The 2003 Martell Cognac Grand National (5 April) has a record initial entry of 149 horses, five more than for last year’s race at this early stage.
This year the world famous Aintree steeplechase carries prize money of £600,000, an increase of £100,000 on 2002.
Three former winners are included – Bindaree (2002), Red Marauder(2001) and Papillon (2000) – with last year’s second, third and fourth-placed horses, respectively What’s Up Boys, Blowing Wind and Kingsmark, also entered.
Other notable names in the top class entry include the Pertemps King George VI Chase winners Florida Pearl, one of 34 Irish-trained entries, and First Gold, who heads seven entries trained in France.
Champion UK trainer Martin Pipe, who won the 1994 race with Miinnehoma, accounts for 19 of this year’s 149 entries and there is one entry from Norway, the Rune Haugen-trained Trinitro, who hopefully will improve on his first fence fall in 2000.
Charles Barnett, Aintree’s managing director, said: “We are thrilled to have another record entry for the Martell Cognac Grand National and the quality of the horses competing continues to rise.
“When the weights are announced on Tuesday, 4 February it will be fascinating to see what the British Horseracing Board’s senior National Hunt handicapper Phil Smith has done.”
The Martell Cognac Grand National Entries
| Horse | Age | Trainer |
| ACKZO | 10 | Ginger McCain |
| AD HOC (IRE) | 9 | Paul Nicholls |
| AKARUS (FR) | 8 | Martin Pipe |
| AMBERLEIGH HOUSE (IRE) | 11 | Ginger McCain |
| ARDENT SCOUT | 11 | Sue Smith |
| BALLINCLAY KING (IRE) | 9 | Ferdy Murphy |
| BALLYAMBER (IRE) | 8 | Willie Mullins IRE |
| BALLYBOUGH RASHER (IRE) | 8 | Howard Johnson |
| BARRYSCOURT LAD (IRE) | 9 | Martin Pipe |
| BATMAN SENORA (FR) | 7 | Ian Williams |
| BE MY MANAGER (IRE) | 8 | Henrietta Knight |
| BEHRAJAN (IRE) | 8 | Henry Daly |
| BERLIN BLUE | 10 | Peter Robert Stronge |
| BILLY THE SNAKE (IRE) | 10 | Pat Hughes IRE |
| BINDAREE (IRE) | 9 | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| BLOWING WIND (FR) | 10 | Martin Pipe |
| BOBBY GRANT | 12 | Peter Beaumont |
| BOUNCE BACK (USA) | 7 | Martin Pipe |
| BRAMBLEHILL DUKE (IRE) | 11 | Venetia Williams |
| BURLU (FR) | 9 | Martin Pipe |
| CARBURY CROSS (IRE) | 9 | Jonjo O’Neill |
| CARRYONHARRY(IRE) | 9 | Martin Pipe |
| CEANANNAS MOR (IRE) | 9 | Nicky Henderson |
| CHERGAN (IRE) | 10 | Sue Bradburne |
| CHIVES (IRE) | 8 | Henrietta Knight |
| CIMARRONE COVE (IRE) | 8 | Nicky Henderson |
| COQ HARDI DIAMOND (IRE) | 9 | Noel Meade IRE |
| CREGG HOUSE (IRE) | 8 | Paddy Mullins IRE |
