Irish trio top the weights

The Irish-trained trio were all allocated 11. 12lb, a pound more than last year’s winners Noble Yeats and Galvin. Royal Pagaille (11st 8lb) is the heaviest horse on the British team.

BHA Chase Handicapper Martin Greenwood, framing the weights, said: “This year we are doing well at the high end for horses rated in the 150s and 160s and there are a handful of very good horses entered including last year’s winner Noble Yeats.

“Noble Yeats is about 20 pounds up on last year but his form this season in graded racing is the reason for that. The three horses at the top of the handicap – Conflated, Any Second Now and Hewick – should all be very likely to run and it is very positive that the quality of racing at the top end of the handicap is up to standard.

“Regarding Hewick’s win at the American Grand National, we officially consider this race a hurdle race in our system because the obstacles there are sort of a hybrid of our hurdles and fences. The hurdle team had him running to a mark in the mid 150s when he won that day and I don’t think that told us anything about him that we didn’t already really know. Obviously the fact that it cost so little, won at Sandown Park, was unlucky when he was dismounted at Listowel, crossed over to America and won means he is the feel-good story of the race. His coach was very positive and I hope he runs.

“This year there weren’t any horses that caused me any particular difficulties, they were all more or less uncomplicated horses. In terms of the day’s run, I’d say you’d be looking at horses rated around 142 or 143.

When I get the entries I try to do my homework on the Irish entries and keep up with the Irish races being held at the same time as the UK. I take notes every time I watch a race and give them a header to jog my memory when needed, but sometimes I find myself going back and watching the odd race replay.

“This race was a bit different as we had the Grand National Trial at Haydock Park on Saturday and the Grand National Trial at Punchestown yesterday, both of which usually take place after the weights come out. I set up Quick Wave (who won the Haydock Park trial on Saturday) at 4lbs and Coko Beach (successful at Punchestown) at 9lbs. I found Coko Beach very impressive and it seemed to benefit from a more patient drive.

“As a handicapper your goal is to run at what you feel is the right weight, but in a race that finishes early, especially at the Grand National, you’re always going to have horses pacing, but there’s nothing I can do and my hands are tied.”

