1994 - Miinnehoma
Leading Fancies
After the disaster fof the “Race that Never Was” there was perhaps an understandable feeling of nervousness in the air for those attending the 1994 Grand National meeting. The new starting gate designed to replace the outdated one strand tape had been successfully unveiled at the Becher meeting the previous autumn. In addition security had been greatly increased and with security staff posted around the course it was clear that AIntree was not prepared for further disruption. In the end it was the weather than nearly scuppered proceedings. Heavy rain had rendered the ground very heavy and most of the Friday had seen Aintree lashed with heavy rain. There was even snow on the ground on the morning of the National but come the start of racing the sun had come out. For the first time since the field limit of forty was introduced there was not a maximum field declared for the race. Thirty nine stood their ground on the day although come post time three outsiders had dropped out due to the state of the ground leaving thirty six to face the starter. There was no previous winner in the field with both Party Politics and the void "winner" Esha Ness absent through injury.
The winner
Miinnehoma did not run again that season but returned for the 1994-95 campaign with all eyes towards another tilt at both the Gold Cup and National. It started well, an effortless win in a small field at Haydock and in the Gold Cup where, whilst he was beaten by thirty lengths he finished third behind Master Oats. Then came Aintree and it all went horribly wrong. Some National winners just don't like it second time round. An awkward jump at the first and by first Bechers he was toiling in the rear. By the tenth fence he and Gold Cap (who had made a shuddering mistake at the second fence) were almost a fence behind and they stayed there, miles behind the rest jumping together in splendid isolation. Gold Cap managed to complete the course but Miinnehoma perhaps wisely called it a day when hopelessly tailed off at the twenty first fence. He never completed the course in a chase again. In 1995-96 he again started his season in January but was pulled up in all three of his chases. A week after the National he was seen in a hurdle event at Newton Abbot where he at least completed the course albeit unplaced. How the mighty fall. He was retired and spent the rest of his days with his trainer until he died in July 2012 aged twenty nine.
With the conditions testing in the extreme heavy ground specialists were popular in the market. Favourite MOORCROFT BOY was a graduate from the pointing field and had been a revelation this year in handicaps having won the Chetenham Four Miler and the Warwick National. Despite being beaten in the Greenhalls Gold Cup he was favourite on the basis that he would act on the ground. Next best was the wonderful, DOUBLE SILK without a doubt the best hunter chaser of the nineties. Unbeatable over the past two seasons winning nine hunter chases on the bounce. He broke the course record in the 1993 Aintree Foxhunters and had won the past two Cheltenham Foxhunters. Such was his dominance only four bothered to line up to oppose him at Cheltenham this year. He would take some beating despite having an unfashionable amateur rider on board. MASTER OATS had run away with the re-arranged Greenalls Gold Cup (staged this year at Kempton) by fifteen lengths with Mooorcroft Boy behind him and this other ex-pointer and lightly raced chaser was also very fancied. Once again the current Gold Cup winner lined up, the French trained THE FELLOW had won the Cheltenham Gold Cup at the fourth attempt and the dual King George winner was the class horse of the race despite being an Aintree debutante. MIINNEHOMA had been a leading novice in 1992 winning the RSA Chase but he had been disappointing last season and, lightly campaigned this year had run very well to finish seventh in the Gold Cup (running far better than his placing would suggest). Last years red hot favourite, ZETAS LAD was without a win this year and there was very much a feeling that his chance may have come and gone. This year there was much media interest in FIDDLERS PIKE, a thirteen year old who would be ridden by his fifty one year old owner, vets wife, Rosemary Henderson. No slouch he had won a valuable race at Chepstow, jumped soundly and would stay forever, Finally mention to the gallant QUIRINUS who had made the long treck from Slovakia last year for nothing. Then he had plodded round on the first circuit a fence behind the others before coming to a stop at half way. It was very sporting of connections to have another go but with automatic top weight 250-1 seemed almost too short for the 1992 Velka Pardubicka winner.
3.50 THE MARTELL GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLE CHASE (98 entries) £87,083 to the winner, £36,928 to the second, £18,364 to the third, £8,409 to the fourth, £3,973 to the fifth & £2,388 to the sixth
1 114v-01 QUIRINUS 12, 11-10 (K.Ladislav - Slovakia) - Jaroslav Brecka
2 021-230 RUN FOR FREE 10, 11-7 (M C Pipe) -Mark Perrett
3 0-33331 THE FELLOW 9, 11-4 (Francois Doumen - France) - Adam Kondrat
4 040122 ZETA`S LAD 11, 10-13 (J R Upson) - Robbie Supple
5 1423f3 YOUNG HUSTLER 7, 10-12 (N A Twiston-Davies) - D.Bridgwater
6 1-13p12 BLACK HUMOUR 10, 10-12 (C P E Brooks) - Graham Bradley
7 333pu0 TOPSHAM BAY 11, 10-11 (D H Barons) - Jimmy Frost
8 223p-10 MIINNEHOMA 11, 10-8 (M C Pipe) - Richard Dunwoody
9 11-1111 DOUBLE SILK 10, 10-4 (R C Wilkins) - Mr Ron Treloggen
10 3401pp GARRISON SAVANNAH 11, 10-3 (Mrs J Pitman) - Jamie Osborne
11 4-s04u3 EBONY JANE 9, 10-1 (Ireland) - Liam Cusack
13 0-3004u ROMANY KING 10, 10-1 (G B Balding) - Richard Guest
14 fp-21pp RIVERSIDE BOY 11, 10-0 (M C Pipe) - Mark Richards
15 2-p0p0p RUST NEVER SLEEPS 10, 10-0 (Ireland) - Paul Carberry
16 2/042-40 HENRY MANN 11, 10-0 (N J Henderson) - Charlie Swan
17 2-22112 MOORCROFT BOY 9, 10-0 (D.Nicholson) - Adrian Maguire
18 111203 MR BOSTON 9, 10-2* (Mrs Mary Reveley) - Peter Niven
19 2/11211 MASTER OATS 8, 10-0 (K C Bailey) - Norman Williamson
20 1-2f1fp GAY RUFFIAN 8, 10-0 (F J O`Mahoney) - Rodney Farrant
21 f0u-340 ROC DE PRINCE 11, 10-0 (M C Pipe) - Jonathan Lower
22 1-1f2p0 USHERS ISLAND 8, 10-0 (J Howard Johnson) - Tony Dobbin
23 03-2241 ELFAST 11, 10-4* (J.Webber) - Graham McCourt
24 212-3pp INTO THE RED 10, 10-0 (J.White) - John White
25 13030p MISTER ED 11, 10-0 (D.Morris) - Derrick Morris
26 p34p34 CAPTAIN BRANDY 9, 10-0 (Ireland) - Kevin O'Brien
28 322130 SOUTHERN MINSTREL 11, 10-1* (P.Cheesbrough) - Mark Dwyer
29 004000 LAURA`S BEAU 10, 10-0 (Ireland) - Brendan Sheridan
30 420300 FIDDLERS PIKE 13, 10-0 (Mrs R G Henderson) - Mrs R.Henderson
31 2-00p14 FOURTH OF JULY 10, 10-0 (Ireland) - J P Banahan
32 000u00 NEW MILL HOUSE 11, 10-0 (Ireland) - Trevor Horgan
33 3-03210 JUST SO 11, 10-3* (H T Cole) - Simon Burrough
34 220f32 IT'S A CRACKER 10, 10-0 (Ireland) - Conor O'Dwyer
35 20pp0-p PACO`S BOY 9, 10-0 (M C Pipe) - Martin Foster
36 f21-030 HE WHO DARES WINS 11, 10-0 (P.Cheesbrough) - Chris Grant
37 u4-120p CHANNELS GATE 10, 10-0 (J A C Edwards) - Tom Jenks
38 p4u4p3 MIGHTY FALCON 9, 10-0 (D R C Elsworth) - Paul Holley
Non Runners : 12 BISHOPS HALL - Mr M Armytage (Ireland)
27 WINDY WAYS - M A Fitzgerald (N J Henderson)
39 RIFLE RANGE - S.McNeil (JJ O`Neill)
S.P : 5-1 Moorcroft Boy, 6-1 Double Silk, 9-1 Master Oats & The Fellow, 16-1 MIINNEHOMA, Mr Boston, Young Hustler & Zetas Lad, 18-1 Elfast, 20-1 Just So, 22-1 Romany King, 25-1 Ebony Jane, Garrison Savannah, Into the Red, Run for Free & Topsham Bay, 33-1 Black Humour, It`s a Cracker & Riverside Boy, 40-1 Lauras Beau, 50-1 Captain Brandy, Fourth of July, Henry Mann, Mister Ed & Southern Minstrel, 66-1 He Who Dares Wins, Rust Never Sleeps & Ushers Island, 100-1 Channels Gate, Fiddlers Pike & Roc de Prince, 150-1 Gay Ruffian & New Mill House, 200-1 Pacos Boy, 250-1 Mighty Falcon & Quirinus
Aintree debutants (italics states ran in void National of 93)
Black Humour*, Ebony Jane, Fiddlers Pike*, Fourth of July*, Gay Ruffian*, Henry Mann*, He Who Dares Wins*, Into the Red, It`s a Cracker*, Master Oats, Miinnehoma, Moorcroft Boy, Mr Boston, New Mill House*, Pacos Boy*, Quirinus*, Riverside Boy, Run for Free*, Rust Never Sleeps, The Fellow*, Topsham Bay, Zetas Lad, Young Hustler
Winner at Aintree
Double Silk - Foxhunters - 1993
Result
1st - MIINNEHOMA - Richard Dunwoody
2nd - JUST SO - Simon Burrough
3rd - MOORCROFT BOY - Adrian Maguire
4th - EBONY JANE - Charlie Swan
Distances : One & a quarter lengths, twenty lengths & twenty five lengths
Time : 10 minutes, 18.8 seconds
Owned by Freddie Starr
Trained by Martin Pipe
6 finishers
30 non-finishers (14 fell, 5 unseated rider, 3 pulled up, 1 brought down, 2 baulked, refused & unseated rider, 3 hampered & unseated rider, 2 refused)
The Class of 94
BLACK HUMOUR (1984) b g Buckskin (FR) - Artiste Gaye (Artists Son) - Won 4 hurdles & 8 chases between 1989 & 1996.Never did a horse better live up to its name. The only horse to my knowledge to run in a Champion Hurdle, a Gold Cup and a Grand National and to fall in each race. When he got his jumping together he was actually very useful. He won his only two novice hurdles in 1989 before breaking Peter Scudamores leg in a fall at Market Rasen on his third start in November 1991. He was a pretty good chaser winning a handicap at the 1993 Aintree Festival and later that year finished third in the 1993 Hennessy. At Aintree in 1994 he finished runner up to Docklands Express in the Martell Cup on the first day before turning out two days later in the National itself where he took a nasty looking fall at the Chair. Lightly raced thereafter he returned to Aintree in 1996 for another crack at the Martell Cup but he took the most horrific looking fall at the third fence ending Jamie Osbornes meeting. The horse got up OK but perhaps wisely he was not asked to try again.
