Grand National 2018 – Reaction from leading trainers including Gordon Elliott, Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson as the weights were published
From Gordon Elliott to Nicky Henderson, the trainers give their reactions to the weights and outline who could run in the Aintree contest in April
The weights for the 2018 Randox Health Grand National have been revealed.
Read what connections had to say about their contenders for the Aintree spectacular.
Trainer Brian Ellison - Definitly Red (11st 10lb)
"I sort of expected him to be top-weight really. He's rated 167 so they couldn't do much else.
"The Gold Cup is the plan. We'll get that out of the way and see about Aintree after that."
Trainer Kim Bailey - The Last Samuri (11st 4lb)
"The Last Samuri's weight is what we were expecting given his rating. If the weights stay as they are and don't rise, I think he would have more of a chance.
"The Last Samuri doesn't need to have a prep race, but we are lining up to have one at the moment."
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Patrick Mullins, assistant to father Willie Mullins - Total Recall (11st 1lb), Acapella Bourgeois (10st 9lb), Rathvinden (10st 9lb), Bellshill (10st 7lb), Pleasant Company (10st 7lb), Polidam (10st 5lb), Childrens List (10st 4lb), Arbre De Vie (9st 11lb), Pairofbrowneyes (9st 10lb), Bravissimo (9st 5lb)
"It is going to be hard for Total Recall to win two big handicaps in one season (after winning the Ladbrokes Trophy). It is not impossible but it makes life difficult.
"Bellshill is back in full training. I think there is a a handicap in him off his rating. We will try to get a run into him sooner rather than later and we'll know more after that.
"Pleasant Company will get in right at the bottom and he was running a great race last year until he made a mistake. He has been very disappointing this year, but I do think he is a spring ground horse.
"Polidam was sent to us with the National in mind. He has been a bit hit and miss and the trip would be an unknown, but he has a very eyecatching weight, so there is a possibility he could run.
"Acapella Bourgeois has been quite disappointing - no bones about it. We have given him a break since his last run and he would have to do something special to come into consideration."
Grand National weights 2018
Horse/Age/Weight/Rating/Owner/Trainer
- 1) DEFINITLY RED (IRE) 9 11-10 165 Phil & Julie Martin, Brian Ellison
- 2) BRISTOL DE MAI (FR) 7 11-09 164 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede, Nigel Twiston-Davies
- 3) EDWULF 9 11-09 164 J P McManus, Joseph O'Brien IRE
- 4) OUTLANDER (IRE) 10 11-08 163 Gigginstown House Stud, Gordon Elliott IRE
- 5) MINELLA ROCCO (IRE) 8 11-07 162 J P McManus, Jonjo O'Neill
- 6) BLAKLION 9 11-06 161 Simon Such & Gino Paletta, Nigel Twiston-Davies
- 7) SUB LIEUTENANT (IRE) 9 11-05 160 Gigginstown House Stud, Henry de Bromhead IRE
- 8) ANIBALE FLY (FR) 8 11-04 159 J P McManus, Tony Martin IRE
- 9) THE LAST SAMURI (IRE) 10 11-04 159 Paul & Clare Rooney, Kim Bailey
- 10) MALA BEACH (IRE) 10 11-03 158 Chris Jones, Gordon Elliott IRE
- 11) VALSEUR LIDO (FR) 9 11-03 158 Gigginstown House Stud, Henry de Bromhead IRE
- 12) AMERICAN (FR) 8 11-02 157 The Jago Family Partnership, Harry Fry
- 13) TOTAL RECALL (IRE) 9 11-01 156 Slaneyville Syndicate, Willie Mullins IRE
- 14) ALPHA DES OBEAUX (FR) 8 11-00 155 Gigginstown House Stud, Mouse Morris IRE
- 15) GOLD PRESENT (IRE) 8 11-00 155 John & Barbara Cotton, Nicky Henderson
