Lee Westwood dreams about winning the Grand National
Lee Westwood dreams about winning the Grand National

Grand National: Lee Westwood hopes dreams come true with Bellshill on Masters weekend


Lee Westwood described owning a potential Randox Grand National runner as “incredible” and said it was his “dream” to win the world’s greatest steeplechase - even if he's unable to watch it live on Masters weekend.

Westwood, who is 100/1 to win the Green Jacket at Augusta National on April 11, co-owns 40/1 shot Bellshill with friend Dave Armstrong.

The 11-year-old gelding, who is a former Irish Gold Cup and Punchestown Gold Cup winner, has a rating of 153 and has been allocated a weight of 10st 10lbs for the big race at Aintree and at number 23 in the list has a guaranteed place in the race if connections choose to proceed.

The Westwood-Bellshill double is currently 4140/1 with Sky Bet for anyone predicting a dream weekend for the multiple Ryder Cup-winning hero.

Westwood is hugely excited at the prospect and said: “To win the National would be unbelievable. It’s what dreams are made of and it’s the biggest horse race in the world. Just to have a runner in it is incredible, but to have a winner would be staggering – it’s difficult to put into words.”

Westwood also explained the Aintree showpiece had been close to his heart since he was young.

He said: "The Grand National is very high up in my affections. For people in horseracing it is very high up, but I think for people who don’t watching racing regularly it is probably the most famous race of all.

"It’s the one that everyone will have watched at some point and I think if you mention horseracing to the general public, the race they’ll come up with is the Grand National. It’s a bit like the Ryder Cup in a way - the majors draw in all the fanatical golf followers, but the Ryder Cup pulls in sport followers and I’d say the Grand National is the same.

"My Grandad likes his racing and we would go round and watch the King George on Boxing Day, but we would also watch the National come Easter time – so those two races are my earliest memories of watching racing, with the National being the one that everybody wants to win.”

Westwood also paid tribute to trainer Sandy Thomson for reinvigorating Bellshill ahead of a run in the Grand National.

He explained: “He’s great with these older racehorses. I’ve never had a runner in the National and I don’t know whether Dave (Armstrong) has, so to get a horse there is the ultimate achievement.

"Getting an old-ish horse like Bellshill there is an even bigger achievement and if he races you just want him to come back safe and sound. But to just see him jump the fences would be a real buzz if it happens."

If Bellshill does run in the Grand National on Saturday 10th April, Westwood will have to follow the race from a different time zone and might even miss it altogether.

He explained: "I’m in America at the moment and hopefully I will be teeing off in the third round of the Masters with the lead on Grand National day!

"It seems to always clash – this golf seems to really get in the way of horseracing at times! The Players’ Championship is the week of Cheltenham and it’s the Masters when the Grand National is on, so what can you do? I’ve got to work sometimes!"

What are the Grand National weights in full?

