Dolled up Alex Gerrard snubs the Grand National at Aintree for girls' night out in Manchester

Dolled up Alex Gerrard snubs the Grand National at Aintree for girls' night out in Manchester

By Daily Mail Reporter

10th April 2011

Her fellow WAGs might have been showing off their best frocks at the Aintree racetrack to watch the Grand National, but Alex Gerrard decided to give it a miss this year.

Horse Racing 

Instead Alex hit the town in Manchester for a night out with friends, but still dressed up for the occasion.

The 28-year-old slipped on a pair of black peep-toe heels and a peach lace dress as she headed to San Carlo’s restaurant with her pals.

Dolled up: Alex Gerrard headed out to an Italian restaurant with friends in Manchester in a peach and black lace frock

Steven Gerrard’s wife looked like a doll in the long-sleeved peach frock, which was garnished with black lace around her bodice and arms.

She accessorised with a black oval clutch purse and plenty of pick blush on her cheeks to finish off the ensemble.

San Carlo’s boasts the very best in true Italian dining and has a bar for pre and post dinner drinks too, where the women sipped on cocktails.

While Alex decided against heading to the Aintree racetrack earlier in the day, fellow WAG Coleen Rooney made sure to make an appearance alongside her family and friends.

It was Coleen’s second day at the ground after having attended the event’s Ladies’ Day on Friday.

Girls' night out: Alex appeared to be with some fellow blonde pals, one of which wore see-through black lace tights

Meanwhile, Alex announced this week in her OK! Magazine column that she’d be taking her two daughters, Lilly, seven, and Lexie, four, to Portugal with her mother and Steven’s mother.

She wrote: ‘The children break up for school this week so I’m taking them back to Portugal. 

'I’m so fed up with this weather – one minute the sun’s shining and the next it’s raining.

‘It’s gorgeous over there and we have our own house. Steven’s working at the moment so he can’t come but after he finishes, we’ll be planning another visit out there in June.'

Grand National: Meanwhile, Alex's fellow WAG Coleen Rooney was spotted at Aintree enjoying the annual event

People:

Coleen Rooney,

Steven Gerrard

Places:

Manchester,

Portugal

Aintree day of horror as TV audience of millions see two horses die at the National

Aintree day of horror as TV audience of millions see two horses die at the National

By STEPHEN DAVIES 

10th April 2011

Online Sportsbooks 

Death came again to the Grand National yesterday - and the horror was played out in front of a worldwide television audience of 600 million.

They and the thousands who had packed Aintree for the annual cavalry charge looked on as two horses died in appalling falls.

The race had to divert round the fences where the fatalities had occurred to avoid the bodies of the victims.

Carnage: Or Noir De Somoza (6) is brought down at Becher's Brook

Television viewers got their first inkling of the horror when, on the second circuit, racecourse workers were seen frantically waving chequered flags as the field approached the 20th fence.

The commentators gave little clue as to what had happened but viewers saw the jockeys steer their horses around the fence.

Beyond it lay the body of Ornais, covered by green tarpaulins. The horse, ridden by Nick Scholfield, had broken its neck when it fell at the fence, the fourth obstacle on the National's first circuit.

The horrifying scene was repeated when the field missed out Becher's Brook to avoid the body of Dooney's Gate, which had broken its back when attempting to clear the infamous fence first time round.

Jockey Patrick Mullins, having his first ride in the National, was thrown clear of his mount and avoided injury. 

A racecourse worker waves a chequered warning flag as the field thunders over the 19th fence on the Grand National course

But the 10-year-old horse, trained by his father, Willie Mullins, and owned by his mother, Jackie, died.

Clare Balding, who hosted the BBC's coverage, was close to tears as she revealed the news, while former National-winning jockey Richard Dunwoody said: 'It's absolutely terrible.'

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Ornais and three other horses in the race, said: 'I feel gutted for his owners, the Stewart family, but together we'll get through it.' 

Jockeys guide their mounts round the 20th fence to avoid the tarpaulin-covered body of Ornais, who had fallen there on the first circuit, fatally breaking his neck

Willie Mullins said: 'Patrick is devastated. The horse was dead when the vets got to him.'

