Many Clouds tops Grand National weights at Aintree
Tuesday 16 February 2016 12:40, UK
Last year's winner Many Clouds has been handed top weight of 11st 10lb ahead of his defence of the Crabbie's Grand National on April 9.
The nine-year-old, trained by Oliver Sherwood and owned by Trevor Hemmings, carried 11st 9lb to victory in the Aintree spectacular last season and although rated 6lb higher in the official BHA handicap this time, will have to carry just 1lb extra in his bid to become the first horse since Red Rum in 1973-74 to land back-to-back Nationals.
Many Clouds has to concede weight to some potential Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup contenders, with Don Poli, one of seven possible runners for Ireland's champion trainer Willie Mullins, set to carry 11st 9lb.
Next in the list are the Paul Nicholls-trained Silviniaco Conti (11st 8lb), who is among the entries for Saturday's Betfair Ascot Chase, John Kiely's recent Irish Gold Cup hero Carlingford Lough (11st 7lb) and Mullins' Valseur Lido (11st 6lb), who unseated Ruby Walsh at the final fence in the Leopardstown Grade One earlier this month.
In addition to Many Clouds, there is another horse attempting to win a second Grand National in Dr Richard Newland's Pineau De Re (10st 2lb), who was victorious in 2014 under 10st 6lb.
Other contenders with winning form over the Grand National fences include this season's Betfred Becher Chase winner Highland Lodge (10st 2lb) and Triolo D'Alene (11st) who collected the 2013 Crabbie's Topham Chase.
Impressive weekend Newbury scorer Houblon Des Obeaux, representing Venetia Williams who trained Mon Mome to National glory in 2009, has been allotted 11st 5lb, with First Lieutenant and Foxrock, representing the Irish yards of Mouse Morris and Ted Walsh, given 11st 4lb and 11st 3lb respectively.
Other eyecatching runners who have all been successful at past Cheltenham Festivals are Neil Mulholland's The Druids Nephew (11st), the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Holywell (10st 12lb), Lord Windermere (11st 1lb) and Long Run (10st 8lb), who is now in the care of Robert Waley-Cohen but has been ruled out of a Cheltenham Festival appearance in the St James's Place Foxhunter Chase having taken longer than expected to recover from a foot problem.
Shutthefrontdoor, who finished fifth last year on Sir Anthony McCoy's final ride in the great race, was handed 10st 11lb, with fellow J P McManus runners Cause Of Causes and Double Seven further down the weights both on 10st 1lb.
The Mick Channon-trained Knock House, owned by Tim Radford, will carry 10st 3lb if making the final field of 40 following some good performances this season.
The seven-year-old won an amateur riders' handicap chase at Cheltenham under Nina Carberry over an extended three miles in November before finishing fourth at the same track and falling on his latest start at Sandown, the first time he has failed to get round in a race in his career.
Channon said: "Knock House is in the Crabbie's Grand National and is very well. Tim is keen to run and it is a question of whether we go to Cheltenham or somewhere else with him beforehand.
"He is a very good jumper normally and just clipped the top of a downhill fence at Sandown which took his legs away.
"He has come out of that race in good form and is well entered up. I expect his weight in the Grand National would be at the lower end of the 10st range."
