Grand National Day Live Updates

18:30

They were finally underway for the 17:00 at 17:45, only 45 minutes late. The bumper is not going to take place ... frustrating but the welfare of the horses must come first. A controversial end to a day of shocks.

17:00
1	4	Private Be	12/1
2	2	Bob Hall	9/4f
3	10	Time To Sell	20/1

17:45

It looks as though Graphic Approach is on his way to the animal hospital. And the horses for the 17:00 should soon be ready to go, however it looksa as though the 17:30 race may be Cancelled as the vets are concerned for the welfare of the runners in the bumper.

17:10

Still no sign of the 17:00 race starting yet. The injured horse is Graphic Approach and obviously the vets are doing all they can to save him. The screens have been up for 45 minutes now.

16:50

Everybody is still stunned by the result and there are also mutterings about the fact it took seven attempts to start the race .... not too impressive for the biggest and most watched race of the year. It looks as though the next race may be delayed as an injued horse from the Mational is still being treated.

16:34

16:15
1	30	Silver Birch	33/1
2	35	Mckelvey	12/1
3	22	Slim Pickings	33/1
4	31	Philson Run	100/1
5	29	Liberthine	50/1

Well I am gobsmacked .... what a shock result, the outsiders prevailed as the fancied horses dropped out one by one. Another Irish winner. Seven in with a chance coming to the last, Slim Pickings made a mistake and Silver Birch who was favourite for the race before being pulled out two years ago held on from the late challenge of Mckelvey, the only fancied horse to finish placed. Each way backers of 100/1 shot Philson Run must be laughing. If you found a bookmaker who pays out on the 5th then Liberthine is your horse.

16:20

Shades of 1993 and it is a false start

Point Barrow falls at the first

Monkerhostin refuses at Foinavon

16:15

25/1 this morning, now 8/1 co- favourite Monkerhostin is being backed off the boards .... if he wins the bookies will be caned.

16:10

The fanfare heralds the parade of runners for the 2007 Grand National .... not long to go now!!!

16:00

The bell rings for the jockeys to mount. Point Barrow is now clear favourite at 8/1 but the money still comes in for Monkahostin now 10/1.

15:51

The majority of the runners are now in the parade ring and the tension is mounting. The money is still coming in for Monkerhostin who is now 11/1 ... he couldn't start favourite could he?

15:47

A late steamer with Monkerhostin attracting money and being backed in to 14/1.

15:33

15:25
1	21	Albertas Run	9/2f
2	17	Lyes Green	10/1
3	4	Refinement	9/1
4	12	Penny Pictures	40/1

 

Well the big gamble on Refinement didn't quite pay off as she finished a brave third. Albertas Run was an even braver winner who repelled the late challenge of seconditis sufferer Lyes Green with Penny Pictures filling fourth spot.

OK that is the starter out of the way .... now it is the main course and the money is coming in for Point Barrow, who looks likely to start as favourite.

15:15

Three races down and and one to go before the big one .. an hour to the big race and once the 3:25 is over all eyes will focus on the National. A big plunge on Refinement in the next having been backed in from 20/1 to 10/1.

15:00

14:50
1	2	Al Eile	12/1
2	12	Gaspara	11/1
3	1	Afsoun	13/2

A cracking Aintree Hurdle, where Detriot City disappointed once again. 2005 winner Al Eile took up the running before the second last and Gaspara was a brave second, who if she jumped more fluently, may have won. Mick Fitzgerald bought Afsoun on to be a closing third.

14:22

14:15
1	6	Twist Magic	9/4f
2	4	Fair Along	7/2

Twist Magic overcame his Cheltenham fall to give Paul Nicholls his first proper win of the week. In an another exciting race he beat Fair Along and Royal Shakespeare.

Only two hours to the big one now.

13:50

13:45
1	17	Kings Quay	16/1
2	5	Diago Cao	25/1
3	22	Dancing Lyra	50/1
4	14	Sunday City	40/1

A cracking race fun at a fast pace with eight still in contention at the last. in a dual for the line Kings Quay managed to hold off the challenge of Diago Cao with Dancing Lyra beating Sunday City, who led into the home straight, into third.

13:33

They are betting 6/1 the field in the competitive first race. Forthright leads the market, just, from Princelet. Pepperoni Pete is being well backed.

13:15

Half an hour to the first race proper and the 70,000 crowd are in fine fettle on a lovely hot afternoon in Liverpool. The going is good and a great afternoons racing is anticipated.

12:50

Drama at the start of the peoples race as favourite Instructor refuses to start and unships his jockey. It turned into a three horse race for most of the race and the Paul Nichols trained, Hoo La Baloo ridden by 44 year old Kevin Old ends up as the winner with a good front running performance. It must have been a great experience for all the riders - well done to them all.

12:35

A round of applause from the crowd as the jockeys in the Peoples race enter the parade ring. Instructor is the even money favourite for the race.

12:15

In the parade ring some previous winners are strutting their stuff .... oh happy memories of days gone by.

12:10

Dun Doire is still on the drift, now out to 28/1 on the exchanges, still available at only 14/1 with some bookies, although Sporting Odds are out to 20/1. At the head of the market we currently have joint favourites with Joes Edge and Point Barrow both generally available at 9/1.

Aintree is filling up, the bands are playing and as a curtain raiser we have the peoples race to kick off proceedings. This is a flat race, with all riders being members of the public, who are raising money for charity. Good luck to them all.

11:35

The plunge on Mckelvey seems to have quietened down now, with the best price now 14/1. Longshanks has attracted some support in the last hour backed from 28's and 25's he is now a general 20/1 shot. The crowds are arriving and a happy party atmosphere is developing in the Merseyside sun.

10:35

The punters are waking up now and two horses are being backed, previous winner Hedgehunter, the Pricewise selection, has been backed from 12/1 to 10/1. The more serious money seems to be heading in the direction of Mckelvey, backed from 18/1 to 12/1 ... could this be the steamer?

09:45

The horse that only a week ago was the hot favourite is now doing a passable impersonation of the Marie Celeste and is drifting alarmingly. Available at 14/1 with the bookmakers, Dun Doire is now out to 26/1 on the exchanges. No horse is being heavily backed at the moment showing what an open race it is this year.

08:55

In five minutes the gates open on the greatest days racing in the northwest.and the most open Grand National in years. Aintree is already awake as the overnight equine lodgers go through their final pieces of work. Don't forget, as well as the National there are some very good supporting races as well .... will Detroit City redeem himself after his Cheltenham flop? What a day to savour?