Many Clouds top-weight at 11st 10lb in 2016 Crabbies’ Grand National
Published:
David Metcalf | February 16, 2016
Many Clouds will have to carry top-weight of 11st 10lb, compared to 11st 9lb to in 2015, as he bids to become the first horse to win back-to-back renewals of the Crabbie’s Grand National since all-time great Red Rum in 1973 and 1974.
The Oliver Sherwood nine-year-old, who is owned by Trevor Hemmings, is the 12/1 clear favourite with Coral after weights for the world’s greatest steeplechase at Aintree on Saturday, April 9th, were revealed today at a glamorous lunch in the heart of London.
By far the richest chase outside of Japan, the Grand National has a total prize fund of £1m. It is staged over four 4m and 770 yards and will be run for 169th time in 2016, with a new start time of 17:15 GMT.
Five of the first six horses home in 2015 are among the 126 entries – runner-up Saint Are (10st 5lb, 25/1 with Coral), fourth Alvarado (10st 2lb, 33/1), fifth Shutthefrontdoor (10st 11lb, 25/1) and sixth Royale Knight (10st 1lb, 33/1).
Previous winner Pineau De Re 40/1 for more glory
In addition to Many Clouds, there is another horse attempting to win a second Crabbie’s Grand National in the shape of the Dr Richard Newland trained Pineau De Re (10st 2lb, 40/1), who was victorious in 2014 under 10st 6lb.
Other contenders with winning form over the Grand National fences include this season’s Becher Chase scorer Highland Lodge (10st 2lb, 40/1) and Triolo D’Alene (11st, 33/1) who collected the 2013 Crabbie’s Topham Chase.
38-strong Irish challenge
There are 38 Irish-trained horses entered, including last’s season’s RSA Chase hero Don Poli (11st 9lb, 25/1), Carlingford Lough (11st 7lb, 25/1), who recently won the Grade 1 Irish Gold Cup for the second year in succession and Sir Des Champs (10st 13lb, 33/1) who was runner-up in the 2013 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Other contenders trained in Ireland include the 2015 Irish Grand National victor Thunder And Roses (10st 6lb, 33/1), 2014 Crabbie’s Grand National third Double Seven (10st 1lb, 33/1) and and Goonyella (10st 8lb, 25/1), who won last season’s Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter and finished runner-up in Ayr’s Coral Scottish Grand National.
Ted Walsh has two contenders with dual Grade 2 winner Foxrock (11st 3lb, 33/1) and Seabass (9st 12lb, 50/1), who was third in 2012.
Silviniaco Conti spearheads nine entries for Nicholls
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has more entries than any other, with nine engaged. These are headed by six-time Grade 1 victor Silviniaco Conti (11st 8lb, 25/1) and Just A Par (10st 6lb, 33/1), who triumphed in last season’s bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.
There are two past winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup engaged with 2014 scorer Lord Windermere (11st 1lb, 50/1) and 2011 victor Long Run (10st 8lb, 33/1).
Other contenders prominent in Coral’s ante post market include Houblon Des Obeaux (11st 5lb, 33/1), who bounced back to form with a Grade 2 victory at Newbury on Saturday; Kruzhlinin (Philip Hobbs, 10st 7lb, 33/1), who finished 10th in 2014 and recorded an eye-catching victory at Kempton last month; and The Druids Nephew (11st, 25/1), who was leading the field when falling at Valentine’s on the second circuit last year.
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