CAPTAIN BRANDY (1985) ch g Step Together (USA) - Manhattan Brandy (Frankinsemnse) - Won NHF, 2 hurdles & 5 chases between 1989 & 1999. Ran 83 times in a long career over rules. Irish trained he only ever raced twice in the UK and both were over the National course finishing twelfth in the 1992 Topham and unseating at first Valentines in the 1994 National. Ran in four Irish Grand Nationals finishing fourth in 1994 but he he was unluckily carried out by a lose hose at half way when in contention in 1993. Later ran in points and was successful four times between in 1997. Last seen in a hunter case at Leopardstown in February 1999
CHANNELS GATE (1984) b g Fire Blue - Collies Pet (Clear Run) - Won 5 chases between 1992 & 1996. Late developer who did not see a racehorse until he was eight. Won on his debut by twenty five lengths at Hereford and won second time out at Newbury. Still technically a novice when he ran superbly in 1993 Topham leading to three out before fading to eventually finishing fourth. Lined up in the National a year starting at 100-1 and refusing at the nineteenth. The following year he opted for the slightly calmer waters of the Topham but finished down the field. He last saw a racecourse at Taunton in April 1995 where he provided Richard Davis with one of his last winners before the young jockey was so tragically killed in a fall at Southwell that July.
ELFAST (1983) b g Neltino - Niagara Rhythmn (Military) - Won 3 hurdles & 8 chases between 1988 & 1996. Victorious in his first two starts over hurdles in 1988 and despite adding a third victory started at 100 -1 in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at the 1989 Festival finishing unplaced. Better chaser and was only once out of the first three in his first eight chases including victory in the Mildmay of Flete at his second Festival. That run ended when he was unluckily brought down at the Chair in the 1992 Topham. Only won one more race but that was a second Mildmay of Flete in 1994 when he beat the popular Dublin Flyer despite jumping badly right at the last. Fell at the first fence in 1994 National on his next start. Last raced at Worcester in April 1996.
FIDDLERS PIKE (1981) b g Turnpike - Fiddlers Bee (Idiots Delight) - Won 4 chases between 1986 & 1997. Not many fifth placed National runners have a book written about them but his participation in 1994 was something of a fairytale. A thirteen year old ex-pointer and his fifty one year old owner/trainer/rider who required special dispensation from the Jockey club to take the ride. Raced just the once over hurdles in 1986 he spent his younger days in the pointing field where he won four times. Rosemary Henderson purchased him in 1991 and he ran credibly on his debut for her at Newton Abbot in May 1991. The following year he won another point, two novice hunter events and was only narrowly caught close home by that years Cheltenham Foxhunters winner and subsequent Gold Cup runner up Rushing Wild at Chepstow. In 1992-93 when switched to handicap company he was a revelation despite his advancing years. In January he made nearly every yard of the running to beat Aintree veteran Into the Red in the Warwick National, beat dual Welsh National winner Bonanza Boy by fifteen lengths in Chepstows Grand National trial and ran superbly to go down by only four lengths to Party Politics in the Greenalls Gold Cup at Haydock. He then ran credibly in the Scottish National before disappointing when out of his depth in the Whitbread. Mrs Henderson partnered him every time. In 1994 he was aimed at the big one. Without a win all season but still running credibly in long distance handicaps (including an albeit distant second in the Welsh National) 100-1 seemed almost insulting and no doubt he would have been on offer at much shorter odds had he been professionally ridden. In a race of some considerable grief they finished fifth in their own time although it should be noted that he put in a mighty leap at the nineteenth fence and for a few brief strides thereafter it did look like the fairytale was on. In a nice gesture they were allowed into the winners enclosure after the race. He was a tough, durable sort and he stayed in training until he was sixteen although he was aimed at the sightly more calmer waters of the Cheltenham Cross Country course. He finished fourth in the inaugural event in November 1995 and ran again in the race two years later. In between he won a point . He last saw a racecourse at Newton Abbot in December 1997. Mrs Hendersons book is called "Road to The National" but I couldn't find it on Amazon
FOURTH OF JULY (1984) b g Rymer - Wayward Pam (Pamroy) - Won NHF, 3 hurdles and 4 chases between 1989 & 1997. Fancied for the 1990 Stayers Hurdle on what was only his sixth start over timber when ridden by Peter Scudamore (finished unplaced). Useful over fences and finished fourth in the Mildmay of Flete in his start before his brief appearance in the Natonal in 1994. Won his penultimate start at Navan in May 1997 and was last seen out at Gowran the following October.
GAY RUFFIAN (1986) b g Welsh Term (IRE) - Alcinea (FR) (Sweet Rage) - Won 6 hurdles & 5 chases between 1989 & 2000. Tough cookie who ran eleven times during his novice hurdle campaign winning twice and was rarely out of the frame until he was outclassed in a novice event at the Grand National meeting. Started his chasing campaign impressively winning three on the bounce in January 1993 at Worcester, Ludlow and Uttoxeter and finished fourth in the Scilly Isles Novice Chase at Sandown on his next start. Trained for most of his career by Martin Pipe he switched stables shortly before his National attempt in 1994. In the National itself he was in last place when he did not get high enough at the seventh and came down. Didn't hit the headlines thereafter although he did win a small race at Uttoxeter in April 1998. Last seen pulling up in two points in 2000.
HENRY MANN (1983) br g Mandalus (IRE) - Little Dipper (Queens Hussar) - Won 3 hurdles & 2 chases between 1988 & 1994. Won first two hurdles and finished second in the 1989 Golden Hurdle Final at the Festival on what was only his seventh start. Went one better a year later. Then went chasing winning his sole novice chase at Leicester in 1991 and then was off the course for a year before returning to the track and winning a small event there. Showed he had ability as he finished second in the 1992 National Hunt Handicap Chase but unseated in the Martell Cup at Aintree later that season. Lightly raced thereafter and he fell at the first in the National. Last seen on a racecourse at Towcester in May 1994.
HE WHO DARES WINS (1983) b g Le Bavard (FR) - Brave Air (Brave Invader) - Won 7 chases between 1989 & 1994. Plied his trade on the northern circuit mostly in long distance handicaps and had a relatively successful if low key career. Provided Chris Grant with his final National ride in 1994 but was tailed off when he pulled up at the start of the second circuit. Sadly was killed in a fall on his next start at Newcastle, only the second time he had ever fallen in his life
IT`S A CRACKER (1984) b g Over The River (FR) - Bobs Hansel (Prince Hansel) - Won hurdle and 2 chases between 1990 & 1996. Was still maiden when he finished third behind Young Hustler in 1993 RSA Chase at the Festival. Was still technically a maiden when he fell at first Bechers in the 1994 National. Prior to that he was runner up in the Midlands National. Didn't run in the UK again and last raced at Punchestown in February 1996
JUST SO (1983) bl g Sousa - Just Camilla (Ascertain (USA)) - Won 3 chases between 1989-95. Unkindly dubbed "Just Slow" this graduate of the pointing field (where he won 4 times) stayed forever, jumped soundly and was as reliable as they come. He just wasn't that fast which meant that wins were few and far between but he did win the John Hughes Grand National Trial at Chepstow in 1994. He also didn't mind how heavy it got (he missed the chaos of 1993 by being withdrawn on the day due to the quick state of the ground). In 1992 they went too fast for him in but he was flying at the finish passing tired horses and finished sixth. 1994 was his year and as those around him dropped out he kept jumping and staying giving Miinnehoma a run for his money in the closing stages. He just wasn't quick enough but what a brave race he ran. He was last seen pulling up in the Greenalls Gold Cu at Haydock the following year.