- 16) NOBLE ENDEAVOR (IRE) 9 10-13 154 Chris Jones, Gordon Elliott IRE
- 17) PERFECT CANDIDATE (IRE) 11 10-13 154 ISL Recruitment, Fergal O'Brien
- 18) SIZING CODELCO (IRE) 9 10-13 154 Ann & Alan Potts Limited, Colin Tizzard
- 19) CAUSE OF CAUSES (USA) 10 10-12 153 J P McManus, Gordon Elliott IRE
- 20) SHANTOU FLYER (IRE) 8 10-12 153 Carl Hinchy, Richard Hobson
- 21) CARLINGFORD LOUGH (IRE) 12 10-11 152 J P McManus, John Kiely IRE
- 22) O O SEVEN (IRE) 8 10-11 152 Christopher Hanbury, Nicky Henderson
- 23) TENOR NIVERNAIS (FR) 11 10-11 152 Boultbee Brooks Ltd, Venetia Williams
- 24) GO CONQUER (IRE) 9 10-10 151 Paul & Clare Rooney, Jonjo O'Neill
- 25) TRAFFIC FLUIDE (FR) 8 10-10 151 Galloping On The South Downs Partnership, Gary Moore
- 26) VICENTE (FR) 9 10-10 151 Trevor Hemmings, Paul Nicholls
- 27) ACAPELLA BOURGEOIS (FR) 8 10-09 150 Slaneyville Syndicate, Willie Mullins IRE
- 28) RATHVINDEN (IRE) 10 10-09 150 Ronnie Bartlett, Willie Mullins IRE
- 29) REGAL ENCORE (IRE) 10 10-09 150 J P McManus, Anthony Honeyball
- 30) TIGER ROLL (IRE) 8 10-09 150 Gigginstown House Stud, Gordon Elliott IRE
- 31) VIEUX LION ROUGE (FR) 9 10-09 150 Prof Caroline Tisdall & John Gent, David Pipe
- 32) A GENIE IN ABOTTLE (IRE) 7 10-08 149 Gigginstown House Stud, Noel Meade IRE
- 33) AS DE MEE (FR) 8 10-08 149 The Stewart Family & Judi Dench, Paul Nicholls
- 34) CHASE THE SPUD 10 10-08 149 Christine Banks, Fergal O'Brien
- 35) ROCK THE KASBAH (IRE) 8 10-08 149 Diana Whateley, Philip Hobbs
- 36) SEEYOUATMIDNIGHT 10 10-08 149 Quona Thomson, Sandy Thomson
- 37) WARRIORS TALE 9 10-08 149 Michelle & Dan Macdonald, Paul Nicholls
- 38) BELLSHILL (IRE) 8 10-07 148 Andrea & Graham Wylie, Willie Mullins IRE
- 39) FLYING ANGEL (IRE) 7 10-07 148 Rob Rexton, Nigel Twiston-Davies
- 40) GAS LINE BOY (IRE) 12 10-07 148 The Three Graces, Ian Williams
- 41) PLEASANT COMPANY (IRE) 10 10-07 148 Malcolm C Denmark, Willie Mullins IRE
- 42) THE DUTCHMAN (IRE) 8 10-07 148 SprayClad UK, Colin Tizzard
- 43) BEEVES (IRE) 11 10-06 147 Paul & Clare Rooney, Jennie Candlish
- 44) SAINT ARE (FR) 12 10-06 147 David Fox, Tom George
- 45) UCELLO CONTI (FR) 10 10-06 147 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede, Gordon Elliott IRE
- 46) VYTA DU ROC (FR) 9 10-06 147 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede, Nicky Henderson
- 47) CAROLE'S DESTRIER 10 10-05 146 Carole Skipworth, Neil Mulholland
- 48) LONG HOUSE HALL (IRE) 10 10-05 146 Carl Hinchy, Dan Skelton
- 49) POLIDAM (FR) 9 10-05 146 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede, Willie Mullins IRE
- 50) RAZ DE MAREE (FR) 13 10-05 146 James Swan Gavin Cromwell IRE
- 51) ABOLITIONIST (IRE) 10 10-04 145 Mark Albon, John Provan & Chris Stedman Dr Richard Newland
- 52) BAIE DES ILES (FR) 7 10-04 145 Zorka Wentworth, Ross O'Sullivan IRE
- 53) BUYWISE (IRE) 11 10-04 145 T Hywel Jones, Evan Williams
- 54) CHILDRENS LIST (IRE) 8 10-04 145 Susannah Ricci, Willie Mullins IRE
- 55) I JUST KNOW (IRE) 8 10-04 145 M B Scholey & the late R H Scholey, Sue Smith
- 56) MAGGIO (FR) 13 10-04 145 Douglas Pryde/James Beaumont, Patrick Griffin IRE
- 57) PENDRA (IRE) 10 10-04 145 J P McManus, Charlie Longsdon
- 58) VIRGILIO (FR) 9 10-04 145 C J Edwards, D Futter, A H Rushworth, Dan Skelton
- 59) CAPTAIN REDBEARD (IRE) 9 10-03 144 Stuart Coltherd, Stuart Coltherd
- 60) HOUBLON DES OBEAUX (FR) 11 10-03 144 Mrs Julian Blackwell, Venetia Williams