Crabbie's Grand National Weights In Full
Horse | Age/Wgt | Rating | Owner | Trainer |
MANY CLOUDS (IRE) | 9-11-10 | 165 | Trevor Hemmings | Oliver Sherwood |
DON POLI (IRE) | 7-11-09 | 164 | Gigginstown House Stud | Willie Mullins IRE |
SILVINIACO CONTI (FR) | 10-11-08 | 163 | Potensis Bloodstock Ltd & Chris Giles | Paul Nicholls |
CARLINGFORD LOUGH (IRE) | 10-11-07 | 162 | J P McManus | John Kiely IRE |
VALSEUR LIDO (FR) | 7-11-06 | 161 | Gigginstown House Stud | Willie Mullins IRE |
HOUBLON DES OBEAUX (FR) | 9-11-05 | 160 | Mrs Julian Blackwell | Venetia Williams |
FIRST LIEUTENANT (IRE) | 11-11-04 | 159 | Gigginstown House Stud | Mouse Morris IRE |
FOXROCK (IRE) | 8-11-03 | 158 | Barry Connell | Ted Walsh IRE |
WONDERFUL CHARM (FR) | 8-11-03 | 158 | Robin Geffen | Paul Nicholls |
BALLYNAGOUR (IRE) | 10-11-02 | 157 | Allan Stennett | David Pipe |
THIRD INTENTION (IRE) | 9-11-02 | 157 | Robert and Sarah Tizzard | Colin Tizzard |
GILGAMBOA (IRE) | 8-11-01 | 156 | J P McManus | Enda Bolger IRE |
LORD WINDERMERE (IRE) | 10-11-01 | 156 | Dr Ronan Lambe | Jim Culloty IRE |
O'FAOLAINS BOY (IRE) | 9-11-01 | 156 | Trembath, Hyde, Outhart & Hill | Rebecca Curtis |
ON HIS OWN (IRE) | 12-11-01 | 156 | Andrea & Graham Wylie | Willie Mullins IRE |
SAM WINNER (FR) | 9-11-01 | 156 | Angela Yeoman | Paul Nicholls |
THE DRUIDS NEPHEW (IRE) | 9-11-00 | 155 | The Stonehenge Druids | Neil Mulholland |
TRIOLO D'ALENE (FR) | 9-11-00 | 155 | Sandy & Caroline Orr | Nicky Henderson |
WOUNDED WARRIOR (IRE) | 7-11-00 | 155 | Gigginstown House Stud | Noel Meade IRE |
ROCKY CREEK (IRE) | 10-10-13 | 154 | The Johnson & Stewart Families | Paul Nicholls |
ROI DU MEE (FR) | 11-10-13 | 154 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
SIR DES CHAMPS (FR) | 10-10-13 | 154 | Gigginstown House Stud | Willie Mullins IRE |
HOLYWELL (IRE) | 9-10-12 | 153 | Gay Smith | Jonjo O'Neill |
SHUTTHEFRONTDOOR (IRE) | 9-10-11 | 152 | J P McManus | Jonjo O'Neill |
SOLL | 11-10-11 | 152 | Derrick Mossop | David Pipe |
AACHEN | 12-10-10 | 151 | Tony Bloom | Venetia Williams |
BOSTON BOB (IRE) | 11-10-10 | 151 | Andrea & Graham Wylie | Willie Mullins IRE |
BUYWISE (IRE) | 9-10-10 | 151 | T Hywel Jones | Evan Williams |
TURBAN (FR) | 9-10-10 | 151 | Edward O'Connell | Willie Mullins IRE |
DOUBLE ROSS (IRE) | 10-10-09 | 150 | Options O Syndicate | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
MORNING ASSEMBLY (IRE) | 9-10-09 | 150 | Clipper Logistics Group Ltd | Pat Fahy IRE |
GALLANT OSCAR (IRE) | 10-10-08 | 149 | J P McManus | Tony Martin IRE |
GOONYELLA (IRE) | 9-10-08 | 149 | Ann & Alan Potts Partnership | Jim Dreaper IRE |
LE REVE (IRE) | 8-10-08 | 149 | Pat Betts | Lucy Wadham |
LONG RUN (FR) | 11-10-08 | 149 | Robert Waley-Cohen | Robert Waley-Cohen |
ONENIGHTINVIENNA (IRE) | 7-10-08 | 149 | Judith Luff | Philip Hobbs |
THE LAST SAMURI (IRE) | 8-10-08 | 149 | Paul & Clare Rooney | Kim Bailey |
UCELLO CONTI (FR) | 8-10-08 | 149 | Simon Munir | Gordon Elliott IRE |
UNIONISTE (FR) | 8-10-08 | 149 | John Hales | Paul Nicholls |
BEAR'S AFFAIR (IRE) | 10-10-07 | 148 | G B Barlow | Nicky Henderson |
KRUZHLININ (GER) | 9-10-07 | 148 | Paul & Clare Rooney | Philip Hobbs |
RULE THE WORLD | 9-10-07 | 148 | Gigginstown House Stud | Mouse Morris IRE |