LAURA`S BEAU (1984) b g - Beau Charmeur (FR) - Lauraberg (Laurence O) - Won NHF, 3 hurdles & 3 chases chases between 1988 & 1997. Won a handicap hurdle at the 1990 Punchestown Festival and was a useful novice chaser winning at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting before finishing fifth in the RSA Chase in 1991. Thereafter he found wins hard to come by although he rarely ran a bad race and he landed the 1992 Midlands Grand National by four lengths over Mr Boston. In the National whilst never troubling the leaders he stayed on to finish third. Thereafter he finished a tailed off last of seven finishers in the void National of 1993 and fell at first Bechers the following year. In September 1994 he made a belated debut in a flat race at the Curragh and won an Irish point to point in March 1995.
MIGHTY FALCON (1985) br g Comedy Star (USA) - Lettuce (So Blessed) - Won a hurdle and 5 chases between 1989 & 1998. Liked Wincanton winning there three times before his first attempt at the National. He ran credibly before he blundered four out and weakened rapidly to finish amongst the backmarkers. Was then off the course for nearly two years and showed such poor form in the run up to his second National that he started at odds of 250-1. He was one of five that came down at the thirteenth but to be fair to him he was brought down. He subsequently went pointing and ran twenty one times between the flags from 1996-99 winning four times and he won a hunter chase at Fontwell in May 1997 some five years after his previous success under rules. He made one further trip to Aintree finishing tailed off in the 1998 Foxhunters.
MOORCROFT BOY (1985) ch g Roselier (FR) - Well Mannered (Menelek) - Won 5 chases between 1990 and 1996. The horse that came back from the dead and who had an equine rehabilitation charity named after him. To put it bluntly he was a useless hurdler in 1990-91 with form figures of 000pu0 but was a revelation between the flags a year later winning five of this seven starts and finishing runner up in the other two. Introduced to handicaps in 1993 after another point win he made his debut in a hunter chase at Warwick running the countries leading hunter chaser Double Silk to a neck. He then ran a blinder for one so inexperienced to finish fifth in the Cheltenham Foxhunters two weeks later. Two victories in novice hunter events at Huntingdon and Ascot followed before he was ready to take on the professionals. His 1993-94 season was quite something, he was at his best on soft/heavy going and proved he could stay with victories in the Cheltenham four miler on New Years Day and the Warwick National. He was well beaten by Master Oats in the Greenalls on his next start but started favourite for the 1994 National at very low odds of 5-1 on account that he would relish the testing conditions. And so it proved he was one of a handful of survivors vying for the lead as they came back onto the racecourse second time and he led at the last before the petrol tank inexplicably ran out and he had nothing more to give as Miinnehoma took the lead after the fence. He even lost second place to the reliable Just So and was beaten twenty one lengths in third. The following season with the National again the aim disaster struck. He lined up in what was on paper a very weak renewal of the Becher Chase on his seasonal debut and was going well when he took the most horrible of falls at the final open ditch. It was revealed that he had broke a bone his neck and after six weeks at the Liverpool Veterinary hospital his season and in all probability his career was over. However his connections persevered and he returned to training for the 1995-96 season. After two lacklustre efforts it was looking like they shouldn't have bothered but a third place in the Midlands Grand National followed and with Aintree firmly off the agenda he took his chance in the Scottish Grand National starting at odds of 20-1. He got the sodden conditions he so loved and in an attritional race in which few competed he galloped his rivals into the ground beating General Wolfe by eleven lengths. It was an incredible and emotional triumph and whilst there was talk of another campaign this rightly proved to be his swansong. A wonderful horse.
MR BOSTON (1985) b g Halyuah (USA) - Edith Rose (Cheval) - Won NHF, Hurdle & 15 chases between 1989 & 1999. Slipped up on his debut over hurdles and won three times at the now defunct jumps course at Nottingham during his novice chase season. Hit several rich veins of form during his career winning three times on the bounce at Wetherby in the autumn of 1993 and four hunter chases in the 1996-97 season. Managed to fall seven times during his career including on both his visits to Aintree and both times at the same fence. In the 1994 National for which he held solid each way claims he fell at the thirteenth and he was challenging for the lead when he came down at what was the second last fence in the Foxhunters in 1997. Last seen pulling up in 1999 Scottish Grand National.
NEW MILL HOUSE (1983) ch g Tobique - Ascess (Eastern Venture) - Won NHF, 3 hurdles & 5 chases between 1987 & 1996. Highlight of his Irish career was a victory at Leopardstowns Christmas meeting in 1990. Ran in the void race in 1993 and pulled up after setting out for a second circuit and was a faller at first Bechers in the real thing a year later. Started favourite for the La Touche Cup over the banks course at Punchestown at the end of that season and was only beaten a short head by Lovely Citizen. Spent his last years in the UK but didn't show much. Last seen pulling up in a hunter chase at Cheltenham in April 1996.
PACO`S BOY (1985) b g Cool Thyne (USA) - Jeramique (Sunny Way) - Won NHF, 2 hurdles and 4 chases between 1989 & 1996. Initially trained by Jonjo O'Neill for whom he won on his debut over fences at Ayr 1991 and also at Haydock. Moved to Martin Pipe he won a couple of small races but second place behind Twin Oaks at Haydock in November 1992 was probably his finest hour. Went further than several in the void race of 1993 but was tailed off when he fell at the twentieth fence. A year later 200-1 seemed a fair reflection of his chances and he pulled up at half way. If he didn't set the world alight under rules he was arguably a better pointer winning five of his twenty outings between 1995 & 2000 and making the frame a further eight times.
QUIRINUS (CZ) (1982) b g Hugben - Quartella (CZ) (Lyon) - Slovak raider who was burdened with automatic top weight in both the void race of 1993 and 1994 (he had only one prep race in the UK at Windsor in 1993 finishing a very long way behind his rivals). Tailed off both times and he was miles behind the rest when in 1993 he called it a day after one circuit and the following year when he unseated at the Chair. Very sporting to come back in 1994 after his long and ultimately wasted the journey the year before. Won the last Velka Pardubicka of the old Czechoslovakia in 1992 becoming a legend in Slovak racing in the process. Won several chases in Bratislava and also won four times at Pardubice. Ran in three Velkas in total and was last seen finishing unplaced in the 1995 renewal.
ROC DE PRINCE (FR) (1983) br g Djarvis (FR) - Haute Volta II (FR) (Beau Fixe) - Won 2 hurdles & 8 chases between 1988 & 1994. Showed nothing in three starts over hurdles for Stan Mellor in November 1988 but was much better when sent to Ted Walsh in Ireland. Very useful novice chaser winning at the Fairyhouse Irish Grand National meeting in 1990. Even better in his second season winning the Troytown Chase at Navan, the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park and finished third in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown (although he was unplaced in that years Irish Grand National). Won on his first start of 1991-92 season at Punchestown but disappointed thereafter. Was one of two horses bought in the days leading up to the 1992 National by David & Patricia Thompson (the other being the eventual winner Party Policits) but he never troubled the leaders and finished seventeenth. On his next start he started favourite for the revamped La Touche Cup over the new banks course at Punchestown and beat a big field. It was to be his last victory under rules. He was one of nine horses left at the start in the void National and a year later in 1994 and put up a truly shocking jumping display but somehow managed to finish in his own time albeit a very distant last of six finishers. He had a very successful campaign in points in 1995 winning four of out of his nine starts and was never out of the first three.
RUN FOR FREE (1984) b g Deep Run - Credit Card (Current Coin) - Won 7 hurdles and 8 chases between 1988 & 1995. Showed little for Andy Turnell but was transformed under Martin Pipe winning four hurdles on the bounce in 1989-90 and then finished fourth in the Ballymore Hurdle. The following season he was a very useful long distance hurdler winning a Grade 2 event at Haydock on his seasonal debut and making nearly all the running in the Stayers Hurdle before hanging on the run in and losing the race to Kings Curate. Went chasing in 1991-92 and had a similar campaign - four wins in a row and then a place at the Festival, this time third in the RSA Chase. Things got even better in 1992-93. He beat future Gold Cup winner Jodami in the Edward Hanmer Memorial at Haydock, beat future Grand National winner Miinnehoma in the Rehearsal Chase at Chepstow. He made all the running to win the Welsh National. Not quite top class as Jodami easily turned the tables on him in the Gold Cup where he could only finish eighth. Ended the season on a high though with a remarkable performance in the Scottish National. He usually made the running but at Ayr he was left at the start and was tailed off for a circuit before making steady headway to lead close home. Two Nationals in one season - quite a feat. He didn't win under rules again but ran in a second Gold Cup (a fifth consecutive Festival appearance) and was unlucky in the National (a race for which he seemed an ideal sort) when he was baulked and put out of the race at the first fence on the second circuit. The following year he was lightly raced and after finishing behind Nuaffe in the Greenalls Gold Cup at Haydock his career under rules was over. He did reappear in points two years later and was twice successful.
