Bewleys Berry Grand National Odds

The Bewleys Berry Grand National odds for the 2008 Aintree National are around 20/1 in the ante post market. He established a big reputation on the Irish point-to-point scene for Co Wexford-based trainer John Berry during 2003, winning impressively at Wexford (twice) and Loughrea, Bewleys Berry made his first appearance under Rules in a bumper at Gowran Park in April, 2004, when he saw off 15 rivals in fine style to score by eight lengths. That victory prompted big-spending owner Graham Wylie to pull out the cheque book to secure Bewleys Berry, who was transferred to the Co Durham yard of Howard Johnson. He made his debut for his new connections in an extended two-mile novice hurdle at Hexham on December 15, 2004, recording a facile six-length success.

On his next start 12 days later at Ayr over an extra half mile, Bewleys Berry suffered his first reverse at the hands of the promising Villon, but regained the winning thread in a Grade Two event over three miles at Doncaster in January, 2005, defeating Indy Mood by 10 lengths. Sent to the Cheltenham Festival that March, Bewleys Berry fell at the fifth flight in the Grade Two Brit Insurance Novices= Hurdle, and failed to figure next time at Aintree in the John Smith=s Sefton Novices= Hurdle, pulling up behind Asian Maze. His chasing career got off to a great start when he recorded a decisive 12-length success at Wetherby in November, 2005, however that was to be his first, and so far only, victory over fences. Although he ran some good races as a novice, including when a close third to Darkness in the Grade One Feltham Novices= Chase at Sandown in December, 2005, Bewleys Berry failed to figure at both the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals, finishing a well-beaten sixth in the Grade One Royal & SunAlliance Chase behind Star De Mohaison, and pulling up behind that same rival in the Grade Two John Smith=s Mildmay Novices= Chase.

Bewleys Berry ran respectably on his first outing of the current campaign at Ascot on October 28, coming home fourth to See You Sometime in a valuable three-mile contest, and then produced a fine performance to chase home Eurotrek in the totesport.com Becher Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree on November 19, going down by eight lengths in the three mile, two furlong event. On his most recent appearance in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup over an extended three and a half miles at Haydock on February 17, Bewleys Berry failed to see out the race in very testing conditions, trailing home in ninth place behind Heltornic.

Race Record: Starts: 14; Wins: 4; 2nd: 3; 3rd: 1; Win and Place prize money: £70,527

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