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Stewarts House, a gritty winner of the Betfred Grand Sefton Handicap Chase over the Grand National course in early December, is on target for the John Smith's Grand National according to trainer Tim Vaughan. The 2012 John Smith's Grand National takes place at Aintree on Saturday, April 14 and offers record prize money of £975,000.
Vaughan, who acquired the 10-year-old from Arthur Moore over the summer, said: “At the moment, it's all systems go with Stewarts House and the John Smith's Grand National is very much the plan. We were going to take him to Cheltenham but we have decided to go straight to Aintree now.
“When he won at Newton Abbot (in August) we were hoping he was potentially well handicapped and after that the Grand Sefton was always the race we had in the back of our mind. However, going there and winning it is a different story - he has surprised us with how hardy and tough he is.
“He owes us absolutely nothing and if we could get a nice run out him in the John Smith's Grand National it would be a dream come true for the owners.
“I think he ticks all the right boxes. The only negative about him is the trip and for me that is the one question we don't really know. Then again, how many people genuinely do know if their horse will stay.
“He has a perfect racing weight and I think he should be competitive off his mark of 142. He won at Aintree off a mark of 134 and I believe he is an 8lb better horse on better ground because his wind has always been an issue. Aidan Coleman said his wind was bad all the way during the Grand Sefton, so you would like to think he would be a better horse when he can breathe better.”
Stewarts House has 10st 5lb in the John Smith's Grand National, while Vaughan could also saddle Postmaster and believes that horse could get into the race off a weight of 10st 2lb.
Vaughan continued: “Postmaster will probably take his chance too. He hasn't done anything wrong, obviously he has got a grand weight and I think he will get into the race. He is another you would wonder if he has enough class and ability, but that is anyone's guess.
“He is a lovely tough horse, loves the fast ground and will have a prep run in a hunter chase before going to Aintree. His stamina would have to be a concern too and there is no use pretending it's not, but you have to be in it to win it.”
A number of John Smith's Grand National clues will be revealed next week as a whole host of fancies for the four and a half mile marathon over 30 fences at Aintree could stake their claims at the Cheltenham Festival.
Hold On Julio, who has been allotted 10st 7lb in the John Smith's Grand National, and Quantitativeeasing (11st 2lb) could lock horns in the JLT Specialty Chase over an extended three miles. The former has won his two chase starts under rules impressively at Sandown, while Quantitativeeasing denied Medermit in the shadow of the post when capturing the Spinal Research The Atlantic 4 Gold Cup at Cheltenham in December, but still needs to qualify for the Aintree feature by finishing in the first four in a chase over three miles or more. Evan Williams could also saddle Coral Welsh National third Cappa Bleu (10st 10lb) in the first handicap of The Festival after he finished third at Ascot on his latest start, while Richard Lee's Racing Plus Chase runner-up Hector's Choice (10st 11lb), who qualified for the John Smith's Grand National with that effort, is another possible participant.
The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase on Thursday could see well-fancied Aintree entries including 2010 National Hunt Chase runner-up Becauseicouldntsee (10st 3lb) and last season's Irish Grand National third Sunnyhill Boy (10st 5lb).
There will also be Aintree hopefuls taking their chance in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup including Nicky Henderson's Burton Port (11st 7lb), Donald McCain's Weird Al (11st 8lb) ,while last year's John Smith's Grand National favourite The Midnight Club (10st 8lb) is also entered in The Festival showpiece. Synchronised, who will carry top-weight of 11st 10lb at Aintree should he take his chance, is an intended starter in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup and represents the combination of owner J P McManus, trainer Jonjo O'Neill and jockey A P McCoy, successful in the 2010 John Smith's Grand National with Don't Push It.
Last season's John Smith's Grand National victor Ballabriggs (11st 9lb) returned to action with a promising fourth in the Kelso Premier Chase last weekend, while at Doncaster Junior (11st 2lb) went down narrowly in the Grimthorpe Chase, rallying gamely after the last to join Ikorodu Road in the shadow of the post.
A total of 74 horses remain engaged in the 2012 John Smith's Grand National with Niche Market, Backstage and Massini's Maguire having been scratched in recent days. Niche Market, who won the Irish Grand National in 2009 and finished fifth in the 2011 John Smith's Grand National, will now spend a well-earned retirement at the farm of Nick Skelton, father of his regular partner Harry Skelton.
The next scratchings deadline for the John Smith's Grand National is on Tuesday, March 20.
The 2012 John Smith's Grand National meeting runs from April 12 to 14 and showcases top-class racing on each day.
Tickets and hospitality are still available for all three days of the meeting. On Thursday seats are available, starting at £26 for West Tip. Restaurant dining is available from £104. Only Tattersalls tickets remain on Ladies Day (£35), Friday, April 13, which features the Melling and Topham Chases, however, the restaurant is available with a Grand Stand badge at £204. On John Smith's Grand National day, the only admission ticket available is the Steeplechase Enclosure and within hospitality packages.
Latest odds from Betfred, official betting partner of the John Smith's Grand National meeting
9/1 Prince De Beauchene; 10/1 Junior; 16/1 Ballabriggs; Synchronised, West End Rocker, Seabass, Burton Port; 20/1 Chicago Grey; On His Own; Midnight Chase; Giles Cross; Treacle; Roberto Goldback; Quel Esprit; Neptune Collonges; Cappa Bleu; 25/1 The Midnight Club, Shakalakaboomboom, Roulez Cool, Planet Of Sound, Hold On Julio, Deep Purple, Apt Approach, Calgary Bay; 33/1 Always Right, Viking Blond, Stewarts House, Quiscover Fontaine, Quantitativeeasing, Pearlysteps, Organisedconfusion, Le Beau Bai, Hector's Choice, Weird Al, Alfa Beat, Sunnyhillboy, According To Pete, Killyglen, Always Waining, State Of Play, Becauseicouldntsee; 40/1 Arbor Supreme, Postmaster, Vic Venturi, Uncle Junior, The Package, Tatenen, Some Target, Rare Bob, Fair Along, Mon Mome, Ballyvesey; 50/1 Swing Bill, Black Apalachi, Hello Bud, Midnight Haze, Our Island, Tharawaat, Shakervilz, Scotsirish, Another Palm, Any Currency, Wymott; 66/1 In Compliance, Saddlers Storm, Schindler's Gold, Psycho; 100/1 Abbeybraney, Smoking Aces, Neptune Equester, Minella Theatre