SOUTHERN MINSTREL (1983) ch g Black Minstrel - Jadida (FR) (Yelapa (FR)) - Won 2 hurdles and 8 chases between 1987 & 1997. Was one of the top novice chasers in 1988-89 where apart from one fall he was not out of the first two in his ten chases. His four wins included victory over Rinus in the valuable Timeform Chase at Haydock and the Future Champion Chase at Ayr. He also finished second behind Waterloo Boy in the Arkle Chase at the Festival. He was then off the course for two years but thereafter was a solid, dependable sort who if he did not win much often made the frame. Whilst his sole National was not a success he became something of an Aintree specialist. He came very close to winning the Topham in 1993 before being caught close to the line, he also finished second in the 1993 Becher Chase and finished fourth a year later and also completed the course in the Foxhunters in 1996. He won a couple of points and last saw a racecourse at Cartmel in May 1997.
THE FELLOW (FR) (1995) b g Itallic - L'Oranaise (Paris Jour) - Won 3 hurdles and 12 chases between 1988 & 1995. In my humble opinion he is the most talented horse to grace the National course during the decade. This amazing French trained animal won a Gold Cup, two King George VI Chases and a Grand Steeplechase de Paris and only the shortest of short heads prevented him from adding two more Gold Cups to that record. Owned by the Marquesa de Moratella he was one of the "three musketeers" who, along with his stable companions Ubu II and Ucello dominated French jumping in the early nineties. A winner of the Grand Steeplechase de Paris by the age of six he was mostly campaigned in the UK by his astute trainer Francois Doumen. First seen in the UK finishing third in the 1990 King George he was unconsidered outsider when he came within a short head of Garrison Savannah in the 1991 Gold Cup. A year later after taking his Grand Steeplechase and his first King George he went down by another short head to Cool Ground at Cheltenham. After his second King George and a third place in the Hennessy he started the hotted priced favourite for the Gold Cup in years but this time he disappointed and could only finish fourth. He failed in the Whitbread and in subsequent attempts at the Grand Steeplechase and after lacklustre displays in both the 1993 King George and Racing Post Chase it looked like his chance for Gold Cup glory had come and gone. However in 1994 ridden closer to the pace than in previous attempts he never looked in trouble and swept past the previous years hero Jodami and Young Hustler at the last and was driven out by his Polish born jockey to record a length and half victory. With eleven stone four allotted to him he looked to be thrown in for the National and he lasted longer than many others that day in attritional conditions (it gets bottomless at Auteuil so perhaps it didn't phase him too much) but he came down at the second Canal Turn when in fourth place and as he got to his feet was knocked over again by Mister Ed. It looked worse than it actually was and he did manage to win again at Auteuil the following May. However he failed to show much the following season and he was retired immediately after pulling up in the 1995 Grand Steeplechase de Paris.
USHERS ISLAND (1986) br g Sandalay - Star Luck (Star Signal) - Won NH flat race & 4 chases between 1991 & 1995. Won an Irish Point to Point and his sole bumper but was generally disappointing for Ted Walsh and was sold in 1992 to Howard Johnson. On his second start for new connections he won the National Hunt Chase at the Festival and then won two more races at Wetherby. Sent off favourite for the 1993 Becher Chase he was travelling strongly when he took a crashing fall at the second last. Lost his way thereafter and following a lacklustre display in the National Hunt Handicap Chase was easy to back at 66-1 for the National itself. The form book states that he unseated at the third but that only tells part of the story. Continuing riderless he fell again at the eleventh fence (bringing down the fancied Young Hustler), fell a third time and returned home feeling very sorry for himself. It was therefore surprising to see him line up again so soon in the Whitbread Gold Cup where he pulled off a shock victory at odds of 25-1. Having looked held two out he managed to get his head in front in a blanket finish near the line. He showed nothing like that form the following year and was sold just before his final start the 1995 Whitbread (where he pulled up lame) with the intention of running him in the USA.
1995 - Royal Athlete
1995
The winner
A week later Royal Athlete was turned out again in his intended target, the Scottish National but was not given a hard time and was pulled up in the closing stages when it was clear that his chance had gone. He stayed in training for another season with the aim of another National attempt but in the end he was unable to get a prep run and he was retired. He enjoyed a happy retirement hunting, show jumping and taking part in dressage events. He died in May 2003 aged twenty.
Leading Fancies
The 1994 hero MIINNEHOMA was again lightly raced with victory over rival GENERAL PERSHING in a three runner race at Haydock before finishing a distant third in the Gold Cup behind MASTER OATS. The Gold Cup hero had found the thirteenth fence too much for him last year but had since gone on an unbeaten run of five races. This season he had beaten PARTY POLITICS in the Rehearsal Chase, taken the rescheduled Welsh National (which was run at Newbury), Cheltenham's Pillar Property Chase and a fifteen length demolition of his rivals in the Gold Cup. Despite his fall last year he was the one they all had to beat. DUBACILLA was having her final race before retiring to the paddocks. She had twice chased home MASTER OATS in the Pillar Property Chase and the Gold Cup but had won at Ascot. YOUNG HUSTLER was as tough as they came and seemed to run in every major race throughout the season although since his novice days he rarely got his head in front. He had won the Charlie Hall Chase in the autumn and finished fourth in the King George VI Chase but had been beaten over fifty lengths when fifth in the Gold Cup. An interesting newcomer was the lightly raced COUNTRY MEMBER who looked an ideal National candidate having won the Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown. Bred for the flat CRYSTAL SPIRIT had been a top hurdler, had run in the USA and this season he had picked up a small race at Ascot. As for the 1992 hero PARTY POLITICS a horse who should have had a crack at more than one National was now having only his second official attempt. He had only run nine times since his triumph three years ago and despite his promising run at Chepstow had pulled up in the Greenalls Gold Cup at Haydock on his last start. Irish challenger THE COMMITTEE who had finished in the frame in the void race was of interest as he was being ridden by Japanese champion Tsyuchi Tanake who was having his first ride in the UK.
3.45 THE MARTELL GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLE CHASE (81 entries) £89,616 to the winner, £38,000 to the second, £18,879 to the third, £8,664 to the fourth, £4,105 to the fifth & £2,454 to the sixth
1 f1-1111 MASTER OATS 9, 11-10 (K C Bailey) - Norman Williamson
2 p/101-13 MIINNEHOMA 12, 11-4 (M C Pipe) - Richard Dunwoody
3 104420 YOUNG HUSTLER 8, 11-2 (N A Twiston-Davies) - Carl Llewellyn
4 102022 DUBACILLA 9, 11-0 (D.Nicholson) - Dean Gallagher
5 1f-3020 ROYAL ATHLETE 12, 10-6 (Mrs Jenny Pitman) - Jason Titley
6 01f200 CHATAM 11, 10-6 (M C Pipe) - A P McCoy
7 22-1041 CRYSTAL SPIRIT 8, 10-4 (I A Balding) - Jamie Osborne
8 2f-01up ZETA`S LAD 12, 10-3 (C P E Brooks) - Graham Bradley
9 11r21p LUSTY LIGHT 9, 10-2 (Mrs Jenny Pitman) - Rodney Farrant
10 10/1-23p PARTY POLITICS 11, 10-2 (N A Gaselee) - Mark Dwyer
11 22231u NUAFFE 10, 10-0 (Ireland) - Sean O'Donovan
12 2-33124 GENERAL PERSHING 9, 10-0 (G.Richards) - David Bridgwater
13 20202p RIVERSIDE BOY 12, 10-0 (M C Pipe) - Charlie Swan
14 0u0-2pp TOPSHAM BAY 12, 10-0 (J T Gifford) - Philip Hide
15 004300 EBONY JANE 10, 10-0 (Ireland) - Adrian Maguire
16 12/0401 COUNTRY MEMBER 10, 10-0 (A.Turnell) - Luke Harvey
17 0-200p0 BISHOPS HALL 9, 10-0 (Ireland) - Chris Maude
18 3-24u24 DAKYNS BOY 10, 10-0 (N A Twiston-Davies) - Tom Jenks
19 11-1300 ERRANT KNIGHT 11, 10-0 (M C Pipe) - Mark Perrett
20 412130 GARRISON SAVANNAH 12, 10-0 (Mrs J Pitman) - Warren Marston
21 f4pp31 COOL GROUND 13, 10-0 (D R C Elsworth) - Paul Holley
22 1000/0p TINRYLAND 11, 10-2* (N J Henderson) - Mick Fitzgerald
23 3p-2230 SUPERIOR FINISH 9, 10-3* (Mrs Jenny Pitman) - Peter Niven
24 24f-p03 FOR WILLIAM 9, 10-0 (Ireland) - Conor O'Dwyer
25 430/2-0p THE COMMITTEE 12, 10-0 (Ireland) - Tsuyoshi Tanaka
26 231f44 INTO THE RED 11, 10-0 (J.White) - Richard Guest
27 231f44 ESHA NESS 12, 10-0 (Mrs Jenny Pitman) - John White
28 uf-3030 ROMANY KING 11, 10-0 (G B Balding) - Mr Marcus Armytage
29 131143 GOLD CAP 10, 10-6* (P J Hobbs) - Graham McCourt
