Press Release: 95 horses go forward for 2017 Randox Health Grand National Wednesday, March 1, 2017 - A total of 95 horses go forward for the 2017 Randox Health Grand National following the first scratchings' deadline, details of which are revealed today. Staged at Aintree on Saturday, April 8, the famous handicap chase offers total prize money of £1 million and is by far the richest Jump race globally staged outside of Japan. It is run over four miles, two furlongs and 74 yards and 30 fences. Heading the market at 10/1 with Betway, official betting partner of the Randox Health Grand National Festival, is Vieux Lion Rouge (10st 11lb, David Pipe), who won the Betfred Becher Chase over the course in December before cementing his credentials even further when landing the Betfred Grand National Trial at Haydock Park on February 18, coming home home three and a quarter lengths clear of Blaklion (Nigel Twiston-Davies), who is one of three 16/1 co second favourites with Betway. Also on the 16/1 mark is One For Arthur (10st 10lb, Lucina Russell), bidding to become only the second Scottish-trained winner of the Randox Health Grand National after Rubstic (1979) and last seen out when the impressive six-length winner of the Betfred Classic Chase at Warwick on January 14. Last year's runner-up The Last Samuri (11st 9lb, Kim Bailey) is also a 16/1 chance with Betway and is set to complete his Randox Health Grand National preparation in the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase at Doncaster on Saturday (March 4), a race he won last season prior to his excellent effort at Aintree. Also entered in the Doncaster contest are fellow Randox Health Grand National entries Definitly Red (10st 11lb, Brian Ellison, 28/1), Vivaldi Collonges (10st 10lb, Paul Nicholls, 66/1), Junction Fourteen (10st 10lb, Emma Lavelle, 50/1) and Knock House (10st 3lb, Donald McCain, 66/1). Junction Fourteen was last seen out when runner-up in a valuable G3 handicap chase over three miles at Ascot on October 29. The eight-year-old, who is owned by Martin St Quinton and Tim Syder, landed the G2 Future Stars Novices' Chase at Wincanton in 2015 and was also successful on the final day of last season when taking the Josh Gifford Novices' Handicap Chase at Sandown Park. Lavelle, who is based at Ogbourne Maizey in Wiltshire, commented: "Depending how Junction Fourteen works this week, we will see whether he is straight enough to go to Doncaster. If he doesn't run in the Grimthorpe, we will take him to Newbury for a racecourse gallop and then possibly run at the Cheltenham Festival (where Junction Fourteen holds an entry in the Ultima Handicap Chase on March 14). "I was happy enough with the rating he was allotted for the Randox Health Grand National, he will be carrying a lot less than he has been in his races and we are looking forward to it. He is a horse that travels and loves his jumping. He is also a horse loves his food! That is why we just need to see how straight he is before deciding where he runs next. "He has run all right on soft ground but prefers good or good to soft ground." Junction Fourteen has yet to win over further than an extended two miles and six furlongs over fences, although his trainer believes that he can be effective over further. Lavelle continued: "This year when he was up against the big boys over two and a half miles, he just wasn't quick enough but there was no doubt he kept going at Ascot over three miles and we think he has a chance of staying at Aintree. "You never know until you run them as it is an extended distance but I don't think it is the case that we will be going there thinking he is a very doubtful stayer. "Fingers crossed we can make the line-up - it is a case of both work and cotton wool in the build-up." The last Randox Health Grand National winner to have previously run in the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase before going on to score at Aintree in the same season was Amberleigh House in 2004. Amberleigh House was fifth in the Doncaster race ahead of his famous Grand National success for the late Ginger McCain. Randox Health Grand National clues could also come on Saturday in the Listed Premier Chase at Kelso. Definitly Red and Vivaldi Collonges are also entered in the contest at the Scottish venue along with recent impressive Ascot winner Tenor Nivernais (11st, Venetia Williams, 33/1) and Le Mercurey (10st 13lb, Paul Nicholls, 33/1) There are 26 Irish-trained contenders remaining, including Carlingford Lough (11st 10lb, John Kiely, 28/1), a five-time G1 winner who is now at the top of the handicap. Also going forward for Ireland is last year's sixth Ucello Conti (10st 11lb, Gordon Elliott IRE, 18/1) who has been well-supported in the ante-post market, plus recent Bobbyjo Chase scorer Pleasant Company (Willie Mullins, 10st 11lb, 20/1). The next acceptance stage for the Randox Health Grand National is on Tuesday, March 21. A maximum of 40 horses can line up in the 2017 Randox Health Grand National. Latest odds from Betway, official betting partner of the Randox Health Grand National Festival 10/1 Vieux Lion Rouge; 16/1 One For Arthur, Blaklion, The Last Samuri; 18/1 Ucello Conti; 20/1 The Young Master, Pleasant Company, More Of That; 25/1 Carole's Destrier, Foxrock, Minella Rocco, Vicente; 28/1 Definitly Red, Rogue Angel, Carlingford Lough; 33/1 O'Faolains Boy, Thunder And Roses, Cause Of Causes, Tenor Nivernais, Le Mercurey; 40/1 Saint Are, Ziga Boy, Shantou Flyer, Sausalito Sunrise, Raz De Maree, Maggio, Highland Lodge; 50/1 Alvarado, Bishops Road, Pendra, Clarcam, Hadrians Approach, Sizing Coal, The Crafty Butcher, Goodtoknow, Regal Encore, As De Mee, Roi Des Francs, Racing Pulse, Shutthefrontdoor, Polidam, Alary, Lord Scoundrel, Houblon Des