For a man more used to seeing the inside of the winner’s enclosure than any other jumps trainer in recent seasons, Paul Nicholls may have been forgiven for some mixed feelings at Newbury last weekend.
Saturday’s Aon Chase at Newbury took most of the headlines when one of his horses, Denman, failed to complete the course but Nicholls still managed to win the race with his other runner, Tricky Trickster. And if ever a horse was well named it was this one.
Over the last dozen seasons Nicholls garnered a haul of the sport’s glittering prizes the lustre of which would be so bright as to bring light to Samson’s eyes. But one race has remained stubbornly beyond his grasp. That Nicholls still waits to add his name to the roll of honour for the John Smith's Grand National is certainly not for the want of trying.
Since he saddled Just So, to finish a respectable sixth to Party Politics in 1992, Nicholls has aimed another 43 shots at the target and seen everything from second-favourite Double Thriller getting no further than the first fence in 1999 to Royal Auclair beating all but Hedgehunter in 2005, although as Royal Auclair was beaten 14 lengths the bulls eye must have seemed as far away as ever.
It has reached a stage when, asked last year about his chances, Nicholls simply smiled and said: “What, with my record.”
Tricky Trickster was bought specifically to set that record straight and has done little wrong since his new owner coughed up 320,000gns at Doncaster Sales last May. A spin over hurdles at Fontwell last month was supposed to protect the horse’s handicap mark and it would appear that Nicholls’ decision to run Tricky Trickster at Newbury - where he beat another Grand National contender Niche Market by a short-head – has caused some damage to his chances. When the weights for the National were announced today he had gone up 3lbs for that win to 11st 4lb.
If Tricky Trickster is to break Nicholls’ duck he will have to carry more weight than any winner since Corbiere in 1983, who also had 11st 4lb. There is every chance that the weights will not rise, as is often case, as of three top weights - Albertas Run, Madison Du Berlais and Notre Pere - Madison Du Berlais is supposed to being trained for the National despite the burden of 11st 10lbs. Even if all three pull out the buck is liable to stop with Mon Mome, last year's winner, who has been set 11st 7lb and is scheduled to run.
Tricky Trickster gets into the National as 15th in the list of 111 runners and such is the quality of this year’s entry that only 14 of those entries are not currently in the handicap. Another factor, aside from weight, which may weigh against Tricky Trickster is age, as no seven-year-old has won the race since Bogskar in 1940.
The National is one of the few times when the racing world connects to the wider version and if Dream Alliance were to win it would be pure marketing gold. The story of this horse got its first public airing after he won the Welsh National at Chepstow in December. He was bred for small change by Brian and Jan Vokes on an allotment in the tiny Welsh mining village of Cefn Fforest, north of Newport. His promising career for an enthusiastic syndicate of 23 looked to be over just as it was getting interesting when he sliced through a tendon at Aintree two years ago but now, in the sort twist out of which legends prosper, he heads back to Liverpool with prospects of immortality.
Hollywood pedals fairytales as a base currency and the Grand National has a habit of delivering just that and apparently one producer has already contacted connections about the story. All they need now is for the horse to win - them and the 110 entries.
The Grand National is the only race that does not rely on official ratings – BHA Handicapper Phil Smith assesses each horse individually – but the ratings can still give a guide to trends. In the last 10 runnings the highest-rated winner was Mon Mone, at 148, but the average of the other nine is 140.
At present a rating of 145 might just be enough to get a run but a little higher in the weights is Ballyholland on 11st. Trained in Ireland by Colin McBratney, Ballyholland won the Galway Plate in July but his stamina would have to be taken on trust. The opposite is true of Beat The Boys, a real stayer trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, whose form figures - 12311P1/3PFP-1P1P - tell their own story and explain why he is in the wilderness in terms of the ante-post markets.
He has a propensity for making jumping errors but can win when gets into a rhythm and jumps properly. He would not be the first horse, who making a mistake early on in a National, realised that he cannot take liberties with the unforgiving Aintree fences and gets his act together.
A clear round from a proven stayer – can be a tricky combination but would be a dream alliance.
Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer
1) 03-P136 ALBERTAS RUN (IRE) 9-11-10 Trevor Hemmings Jonjo O'Neill
2) 101-324 MADISON DU BERLAIS (FR) 9-11-10 Roger Stanley & Yvonne Reynolds II David Pipe
3) 12-1F544 NOTRE PERE (FR) 9-11-10 Tilly Conway Jim Dreaper IRE
4) 12/14P/-1 TARANIS (FR) 9-11-09 Angela Yeoman Paul Nicholls
5) 4-61r01 OUR VIC (IRE) 12-11-08 David Johnson David Pipe
6) 001-P34 MON MOME (FR) 10-11-07 Vida Bingham Venetia Williams
7) P151U-0 BLACK APALACHI (IRE) 11-11-06 Gerard Burke Dessie Hughes IRE
8) 15-5003 JOE LIVELY (IRE) 11-11-06 Richard Dimond Colin Tizzard
9) 0-21150 VIC VENTURI (IRE) 10-11-06 James Dunne Dessie Hughes IRE
10) 1/P002-0 COMPLY OR DIE (IRE) 11-11-05 David Johnson David Pipe
11) 201-423 DON'T PUSH IT (IRE) 10-11-05 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
12) 231110- IRISH INVADER (IRE) 9-11-05 Sackcloth & Ashes Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
13) 43-3U240 MADE IN TAIPAN (IRE) 8-11-04 Frances Duffin/Sean Corby Tom Mullins IRE
14) 401-0352 NICHE MARKET (IRE) 9-11-04 Graham Regan Bob Buckler
15) 22121-21 TRICKY TRICKSTER (IRE) 7-11-04 Chris Giles Paul Nicholls
16) P15P-14 CASEY JONES (IRE) 9-11-03 Gillian Burke Noel Meade IRE
17) 31FU-36 CLOUDY LANE 10-11-03 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain Jnr
18) PUPP/-21 DREAM ALLIANCE 9-11-03 The Alliance Partnership Philip Hobbs
19) 1P00-60 NOZIC (FR) 9-11-03 Sam Mcvie Paul Nicholls
20) 3201-11 POSSOL (FR) 7-11-03 Neville Statham Henry Daly
21) F3-13233 SIEGEMASTER (IRE) 9-11-03 Gigginstown House Stud Dessie Hughes IRE
22) 553-205 MY WILL (FR) 10-11-02 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
23) 3606-4F PABLO DU CHARMIL (FR) 9-11-02 Joe Moran David Pipe
24) r-04205 ONE COOL COOKIE (IRE) 9-11-01 Gigginstown House Stud Charlie Swan IRE
25) P230411 WAR OF ATTRITION (IRE) 11-11-01 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE
26) 0112313 BACKSTAGE (FR) 8-11-00 MPR & Capranny Syndicate Gordon Elliott IRE
27) P6-5111 BALLYHOLLAND (IRE) 9-11-00 Cathal McGovern Colin McBratney IRE
28) FP-1P1P BEAT THE BOYS (IRE) 9-11-00 New Club Ladies Nigel Twiston-Davies
29) 100-000 PREISTS LEAP (IRE) 10-11-00 John O'Donohue/Tom O'Leary Tom O'Leary IRE
30) 212//U1-2(1)(1) ROULEZ COOL 7-11-00 Robert Waley-Cohen Robert Waley-Cohen
31) 5-31110 BERONI (IRE) 8-10-13 Margaret O'Rourke Willie Mullins IRE
32) 314F-01 CAN'T BUY TIME (IRE) 8-10-13 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
33) 1P1-0131 LE BEAU BAI (FR) 7-10-13 Glass Half Full Richard Lee
34) 11411P SEVEN IS MY NUMBER (IRE) 8-10-13 David Johnson David Pipe
35) 110322 SNOWY MORNING (IRE) 10-10-13 Quayside Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
36) 22506-P3 AIR FORCE ONE (GER) 8-10-12 Brian Walsh (Co. Kildare) Charlie Mann
