Aintree Racecourse is pleased to announce that it will be staging a new two-and-a-half mile novices' chase at the 2009 John Smith's Grand National Meeting.

The new race, which will be known as the John Smith's Manifesto Novices' Chase, will have Grade Two status and a total prize fund of #80,000. It is scheduled to take place as the sixth race on the opening day of the John Smith's Grand National, Thursday, April 2, 2009.

The addition of the new contest has required a slight change to the race programme for the 2009 John Smith's Grand National Meeting.The amateur and conditional riders' handicap chase that used to take place after the John Smith's Grand National on Saturday will be replaced by the existing two-and-a-half mile handicap hurdle on John Smith's Grand National day, Saturday, April 4, 2009, will have its conditions altered to restrict it to amateur and conditional jockeys. It will be run as the race after the John Smith's Grand National.

Andrew Tulloch, Clerk of the Course and Director of Racing at Aintree, commented: " After consultation with the BHA Racing Department and a number of trainers , we have established the desire for a valuable two-and-a-half mile novices' chase in the Pattern system and Aintree is delighted to be able to offer such a contest from 2009 onwards. With a prize fund of #80,000 and Grade Two status, we very much hope that the new race will develop into a leading target for some of the best novice chasers and will receive good support come April."