30 0p3020 DESERT LORD 9, 10-0 (Ireland) - Fran Woods
31 11b20p JUMBEAU 10, 10-0 (J T Gifford) - Simon McNeill
32 p42300 DO BE BRIEF 10, 10-0 (Mrs Jenny Pitman) - Brendan Powell
33 221-343 CAMELOT KNIGHT 9, 10-2* (N A Twiston-Davies) - Mr M.Rimell
34 022404 OVER THE DEEL 9, 10-0 (J Howard Johnson) - Mr C.Bonner
35 421034 IT`S A SNIP 10, 10-0 (C J Mann) - John Kavanagh
S.P : 5-1 Master Oats, 9-1 Dubacilla, 10-1 Young Hustler, 11-1 Country Member & Miinnehoma, 12-1 Crystal Spirit & Lusty Light, 16-1 Garrison Savannah & Party Politics, 20-1 Ebony Jane, General Pershing, Into the Red, Nuaffe & Topsham Bay, 25-1 Chatham, 33-1 Superior Finish, 40-1 Riverside Boy, Romany King & ROYAL ATHLETE, 50-1 Cool Ground, Dakyns Boy, Esha Ness, Gold Cap, Tinryland & Zetas Lad, 66-1 Bishops Hall, Camelot Knight & Do Be Brief, 75-1 Errant Knight & The Committee, 100-1 Desert Lord, For William, Jumbeau & Over The Deel, 200-1 It`s a Snip
Aintree debutants
Camelot Knight, Chatam, Country Member*, Crystal Spirit*, Dakyns Boy, Desert Lord*, Do Be Brief*, Dubacilla*, Errant Knight*, Esha Ness*, For William*, General Pershing*, It`s A Snip*, Jumbeau, Lusty Light, Nuaffe, Royal Athlete*, Superior Finish, The Committee*, Tinryland*
Winners at Aintree
Into the Red - Becher Chase (1994)
Miinnehoma - Grand National (1994)
Party Politics - Grand National (1992)
Result
1st - ROYAL ATHLETE - Jason Titley
2nd - PARTY POLITICS - Mark Dwyer
3rd - OVER THE DEEL - Mr Chris Bonner
4th - DUBACILLA - Dean Gallagher
Distances : seven lengths, six lengths & half a length
Time : 9 minutes, 4.1 seconds
Owned by Gary & Libby Johnson
Trained by Jenny Pitman
15 finishers
20 non-finishers (12 fell, 6 unseated rider, 1 pulled up, 1 brought down)
The Class of 95
COOL GROUND (1982) ch g Over the River (FR) - Merry Spring (Merrymount) - Won 14 chases between 1986 & 1995. Showed nothing over hurdles in 1986-87 when trained in Ireland. Won two novice chases in Ireland in 1988 and made his first appearance in the UK when starting at odds of 100-1 he finished a distant last of seven finishers in the Mildmay Novices Chase at the Grand National meeting. He stayed in the UK and over the next three seasons developed a reputation as a solid, dependable handicap chaser. He won the Kim Muir at the 1989 Festival, the Mildmay Memorial at Sandown in 1990 & 1991 and the Welsh National with Luke Harvey in the saddle in 1990. He finished third in the 1991 Irish Grand National having unseated when hampered in the same race twelve months earlier. In 1992 he won the Greenalls Gold Cup and was being aimed at the National. He had finished unplaced in the 1991 Gold Cup showing that he was probably not top class but took his chance in the 1992 renewal and started at odds of 25-1 in a small field. In a race which was expected to be a walkover for the flawed genius that was Carvills Hill .....he won in a blanket finish by a short head over The Fellow and Docklands Express with poor Carvills Hill stopping to an exhausted walk a distance behind. Starting at 10-1 for the National with a last minute replacement rider he was always in touch but never looked dangerous and finished tenth. He continued being campaigned in the highest class but never hit the same heights again winning only once more in over twenty races. He fell in the the inaugural Becher Chase and the 1993 Irish Grand National. He finished unplaced in another Gold Cup and finished again unplaced in another National in 1995. His final win came in the Grand Military Gold Cup at Sadown when he was leased by the 7th Regiment Army Air Corps. He last was seen pulling up in the 1995 Scottish National.
COUNTRY MEMBER (1985) ch g New Member - Rpmany Serenade (Romany Air) - Won 7 chases between 1991 & 1995. Talented but only managed twenty one starts over fences. Won on his debut at Worcester in October 1991. Very useful in 1992-93 winning four times including the valuable AGFA Diamond Chase at Sandown in February. Fancied for the 1993 National Hunt Handicap Chase at the Festival but was beaten by Givus A Buck. Missed the following season but won the Grand Military Gold Cup in 1995 (his fourth course and distance win). Looked an ideal sort for the National but was one of seven to come down at the first fence. He ended the season with another excellent display at Sandown, going down four lengths to Cache Fleur in the Whitbread. That proved to be his final race.
CRYSTAL SPIRIT (1987) b g Kris (GB) - Crown Treasure (USA) (Graustak (USA)) - Won 5 hurdles & 5 chases between 1990 & 1996. Classy individual and a rare jumps runner for Ian Balding. Twice winner on the level. Very useful novice hurdler in 1990-91 winning on his debut at Newbury and adding three other wins including the Ballymore Hurdle at the Festival. Started his second campaign with an ambitious trip to Auteuil for their premier four year old hurdle, the Prix Renard du Vivier finishing unplaced. Later won a hurdle at Newbury and finished third in the Stayers Hurdle before a second tip to Auteuil which this time gained some place monies with a third place in their premier hurdle the Grand Course de Haies D'Auteuil behind French legend Ubu III. Made it to the Festival again in 1993 after a light campaign and finished unplaced in a second Stayers. Took well to fences in 1993-94 winning his first three starts before finishing third in the Feltham, second in the Scilly Isles, third in the RSA Chase (a fourth straight visit to the Festival) and second in the Mildmay Chase at Aintree. The following season he started with a trip to the US to contest their premier chase, the Colonial Cup - a trip that ended in failure when he was pulled up . Lightly raced thereafter although he did collect a small race at Ascot. Didn't seem your typical National horse and while he ran well for a circuit he was eased and left to come home in this own time . Off the course for nearly two years he was not given a hard race in his comeback race at Doncaster in December 1996 and he was retired after it was found that he had some heat in a tendon.
EBONY JANE (1985) br m Roselier (FR) - Advantage (Perspex) - Won 7 chases between 1990 & 1995. Won her sole point to point in 1990 and then went chasing and was pretty useful. Finished sixth in 1992 Irish Grand National and won an ultra competitive renewal of the Fairyhouse classic in 1993 although she only just held off Rust Never Sleeps. Made her UK debut in 1994 Gold Cup unseating when sent off at ridiculously long odds of 100-1. Finished third in the 1994 Irish Grand National behind Son Of War and ran in the Aintree race a mere five days later. She put up a superb display eventually finishing a tired third having been prominent for much of the second circuit. That summer she went to France and ran twice at Auteuil pulling up in the Grand Steeplechase de Paris. No so good in her final season and she never got into the 1995 National and finished a distant twelfth. Last raced in what was her fourth Irish Grand National and was retired to the paddocks.
ERRANT KNIGHT (1984) ch g Deep Run - Dame Lucy (Prince Hansel) - Won hurdle and 15 chases between 1988 & 1995. A consistent sort but a dodgy jumper falling/unseating ten times during his career (including his one appearance at Aintree when he came down at the first). When he did got round he was rarely out of the first three. Between March 1993 & October 1994 he won seven chases in a row. After his Aintree exploits he won three more chases during the summer. Pulled up lame at Worcester in September 1995 and was not seen out again
ESHA NESS (1983) b g Crash Course - Beeston (Our Babu) - Won 2 hurdles, 3 chases and of course the "National that never was" between 1987 & 1995. Forever will he be associated with the Void race of 1993 where he was first past the post in what was the second fastest time for the race. He never put a foot wrong.... but enough of that - when it counted he was a pretty good chaser. He had finished runner up in both the RSA Chase at the Festival and the Mildmay Chase at Aintree in 1991 before wining at Ayr very comfortably on Scottish Grand National day. He did not live up to that initial promise and was without a win in his second season over fences and unseated in the National Hunt Handicap Chase and pulled up in a handicap over the Mildmay course at the National meeting. In 1992 -93 he showed a return to his novice form, winning at Wincanton, narrowly going down to the Gold up winner Jodami at Newbury and finished fifth when sent off favourite for the Kim Muir at the Festival. He was my selection for National but we all know how that went. The following week he gained some scant compensation when he finished a distant fourth in the Scottish Grand National. He finished lame on his only start in 1994 so did not get the chance to have another go in the National until 1995. He hadn't shown much in five starts that season and at Aintree he was behind when he fell at the twelfth breaking rider John Whites nose. Neither raced again. Whites blood spattered silks are on display in McCoys bar (the old weighing room) at Aintree.
