grand National
08/12/10
Mon Mome’s 100/1 victory in the 2009 John Smith’s Grand National added a rare Gallic flavour to the historic Aintree race’s roll of honour.

Bob Champion Announces Aintree Legends Charity Race 03/12/10
Bob Champion will ride on hallowed Aintree turf once again, on John Smith’s Grand National Day 2011, in a special Bob Champion Aintree Legends Charity race, supported by John Smith’s.

John Smith's All Round at Red Alligator 26/11/10
Hello Bud’s cracking win in the totesport.com Becher Chase on November 21 naturally had everyone at Aintree looking ahead to the John Smith’s Grand National itself.

Hello Bud Warms Up for Another National Attempt 22/11/10
Hello Bud again showed his liking for Aintree, in a gallant performance for the father and son team of Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies, winning an eventful totesport.com Becher Handicap Chase at Aintree.

National Glory at Last for McCoy 10/04/10
Tony McCoy finally won the John Smith's Grand National as Don't Push It - his 15th ride in the race - provided the champion jockey with a famous victory at Aintree.

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