Record 107 Go Forward For John Smith´s Grand National Last year´s winner Amberleigh House is one of a record 107 entries remaining in the John Smith´s Grand National after today´s forfeit stage. No less than 68 of the entries are still in the handicap with the cut-off point for the maximum field of 40 currently on 10st 4lb. There were 77 horses remaining in the race at the equivalent forfeit stage 12 months ago. The previous record was 105 remaining entries in 2003. Nearly all the main fancies remain after the second forfeit stage for the world´s most famous steeplechase, this year worth #700,000 and taking place at Aintree on Saturday, April 9. Last year´s runner-up Clan Royal could bid to atone for a disappointing season for trainer Jonjo O´Neill and is one of no less than 15 J P McManus-owned entries still in the field. Others include the Enda Bolger-trained Spot Thedifference, the winner of the Sporting Index Handicap Chase at Cheltenham a week ago who finished fifth in the 2004 John Smith´s Grand National. There are 27 Irish-trained contenders remaining including the Willie Mullins-trained Hedgehunter, who will bid to give locally-born owner Trevor Hemmings a first John Smith´s Grand National victory. The weights are still headed by last week´s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup fifth Grey Abbey while Take The Stand, who finished second in the Cheltenham showpiece, third-placed Sir Rembrandt, and fourth-placed Royal Auclair also remain in the John Smith´s Grand National. There would be no more fairytale winner than Forest Gunner, whose rider Carrie Ford had given birth just weeks before the pair landed last season´s John Smith´s Fox Hunters´ Chase over the National fences. Ford partnered the 11-year-old, who won the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock on February 19, in a workout at Aintree Racecourse this morning and she is looking forward to riding in the big race. Ford said: 'The fact that he won at Haydock answered a few questions and I will be working hard so that I can do him justice. He has a live chance and that makes me work harder.' Ford´s husband Richard, who trains Forest Gunner, added: 'He´s a horse that has never done a lot of racing but it is so far so good. Everything this season has gone to plan and hopefully he will get a run. If I can just keep him in one piece for the time being and get him here on the Saturday then I will be a happy man.' Joly Bey, partnered by his owner David Dunsdon, will bid to become the first amateur-ridden winner of the John Smith´s Grand National since Mr Frisk in 1990. The three remaining French-trained entries include last week´s William Hill Trophy Chase winner Kelami, trained by Francois Doumen for Amberleigh House´s owner John Halewood, and stablemate Innox, who was recently purchased by J P McManus. Charles Barnett, Aintree´s Managing Director, said: 'We´re especially pleased to have 107 remaining in the John Smith´s Grand National at the second forfeit stage, which compares with 77 last year. 'With the second, third, fourth and fifth in last week´s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup standing their ground with all the other leading contenders we´re set fair for a fabulous race.' Clerk of the Course, Andrew Tulloch, confirmed today that Aintree would be adopting its standard policy to ensure ground no faster than good. He said: 'We will be monitoring the weather forecast on a daily basis to achieve this objective.' The latest betting from Betfair, official betting partner of the John Smith´s Grand National (correct at midday on Tuesday, March 22) is: 13.5 Clan Royal, 14.5 Amberleigh House, 15 Hedgehunter, 17 Forest Gunner, 19.5 Joly Bey, 24 Strong Resolve, 25 Lord Atterbury, 27 Grey Abbey, 30 Royal Auclair, 32 Innox, 32 Kelami, 36 Just In Debt, 38 Colonel Rayburn, 40 Take The Stand, 42 Double Honour, 42 Longshanks, 44 Nil Desperandum, 46 Frenchmans Creek, 46 It Takes Time, 46 Spot Thedifference, 48 First Gold, 50 bar Take The Stand has traded at a high of 100 on Betfair, Forest Gunner at 110, Royal Auclair at 95 and Kelami at 150.