FOR WILLIAM (1986) b g Whistling Deer - Pampered Sue (Pampered King) - Won 2 NHF and 4 chases between 1990 & 2000. Only an average chaser in his native Ireland. Unfancied in 1995 National and was behind having lost his place early on and was tailed off when he unseated four out. He was remounted to finish a very distant last of fifteen finishers. Later that year he unseated over the Punchestown banks course. Disappeared for two and half years but then was seen on the south east point to point circuit. Did manage to win once at Peper Harrow in 2000 but on the whole was pretty mediocre. In May 2002 at the age of seventeen he appeared in a Folkestone hunter chase which was an incredible six and a half years after his previous race under rules. I think that might be a record.
GARRISON SAVANNAH (1983) b g Random Shot - Merry Coin (Current Coin) - Won a NHF, 2 hurdles and 5 chases between 1987 & 1996. In 1991 he so narrowly failed to become the first Gold Cup winner since Golden Miller in 1934 to land the Gold Cup/Grand National double in the same season. Looked all over the winner when he took the last fence four lengths clear and was still going strongly before he faltered at the Elbow and in the words of his rider "died on me" in the closing stages as Seagram swept past him in the dying strides. His Gold Cup win had been something of a surprise as it was only his second start of his second season over fences. He had been a useful but lightly raced hurdler and in his novice chase season he had sprung a surprise as the stables second string when lifting the RSA Chase at the 1990 Festival at odds of 12-1. He won his Gold Cup by the shortest of short heads from The Fellow as a 16-1 shot. After Aintree he injured his back in the Hennessy and missed the rest of the season. He finished seventh in the 1993 Gold Cup and pulled up in the race in 1994. At Aintree he completed a circuit of the void race in 1993, was leading and running well when he inexplicably refused at the seventeenth fence in 1994 pitching his rider Jamie Osborne over the fence and he competed in ninth place in 1995 bloodying rider Warren Marston's nose with a mistake four out. He won two chases at Wincanton later in his career including beating a very small but select field that included Young Hustler, Esha Ness and Blazing Walker in February 1995. He liked the Somerset course and mads his final racecourse appearance there in November 1996.
GENERAL PERSHING (1986) br g Persian Bold (IRE) - St Colette (So Blessed) - Winner on the flat and won 4 hurdles & 10 chases between 1991 & 1997. Didn't win over timber until his eighth start but then won four races in less than a month in April/May 1991. Won on his debut over fences at Bangor that August and became quite prolific winning six times in 1993-94, three times at Ayr. Registered his most notable success when beating Mr Boston in the Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherbys Christmas meeting in 1994 and won at the same meeting a year later. Didn't get very far on his one visit to Aintree and missed the 1995-96 season. The following year he won a two horse race at Kempton and was last seen at Ayr in April 1997.
GOLD CAP (FR) (1985) ch g Noir et Or (FR) - Alkmoor (USA) (Verbatim (USA) - Won 5 chases between 1990 & 1996. Originally trained in France he moved to the UK in 1990 and on only his third start in the UK was challenging the eventual winner when he fell three out in the National Hunt Chase at the Festival. He then only saw a racecourse two more times over the next nineteen months. He lost his maiden tag with a win at Fontwell in March 1993 and then finished third in his second attempt at the National Hunt Chase. He unseated four out in the Becher Chase in 1993 and won anther small race at Fontwell later in the season. His best form came during 1994-95 when he won three times at Chepstow, Cheltenham and Sandown. He represented good each way value at 50-1 for the 1995 National but made such a bad mistake at the second fence that his race was effectively over. He continued about a fence behind the rest of the field keeping Miinnehoma company (he had thrown away his chances at he first) and he completed the course in thirteenth place. The following season he showed little save for finishing third in the Warwick National but he pulled up in both the Eider Chase and Great Yorkshire chase on his next two starts and was not seen out again.
IT`S A SNIP (1985) ch g Monksfield - Snipkin (Straight Lad) - Won 4 chases between 1990 & 1996. Allotted just 6-6 in the 1995 handicap and with just two wins from forty seven starts he is officially the worst horse to line up in a National in the modern era. In the race itself he unseated at the twelfth fence when behind. But that does not tell the story of this horse who became a legend in the Czech Republic. Trainer Charlie Mann had long believed that Eastern Europes most notorious steeplechase, the Velka Pardubicka was very winnable for a UK trainer with the right horse and in 1994 he rode this ex-Irish chaser to finish a very credible second to an ex-Russian horse called Erudit. A year later Mann in what was his last ride in public (although as far at the UK authorities were concerned he had retired years beforehand) steered him to a memorable victory in a blanket finish after he had almost stopped to a walk in the closing stages and forfeited his lead. I was there that day shouting from the stands until I was hoarse and it remains one of my favourite racing memories. A year later with Richard Dunwoody on board they led for most of the way before fading to finish third. First, second and third in the most demanding steeplechase away from the National - not bad for one that was dismissed as pretty hopeless back home. He did win a small race at Hereford in March 1996 and contested the first two cross country events at Cheltenham. He found the Irish bank too much for him in 1995 and a year later he broke down and was retired.
JUMBEAU (1985) ch g Beau Charmeur (FR) - My Hansel (Prince Hansel) - Won 5 chases between 1991 & 1996. Fairly useful novice chaser winning three times. Won twice at Huntingdon in the autumn of 1995 and finished down the field in the National Hunt Handicap Chase at the Festival. Got no further than the first in the National but did complete the course in the Foxhunters a year later. Last seen pulling up at Folkestone in November 1996.
MIINNEHOMA (1983) bb g Kambalda - Mrs Cairns (Choral Society) - Won NHF, 4 hurdles & 6 chases between 1989 & 1996. The 1994 hero and probably my wifes favourite National winner of all time. Owned by comedian Freddie Starr who was hiding somewhere in Liverpool so was not present for the traditional post race BBC interview in the winners enclosure resulting in a bemused Des Lynam interviewing him on a mobile phone. Bizarre. He was clearly difficult to train as his career was peppered with long absences. He started out in Ireland where in 1988 he won his his first point by a distance and then was just caught near the line on his second. He didn't see a racecourse until six where he won on his debut in a NHF race at Market Rasen. He was moved to Martin Pipe for the 1989-1990 season and rattled off four victories on the trot including the Philip Cornes Saddle of Gold Final at Newbury where he beat Remittance Man by twelve lengths. He bypassed Cheltenham but ran disappointingly when fourth in a novice hurdle at Aintree. He was allotted the fifth highest Timeform rating for a novice hurdler that year. He then disappeared for a season and was not seen out again until January 1992. Then he won a novice chase at Newton Abbot, followed with a win at Chepstow and he ended a short novice chase campaign with victory over a very good field in the RSA Chase. Then a difficult second season where he was generally disappointing, didn't manage a win and was put away for the year by January. He reappeared just over a year later with victory at Newbury and then put in an excellent display for one so lightly raced when finishing seventh in the Gold Cup. Then came Aintree . He was incredibly inexperienced as the National was to be just his tenth start over fences and fifteenth start in total. Yet he was not getting any younger, acted on the heavy conditions he would face and stayed. 16-1 was actually quite generous and he was with the leaders for most of the race. Apart from a scare at Bechers second time when he was down on his nose he jumped well and was always going better than the other brave survivors who crossed the Anchor Bridge second time. Moorcroft Boy may have been leading at the last but the way Miinnehoma contemptuously swept past him at the Elbow was almost cruel. As Moorcroft Boy faded he repelled the last minute challenge of Just So to win by one and a quarter lengths. It had been a war of attrition and one of the slowest Nationals in recent years but what a brave race he ran. Another break and he returned for the 1994-95 campaign with all eyes towards another tilt at both the Gold Cup and National. It started well, an effortless win in a small field at Haydock and in the Gold Cup whilst beaten by thirty lengths he finished third behind Master Oats. Then Aintree and it all went wrong. Some National winners just don't like it second time round. An awkward jump at the first and by first Bechers he was toiling in rear. By the tenth fence he and Gold Cap (who had made a shuddering mistake at the second fence) were almost a fence behind and they stayed there jumping together in splendid isolation from the rest of the field. Gold Cap completed the course but Miinnehoma called it a day when hopelessly tailed off at the twenty first fence, He never completed the course in a chase again. In 1995-96 he again started his season in January but was pulled up in all three of his chases. A week after the National he was seen in a hurdle event at Newton Abbot where he at least completed the course albeit unplaced. How the mighty fall. He was retired and spent the rest of his days with his trainer until he died in July 2012 aged twenty nine.
ROMANY KING (1984) br g Crash Course - Winborne Lady (Tarqogan) - Won 2 hurdles and 10 chases between 1988 & 1996. Won two hurdle races at Exeter on his sole season over timber and had an unfortunate start over fences as he was brought down in his debut at Warwick, He then chased home Party Politics who he would meet again on his second start before making it third time lucky at Fontwell. He developed into a very useful handicap chaser and in 1990-91 he was not out of the first three in all his starts winning four times and finishing second in the Mildmay of Flete at the Cheltenham Festival. The following season he won three more times, finished third in the Peter Marsh Chase, third in the Racing Post Chase and reached another place at the Festival, this time in the National Hunt Handicap Chase. Then his defining moment, leading six out in the Grand National and only going down two and a half lengths to his old adversary Party Politics at Aintree. He didn't hit the same heights thereafter although he ran another great race at Aintree in the race that never was finishing "third". An early faller in 1994 he ran another great race in 1995 dead heating for fifth place. He ran poorly on his final trip to Aintree in the 1996 Topham and last raced at Market Rasen in June 1996.
