Synchronised has 'fair chance' says O'Neill

JONJO O'NEILL reckons that hisLexus Chase winner Synchronised has been given a "fair chance" by the handicapper after he was allotted top-weight of 11st 10lb for this year's John Smith's Grand National.

The National, which has record prize-money of £975,000 this year, is the only race of the year for which the weights are specially framed by the BHA's head of handicapping, Phil Smith, who said he believes this year's running promises to be the best ever.

The weights were revealed on Tuesday for the April 14 marathon and the competitiveness of this year's race is illustrated by the fact that 69 of the 82 entries are in the handicap.

Despite the fact that Synchronised would have to give weight all around if he was to run, O'Neill, who won the race with Don't Push It in 2010, was not disheartened. 

"Synchronised has been given a fair chance by the handicapper. We know he goes on better ground and is in good old form," O'Neill said.

Ballabriggs, who carried 11st to victory in 2011, is second in the weights this year with 11st 9lb. His trainer Donald McCain said: "I thought Ballabriggs might have top weight so it seems fair enough. He'll have a gallop at Haydock and go to Kelso again."

Synchronised and Ballabriggs are the joint 16-1 second favourites with Betfred, the betting partner of the Grand National meeting, who have the David Pipe-trained Junior as their 14-1 market leader.

The nine-year-old, who failed to get in the field last year, has a certain place in 2012 with 11st 2lb.

Mike Prince of owners Middleham Park Racing, said: "It looks as if he [Phil Smith] has compressed the weights quite a bit but 11st 2lb isn't too bad. We were hoping for 11st.

"He'll be fine around Aintree with that weight and he has been prepped for this race all season long. Our hearts are going a bit more now it's getting closer."

At the launch, Smith said: "There is absolutely no question that this is the best. I look back at 2004 and there were 55 horses rated at 135 and above and this year there are 70. Eleven of the top 17 in the weights have won their last race and the other six have been placed, something that has not happened in my 14 Grand Nationals.

"I have tried to be a little bit more cautious. It is very important those horses at the top of the handicap have an equal chance with those that are on 10st or 10st 2lb."

Irish-trained raiders have a tremendous recent record in the Grand National, winning six of the last 13 runnings, and they have strength in numbers this year, accounting for 31 entries. An Irish-trained winner is priced at 11-4 by Betfred.

Mon Mome, who sprang a 100-1 surprise in the 2009 GrandNational, is the other past winner among the entries. He carried 11st  when winning three years ago, 11st 7lb when falling at the 26th in 2010 and this year has been given 10st 8lb.

Many of the leading contenders in Betfred'sbetting are set to carry 11 stone or above including Weird Al (11st 8lb), the stable companion of Ballabriggs who captured the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in October, and Midnight Chase (11st 8lb), who was successful in the Grade 2 Argento Chase at Cheltenham last month.

The two scratchings deadlines for the 2012 Grand National are on February 28 and March 20, with the five-day confirmation stage on April 9.

The final declaration stage is at 10am on April 12 when there can be a maximum field of 40 runners, with the provision for up to four reserves.