Category: Sport
Date: 06.04.2005
Printable version
With live coverage on 91Èȱ¬ ONE and 91Èȱ¬ TWO, 91Èȱ¬ Radio Five Live and bbc.co.uk/racing - as well as comprehensive coverage in the North West on 91Èȱ¬ Radio Merseyside and North West Tonight - the 91Èȱ¬ ensures that not a moment from the 2005 John Smith's Grand National is missed.
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The 91Èȱ¬'s top team for the 158th running of the world's most famous steeplechase is once again led by Sue Barker and Clare Balding, who will introduce three days of top quality racing action from Aintree.
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Sue and Clare will be joined by Richard Pitman, Peter Scudamore, Norman Williamson and Lydia Hislop who report and provide analysis from the paddock.
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Rishi Persad and special guest John Parrott will be out and about reporting from around the course, and Angus Loughran will provide the latest betting and form news.
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The 91Èȱ¬'s expert commentary team is led by Jim McGrath, who is joined by Ian Bartlett, Tony O'Hehir and Darren Owen for the big race.
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As host broadcaster, providing live coverage for broadcasters across the world, the 91Èȱ¬'s 52 camera operation includes Rider-cams on three jockeys, as well as cameras mounted on four of the fences.
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The 91Èȱ¬'s Racing Editor Carl Hicks says: "Last year's victory by Amberleigh House really does underline the romance of the Grand National, a race that any one of 40 horses could win.
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"As well as Ginger McCain, a lot of eyes will be focussed on Carrie Ford, for whom a victory on Forest Gunner could provide a bit of National Velvet!"
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Live 91Èȱ¬ television coverage from Aintree will include five races each day on Thursday and Friday.
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Saturday's Grand National Grandstand will include live coverage of four races on 91Èȱ¬ TWO. Build up to the main race at 4.10pm begins on 91Èȱ¬ ONE at 3.30pm.
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On Friday evening (91Èȱ¬ TWO, 7.30pm), in Grand National Preview - Irish Cream, Clare Balding goes in search of the new breed of fearless jockeys who have dominated the racing game in recent years - including AP McCoy, Ruby Walsh, Barry Geraghty, Paul Carberry and Timmy Murphy.
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In a series of intimate profiles, Clare gets under the skin of these and other leading jockeys, explores the passion for jump racing that drives them on and looks at why Ireland has thrown up nine of the last 11 Grand National winning jockeys.
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Radio Five Live has full live coverage of all three days of Aintree's biggest meeting.
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On the day itself, Mark Pougatch presents Sport on Five live from 1.00pm.
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Racing correspondent Cornelius Lysaght has the latest runners and riders, course news, and interviews with top names.
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Luke Harvey's breakfast bulletins have top tips whilst Rob Nothman provides the latest betting.
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Kevin Day will provide an irreverent look at the day's events and Robert Cooper has a straighter take on things.
There is coverage of all the races leading up to the main race.
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John Hunt will head up the commentary team of Dougie Fraser, Matthew Hill and Gary O'Brien.
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On Thursday, Five Live will have live coverage from Aintree in Phil Williams' 1.00pm programme with coverage of the 2.00pm John Smith's Mildmay Novices' Steeple Chase; the 2.35pm John Smith's Top Novices' Hurdle Race; the 3.10pm John Smith's Melling Steeple Chase; and 3.45pm John Smith's and Spar Topham Steeple Chase.
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On Friday, Phil Williams will be in Aintree to present from 1.00pm. Races include the 1.45pm John Smith's Extra Smooth Handicap Hurdle; the 2.20pm John Smith's Maghull Novices' Steeple Chase; the 2.55pm Scottish & Newcastle Aintree Hurdle and the 3.45pm John Smith's Grand National Steeple Chase.
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bbc.co.uk/racing provides the ultimate guide to the Grand National for both racing novices and experts alike.
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For 2005, the website will allow UK broadband users to watch the race streamed live on their computers.