ROYAL ATHLETE (1983) ch g Roselier (FR) - Darjoy) (Dorantus) - Won 4 hurdles and 7 chases between 1988-1995. The 1995 winner affectionately known as "Alfie" by his connections was a notoriously difficult horse to train and suffered more than most with injury so to get him fit to win a National was probably trainer Jenny Pitmans finest achievement. A useful hurdler he sprung a 33-1 surprise when winning the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in 1989 before being sent chasing. He rolled out three wins on the trot culminating with victory in the Reynoldstown Novice Chase. Then he was unluckily brought down at Kempton and was a shock faller at half way when a hot favourite for the RSA Chase at the Festival. Victories in the Mildmay Novice Chase at Aintree and Ayr restored his reputation and he ended up as Timeforms second highest rated novice chaser. A stunning future looked on the cards. Then disaster - he had suffered with leg trouble in his younger days and the problems returned keeping him off the course for over two years. He returned in a hurdle race in December 1992 and then beat a large field in another hurdle at Windsor on New Years Day. After a promising performance over fences in the Racing Post Chase he lined up in the 1993 Gold Cup and, at odds of 66-1 and ran an absolute blinder. With a faultless display of jumping he held a winning chance three out and whilst he faded he got a second wind and finished third behind Jodami. Thrown in for the National he started fourth favourite but fell at the tenth. As that didn't count he was turned out again for the Irish Grand National but again fell early on. At Cheltenhams open meeting in November 1993 he won his first chase in over three years but disaster struck again when he fell in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup and injured those sodding legs again. Off the course again for another year. When he returned his trainer wanted him to be aimed at the Scottish Grand National but the owners were keen on a second attempt at the National. He had shown that he still retained ability in his efforts over fences that season and he was fit so why not take his chance ? It was felt that his time had come and gone, stable jockey Warren Marston didn't fancy his chances and opted to ride Garrison Savannah so Jason Titley took the ride. They started unconsidered at 40-1. Hunted on the first circuit he found himself in front at the seventeenth and he stayed there repelling all challengers to win by a very easy seven lengths. A week later he was turned out again in his intended target, the Scottish National but was not given a hard time and was pulled up when it was clear his chance had gone. He stayed in training for another season with the aim of another National attempt but in the end he was unable to get prep run in and he was retired. He enjoyed a happy retirement hunting, show jumping and taking part in dressage events. He died in May 2003 aged twenty.
THE COMMITTEE (1983) br g Derring Rose - What a Whet (Fine Blade) - Won NHF, 4 hurdles and 2 chases between 1988 & 1995. Useful Irish chaser who rarely ran a bad race but who never managed to get his head in front after his novice campaign. Ran in three Kim Muirs at the Festival and was only a beaten a short head in 1994. He finished third a year later. He also once missed out on a valuable victory by another short head at the 1990 Punchestown Festival. Ran a blinder to finish third in the "Void" National of 1993 when it didn't count and unceremoniously dumped his Japanese jockey at the very first fence two years later when it did. Nine days later he suffered a similar fate in the Irish National. He did manage a win in a point to point in January 1995 (beating Lauras Beau).
TINRYLAND (1984) b g Prince Regent (FR) - Torduff Star (Sire Royal Highway) - Won 2 NH flat races, a hurdle and 3 chases between 1988 & 1995. Won his two bumpers in Ireland (including at the old Phoenix Park racecourse) and won on his UK debut at Kempton. Then missed a season before going novice chasing proving that he was quite useful winning again at Kempton and finishing runner up in the Arkle at the Festival. Lightly raced thereafter and clearly difficult to train as he missed 1993-94 as well. Showing no form in two starts in 1995 he lined up at Aintree to give a young Mick Fitzgerald his first National ride but got no further than the first fence. He pulled up lame on what was his next and find start under rules in the Whitbread Gold Cup. Resurfaced in March 1997 in his sole point to point where he refused.
TOPSHAM BAY (1983) b g Proverb - Blowen (Master Owen) - Won 10 chases between 1988 & 1996. A lovely big chaser of the "they don't make them like that anymore" type. Inauspicious start to his career over fences pulling up on his first two starts at Wincanton but then sprung a 40-1 shock by winning the National Hunt Chase at the Festival on what was only his fourth start over fences Showed that this was no fluke by winning his next four starts including two races at Cheltenham. He was then off the course for nearly two years with leg trouble but in 1991-92 showed that he still retained his ability with victories in the Golden Miller Chase (again at Cheltenham) and the Whitbread Gold Cup beating Arctic Call and The Leggett in a thriller up the Sandown hill despite hanging badly left on the run in. Campaigned in top company the following season he started at ludicrous odds of 200-1 in Jodami's Gold Cup but despite being outclassed in the blue riband he won a second Whitbread at the end of the season although this time he was lucky as the first part the post Givus A Buck was disqualified having bumped him close home. Incidentally this was the second time in three years (and the third in its history) that the race was won and lost in the stewards room. In 1994 another tilt at the Gold Cup (100-1 this time but a similar result - unplaced) was his prep for his first National visit where he was hampered in the melee at the thirteenth fence and he unseated the rider. He failed to make it three Whitbreads in a row finishing a distant seventh behind Ushers Island. He completed the course in 1995 having been prominent for most of the race. He was then off the course for a year and ran twice more in the spring of 1996, his last race being a fourth appearance in he Whitbread Gold Cup where he was pulled up. Retirement beckoned and he lived until he was twenty seven.
1996 - Rough Quest
The Winner
The following season was a bit of a non-event for Rough Quest. Niggling injuries meant that he missed his intended warm up races for his first target the King George VI Chase and he lined up in of all things a novice hurdle at Folkestone (which he won easily). In the King George he finished a very distant second behind One Man (the position flatters him, he was some way behind second placed Mr Mulligan who fell at the last). A tendon injury curtailed that season. He was off the course for another year but in 1997-98 he still managed to finish third in the King George but his jumping let him down again when he fell when behind in the Gold Cup. He took his chances at Aintree but was struggling in the mud and was pulled up when well beaten two out. He did win a hunter chase at Haydock the following March but he took a very heavy fall at the big open ditch in the 1999 Foxhunters and connections called time on his career. It is noticeable that his National victory was the only time he completed the National course in four attempts. He enjoyed a long retirement before he died at the age of thirty in October 2016. At the time he was the oldest surviving National winner.
