2015 Grand National runner profile: Balthazar King

Balthazar King

Age: 11

Weight: 11st 2lb

Owner: The Brushmakers

Trainer: Philip Hobbs. Grand National record – 1990 Gallic Prince (13th); Joint Sovereignty (Fell 19th); 1995 Gold Cap (13th); 1998 Samlee (3rd); Greenhill Tare Away (UR 27th); 1999 Samlee (10th); Bells Life (PU 26th); Mudahim (UR 6th); 2000 Village King (Fell 20th); Stormy Passage (Fell 22nd); 2001 Village King (Fell 8th); 2002 What’s Up Boys (2nd); 2004 What’s Up Boys (BD 6th); 2005 Double Honour (UR 21st); 2007 Zabenz (PU bef 7th), Monkerhostin (Ref 7th); 2009 Zabenz (Fell 16th), Parsons Legacy (Fell 22nd); 2010 Dream Alliance (PU 24th); 2011 Quinz (PU 16th); 2012 Planet Of Sound (12th); 2013 Balthazar King (15th); 2014 Balthazar King (2nd), Chance Du Roy (6th)
Jockey: Richard Johnson. Grand National Record – 1997 Celtic Abbey (UR 15th), 1998 Banjo (Fell 1st), 1999 Baronet (Fell 4th), 2000 Star Traveller (PU 27th); 2001 Edmond (Fell 15th); 2002 What’s Up Boys (2nd); 2003 Behrajan (10th); 2004 What’s Up Boys (BD 6th); 2005 Jakari (PU 20th); 2006 Therealbandit (PU 27th); 2007 Monkerhostin (Ref 7th); 2008 Turko (Fell 25th); 2009 Parson’s Legacy (Fell 22nd); 2010 Tricky Trickster (9th); 2011 Quinz (PU 16th); 2012 Planet Of Sound (12th); 2013 Balthazar King (15th); 2014 Balthazar King (2nd)

Form: 6/01436422/F211242F06/1142511P/15P001/120P-11112/F11

*Set to make third appearance in the Crabbie’s Grand National after finishing 15th in 2013 and second last year.

*Bidding to become the first horse since L’Escargot (1975) to win the Crabbie’s Grand National, having finished second the previous year.

*Has an excellent in record in cross-country chases and made it seven wins from 10 starts in such events with a gutsy victory at Cheltenham in November. Eight of his 16 victories have come at Cheltenham, including two at The Festival in cross-country chases (2014 & 2012). He has not raced since and been kept fresh for Aintree.