| CYFOR MALTA (FR) | 10 | Martin Pipe |
| DARK STRANGER (FR) | 12 | Martin Pipe |
| DAVIDS LAD (IRE) | 9 | Tony Martin IRE |
| DELGANY ROYAL (IRE) | 11 | Dessie Hughes IRE |
| DJEDDAH (FR) | 12 | Francois Doumen FR |
| EMPEREUR RIVER (FR) | 11 | Jacques Ortet FR |
| EXIT SWINGER (FR) | 8 | Martin Pipe |
| FADALKO (FR) | 10 | Paul Nicholls |
| FATEHALKHAIR (IRE) | 11 | Brian Ellison |
| FIRST GOLD (FR) | 10 | Francois Doumen FR |
| FLORIDA PEARL (IRE) | 11 | Willie Mullins IRE |
| FOLLY ROAD (IRE) | 13 | Dai Williams |
| FOXCHAPEL KING (IRE) | 10 | Mouse Morris IRE |
| FRANTIC TAN (IRE) | 11 | Denis Caro |
| GAILOORN DE MEE (FR) | 9 | Yannick Fertillet FR |
| GINGEMBRE (FR) | 9 | Lavinia Taylor |
| GO ROGER GO (IRE) | 11 | Edward O’Grady IRE |
| GOGUENARD (FR) | 9 | Sue Smith |
| GOOD SHUIL (IRE) | 8 | Tom Taaffe IRE |
| GRANIT D’ESTRUVAL (FR) | 9 | Ferdy Murphy |
| GUNNER WELBURN | 11 | Andrew Balding |
| GUNTHER MCBRIDE (IRE) | 8 | Philip Hobbs |
| HALEXY (FR) | 8 | Venetia Williams |
| HANDYMAN (IRE) | 9 | Philip Hobbs |
| HEDGEHUNTER (IRE) | 7 | Willie Mullins IRE |
| HERMES III (FR) | 8 | Nicky Henderson |
| HISTORG (FR) | 8 | Ferdy Murphy |
| HUSSARD COLLONGES (FR) | 8 | Peter Beaumont |
| INN AT THE TOP | 11 | Jim Turner |
| IRIS BLEU (FR) | 7 | Martin Pipe |
| IT’S HIMSELF 11 | Tony Martin | IRE |
| JAYBEJAY (NZ) | 8 | Martin Pipe |
| JOLLY GREEN GIANT (IRE) | 10 | Paul Webber |
| JURANCON II (FR) | 6 | Martin Pipe |
| KAKI CRAZY (FR) | 8 | Martin Pipe |
| KAPATCHI (FR) | 12 | Yannick Fertillet FR |
| KATARINO (FR) | 8 | Nicky Henderson |
| KILLULTAGH THUNDER (IRE) | 7 | Willie Mullins IRE |
| KILLUSTY (IRE) | 9 | Charles Egerton |
| KINGS MISTRAL (IRE) | 10 | Patrick Chamings |
| KINGSMARK (IRE) | 10 | Martin Todhunter |
| KIRMAR (IRE) | 9 | Pat Fahy IRE |
| KIT SMARTIE (IRE) | 11 | Donald Forster |
| LAMBRINI GOLD | 9 | Ginger McCain |
| LANMIRE TOWER (IRE) | 9 | Alan King |
| LIVINGSTONEBRAMBLE (IRE) | 7 | Willie Mullins IRE |
| LOGICIAN (NZ) | 12 | Andrew Balding |
| LORD JACK (IRE) | 7 | Nicky Richards |
| MACS GILDORAN | 9 | Willie Mullins IRE |
| MAJED (FR) | 7 | Martin Pipe |
| MANTLES PRINCE | 9 | Alan Juckes |
| MARLBOROUGH (IRE) | 11 | Nicky Henderson |
| MAXIMIZE (IRE) | 9 | Henrietta Knight |
| MELY MOSS (FR) | 12 | Charles Egerton |
| MINI SENSATION (IRE) | 10 | Jonjo O’Neill |
| MODULOR (FR) | 11 | Yannick Fertillet FR |
| MONTIFAULT (FR) | 8 | Paul Nicholls |
| MONTY’S PASS (IRE) | 10 | Jimmy Mangan IRE |
| MORAL SUPPORT (IRE) | 11 | Stan Moore |
| MORE THAN A STROLL (IRE) | 11 | Arthur Moore IRE |