2023 Randox Grand National weights

1 Any Second Now (IRE) 11 11 12 167 Mr John P McManus Ted Walsh IRE

2 Conflated (IRE) 9 11 12 167 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

3 Hewick (IRE) 8 11 12 167 Mr TJ Mcdonald John Hanlon IRE

4 Galvin (IRE) 9 11 11 166 Mr. RA Bartlett Gordon Elliott IRE

5 Noble Yeats (IRE) 8 11 11 166 Mr. Robert Waley-Cohen Emmet Mullins IRE

6 Envoi Allen (FR) 9 11 8 163 Cheveley Park Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE

7 Royale Pagaille (FR) 9 11 8 163 Mrs. S. Ricci Venetia Williams

8 Fury Road (IRE) 9 11 6 161 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

9 Capodanno (FR) 7 11 5 160 Mr. John P. McManus Willie Mullins IRE

10 The Big Dog (IRE) 10 11 5 160 Damien J. Kelly/Colin Kelly Peter Fahey IRE

11 Delta Work (FR) 10 11 4 159 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

12 Sam Brown (GB) 11 11 4 159 Mr. TC Frost Anthony Honeyball

13 Franco de Port (FR) 8 11 3 158 Bruton Street V Willie Mullins IRE

14 Lifetime Ambition (IRE) 8 11 3 158 Linda Mulcahy/Mary Wolridge Jessica Harrington IRE

15 Carefully Chosen (IRE) 11 11 1 156 Miss MA Masterson Willie Mullins IRE

16 Chris’s Dream (IRE) 11 11 0 155 Robcour Henry de Bromhead IRE

17 Coko Beach (FR) 8 11 0 155 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

18 Gaillard du Mesnil (FR) 7 11 0 155 Mrs. J. Donnelly Willie Mullins IRE

19 Longhouse Poet (IRE) 9 11 0 155 Sean & Bernardine Mulryan Martin Brassil IRE

*20 Minella Times (IRE) 10 11 0 155 Mr. John P. McManus Henry de Bromhead IRE

21 Darasso (FR) 10 10 13 154 Mr. John P. McManus Joseph O’Brien IRE

22 Burrows Saint (FR) 10 10 12 153 Mrs S. Ricci Willie Mullins IRE

23 Pencilful of Lead (IRE) 9 10 12 153 Robcour Gordon Elliott IRE

24 Ga Law (FR) 7 10 11 152 The Footie Partnership Jamie Snowden

25 Happygolucky (IRE) 9 10 11 152 Lady Dulverton Kim Bailey

26 Le Milos (UK) 8 10 11 152 The Jolly Good Partnership Dan Skelton

27 Quick Wave (FR) 10 10 11 152 Mrs. Sharon Kinsella Venetia Williams

28 The Shunter (IRE) 10 10 11 152 Mr. John P. McManus Emmet Mullins IRE

29 Escaria Ten (FR) 9 10 10 151 McNeill Family Gordon Elliott IRE

30 Farclas (FR) 9 10 10 151 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

31 Remastered (GB) 10 10 10 151 Brocade Racing David Pipe

32 The Big Breakaway (IRE) 8 10 10 151 Eric Jones, Geoff Nicholas, John Romans Joe Tizzard

33 Threeunderthrufive (IRE) 8 10 9 150 McNeill Paul Nicholls family

34 Cape Gentleman (IRE) 7 10 8 149 Mr. Pierre Manigault John Hanlon IRE

35 Cilaos Emery (FR) 11 10 8 149 Sophie Leech from The Has Been

36 Diol Ker (FR) 9 10 8 149 Gigginstown House Stud Noel Meade IRE

37 Roi Mage (FR) 11 10 8 149 Pryde/Van Der Hoeven/McGladery/Beaumont Patrick Griffin IRE

38 A Wave of the Sea (IRE) 7 10 6 147 Mr. John P. McManus Joseph O’Brien IRE

39 Minella Trump (IRE) 9 10 6 147 Mr TG Leslie Donald McCain

40 Vanillier (FR) 8 10 6 147 Mrs. HM Keaveney Gavin Cromwell IRE

41 Velvet Elvis (IRE) 7 10 6 147 Mr D. Kierans Tom Gibney IRE

42 Isn’t that a shame (IRE) 9 10 5 146 Robcour Henry de Bromhead IRE

43 Corach Rambler (IRE) 9 10 5 146 The Wanderers Lucinda Russell

44 Enjoy d’Allen (FR) 9 10 5 146 Mr. John P. McManus Ciaran Murphy IRE

45 Lord Lariat (IRE) 8 10 5 146 P Blake/Patrick John Casey Dermot McLoughlin IRE

46 Ash Tree Meadow (FR) 7 10 4 145 Alymer Stud Ltd Gordon Elliott IRE

47 Battleoverdoyen (IRE) 10 10 4 145 Pioneer Racing Gordon Elliott IRE

48 Cloudy Glen (IRE) 10 10 4 145 Exors of the late Mr Trevor Hemmings Venetia Williams

49 Gin On Lime (FR) 7 10 4 145 Robcour Henry de Bromhead IRE

50 Mister Coffey (FR) 8 10 4 145 Lady Bamford & Alice Bamford Nicky Henderson

51 Mr Incredible (IRE) 7 10 4 145 Mr P Byrne Willie Mullins IRE

52 Ashtown Lad (IRE) 9 10 3 144 Darren & Annaley Yates Dan Skelton

53 Gabbys Cross (IRE) 8 10 2 143 Mr RS Brookhouse Henry de Bromhead IRE

54 Hill Sixteen (GB) 10 10 2 143 J Fyffe & S Townshend Sandy Thomson

55 Eva’s Oskar (IRE) 9 10 1 142 Sally & Richard Prince Tim Vaughan

56 Rappers (UK) 9 10 1 142 The Home Farm Partnership Henry Daly

57 Recite A Prayer (IRE) 8 10 1 142 The Turner Willie Mullins Family IRE

58 Death Duty (IRE) 12 10 0 141 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

59 Dunboyne (IRE) 8 10 0 141 SP O’Connor Gordon Elliott IRE

60 Francky du Berlais (FR) 10 10 0 141 Mr. Roddy Owen Peter Bowen

61 Frontal Assault (IRE) 8 10 0 141 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

62 Our Power (IRE) 8 10 0 141 Walters Plant Hire & Potter Group Sam Thomas

63 Sporting John (IRE) 8 10 0 141 Mr. John P. McManus Philip Hobbs

64 Back On The Lash (GB) 9 9 13 140 Maughan, Redknapp, Ryan, Salters Martin Keighley

65 Fortescue (GB) 9 9 13 140 Mrs. L Nixon Henry Daly

66 Defi Bleu (FR) 10 9 12 139 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

67 Born at the Sea (IRE) 9 9 10 137 Natalie Gilligan Paul Gilligan IRE

68 Gevrey (FR) 7 9 10 137 Denis Gallagher Racing Gordon Elliott IRE

69 Milan Native (IRE) 10 9 10 137 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

70 Penalty (IRE) 9 9 10 137 Pioneer Racing Gordon Elliott IRE

71 Captain Kangaroo (IRE) 8 9 8 135 Kanga Racing & Brett Graham Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE

72 Darrens Hope (IRE) 9 9 8 135 Robert Murphy Robert Murphy IRE

73 Fakiera (FR) 8 9 8 135 Mr. T. O’Driscoll Gordon Elliott IRE

74 Mortal (IRE) 11 9 8 135 Mr. A. Dunlop Gordon Elliott IRE

75 Captain Cattistock (GB) 10 9 5 132 Mr Nic Brereton Fergal O’Brien

76 Fantastikas (FR) 8 9 5 132 Imperial Racing Partnership 2016 Nigel Twiston Davies

77 Secret Reprieve (IRE) 9 9 5 132 Mr. & Mrs. William Rucker Evan Williams

78 Glamorgan Duke (IRE) 10 9 1 128 Natalie Gilligan Paul Gilligan IRE

*Henry de Bromhead announced the withdrawal of the Minella Times this morning (Tuesday, February 21).

scratched; Fiddlerontheroof (IRE), Grumpy Charley (UK), Iwilldoit (UK), Riders Onthe Storm (IRE)

UNQUALIFIED: Chemical Energy (IRE), Nearly Perfect (UK), Minella Crooner (IRE)

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