Sir Alex Ferguson, co-owner of What A Friend, followed the race from his seat at Manchester United's Premier League match with Fulham at Old Trafford. His horse was pulled up four fences from home and Sir Alex said: 'He came back OK and that's all that matters.'

The tragedies followed the death of Inventor on the first day of the meeting on Thursday, and added to the growing list of casualties at the Liverpool course. 

Two fences later, the field misses out Becher's Brook to avoid Dooneys Gate, whose body lies surrounded by screens after he fell at the infamous fence on the first circuit, breaking his back and dying almost certainly instantaneously

There were four deaths at the three-day meeting last year, five in 2009 and since 2000 a staggering 33 horses have died at the Aintree spring festival amid increasing protests from animal welfare groups.

The BBC were criticised after one commentator referred to the body of one of the dead horses as an 'obstacle'. 

A BBC spokesman said: 'We were aware of the unfortunate events of the two fatalities. During the race and the re-run this was covered with as much sensitivity as possible.'

Aintree primed for Grand National

Aintree primed for Grand National

By Frank Keogh 

BBC Sport at Aintree 

JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL Aintree, 

Saturday 9 April, 1615 BST

Live on BBC TV, HD, Radio 5 live, online Other races also across the BBC 7-9 April

Last year's winner Don't Push It tops the weights as 40 horses are set to contest the 164th running of the Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.

Online Sportsbooks 

Champion jockey Tony McCoy is again on board the horse after an emotional win at his 15th attempt 12 months ago.

Two-time winner Ruby Walsh partners leading contender The Midnight Club for top Irish trainer Willie Mullins.

A worldwide audience of 600 million will watch the famous four-and-a-half mile race over 30 demanding fences.

For the first time in recent memory, all 71,000 tickets for the track have sold out in advance and racegoers are expected to bask in warm spring sunshine.

The going is expected to be just on the softer side of good with the course being watered after racing on Friday to ensure safe conditions for horses and riders.

Bookmakers estimate £150m will be wagered on the race, with more than half the adult population of the UK having a flutter.

McCoy's mount, carrying 5lb more in the handicap chase last year, is seeking to become the first consecutive winner since

in the 1970s.

"Winning last year was the best day of my racing career but that was last year, and it's more important to think about this time now," said the Northern Irishman.

"Red Rum was the last horse to win back-to-back Nationals so it would probably be a better feat than last year were he to win again."

The 36-year-old, who has been champion jockey 15 years running and has won more than 3,000 races in his career, said Don't Push It's preparations have been at least as good as last year.

Asked to nominate horses who he felt would be dangers to his mount, McCoy pinpointed The Midnight Club, stablemate Arbor Supreme and the Nicholls-trained Niche Market.

RECENT NATIONAL WINNERS 

2010 Don't Push It 10-1

2009 Mon Mome 100-1

2008 Comply Or Die 7-1

2007 Silver Birch 33-1

2006 Numbersixvalverde 11-1

2005 Hedgehunter 7-1

Other leading National contenders include

who is owned by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and his friend Ged Mason.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup fourth runs for Paul Nicholls, the champion trainer whose record is 0-44 in the Grand National.

Amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen rides

who is owned by his father Robert together with Sir Martin Broughton and the former Liverpool FC chairman's brother Steve.

Waley-Cohen, who is a friend of royal bride-to-be Kate Middleton, has already won the Gold Cup and King George VI Chase this season on Long Run.

He is one of five amateur riders in the race, with Nina Carberry on the grey Character Building bidding to become the first female jockey to triumph.

McCoy's victory was the latest in a series of National stories that have captured the public's imagination and helped him to a landslide win in the 2010 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

Two years ago, the 100-1 shot Mon Mome scored a shock success and this year marks the 30th anniversary of

Back in 1981, jockey Bob Champion overcame cancer to guide home the injury-plagued horse. Their triumph was made into a movie.

Champion has gone on to raise millions of pounds for his cancer charity and will lead out the runners and riders, together with Don't Push It's trainer Jonjo O'Neill, for an Aintree Legends race earlier in the day.