37) 2U136-2U BIG FELLA THANKS 8-10-12 Maggie Findlay & Paul Barber Paul Nicholls
38) 3P///3P10- DARKNESS 11-10-12 Lady Lloyd-Webber Charles Egerton
39) 113-412 DEUTSCHLAND (USA) 7-10-12 Allan McLuckie Willie Mullins IRE
40) 4/2D133- LOUPING D'AINAY (FR) 11-10-12 Jean-Paul Senechal Francois Cottin FR
41) 143301-0 CHARACTER BUILDING (IRE) 10-10-11 Mrs E Wright John Quinn
42) F0-5260 CHELSEA HARBOUR (IRE) 10-10-11 Frances Duffin/Sean Corby Tom Mullins IRE
43) 02U-301 DOONEYS GATE (IRE) 9-10-11 Thomas Gilligan Willie Mullins IRE
44) P2-205P0 GONE TO LUNCH (IRE) 10-10-11 Gary Lever Jeremy Scott
45) 4116-6P KORNATI KID 8-10-11 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs
46) 60/144-P STATE OF PLAY 10-10-11 William & Angela Rucker Evan Williams
47) 00-1210 ELLERSLIE GEORGE (IRE) 10-10-10 Guy Henderson Nick Mitchell
48) 112130- FOLLOW THE PLAN (IRE) 7-10-10 Cavan Developments Bloodstock Oliver McKiernan IRE
49) 45-1552 JAYO (FR) 7-10-10 Peter Garvey Willie Mullins IRE
50) 11U36U ROYAL COUNTY STAR (IRE) 11-10-10 Dunsany Racing Syndicate Tony Martin IRE
51) 2P-4P15 BALLYFITZ 10-10-09 Fred Mills & Wayne Mills Nigel Twiston-Davies
52) 043545 CONNA CASTLE (IRE) 11-10-09 Kings Syndicate Jimmy Mangan IRE
53) P23-15P EQUUS MAXIMUS (IRE) 10-10-09 Greenstar Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
54) 02P5-01 ERIC'S CHARM (FR) 12-10-09 Martin St Quinton & Peter Deal Oliver Sherwood
55) 212/0-00 KING JOHNS CASTLE (IRE) 11-10-09 J P McManus Arthur Moore IRE
56) 0F2-3054 OLLIE MAGERN 12-10-09 Roger Nicholls Nigel Twiston-Davies
57) 330-30U ARBOR SUPREME (IRE) 8-10-08 J P McManus Willie Mullins IRE
58) 03-635P CANE BRAKE (IRE) 11-10-08 Mount Temple Racing Sydicate Tom Taaffe IRE
59) 6126-23 KILCREA CASTLE (IRE) 8-10-08 Michael O'Driscoll Emma Lavelle
60) 36244/-66 LENNON (IRE) 10-10-08 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
61) 02P-253 MALJIMAR (IRE) 10-10-08 Jane Williams Nick Williams
62) 0/1P025/- NEW ALCO (FR) 9-10-08 D McGowan & S Murphy Ferdy Murphy
63) 6FF-1FU0 BIBLE LORD (IRE) 9-10-07 Martin Tedham Andy Turnell
64) U01-4U5 IRISH RAPTOR (IRE) 11-10-07 Caroline Beresford-Wylie Nigel Twiston-Davies
65) 6P/6220- MR POINTMENT (IRE) 11-10-07 Judith Wilson Paul Murphy
66) F-051FP PARSONS PISTOL (IRE) 8-10-07 Robert Bagnall Noel Meade IRE
67) 000-3301 PIRAYA (FR) 7-10-07 Terry Neill David Pipe
68) 13-01240 RAZOR ROYALE (IRE) 8-10-07 Colin Cornes Nigel Twiston-Davies
69) 03-0231 THE PACKAGE 7-10-07 David Johnson David Pipe
70) 11-035B HELLO BUD (IRE) 12-10-06 Seamus Murphy Nigel Twiston-Davies
71) P31314/-5 IRIS DE BALME (FR) 10-10-06 Lee Power & Geoff Peck Sean Curran
72) 1P6-142 PALYPSO DE CREEK (FR) 7-10-06 Alan Halsall Charlie Longsdon
73) 11P/11-1 TRUST FUND (IRE) 12-10-06 Lord Daresbury Richard Barber
74) 23/32-31 ABBEYBRANEY (IRE) 9-10-05 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