BALLYCASEY (IRE) | 9-10-06 | 147 | Susannah Ricci | Willie Mullins IRE |
BLACK THUNDER (FR) | 9-10-06 | 147 | Donlon, MacDonald, Fulton & Webb | Paul Nicholls |
HADRIAN'S APPROACH (IRE) | 9-10-06 | 147 | Richard & Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes | Nicky Henderson |
JUST A PAR (IRE) | 9-10-06 | 147 | Graham Roach & Paul Barber | Paul Nicholls |
KATENKO (FR) | 10-10-06 | 147 | Andrew Brooks | Venetia Williams |
LIVING NEXT DOOR (IRE) | 10-10-06 | 147 | John Breslin | Tony Martin IRE |
THUNDER AND ROSES (IRE) | 8-10-06 | 147 | Gigginstown House Stud | Sandra Hughes IRE |
VICS CANVAS (IRE) | 13-10-06 | 147 | Bodeen Bandits Partnership | Dermot McLoughlin IRE |
KATKEAU (FR) | 9-10-05 | 146 | Prof Caroline Tisdall, J A Gent, R C Wilkin | David Pipe |
MENDIP EXPRESS (IRE) | 10-10-05 | 146 | David Maxwell Racing Limited | Philip Hobbs |
PENDRA (IRE) | 8-10-05 | 146 | J P McManus | Charlie Longsdon |
SAINT ARE (FR) | 10-10-05 | 146 | David Fox | Tom George |
SPRING HEELED (IRE) | 9-10-05 | 146 | Dr Ronan Lambe | Jim Culloty IRE |
VIEUX LION ROUGE (FR) | 7-10-05 | 146 | Prof Caroline Tisdall & John Gent | David Pipe |
HOME FARM (IRE) | 9-10-04 | 145 | Chris Jones | Henry de Bromhead IRE |
MON PARRAIN (FR) | 10-10-04 | 145 | David Maxwell Racing Limited | Paul Nicholls |
THE ROMFORD PELE (IRE) | 9-10-04 | 145 | Trembath & Outhart | Rebecca Curtis |
BISHOPS ROAD (IRE) | 8-10-03 | 144 | Alan Halsall | Kerry Lee |
KNOCK HOUSE (IRE) | 7-10-03 | 144 | Tim Radford | Mick Channon |
OPEN HEARTED | 9-10-03 | 144 | Craig Buckingham | Dan Skelton |
SHOTGUN PADDY (IRE) | 9-10-03 | 144 | Axom (XXXVI) | Emma Lavelle |
ALVARADO (IRE) | 11-10-02 | 143 | William & Angela Rucker | Fergal O'Brien |
HIGHLAND LODGE (IRE) | 10-10-02 | 143 | Bowes Lodge Stables | James Moffatt |
MAGGIO (FR) | 11-10-02 | 143 | Douglas Pryde/James Beaumont | Patrick Griffin IRE |
PERFECT CANDIDATE (IRE) | 9-10-02 | 143 | ISL Recruitment | Fergal O'Brien |
PINEAU DE RE (FR) | 13-10-02 | 143 | John Provan | Dr Richard Newland |
PRESENT VIEW | 8-10-02 | 143 | Sir Chips Keswick | Jamie Snowden |
BALLY BEAUFORT (IRE) | 8-10-01 | 142 | Rob Rexton | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
BENBENS (IRE) | 11-10-01 | 142 | Sarah Such & C G Paletta | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
CAUSE OF CAUSES (USA) | 8-10-01 | 142 | J P McManus | Gordon Elliott IRE |
DOUBLE SEVEN (IRE) | 10-10-01 | 142 | J P McManus | Martin Brassil |
MIDNIGHT PRAYER | 11-10-01 | 142 | The Legends Partnership | Alan King |
MOUNTAINOUS (IRE) | 11-10-01 | 142 | Hartley Phillips Roseff Shields | Kerry Lee |
ROYALE KNIGHT | 10-10-01 | 142 | Chris Stedman & R J Corsan | Dr Richard Newland |
BLESS THE WINGS (IRE) | 11-10-00 | 141 | Adrian Butler/S P O'Connor | Gordon Elliott IRE |
BROADWAY BUFFALO (IRE) | 8-10-00 | 141 | Jo Tracey | David Pipe |
CORRIN WOOD (IRE) | 9-10-00 | 141 | Dermot Hanafin Robert Rose Ian Whitfield | Donald McCain |
DARE TO ENDEAVOUR | 9-10-00 | 141 | Aidan Ryan | Eric McNamara IRE |
EMPEROR'S CHOICE (IRE) | 9-10-00 | 141 | The Bellamy Partnership | Venetia Williams |
SPLASH OF GINGE | 9-10-00 | 141 | John Neild | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