The charity flat contest features 10 former National-winning riders, including Carl Llewellyn (Party Politics 1992, Earth Summit 1998) and Jim Culloty (Bindaree 2002).

Jimmy Frost (Little Polveir 1989), whose son Hadden makes his debut in the National later on Saturday on Calgary Bay, and former champion jockey Peter Scudamore also feature.

Scudamore is assistant to trainer Lucinda Russell, who is hoping her National contender Silver By Nature will become the first Scottish-trained winner of the big race since Rubstic in 1979, and the first grey since Nicolaus Silver 50 years ago.

Chief Dan George runs for Jimmy Moffatt. The Scottish trainer is fighting back after a serious blood infection earlier in the year.

Story from BBC SPORT

Nicholls enters 10 for Grand National at Aintree in April

Nicholls enters 10 for National

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has 10 of the 102 entries for the Grand National at Aintree in April.

2011/02/02 

BBC 

Nicholls has never won the race and his hopes include recent Cheltenham winner Neptune Collonges and What A Friend, part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Midnight Club is among nine entries for Irish trainer Willie Mullins.

Jonjo O'Neill has three contenders - Don't Push It, who won the National for Tony McCoy in 2010, plus Synchronised and Can't Buy Time.

Entries for the Grand National closed on Wednesday, with the weights announced on 15 February. Of the 102 contenders, 34 are trained in Ireland and three in France.

SportingBet

Last year the race attracted 112 entries. although a maximum field of 40 is allowed on the day for the four-and-a-half mile contest.

Neptune Collonges and What A Friend are joined by stablemates The Tother One, Tricky Trickster, Taranis, Tatenen, Niche Market, Just Amazing, Gullible Gordon and Meanus Dandy.

McCoy won the National at the 15th attempt last year, and was voted the 2010 BBC Sports Personality.

It seems likely he will choose between Don't Push It and January's Welsh National winner Synchronised.

The Northern Irish jockey is retained by owner JP McManus, whose other entries are the recent purchase Quolibet, trained in France by Francois Doumen, as well as Arbor Supreme and Quiscover Fontaine, representing Willie Mullins.

Ballabriggs, trained by Donald McCain, hardened as ante-post National favourite after winning over hurdles at Ayr on Monday.

The 10-year-old, ridden by Jason Maguire, was scoring his fifth straight victory as he took the novices' hurdle over two miles and four furlongs.

Ballabriggs is rated a 16-1 chance for the Aintree marathon on 9 April.

McCain's father Ginger won the National four times - three with Red Rum in the 1970s, plus Amberleigh House in 2004.

Hoping to win the National for a second time will be David Pipe, whose five hopefuls number the 2008 scorer Comply Or Die, now aged 12.

He has also entered Junior, who could seek a remarkable Royal Ascot-Grand National double, having won the Ascot Stakes last summer.

The Evan Williams-trained State Of Play, Howard Johnson's Tidal Bay and Ferdy Murphy's Big Fella Thanks are other interesting contenders.

The Irish entries include the 2008 Welsh National winner Notre Pere, the Edward O'Grady-trained Tranquil Sea, Noel Glynn's stable star Becauseicouldntsee, the Martin Lynch-trained Oscar Time and Gordon Elliott's Backstage, who unseated his rider in the 2010 race.

But one Irish challenger who will not be making the trip is the 2010 Grand National runner-up Black Apalachi, who has been ruled out for the season.

Now a 12-year-old, Black Apalachi was going ominously well when unseating Denis O'Regan at Becher's Brook on the second circuit in 2009 before finishing second to Don't Push It last April.

He was being prepared solely with the race in mind again but has sustained a tendon injury.

"Can you imagine it? He jumps around Aintree with not a bother year after year and then he gets a leg," said trainer Dessie Hughes.

"I've no idea how it happened, it just appeared. We were lucky we didn't run him the other day.

"He might come back, but he's 12 now. He'll have to stand in his box for a month or two. This probably would have been his year.

"But maybe his year was the year he unseated - you don't get too many chances."

Another horse missing the race is Pipe's The Package , who has suffered a setback.

He was creeping into contention before unseating Graham Lee at the 19th fence in the 2010 National.

