Record entries for Grand National

The 2003 Martell Cognac Grand National (5 April) has a record initial entry of 149 horses, five more than for last year’s race at this early stage.

This year the world famous Aintree steeplechase carries prize money of £600,000, an increase of £100,000 on 2002.

Three former winners are included – Bindaree (2002), Red Marauder(2001) and Papillon (2000) – with last year’s second, third and fourth-placed horses, respectively What’s Up Boys, Blowing Wind and Kingsmark, also entered.

Other notable names in the top class entry include the Pertemps King George VI Chase winners Florida Pearl, one of 34 Irish-trained entries, and First Gold, who heads seven entries trained in France.

Champion UK trainer Martin Pipe, who won the 1994 race with Miinnehoma, accounts for 19 of this year’s 149 entries and there is one entry from Norway, the Rune Haugen-trained Trinitro, who hopefully will improve on his first fence fall in 2000.

Charles Barnett, Aintree’s managing director, said: “We are thrilled to have another record entry for the Martell Cognac Grand National and the quality of the horses competing continues to rise.

“When the weights are announced on Tuesday, 4 February it will be fascinating to see what the British Horseracing Board’s senior National Hunt handicapper Phil Smith has done.”

The Martell Cognac Grand National Entries

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