| MOTHERS HELP | 8 | Dai Williams |
| MR BOSSMAN (IRE) | 10 | Norman Mason |
| MURT’S MAN (IRE) | 9 | Paul Nicholls |
| NIKI DEE (IRE) | 13 | Peter Beaumont |
| NORTHERN SOUND (IRE) | 10 | Paul Roche IRE |
| PALADIN (FR) | 8 | Jacques Ortet FR |
| PAPILLON (IRE) | 12 | Ted Walsh IRE |
| PARIS PIKE (IRE) | 11 | Ferdy Murphy |
| PESSIMISTIC DICK | 10 | Hughie Morrison |
| POLAR CHAMP | 10 | Martin Pipe |
| PRANCING BLADE | 10 | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| PRECIOUS MUSIC (IRE) | 10 | GerardFarrell IRE |
| QUALITY FIRST (IRE) | 10 | Heather Dalton |
| RATHBAWN PRINCE (IRE) | 11 | Dessie Hughes IRE |
| RED ARK | 10 | Norman Mason |
| RED MARAUDER | 13 | Norman Mason |
| RED STRIKER | 9 | Norman Mason |
| RINCE RI (IRE) | 10 | Ted Walsh IRE |
| RITH DUBH (IRE) | 11 | Jonjo O’Neill |
| ROBBO | 9 | Mary Reveley |
| ROBERTY BOB (IRE) | 8 | Henry Daly |
| ROYAL PREDICA (FR) | 9 | Martin Pipe |
| SAD MAD BAD (USA) | 9 | Mary Reveley |
| SCOTIA NOSTRA (IRE) | 11 | Venetia Williams |
| SCOTMAIL BOY (IRE) | 10 | Howard Johnson |
| SCRAHAN CROSS (IRE) | 10 | Jonjo O’Neill |
| SHANNON GALE (IRE) | 11 | Christy Roche IRE |
| SHELTERING (IRE) | 11 | Edward O’Grady IRE |
| SHOTGUN WILLY (IRE) | 9 | Paul Nicholls |
| SIBERIAN GALE (IRE) | 11 | Jonjo O’Neill |
| SIGMA DOTCOMM (IRE) | 7 | Noel Meade IRE |
| SILVER STEEL | 8 | Christy Roche IRE |
| SIR FROSTY | 10 | John Ryall |
| SKIPPERS CLEUCH (IRE) | 9 | Len Lungo |
| SKYCAB (IRE) | 11 | Josh Gifford |
| SMARTY (IRE) | 10 | Mark Pitman |
| SOUTHERN STAR (IRE) | 8 | Henrietta Knight |
| SPOT THEDIFFERENCE (IRE) | 10 | Enda Bolger IRE |
| STORM DAMAGE (IRE) | 11 | Paul Nicholls |
| STORM OF GOLD (IRE) | 10 | Dai Williams |
| STORMEZ (FR) | 6 | Martin Pipe |
| STORMYFAIRWEATHER (IRE) | 11 | Nicky Henderson |
| SUPREME GLORY (IRE) | 10 | Pat Murphy |
| TAKAGI (IRE) | 8 | Edward O’Grady IRE |
| TAKE CONTROL (IRE) | 9 | Martin Pipe |
| THE BAJAN BANDIT (IRE) | 8 | Len Lungo |
| THE BUNNY BOILER (IRE) | 9 | Noel Meade IRE |
| TIMBERA (IRE) | 9 | Dessie Hughes IRE |
| TOM’S PRIZE | 8 | John Spearing |
| TORDUFF EXPRESS (IRE) | 12 | Paul Nicholls |
| TREMALLT (IRE) | 12 | Tom George |
| TRINITRO | 12 | Rune Haugen NOR |
| TUESDAY (IRE) | 8 | Willie Mullins IRE |
| WHAT’S UP BOYS (IRE) | 9 | Philip Hobbs |
| WHEREAREYOUNOW (IRE) | 6 | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| WHITENZO (FR) | 7 | Paul Nicholls |
| WONDER WEASEL (IRE) | 10 | Kim Bailey |
| YOU’RE AGOODUN | 11 | Martin Pipe |
| YOULNEVERWALKALONE (IRE) | 9 | Christy Roche IRE |
| ZAFARABAD (IRE) | 9 | Philip Hobbs |