1 Bristol de Mai (FR) 10 11 10 167 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Nigel Twiston-Davies

2 Easysland (FR) 7 11 10 167 Mr John P. McManus D. Cottin FR

3 Santini (GB) 9 11 10 167 Mr & Mrs R. Kelvin-Hughes Nicky Henderson

4 Delta Work (FR) 8 11 9 166 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

5 Presenting Percy (GB) 10 11 9 166 Philip J. Reynolds Gordon Elliott IRE

6 Tiger Roll (IRE) 11 11 9 166 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

7 The Storyteller (IRE) 10 11 8 165 Mrs Pat Sloan Gordon Elliott IRE

8 Chris's Dream (IRE) 9 11 7 164 Robcour Henry de Bromhead IRE

9 Battleoverdoyen (IRE) 8 11 5 162 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

10 Yala Enki (FR) 11 11 3 160 Hills of Ledbury Ltd Paul Nicholls

11 Ballyoptic (IRE) 11 11 1 158 Mills & Mason Partnership Nigel Twiston-Davies

12 Definitly Red (IRE) 12 11 1 158 Phil & Julie Martin Brian Ellison

13 Lake View Lad (IRE) 11 11 0 157 Mr Trevor Hemmings N. W. Alexander

14 Ajas (FR) 7 10 13 156 Mr Ulf Sjoberg D. Cottin FR

15 Burrows Saint (FR) 8 10 13 156 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE

16 Magic of Light (IRE) 10 10 13 156 Ann & Alan Potts Limited Mrs J. Harrington IRE

17 Acapella Bourgeois (FR) 11 10 12 155 Slaneyville Syndicate W. P. Mullins IRE

18 Anibale Fly (FR) 11 10 12 155 Mr John P. McManus A. J. Martin IRE

19 Aso (FR) 11 10 12 155 The Bellamy Partnership Venetia Williams

20 Mister Malarky (GB) 8 10 12 155 Wendy & Malcolm Hezel Colin Tizzard

21 Talkischeap (IRE) 9 10 12 155 Mr Charles Dingwall Alan King

22 Tout Est Permis (FR) 8 10 12 155 Gigginstown House Stud Noel Meade

23 Bellshill (IRE) 11 10 10 153 D & D Armstrong Ltd & Mr L Westwood Sandy Thomson

24 Beware The Bear (IRE) 11 10 10 153 Mr G. B. Barlow Nicky Henderson

25 Kimberlite Candy (IRE) 9 10 10 153 Mr John P. McManus Tom Lacey

26 Pym (IRE) 8 10 10 153 Mrs Patricia Pugh Nicky Henderson

27 Alpha des Obeaux (FR) 11 10 9 152 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

28 Al Roc (FR) 10 10 9 152 Comedy Club Partnership Dr Richard Newland

29 Any Second Now (IRE) 9 10 9 152 Mr John P. McManus T. M. Walsh IRE

30 Balko des Flos (FR) 10 10 9 152 Gigginstown House Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE

31 Brahma Bull (IRE) 10 10 8 151 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE

32 Champagne Classic (IRE) 10 10 8 151 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

33 Ok Corral (IRE) 11 10 8 151 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson

34 Articulum (IRE) 11 10 7 150 Martin McDonagh/Paul G Murphy/M J Nixon Terence O'Brien IRE

35 Jett (IRE) 10 10 7 150 Mr Robert Waley-Cohen Mrs J. Harrington IRE

36 Shattered Love (IRE) 10 10 7 150 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

37 Takingrisks (IRE) 12 10 7 150 Mr Frank Bird Nicky Richards

38 The Jam Man (IRE) 8 10 7 150 Ronan M. P. McNally Ronan M. P. McNally IRE

39 Class Conti (FR) 9 10 6 149 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins IRE

40 Discorama (FR) 8 10 6 149 Thomas Friel/Andrew Gemmell Paul Nolan IRE

41 Lord du Mesnil (FR) 8 10 6 149 Mr Paul Porter & Mike & Mandy Smith Richard Hobson

42 Milan Native (IRE) 8 10 6 149 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

43 Potters Corner (IRE) 11 10 6 149 All Stars Sports Racing & J Davies Christian Williams

44 The Conditional (IRE) 9 10 6 149 Mr P. J. Cave David Bridgwater

45 Cabaret Queen (GB) 9 10 5 148 Syndicates.Racing W. P. Mullins IRE

46 Cloth Cap (IRE) 9 10 5 148 Mr Trevor Hemmings Jonjo O'Neill

47 Minellacelebration (IRE) 11 10 5 148 Mr Nick Elliott Katy Price00

48 Robin des Foret (IRE) 11 10 5 148 Byerley Racing Syndicate W. P. Mullins IRE

49 Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 12 10 5 148 Prof Caroline Tisdall & Mr John Gent David Pipe