ZIGA BOY (FR) | 7-10-00 | 141 | Axom LI | Alan King |
GAS LINE BOY (IRE) | 10-9-13 | 140 | The Three Graces | Jim Best |
GRAY HESSION (IRE) | 9-9-13 | 140 | Alan Gray | Jonjo O'Neill |
MILBOROUGH (IRE) | 10-9-13 | 140 | Helen Cross | Ian Duncan |
BOB FORD (IRE) | 9-9-12 | 139 | The JJ Partnership | Rebecca Curtis |
NIGHT IN MILAN (IRE) | 10-9-12 | 139 | Richard Collins | Keith Reveley |
OUR FATHER (IRE) | 10-9-12 | 139 | The Ives & Johnson Families | Gordon Elliott IRE |
ROGUE ANGEL (IRE) | 8-9-12 | 139 | Gigginstown House Stud | Mouse Morris IRE |
RUSSE BLANC (FR) | 9-9-12 | 139 | Mark Jackson | Kerry Lee |
SEABASS (IRE) | 13-9-12 | 139 | Gunners Syndicate | Ted Walsh IRE |
FIREBIRD FLYER (IRE) | 9-9-11 | 138 | R E R Williams | Evan Williams |
MR MOONSHINE (IRE) | 12-9-11 | 138 | D Pryde, J Beaumont, D van der Hoeven 1 | Sue Smith |
OPERATING (IRE) | 9-9-11 | 138 | Paul & Clare Rooney | Gordon Elliott IRE |
PAINT THE CLOUDS | 11-9-11 | 138 | Peter Deal & Jill & Robin Eynon | Warren Greatrex |
BIG WATER (IRE) | 8-9-10 | 137 | Elm Row Racing Syndicate | Alan Swinbank |
BENVOLIO (IRE) | 9-9-09 | 136 | Patricia Thompson | Paul Nicholls |
COGRY | 7-9-09 | 136 | Graham and Alison Jelley | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
NO SECRETS (IRE) | 12-9-09 | 136 | Malcolm Denmark | Tony Martin IRE |
SUMMERY JUSTICE (IRE) | 12-9-09 | 136 | Mrs H Brown | Venetia Williams |
AMIGO (FR) | 9-9-08 | 135 | A L Cohen & Willsford Racing | David Pipe |
COMPETITIVE EDGE (IRE) | 9-9-08 | 135 | J P McManus | Conor O'Dwyer IRE |
GOLDEN CHIEFTAIN (IRE) | 11-9-08 | 135 | Brocade Racing | Colin Tizzard |
DOING FINE (IRE) | 8-9-07 | 134 | Carl Hinchy | Rebecca Curtis |
DROMNEA (IRE) | 9-9-07 | 134 | Ann Daly | Mouse Morris IRE |
GOLDEN WONDER (IRE) | 10-9-07 | 134 | P M Cooney | Sandra Hughes IRE |
INDIAN CASTLE (IRE) | 8-9-07 | 134 | Askew Dick Hernon Reynard | Ian Williams |
RIVAGE D'OR (FR) | 11-9-07 | 134 | Gigginstown House Stud | Tony Martin IRE |
STANDING OVATION (IRE) | 9-9-07 | 134 | The Bravo Partnership | David Pipe |
IKORODU ROAD | 13-9-06 | 133 | W J Odell | Graeme McPherson |
NED STARK (IRE) | 8-9-06 | 133 | The Dunkley & Reilly Partnership | Alan King |
RATHLIN | 11-9-06 | 133 | Masters Of The Hall 2 | Micky Hammond |
RIGADIN DE BEAUCHENE (FR) | 11-9-06 | 133 | Andrew Wiles | Venetia Williams |
WYCK HILL (IRE) | 12-9-06 | 133 | J P McManus | David Bridgwater |
PORTRAIT KING (IRE) | 11-9-04 | 131 | James Beaumont & Douglas Pryde | Patrick Griffin IRE |
WOODFORD COUNTY | 9-9-04 | 131 | The Englands and Heywoods | Philip Hobbs |
ANY CURRENCY (IRE) | 13-9-03 | 130 | Cash Is King | Martin Keighley |
DARK LOVER (GER) | 11-9-03 | 130 | The Dark Lovers | Jamie Snowden |
SEEBRIGHT | 9-9-03 | 130 | Mrs D J Fleming | Victor Dartnall |
GODSMEJUDGE (IRE) | 10-9-02 | 129 | Favourites Racing Ltd | David Dennis |
SAROQUE (IRE) | 9-9-02 | 129 | Andrew Brooks | Venetia Williams |
TOUR DES CHAMPS (FR) | 9-9-02 | 129 | Caroline Mould | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
AERLITE SUPREME (IRE) | 9-9-01 | 128 | M J Haines | Evan Williams |
FINANCIAL CLIMATE (IRE) | 9-9-01 | 128 | Sara Fillery & Friends | Oliver Sherwood |
HARRY THE VIKING | 11-9-01 | 128 | Jim Beaumont & Quona Thomson | Sandy Thomson |