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The racing section will include all the latest news, previews and profiles of leading jockeys and trainers. There will be tips and predictions from top racing experts ahead of the meeting.
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During the meeting, there are race reports across the three days as well as audio and video features - including details of where your horse fell/finished.
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The website's resident racing expert Honest Frank is on hand to explain the tricks of the trade - from what the Tic-Tac signals mean to how to bet at the bookies.
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There is also a runners and riders guide, and an office sweepstake kit.
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On bbc.co.uk/liverpool there's a Grand National quiz with the chance to win a VIP prize.
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To be in with a chance of winning the prize - which includes VIP hospitality at Aintree, and accommodation in Liverpool - the user must answer correctly ten tough questions that test their National knowledge.
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Also on the site is a 360° tour of Aintree, a virtual trip around the famous course, photo galleries from the event and all the latest travel directions and information.
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Regionally, 91Èȱ¬ North West Tonight will be looking behind the scenes in the week running up to the event, including meeting the fence builders and stable managers, as well as assessing the economic impact of the Grand National meeting on Merseyside.
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91Èȱ¬ North West's weather presenter Dianne Oxberry will once again judge the women's fashion contest, and will present live from Aintree on Friday night.
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Throughout the Grand National Radio Merseyside will be broadcasting the latest news and information for the event.
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On Thursday 7 April, Linda McDermot and Andy Ball present Morning Merseyside (6.00-8.30am) live from Aintree; on Friday 8 April, Claire Hamilton presents live for Merseyside Tonight (5.00-7.00pm); Billy Butler will be live from the course on Saturday morning (9.30am-noon); and Alan Jackson will be live on Saturday afternoon as the world's greatest steeplechase takes place.
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Leo Devine, Head of Regional and Local Programmes for 91Èȱ¬ North West, says: "The National at Aintree is the one race which captures the imagination of people from all walks of life, not just in the UK but all across the globe.
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"It rightly deserves the title The World's Greatest Steeplechase and the 91Èȱ¬ in the North West is delighted to be able to broadcast all the colour, excitement and traditions of the event to hundrends of thousands of people across the region."
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Full television coverage details
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Thursday 7 April, 91Èȱ¬ TWO, Racing from Aintree
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1.30-4.45pm,
including live coverage of:
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2.00pm - £60,000 Liverpool Hurdle Long Distance Hurdle (Grade 2), 3m 110y
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2.35pm - £150,000 Betfair Bowl (Grade 2), 3m 1f
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3.10pm - £120,000 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2), 2m
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3.45pm - £35,000 John Smith's Fox Hunters' Chase, 2m 5f 110yds Grand National Course
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4.20pm - £70,000 Red Rum Handicap Chase (Grade 3), 2m
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Friday 8 April, 91Èȱ¬ TWO, Racing from Aintree
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1.30-4.45pm,
including live coverage of:
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2.00pm - £75,000 Mildmay Novices' Chase (Grade 2), 3m 1f
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2.35pm - £50,000 Top Novices' Hurdle (Grade2), 2m 110yds
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3.10pm - £150,000 Melling Chase (Grade 1), 2m 4f
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3.45pm - £80,000 John Smith's Topham Chase, 2m 5f 100yds Grand National Course
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4.20pm - £80,000 Sefton Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1), 3m 110yds
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Friday 8 April, Grand National Preview - Irish Cream
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7.30-8.00pm on 91Èȱ¬ TWO
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Saturday 9 April, Grand National Grandstand
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1.05-3.30pm on 91Èȱ¬ TWO
Including live coverage of:
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1.45pm - John Smith's Extra Smooth Handicap Hurdle
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2.15pm - John Smith's Maghull Novices' Chase
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2.50pm - John Smith's No Nonsense Handicap Hurdle
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3.20pm - Scottish & Newcastle Aintree Hurdle
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3.30-5.05pm on 91Èȱ¬ ONE:
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4.10pm - John Smith's Grand National Chase.