- 61) LORD WINDERMERE (IRE) 12 10-03 144 Dr Ronan Lambe, Jim Culloty IRE
- 62) SILSOL (GER) 9 10-03 144 Michelle & Dan Macdonald, Paul Nicholls
- 63) THIRD INTENTION (IRE) 11 10-03 144 Robert & Sarah Tizzard, Colin Tizzard
- 64) THREE FACES WEST (IRE) 10 10-03 144 Paul & Clare Rooney, Philip Hobbs
- 65) WILD WEST WIND (IRE) 9 10-03 144 Simon Clarke, Tom George
- 66) BLESS THE WINGS (IRE) 13 10-02 143 Adrian Butler & S P O'Connor, Gordon Elliott IRE
- 67) DOUBLE ROSS (IRE) 12 10-02 143 Options O Syndicate, Nigel Twiston-Davies
- 68) FINAL NUDGE (IRE) 9 10-02 143 Corbett Stud, David Dennis
- 69) MILANSBAR (IRE) 11 10-02 143 Robert Bothway, Neil King
- 70) MORNING ASSEMBLY (IRE) 11 10-02 143 Clipper Logistics Group Ltd, Pat Fahy IRE
- 71) DELUSIONOFGRANDEUR (IRE) 8 10-01 142 McGoldrick Racing 3, Sue Smith
- 72) ROAD TO RICHES (IRE) 11 10-01 142 Gigginstown House Stud, Noel Meade IRE
- 73) THUNDER AND ROSES (IRE) 10 10-01 142 Gigginstown House Stud, Mouse Morris IRE
- 74) SAMETEGAL (FR) 9 10-00 141 John & Barbara Cotton, Paul Nicholls
- 75) VINTAGE CLOUDS (IRE) 8 10-00 141 Trevor Hemmings, Sue Smith
- 76) WALK IN THE MILL (FR) 8 10-00 141 Baroness Harding, Robert Walford
- 77) GENERAL PRINCIPLE (IRE) 9 9-12 139 Gigginstown House Stud, Gordon Elliott IRE
- 78) VIC DE TOUZAINE (FR) 9 9-12 139 Andrew Brooks & G Moore, Venetia Williams
- 79) VIEUX MORVAN (FR) 9 9-12 139 M L Bloodstock, Joseph O'Brien IRE
- 80) WOUNDED WARRIOR (IRE) 9 9-12 139 Gigginstown House Stud, Noel Meade IRE
- 81) ARBRE DE VIE (FR) 8 9-11 138 Susannah Ricci, Willie Mullins IRE
- 82) BALLYALTON (IRE) 11 9-11 138 John Westwood, Ian Williams
- 83) BONNY KATE (IRE) 8 9-11 138 Patricia Hunt, Noel Meade IRE
- 84) COGRY 9 9-11 138 Graham & Alison Jelley, Nigel Twiston-Davies
- 85) MISSED APPROACH (IRE) 8 9-11 138 Alan & Andrew Turner, Warren Greatrex
- 86) MYSTEREE (IRE) 10 9-11 138 Mrs Lynne Maclennan, Michael Scudamore
- 87) SIR MANGAN (IRE) 10 9-11 138 Frank McAleavy, Dan Skelton
- 88) SPLASH OF GINGE 10 9-11 138 John Neild, Nigel Twiston-Davies
- 89) BRAQUEUR D'OR (FR) 7 9-10 137 Corsellis & Seyfried, Paul Nicholls
- 90) MINELLA DADDY (IRE) 8 9-10 137 Roddy Owen & Paul Fullagar, Peter Bowen
- 91) PAIROFBROWNEYES (IRE) 9 9-10 137 Fibbage Syndicate, Willie Mullins IRE
- 92) RELENTLESS DREAMER (IRE) 9 9-10 137 Nigel Morris, Rebecca Curtis
- 93) KNOCK HOUSE (IRE) 9 9-09 136 Tim Leslie, Donald McCain
- 94) THE YOUNG MASTER 9 9-08 135 Mike Burbidge & The Old Masters, Neil Mulholland
- 95) ALFIE SPINNER (IRE) 13 9-06 133 Alan Beard & Brian Beard, Kerry Lee
- 96) HENRI PARRY MORGAN 10 9-06 133 Ednyfed & Elizabeth Morgan, Peter Bowen
- 97) PHIL'S MAGIC (IRE) 8 9-06 133 Lyreen Syndicate, Tony Martin IRE
- 98) BRAVISSIMO (FR) 7 9-05 132 Susannah Ricci, Willie Mullins IRE
- 99) DANCING SHADOW (IRE) 9 9-05 132 The Dancing Shadows, Victor Dartnall
- 100) ROGUE ANGEL (IRE) 10 9-05 132 Gigginstown House Stud, Mouse Morris IRE
- 101) THEBARROWMAN (IRE) 8 9-04 131 D Keys, Adrian Keatley IRE
- 102) OUT SAM 9 9-03 130 D Charlesworth, Gordon Elliott IRE
- 103) KRACKATOA KING 10 9-00 127 JC Harrison Lee & T Howard Partnership, Kerry Lee
Trainer Gordon Elliott - Outlander (11st 8lb), Mala Beach (11st 3lb), Noble Endeavor (10st 13lb), Cause Of Causes (10st 12lb), Tiger Roll (10st 9lb), Ucello Conti (10st 6lb), Bless The Wings (10st 2lb), General Principle (9st 12lb), Out Sam (9st 3lb), Poormans Hill (8st 7lb)
