Revised Ratings Determine Fair John Smith´s Grand National Eliminations

The revised ratings of John Smith´s Grand National runners, which will be used to determine the eliminations from the current 84 entries to a field of 40 runners, were released today.

The rules of the race dictate that in instances where more than one horse is set to carry the same weight, in order to determine elimination in a fair manner, those horses are ranked according to current handicap ratings, with the highest rated horse taking precedence.

The original weights, drawn up by BHB Handicapper Phil Smith and released on February 14, allotted Risk Accessor, Direct Access, Colnel Rayburn and Iris Royal, 10st 6lb.

Smith´s revised ratings today have the first three on a mark of 136, placing them numbers 38 to 40 in the list of declared runners, while the Nicky Henderson-trained Iris Royal is rated 131 and is 41st best.

Three horses have 10st 5lb. Of those, the Sue Smith-trained Ross Comm has today been given a rating of 145, placing him 42nd, above J P McManus´ cross-country specialist Spot Thedifference (136) and Shotgun Willy (125).

A pair of previous John Smith´s Grand National finishers are on 10st 4lb. Just In Debt (133), ninth in the race last year, moves above the Martin Pipe-trained 2004 third-place finisher Lord Atterbury (130), as they become 45 and 46 in the list, respectively.

Hakim, Liberthine and Knife Edge have 10st 2lb. Today´s ratings place Liberthine 47th best on 130, ahead of November´s totepool Grand Sefton Chase winner Hakim (125) and Knife Edge (120).

50th in the order is Nick Williams´ dour stayer Philson Run (138) who shares 10st 1lb with three others.

John Smith´s Grand National runners in racecard order from 38-55, with age/weight, trainer and revised BHB rating:

• 38) RISK ACCESSOR 11-10-06 Jonjo O´Neill 136
• 39) DIRECT ACCESS 11-10-06 Nicky Richards 136
• 40) COLNEL RAYBURN 10-10-06 Paul Nolan IRE 136
• 41) IRIS ROYAL 10-10-06 Nicky Henderson 131
• 42) ROSS COMM 10-10-05 Sue Smith 145
• 43) SPOT THE DIFFERENCE 13-10-05 Enda Bolger IRE 136
• 44) SHOTGUN WILLY 12-10-05 Richard Guest 125
• 45) JUST IN DEBT 10-10-04 Martin Todhunter 133
• 46) LORD ATTERBURY 10-10-04 Martin Pipe 130
• 47) LIBERTHINE 7-10-02 Nicky Henderson 130
• 48) HAKIM 12-10-02 John Spearing 125
• 49) KNIFE EDGE 11-10-02 Jonjo O´Neill 120
• 50) PHILSON RUN 10-10-01 Nick Williams 138
• 51) MONTAYRAL 9-10-01 Pat Hughes IRE 131
• 52) CONTROL MAN 8-10-01 Martin Pipe 130
• 53) WAIN MOUNTAN 10-10-01 Jim Old 127
• 54) THE LAST CAST 7-10-00 Evan Williams 130
• 55) WINDSOR BOY 9-10-00 Martin Pipe 130