"Fortunately he is a relatively lightly-raced eight-year-old so there is still plenty of time for him, and I look forward to getting him back on track next term," said Pipe on his

Grand National entries

0P1-006 ALWAYS WAINING (IRE) 10 Peter Bowen

60U0-60 AMBOBO (USA) 11 Martin Brassil IRE

2212-52 APT APPROACH (IRE) 8 Willie Mullins IRE

0U2F-0P ARBOR SUPREME (IRE) 9 Willie Mullins IRE

256-021 ASKTHEMASTER (IRE) 11 Robert Tyner IRE

0BP-500 BACKSTAGE (FR) 9 Gordon Elliott IRE

3111-11 BALLABRIGGS (IRE) 10 Donald McCain

40F-044 BALLYFITZ 11 Nigel Twiston-Davies

0100-03 BALLYTRIM (IRE) 10 Willie Mullins IRE

2212-42 BECAUSEICOULDNTSEE (IRE) 8 Noel Glynn IRE

1F4/22-1 BELON GALE (IRE) 8 Wylie Howard Johnson

2U14-2F BIG FELLA THANKS 9 Ferdy Murphy

0C21-04 BLUESEA CRACKER (IRE) 9 James Motherway IRE

P12-UPP BURREN LEGEND (IRE) 10 Richard Rowe

4-56242 CALGARY BAY (IRE) 8 Henrietta Knight

16F-0P5 CAN'T BUY TIME (IRE) 9 Jonjo O'Neill

635P-6P CANE BRAKE (IRE) 12 Conor O'Dwyer IRE

12/- CARRONHILLS (IRE) 9 Rebecca Curtis

000-305 CHARACTER BUILDING (IRE) 11 John Quinn

30011-0 CHIEF DAN GEORGE (IRE) 11 Jimmy Moffatt

2/000-06 COMPLY OR DIE (IRE) 12 David Pipe

1P46-3U DEEP PURPLE 10 Evan Williams

363221- DEV (IRE) 11 Gordon Elliott IRE

23P1-P0 DON'T PUSH IT (IRE) 11 Jonjo O'Neill

01F24-4 DOONEYS GATE (IRE) 10 Willie Mullins IRE

21PP-PP DREAM ALLIANCE 10 Philip Hobbs

05241P DUERS (IRE) 9 Paul Magnier IRE

3/402P-0 FAASEL (IRE) 10 David Pipe

1500-10 FAIR ALONG (GER) 9 Philip Hobbs

1F3U-P1 FRANKIE FIGG (IRE) 9 Howard Johnson

313-355 FROM DAWN TO DUSK 12 Philip Hobbs

5/2613-P GALANT NUIT (FR) 7 Ferdy Murphy

F123-P2 GILES CROSS (IRE) 9 Victor Dartnall

1-P1440 GLENCOVE MARINA (IRE) 9 Eoin Griffin IRE

421001 GOLDEN KITE (IRE) 9 Adrian Maguire IRE

11FP10 GRAND SLAM HERO (IRE) 10 Nigel Twiston-Davies

P22-41F GULLIBLE GORDON (IRE) 8 Paul Nicholls

005P-1P HELLO BUD (IRE) 13 Nigel Twiston-Davies

P0-24U3 I'MONCLOUDNINE (IRE) 8 Neil Mulholland

F42040 I'MSINGINGTHEBLUES (IRE) 9 David Pipe

566U-34 IN COMPLIANCE (IRE) 11 Dessie Hughes IRE

3131-32 JUNIOR 8 David Pipe

121616- JUST AMAZING (IRE) 8 Paul Nicholls

315F-0(3) KHACHATURIAN (IRE) 8 Donald McCain

P2P-253 KILLYGLEN (IRE) 9 Stuart Crawford IRE

3211-11 KING FONTAINE (IRE) 8 Malcolm Jefferson

3P-0204 LE BEAU BAI (FR) 8 Richard Lee

16-1155 LITTLE JOSH (IRE) 9 Nigel Twiston-Davies

U62/1-31 MAJESTIC CONCORDE (IRE) 8 Dermot Weld IRE