"I wouldn't like to second guess Michael O'Leary about the Gigginstown horses. If I was a betting man, I would say Outlander's most likely target is the Punchestown Gold Cup.
"I'd imagine I will run Cause Of Causes, Noble Endeavor, Ucello Conti and Tiger Roll. They would be the four at the moment. Bless The Wings could also go if he gets in.
"You'd have to imagine Cause Of Causes is the principal one. He was second in the race last year and he looks like he has a lovely weight with 10st 12lb there again. I'm not complaining and I'd imagine he will go for the cross-country again at Cheltenham.
"Noble Endeavor will have one run and then go for the National and that will definitely be in Ireland.
"Ucello Conti is going to go straight to the race and Tiger Roll will run in the cross-country race at Cheltenham, all being well."
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Trainer Jonjo O'Neill - Minella Rocco (11st 7lb), Go Conquer (10st 10lb)
"Minella Rocco will go for the Gold Cup first and we will see what happens after that.
"You would think he would make a good Grand National horse, but he has been disappointing since last year's Gold Cup really.
"I wouldn't know if Go Conquer would get the trip or not. If the ground is good he might go."
Trainer Paul Nicholls - Vicente (10st 10lb), As De Mee (10st 8lb), Warriors Tale (10st 8lb), Silsol (10st 3lb), Sametegal (10st), Braqueur D'Or (9st 10lb)
"As De Mee will go and Warriors Tale will go. They would be my main two and they are both intended runners.
"I am not sure Sametegal will stay and he will probably go in the Topham.
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"Vicente is in it but he does so well at Ayr (dual winner of Scottish Grand National), so we will see what happens. He definitely wouldn't want to run at Aintree if it is soft and there is a question mark over his jumping as well round there.
"Silsol would want it bottomless."
Trainer Nicky Henderson - Gold Present (11st), O O Seven (10st 11lb), Vyta Du Roc (10st 6lb)
"I think it is probably the plan to run Gold Present in the National.
"If everything goes right between now and then, we could say he is a realistic contender.
"O O Seven could go to Kempton next weekend or wait for Cheltenham. The way he ran in the Topham last year, finishing fourth, I think that was a good prep for the National."
Trainer David Pipe - Vieux Lion Rouge (10st 9lb)
"Obviously he has not quite stayed the trip the last two years, but he stayed a bit better last year and now he is another year older, we thought we would give it another go."
Trainer Ian Williams - Gas Line Boy (10st 7lb), Ballyalton (9st 11lb)
"Gas Line Boy is guaranteed a run and that makes the debate on whether he will get in or won't non-existent this year.
"He loves the Aintree fences and he ran a cracking race to finish fifth last year. You have to respect the fact that he is getting on in years, but he doesn't know how old he is.
"If the ground is soft he will run in the Topham, but ultimately there is only one Grand National."
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Trainer Fergal O'Brien - Perfect Candidate (10st 13lb), Chase The Spud (10st 8lb)
"Perfect Candidate has a much better weight than he had last year (11st 5lb). He had a terrible preparation last year. He won that veterans' chase at Exeter and that just shot him up the weights.
"Chase The Spud was very unfortunate in the Welsh Grand National last time.
"If he runs a good race in the Eider Chase (at Newcastle) it will put him spot-on for Aintree."