Obeaux, Measureofmydreams, Alelchi Inois, Wounded Warrior, Lord Windermere, Saphir Du Rheu, Junction Fourteen, Road To Riches, Royale Knight, Perfect Candidate; 66/1 Straidnahanna, Drop Out Joe, Dare To Endeavour, La Vaticane, Killer Crow, Doctor Harper, Sambremont, Ballynagour, Lessons In Milan, Potters Cross, Seventh Sky, Silver Man, Vyta Du Roc, Double Shuffle, Just A Par, Stellar Notion, Gas Line Boy, Streets Of Promise, Milansbar, Samingarry, Katenko, Viva Steve, Mountain King, Emperors Choice, The Romford Pele, Vics Canvas, Cocktails At Dawn, Vivaldi Collonges, Wonderful Charm, Milborough, Knock House; 80/1 Out Sam; 100/1 Beeves, Goulanes, Gone Too Far, Bless The Wings, Cloudy Too, Alfie Spinner, Father Edward, Federici, Benbens, Waldorf Salad, Lamb Or Cod Grand National Day Grandstand Ticket Areas, Festival Zone Sold Out With less than six weeks to go until the 2017 Randox Health Grand National Festival, all Grandstand and Festival Zone (Tattersalls) tickets as well hospitality areas for Grand National Day are sold out, with only Steeplechase Enclosure tickets still available for the final day at Aintree on Saturday, April 8. This announcement comes several weeks sooner than last year which shows the demand and the feel-good factor for the greatest race in the world. All Grandstand and Festival Zone (Tattersalls) tickets, as well as hospitality areas, are sold out on Saturday, April 8, but Steeplechase Enclosure tickets can still be bought through randoxhealthgrandnational.co.uk for £27. Aside from Grand National Day, tickets are still available for the 2017 Randox Health Grand National Festival on Grand Opening Day, Thursday April 6, and Ladies Day, Friday, April 7, but they are selling fast. For Grand Opening Day, tickets are available from £29 for Festival Zone (Tattersalls) and hospitality places are available from £119 plus VAT. For Ladies Day, tickets are available from £43 and hospitality from £169 plus VAT. Racegoers can purchase by visiting randoxhealthgrandnational.co.uk or by calling 0344 579 3001. John Baker, Managing Director of Aintree Racecourse, said: "The Grand National is in a great place and this can be seen by the way racegoers have flocked to buy tickets for the Randox Health Grand National Festival. "We are delighted with the sales for Grand National Day and we are ahead on total ticket sales over the three days compared to this time last year, which is excellent. I'd urge racegoers to get their tickets quickly for both Grand Opening and Ladies Day so they don't miss out. "We're all excited about the Festival and are working extremely hard to provide racegoers with the best possible experience over the three days. It's not just about selling tickets, we want racegoers to really enjoy themselves at one of the best horseracing Festivals in the world. "We hope our Racemakers' initiative will continue to ensure a fantastic welcome to racegoers and we're again delighted to provide a fantastic prize for the winner of the Ladies Day Style Award - a Range Rover Evoque. "With the quality of horses entered into the Grand National race as well as across the Festival, it is three days of fun and top class racing that's not to be missed." About Aintree Racecourse / The Jockey Club Aintree is home to The Randox Health Grand National, the most famous horse race in the world which is the climax to a three-day Festival meeting in April every year. The racecourse hosts five other fixtures and is a leading conference centre in the north west of England. More information is available at aintree.thejockeyclub.co.uk Aintree is part of The Jockey Club which has been at the heart of British racing for more than 260 years. Today the largest commercial group in the sport, The Jockey Club runs the largest racecourse group in the UK by attendances (2015: 1.95m), total prize money (2015: £43.9m), contribution to prize money (2015: £19.9m) and quality racing (Group and Graded races); more than 3,000 acres of world-class training grounds in Newmarket, Lambourn and Epsom Downs; the National Stud breeding enterprise and education provider; and the charity for racing's people in need, Racing Welfare. Governed by Royal Charter with Her Majesty The Queen its Patron, every penny The Jockey Club makes it puts back into British racing. More information is available at www.thejockeyclub.co.uk About Randox / Randox Health Randox Health is the largest healthcare diagnostics company from the UK, with 1,400 employees of 44 different nationalities, including 300 research scientists and engineers. Established in 1982, Randox now has offices and distribution in over 145 countries and exports 95% of its products. It has four key manufacturing and R&D sites: in County Antrim, Northern Ireland; Dungloe, County Donegal, Ireland; Bangalore, India, and in the Greater Washington DC area, USA. Every year over 370 million patients are diagnosed using Randox technology. With over 20% of the world's major laboratories using Randox products and services, the company works across a range of settings, including hospitals, clinical, research and molecular labs, food testing, forensic toxicology, veterinary labs and life sciences. Randox has more new tests in development than any other diagnostic company, and the unique patented Randox BioChip Array Technology is the world's only diagnostic grade biochip. The Randox Health check, the world's most advanced preventative health check, is available in Randox Health clinics currently located in London and Belfast, with ambitious plans to roll out a number of new clinics across the UK over 2016-2017. More information on Randox products and services is available at www.randox.com , or for more information on the Randox Health Clinics visit www.randoxhealth.com List of horses attached