P1P-41U MEANUS DANDY (IRE) 8 Paul Nicholls

0D61-0F MERIGO (FR) 10 Green Andrew Parker

1-41111 MIDNIGHT CHASE 9 Neil Mulholland

15P-614 MOBAASHER (USA) 8 Venetia Williams

1-122B0 NEDZER'S RETURN (IRE) 9 Gordon Elliott IRE

F14/-B01 NEPTUNE COLLONGES (FR) 10 Paul Nicholls

520P-F5 NICHE MARKET (IRE) 10 Paul Nicholls

331-P31 NICTO DE BEAUCHENE (FR) 10 Victor Dartnall

021-062 NOBLE CONCORDE 9 Jim Culloty IRE

P-55004 NORTHERN ALLIANCE (IRE) 10 Tony Martin IRE

4UP-250 NOTRE PERE (FR) 10 Barry Potts IRE

1P0-053 ONE COOL COOKIE (IRE) 10 Charlie Swan IRE

2F1425 OR NOIR DE SOMOZA (FR) 9 Jean Pierre Totain FR

1215/1P/- ORNAIS (FR) 9 Paul Nicholls

3152-26 OSCAR TIME (IRE) 10 Martin Lynch IRE

013111- OUR MONTY (IRE) 8 Willie Mullins IRE

00P-234 PIRAYA (FR) 8 David Pipe

PF4-536 POMME TIEPY (FR) 8 Willie Mullins IRE

321112 PUTNEY BRIDGE 9 Keith Goldsworthy

012P51 QUEZAC DE LA ROQUE (FR) 7 Francois Cottin FR

510-113 QUINZ (FR) 7 Philip Hobbs

0/1160-2 QUISCOVER FONTAINE (FR) 7 Willie Mullins IRE

2F-FF25 QUOLIBET (FR) 7 Francois Doumen FR

560-P23 REGAL HEIGHTS (IRE) 10 Tom George

3P6/454- ROLL ALONG (IRE) 11 Nigel Twiston-Davies

P5U-42P ROYAL ROSA (FR) 12 Howard Johnson

111U0-6 SADDLERS STORM (IRE) 9 Tony Martin IRE

31-PP11 SAGALYRIQUE (FR) 7 Donald McCain

6-22000 SANTA'S SON (IRE) 11Howard Johnson

20-3534 SCOTSIRISH (IRE) 10 Willie Mullins IRE

5121-00 SILVER BY NATURE 9 Lucinda Russell

41/313-0 SKIPPERS BRIG (IRE) 10 Nicky Richards

032236- SNOWY MORNING (IRE) 11 Colin Bowe IRE

11P61/0/- STARZAAN (IRE) 12 Hughie Morrison

0/144/P3- STATE OF PLAY 11 Evan Williams

PP2/111/- SURFACE TO AIR 10 Chris Bealby

131-561 SYNCHRONISED (IRE) 8 Jonjo O'Neill

14P//1-0F TARANIS (FR) 10 Paul Nicholls

UP-3631 TATENEN (FR) 7 Richard Rowe

301050 THAT'S RHYTHM (FR) 11 Martin Todhunter

U3133-2 THE MIDNIGHT CLUB (IRE) 10 Willie Mullins IRE

00-5064 THE SAWYER (BEL) 11 Bob Buckler

204/12-P THE SLIOTAR (IRE) 10Philip Hobbs

205-244 THE TOTHER ONE (IRE) 10 Paul Nicholls

104-322 TIDAL BAY (IRE) 10 Howard Johnson

4F2P-43 TINAKELLYLAD (IRE) 7 Mouse Morris IRE

311120- TOBY JUG 10 Sarah Humphrey

2106-11 TRANQUIL SEA (IRE) 9 Edward O'Grady IRE

F/116PP- TREACLE (IRE) 10 Tom Taaffe IRE

1/2100-P TRICKY TRICKSTER (IRE) 8 Paul Nicholls

501B-00 VIC VENTURI (IRE) 11 Dessie Hughes IRE

2P/00-11 WEST END ROCKER (IRE) 9 Alan King

61/211-5 WHAT A FRIEND 8 Paul Nicholls