50 Canelo (IRE) 8 10 4 147 Mr John P. McManus Alan King

51 Give Me A Copper (IRE) 11 10 4 147 Done, Ferguson, Mason, Nicholls & Wood Paul Nicholls

52 Glen Forsa (IRE) 9 10 4 147 Mr T. P. Radford Mick Channon

53 The Long Mile (GB) 7 10 4 147 Mr John P. McManus J.P.Dempsey IRE

54 Yorkhill (IRE) 11 10 4 147 D & D Armstrong Ltd & Mr L Westwood Sandy Thomson

55 Agusta Gold (IRE) 8 10 3 146 K.Leavy/F.W.Healy/L.Cribbin/Ms Mullins Ms Margaret Mullins IRE

56 Farclas (FR) 7 10 3 146 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

57 Hogan's Height (IRE) 10 10 3 146 Foxtrot Racing: Hogan's Height Jamie Snowden

58 Minella Times (IRE) 8 10 3 146 Mr John P. McManus Henry de Bromhead IRE

59 Sub Lieutenant (IRE) 12 10 3 146 Ms G. Howell Georgie Howell

60 Ami Desbois (FR) 11 10 2 145 The Reserved Judgment Partnership Graeme McPherson

61 Blaklion (GB) 12 10 2 145 Darren & Annaley Yates Dan Skelton

62 Double Shuffle (IRE) 11 10 2 145 Crossed Fingers Partnership Tom George

63 Gold Present (IRE) 11 10 2 145 Mr and Mrs J. D. Cotton Nicky Henderson

64 Keeper Hill (IRE) 10 10 2 145 McNeill Family Warren Greatrex

65 Moyhenna (IRE) 9 10 2 145 Mr R. V. Hennelly Denis G. Hogan B IRE

66 Death Duty (IRE) 10 10 1 144 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

67 Secret Reprieve (IRE) 7 10 1 144 Mr & Mrs William Rucker Evan Williams

68 Some Neck (FR) 10 10 1 144 Some Neck Partnership John McConnell IRE

69 Rocky's Treasure (IRE) 10 10 0 143 Mr J. Perriss Kim Bailey

70 Cap du Nord (FR) 8 9 13 142 The Can't Say No Partnership Christian Williams

71 Deise Aba (IRE) 8 9 13 142 Mr Trevor Hemmings Philip Hobbs

72 Fagan (GB) 11 9 13 142 Mr Ben Brackenbury Alex Hales

73 Golan Fortune (IRE) 9 9 13 142 P Middleton, M Lowther Phil Middleton

74 Jerrysback (IRE) 9 9 13 142 Mr John P. McManus Philip Hobbs

75 Kauto Riko (FR) 10 9 13 142 Mr and Mrs J.Dale and Partners Tom Gretton

76 Saturnas (FR) 10 9 13 142 Mr Nick Peacock W. P. Mullins IRE

77 Storm Control (IRE) 8 9 13 142 Mr Will Roseff Kerry Lee

78 Valtor (FR) 12 9 13 142 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson

79 Another Venture (IRE) 10 9 11 140 Racing For Maggie's Partnership Kim Bailey

80 Captain Drake (IRE) 8 9 11 140 Gary Stevens and Brian and Sandy Lambert Harry Fry

81 Crievehill (IRE) 9 9 11 140 Highclere T'Bred Racing- Crievehill Nigel Twiston-Davies

82 Run Wild Fred (IRE) 7 9 11 140 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

83 The Hollow Ginge (IRE) 8 9 11 140 The Ginge Army Nigel Twiston-Davies

84 Fitzhenry (IRE) 9 9 10 139 Mr John P. McManus Paul Nolan IRE

85 Flying Angel (IRE) 10 9 10 139 Mr R. J. Rexton Nigel Twiston-Davies

86 Le Breuil (FR) 9 9 10 139 Mrs Emma Palmer Ben Pauling

87 Prime Venture (IRE) 10 9 10 139 Mrs Janet Davies Evan Williams

88 Achille (FR) 11 9 9 138 Mrs Vida Bingham Venetia Williams

89 A Toi Phil (FR) 11 9 9 138 Teme Valley 2 Gary Moore

90 Dounikos (FR) 10 9 9 138 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

91 Hold The Note (IRE) 7 9 9 138 Mr T. P. Radford Mick Channon

92 Plan of Attack (IRE) 8 9 9 138 Mr A. Halsall Henry de Bromhead IRE

93 Roaring Bull (IRE) 8 9 9 138 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

94 Musical Slave (IRE) 8 9 8 137 Mr John P. McManus Philip Hobbs

95 Soupy Soups (IRE) 10 9 8 137 Equi ex Incertis Partners Neil Mulholland

96 Treacysenniscorthy (IRE) 9 9 8 137 Paula Widger Robert Widger IRE

97 Beau Bay (FR) 10 9 7 136 Mr Peter Green & Dr RDP Newland Dr Richard Newland

98 Hear No Evil (IRE) 9 9 7 136 Mr Patrick Joseph McCartan Noel C. Kelly IRE

99 Shantou Flyer (IRE) 11 9 7 136 David Maxwell Racing Limited Paul Nicholls

100 Monbeg Notorious (IRE) 10 9 6 135 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

101 Aforementioned (FR) 8 9 5 134 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

102 Saint Xavier (FR) 9 9 5 134 Mr D. W. Fox Richard Hobson

103 Fingerontheswitch (IRE) 11 9 3 132 Cahill, Atwell & Crofts Neil Mulholland

104 One Style (FR) 11 9 3 132 The Four Bosses Venetia Williams

105 Bellow Mome (FR) 10 9 2 131 Mrs Audrey Turley W. P. Mullins IRE

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