Pierrot Lunaire back for Grand National title defense

The country's most lucrative steeplechase event, the Grade 1, $250,000

Grand

National, at Far Hills, New Jersey, has attracted a field of 11 for

Saturday's renewal over 2 5/8 miles, including last year's divisional champion

Pierrot Lunaire.

Unraced since taking the 2012 Grand National by three-quarters of a length

over returning foe Divine Fortune, Pierrot Lunaire has not always performed his

best at this locale. The nine-year-old War Chant gelding was a well-beaten fifth

in the 2009 Grand National and a sluggish sixth in 2011 after a slow start, but

cemented a championship in the race last season, which came on the heels of an

upset score in the Lonesome Glory at Belmont Park.

Looking to enhance their Eclipse Award credentials are several of the

season's other major-race winners: New York Turf Writers Cup scorer Italian

Wedding, Lonesome Glory winner Gustavian, and Iroquois victor Demonstrative.

All Together seeks his first stakes win of the year after finishing runner-up

in the New York Turf Writers Cup and the Lonesome Glory, the latter by a nose.

Meanwhile, Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard saddles four, including the

Saratoga novice stakes winners Barnstorming and Martini Brother.

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