75) 50PP/05- CERIUM (FR) 9-10-05 Judith Wilson Paul Murphy
76) P63/52-P FLINTOFF (USA) 9-10-05 Andrew Flintoff & Paul Beck Venetia Williams
77) 4/1PF-50 PARSONS LEGACY (IRE) 12-10-05 Rodney Offer Philip Hobbs
78) 56/-33P5 ROYAL ROSA (FR) 11-10-05 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
79) 0F-26r2 SILVER BIRCH (IRE) 13-10-05 Brian Walsh (Co. Kildare) Gordon Elliott IRE
80) 2F0-226 COE (IRE) 8-10-04 Trevor Hemmings Sue Smith
81) 4211-544 GLENFINN CAPTAIN (IRE) 11-10-04 J P McManus Tom Taaffe IRE
82) P-3PP46 KNOWHERE (IRE) 12-10-04 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
83) 3025-056 OODACHEE 11-10-04 Modreeny Syndicate Charlie Swan IRE
84) P4F1311 WHINSTONE BOY (IRE) 9-10-04 Whinstone Syndicate Jimmy Mangan IRE
85) 0P03-40 FAASEL (IRE) 9-10-03 Hush Hush Partnership David Pipe
86) 30-01233 MUMBLES HEAD (IRE) 9-10-03 Karen Bowen Peter Bowen
87) P/1r40P- OFFICIER DE RESERVE (FR) 8-10-03 Seasons Holidays Venetia Williams
88) 456-232 SIZING AUSTRALIA (IRE) 8-10-03 Ann & Alan Potts Partnership Henry de Bromhead IRE
89) 1/1///P6-4 TRABOLGAN (IRE) 12-10-03 Trevor Hemmings Nicky Henderson
90) 115-300 CHIEF DAN GEORGE (IRE) 10-10-02 Maurice Chapman Jimmy Moffatt
91) 111P20 DUERS (IRE) 8-10-02 Kate Kelly/Kate Ronan Paul Magnier IRE
92) P01-1U0 BALLYTRIM (IRE) 9-10-01 Violet O'Leary Willie Mullins IRE
93) 20-0U00 OFFSHORE ACCOUNT (IRE) 10-10-01 Brian Polly Charlie Swan IRE
94) 0/-P220P PAK JACK (FR) 10-10-01 The Pak Jack Partnership Richard Phillips
95) 51-63F3 BOYCHUK (IRE) 9-10-00 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs
96) 366//4-54 KINGS ADVOCATE (IRE) 10-10-00 Maine Syndicate Tom Taaffe IRE
97) 1/3F-116 TREACLE (IRE) 9-10-00 Bjorn Nielsen Tom Taaffe IRE
98) 145-261 GALANT NUIT (FR) 6-9-13 David Parry Ferdy Murphy
99) 00F421 ANOTHERCOPPERCOAST (IRE)10-9-12 Eileen Queally Paul Roche IRE
100) 31F4-22 BELON GALE (IRE) 7-9-12 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
101) 45-0600 POMME TIEPY (FR) 7-9-12 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
102) 61021-02D MERIGO (FR) 9-9-10 Raymond & Anita Anderson Green Andrew Parker
103) 53414-00 CHIARO (FR) 8-9-09 Andrew Cohen Philip Hobbs
104) 2P6-53PP KILBEGGAN BLADE 11-9-09 Kevin & Anne Doocey Tom George
105) 5/44-U335 ACCORDING TO JOHN (IRE) 10-9-08 Sir Robert Ogden Nicky Richards
106) 24-512P0 LORUM LEADER (IRE) 9-9-07 Dr Richard & Laura Newland Dr Richard Newland
107) 2214/-0PP OLD BENNY 9-9-07 Trevor Hemmings Alan King
108) 1342/-0PP OVER THE CREEK 11-9-04 David Johnson David Pipe
109) 253-346 COSSACK DANCER (IRE) 12-9-01 The United Front Partnership Mark Bradstock
110) 0/13P/-FP5 WEE ROBBIE 10-9-00 P H Betts (Holdings) Ltd Nick Gifford
111) 2U1/P6P-4 OFFALY (IRE) 9-8-12 The Pole to Pole Partnership Pru Townsley
111 entries
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