Racing: Record Prize money for 2001 Aintree Grand National
Tuesday, 14 November 2000 19:11Record prize money of £1.5million will be on offer over the three days of the 2001 Grand National meeting, Aintree announced today. The increase has been targeted at the supporting races.
The Glenlivet Hurdle has been boosted to £100,000 from £40,000 while the Martell Cup will be worth £120,000, up from £50,000 last year. Speaking at the stable of last year's Grand National-winning trainer Ted Walsh, Aintree's managing director, Charles Barnett, said: "This is yet another record for Aintree and I am delighted that year on year we have been able to significantly improve prize money levels."
One significant change to the race programme will be the transfer of the Martell Red Rum Handicap Chase to Thursday with the Martell Maghull Novices' Chase switched to the second televised race on Grand National day. In addition any horse who wins Saturday's Tote Beecher Chase over the Grand National fences and then the National itself will land an additional bonus of £250,000 with a consolation prize of £50,000 available to the connections of any horse placed in the first four in both races.
There will also be a £10,000 prize for the trainer with the best record over the National fences this season.
Filed by Sinéad Gleeson
