Racing: Grand National attracts 152 entries

LONDON - The Grand National has received a record entry of 152 for April's race at Aintree.

This beats the previous high of 149 in 2003 and last year's 122 entries.

On race day, April 9, a maximum of 40 will face the starter.

Under the new sponsorship of a brewery company, the race has record prize money of £700,000 ($1.86 million), up 100,000 on last year.

The entries feature the first seven home from last year's race when Amberleigh House, trained by Ginger McCain of Red Rum fame, beat Clan Royal by three lengths.

There are 36 entries from Ireland, beating the previous high of 34 in 2003, and four from France.

Noted owner JP McManus has 19 entries, including Clan Royal, joint favourite at 14-1 with course winner Silver Birch. Amberleigh House is on offer at 20-1.

The weights for the race, which is run over 4 1/2 miles (7.2km) and 30 fences, will be announced on February 8.

* British jockey Robert Miles was banned for six months after testing positive for a metabolite of cocaine at Salisbury racecourse in September.

Miles, 23, a leading apprentice last year, partnered 35 winners last year, including Red Lancer in the Chester Vase.

He has not ridden since news of the positive test became public in October.

Miles is the fourth rider to test positive for cocaine since the Jockey Club introduced such tests in 1994.

- REUTERS