Grand National weight treat to lift According To Pete (From York Press)

Grand National weight treat to lift According To Pete

11:10am Wednesday 15th February 2012 in Horse racing By Steve Carroll, Sports reporter

NORTON trainer Malcolm Jefferson is hoping that According To Pete can continue his excellent recent form in this year’s £975,000 John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday, April 14.

Weights for the world-famous handicap chase were revealed yesterday at the 2012 John Smith’s Grand National Official Launch in London.

Jefferson’s main contender was accorded a weight of 10st 12lbs, in line with Jefferson’s hopes to ensure the horse competes in the world’s greatest steeplechase.

Said Jefferson: “According To Pete is in great form at the moment.

“We might give him one more start beforehand in the Premier Chase at Kelso. It’s a long time between now and the John Smith’s Grand National but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he went straight to Aintree. It would be nice to give him a pipe-opener beforehand.”

According To Pete has posted a pair of Grade Three handicap chase victories on his most recent starts as he made all of the running to take the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby on December 26 and followed up with another excellent round of jumping to win the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock Park on January 21. The 11-year-old is rated a 25-1 chance with Betfred for the John Smith’s Grand National.

Added Jefferson: “He (According To Pete) won his two most recent starts this term but he didn’t really do a lot wrong last season.

“He was only just beaten at Catterick and made a mistake at the last and nearly fell when going down by a head to Skippers Brig in a decent race at Haydock.

“He’s won on all types of ground and he goes on anything and everything. The Peter Marsh Chase was a bit of a slog through heavy ground but he has won on good going as well.

“I would think that the ground will be on the softer side of good this year for the John Smith’s Grand National.”

Of the chances of King Fontaine – Jefferson’s other horse who was listed at 9-04 in the list of National weight’s chances – the trainer said: “Things have just gone wrong for him this year and I don’t really know why.

“He’s come down a fair bit in the weights and, all being well, he will go back to Haydock for the Grand National Trial before probably heading to Ayr for the Scottish Grand National.”

Malton trainer Brian Ellison’s Neptune Equester was also in the list of yesterday’s weights with the horse marked at 9-09.

Lexus Chase winner Synchronised has been allotted top weight of 11-10 for the National.

The nine-year-old, who is trained by Jonjo O’Neill and owned by JP McManus, landed the Leopardstown Grade One over Christmas to supplement his previous win in the Welsh National at Chepstow.

Next on the list is last year’s winner, the Donald McCain-trained Ballabriggs, who shouldered 11st to victory but will be saddled with 11-9 should he line up on April 14.

Neil Mulholland’s Midnight Chase and another McCain contender, Weird Al, both sit on 11-8 while Nicky Henderson’s Burton Port and Willie Mullins’ Irish Hennessy winner, Quel Esprit, are on 11-7.

Junior is tops

Junior continues to head the ante-post market for the John Smith’s Grand National after being allotted 11st 2lb.

The David Pipe-trained runner has not been seen in public since last year’s Royal Ascot but he is the 12-1 favourite with both Paddy Power and Coral for the Aintree feature.

Last year’s winner, Ballabriggs, and top weight Synchronised, are among the 16-1 co-second favourites with both firms, along with West End Rocker.

Paddy Power: 12-1 Junior, 16-1 Ballabriggs, On His Own, Synchronised, West End Rocker, 20-1 Always Right, Hold On Julio, Niche Market, Prince De Beauchene, Quel Esprit, Treacle, 25-1 Burton Port, Calgary Bay, Cappa Bleu, Chicago Grey, Organisedconfusion, Planet Of Sound, Shakalakaboomboom, Sunnyhillboy, The Midnight Club, 33-1 bar.

Coral: 12-1 Junior, 16-1 Ballabriggs, Prince De Beauchene, Synchronised, West End Rocker 20-1 Cappa Bleu, On His Own, Shakalakaboomboom 25-1 Alfa Beat, Burton Port, Calgary Bay, Chicago Grey, Hold On Julio, Niche Market, Organisedconfusion, Planet Of Sound, Seabass, The Midnight Club 33-1 bar.