Leading Fancies
The main talking point in the run up to the 1996 race was the shrinking size of the National field. Despite entries being slightly up on the previous year by the second forfeit stage only forty eight horses stood their ground. With several of those at the head of the handicap Gold Cup bound and with only sixteen days between the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals this year a field size in the low thirties looked likely. Then in the week leading up to the race further horses fell by the wayside including leading fancy and Greenalls Gold Cup winner Lo Stregone who picked up a viral infection. In the end twenty eight were declared with outsider Plastic Spaceage dropping out on the day. It wasn't a great field either with only a few with any realistic chance of victory. Favourite was ROUGH QUEST who had fallen on his only previous appearance at Aintree in the 94 Topham but who had finished second in the Hennessy Gold Cup, won the Racing Post Chase and had chased home impressive winner Imperial Call in the Gold Cup. He was a worthy favourite having come out of the Cheltenham race well. Next best were the grey Irish challenger SON OF WAR who had won the previous years Irish Grand National and YOUNG HUSTLER. This very tough horse was yet to complete a circuit in a Grand National but did gain some compensation with a decisive victory in the Becher Chase. SUPERIOR FINISH had won the Mildmay/Cazalet Memorial at Sandown in a big field with a devastating late run in the closing stages. He had always looked an ideal Aintree horse but had unseated when leading in 1995. PARTY POLITICS came in for strong support on the basis of his superb second place the year before but once again he came to Aintree very lightly raced pulling up on his sole start at Haydock. Tony McCoy who was about to claim his first of twenty consecutive jockeys titles was having his second ride on DEEP BRAMBLE, a former useful Irish chaser he was particularly effective at Sandown and appeared to have a genuine each way chance for his young trainer Paul Nicholls for whom he was only his second runner in the race
3.00 THE MARTELL GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLE CHASE (82 entries) £107,427 to the winner, £45,552 to the second, £22,652 to the third, £10,386 to the fourth, £4,921 to the fifth & £2,942 to the sixth
1 1u03p0 YOUNG HUSTLER 9, 11-7 (N A Twiston-Davies) - Chris Maude
2 0-1111p LIFE OF A LORD 10, 11-6 (A )'Brien - Ireland) - Charlie Swan
3 011p0-4 DEEP BRAMBLE 9, 11-5 (P F Nicholls) - A P McCoy
4 1-40f42 SON OF WAR 9, 11-0 (Ireland) - Conor O'Dwyer
5 1fp-p43 LUSTY LIGHT 10, 10-11 (Mrs Jenny Pitman) - Warren Marston
6 1/23p2-p PARTY POLITICS 12 10-11 (N A Gaselee) - Carl Llewellyn
7 f22f12 ROUGH QUEST 10, 10-7 (T.Casey) - Mick Fitzgerald
8 f0-20p3 CHATAM 12, 10-3 (M C Pipe) - Jonathan Lower
9 u0-3310 SUPERIOR FINISH 10, 10-3* (Mrs J Pitman) - Richard Dunwoody
10 0/21p0-u CAPTAIN DIBBLE 11, 10-0 (N A Twiston-Davies) - Tom Jenks
11 p421-40 RUST NEVER SLEEPS 12, 10-0 (Ireland) - Trevor Horgan
12 0344p2 BISHOPS HALL 10, 10-1* (R H Alner) - Mr Marcus Armytage
13 10-0411 WYLDE HIDE 9, 10-0 (Ireland) - Francis Woods
14 p-p0003 ANTONIN 8, 10-0 (Mrs Sue Brammall) - J H Burke
15 p0-40p0 RIVERSIDE BOY 13, 10-0 (M C Pipe) - David Walsh*
16 443044 BAVARD DIEU 8, 10-1* (N A Gaselee) - Jason Titley
17 0-40222 ENCORE UN PEU 9, 10-0 (M C Pipe) - David Bridgwater
18 4p-02pf SIR PETER LELY 9, 10-0 (M D Hammond) - Mr Chris Bonner
19 1-fp340 BRACKENFIELD 10, 10-0 (P F Nicholls) - Guy Lewis
20 3-30304 OVER THE DEEL 10, 10-0 (J Howard Johnson) - Mr Tim McCarthy
21 40-fp0f INTO THE RED 12, 10-0 (Mrs Mary Reveley) - Richard Guest
22 f21-f40 GREENHILL RAFFLES 10, 10-0 (Lucinda Russell) - Martin Foster
23 p-30230 VICOMPTE DE VALMONT 11, 10-1* (P F Nicholls) - Philip Hide
25 p-11134 OVER THE STREAM 10, 10-0 (K C Bailey) - Andrew Thornton
26 21400p THREE BROWNIES 9, 10-0 (Ireland) - Paul Carberry
27 2-41134 FAR SENIOR 10, 10-0 (P.Wegmann) - Tim Eley
28 1220/4-0 SURE METAL 13, 10-1* (D.McCain) - Donald McCain Jnr
Non Runner : 24 PLASTIC SPACEAGE - G.Upton (J A B Old)
* Rodney Farrant down to ride Riverside Boy in the racecard
S.P : 7-1 ROUGH QUEST, 8-1 Son of War & Young Hustler, 9-1 Superior Finish, 10-1 Life of a Lord & Party Politics, 12-1 Deep Bramble & Wylde Hide, 14-1 Encore un Peu & Lusty Light, 20-1 Rust Never Sleeps, 22-1 Bishops Hall & Vicompte de Valmont, 28-1 Antonin, 33-1 Into the Red, Over the Deel, Sir Peter Lely, 40-1 Captain Dibble & Chatam, 50-1 Bavard Dieu & Over the Stream, 66-1 Riverside Boy, 100-1 Brackenfield, Greenhill Raffles & Three Brownies, 150-1 Far Senior, 200-1 Sure Metal
Aintree debutants
Antonin, Bavard Dieu*, Brackenfield*, Captain Dibble*, Deep Bramble*, Encore un Peu*, Life of a Lord*, Son of War*, Sure Metal*, Three Brownies*, Vicompte de Valmont*, Wylde Hide
Winners at Aintree
Into The Red - Becher Chase 1994
Party Politics - Grand National 1992
Young Hustler - Becher Chase 1995
Result
1st - ROUGH QUEST - Mick Fitzgerald
2nd - ENCORE UN PEU - David Bridgwater
3rd - SUPERIOR FINISH - Richard Dunwoody
4th - SIR PETER LELY - Mr Chris Bonner
Distances : one & a quarter length, sixteen lengths & a short head
Time : 9 minutes, 0.8 seconds
Owned by Andrew Wates
Trained by Terry Casey
17 finishers
10 non-finishers (1 fell, 5 unseated rider, 3 pulled up, 1 refused)
1 fatality
The Class of 96
BAVARD DIEU (IRE) (1988) ch g Le Bavard - Graham Dieu (Three Dons) - Won NHF, hurdle and 7 chases between 1992 & 1999. Only an average chaser in Ireland the highlight, a victory in a novice chase at the 1994 Galway Festival. The National was his third start for new connections in the UK and he unseated at the very first fence. That was his only visit although he did win three small races in 1996 & 1997. Last raced under rules at Exeter in May 1999 but did win a point at Larkhill in January 2000.
BRACKENFIELD (1986) ch g Le Moss (IRE) - Stable Lass (Golden Love) - Won 2 NHF, 6 hurdles & 8 chases between 1991 & 1997. Very useful in minor company. Won ten out of his first twelve races over a two year period. Rarely ran a poor race but not many had heard of him so he was an unconsidered outsider at 100-1 when he lined up at Aintree in 1996 and he was still travelling well when he belted the big ditch on the second circuit and that was it. His career over rules was effectively over as he then went point to pointing winning twice in 1997. He also won a hunter chase at Sandown.
CAPTAIN DIBBLE (1985) b g Crash Ciurse - Sailors Will (Laurence O) - Won 2 hurdles and 6 chases between 1990 & 1996. Won a NHF at Sandown on his debut and two novice hurdles but was down the field in 1991 Supreme. Won Scottish Grand National in 1992 on what was only his seventh start over fences. Beat Miinnehoma in 1992 SGB Chase and was one of the leading fancies for the 1993 National - this was of the course the void race and he was pulled up by Peter Scudamore (having what was to be his final ride in the race) at half way. Missed the following season and was lightly raced thereafter. He did win the Edward Hanmer Chase at Haydock in 1994 but that was the only form he showed and his inclusion in the 1996 National seemed something of an afterthought. He was in rear throughout but competed the course and was retired.
CHATAM (USA) (1984) b g Big Spruce (USA) - Cristalina (FR) (Green Dancer (USA)) - Won 3 hurdles and 6 chases between 1988 & 1996. Won on debut at Worcester and finished third in a huge field in that years Triumph Hurdle on only his second stat, He then demolished a useful field of juveniles at Newbury and ended the season as Timeforms fourth highest rated juvenile. Didn't live up to that promise over timber but he did win the City Trial Hurdle at Nottingham before finishing unplaced in the Champion Hurdle. Fell on his debut over fences when odds on at Chepstow in January 1990 but won on his next start and gained his second placing at the Festival with a third place in the RSA chase (not bad for just his third start over fences). Lightly raced n 1990-91 he won at Newton Abbot before taking the Cathcart Challenge Cup by an easy twelve lengths. He finished second over the Mildmay fences at that years National meeting. In 1991-92 he won both his starts (both at Newbury) where he gained his biggest success in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup beating future National winner Party Politics. He was then off the course for nearly a year and on his comeback he began to have his own ideas about the game. He did win once more at Haydock and ran unplaced in two Gold Cups. At Aintree though he had no luck whatsoever. He was left at the start in the void race after appearing very reluctant to line up, he gave a very youthful looking AP McCoy a crashing fall at the twelfth fence in what was the champions first ever ride in the National and in 1996 his saddle slipped and he was forced to pull up early. He was last seen out pulling up in the 1996 Scottish National
ENCORE UN PEU (FR) (1987) ch g Nikos - Creme Caramel (FR) (Rex Magna (FR)) - Won a hurdle and 4 chases between 1990 & 1996. Did most of his winning in France before he moved to Martin Pipe. Lightly raced in the UK winning just once but finished second in 1996 Kim Muir before his attempt at the National where he ran an absolute blinder. Always prominent he led two out and was only passed in the final three hundred yards by Rough Quest who certainly hung left in the closing stages hampering him. The lengthy stewards enquiry afterwards certainly muted the post race celebrations and whilst Rough Quest kept the race I have no doubt that had it been a minor chase at Plumpton the result would have been reversed. Sadly he never to a chance to have another go as he finished lame on his next start, the Racing Post Chase the following February and he did not race again.
FAR SENIOR (1986) ch g Al Sirat - Ross Lady (Master Buck) - Won 2 hurdles and 9 chases between 1990 & 1997. Won Irish point and was particularly effective in his novice chase season 1991-92. Won four times at Cheltenham that autumn and finished fourth in the Cathcart at the Festival. Continued his propensity for wining in the autumn by lifting the 1992 Charissma Gold Cup at Kempton. Disappointed in 1993 Becher Chase and was not so effective thereafter although he did start favourite for 1995 La Touche Cup over the banks course at Punchestown. Won twice in the autumn of 1995 but was an unconsidered outsider in the 1996 National and was pulled up before Bechers second time. Later ran unsuccessfully in point to points.
GREENHILL RAFFLES (1986) ch g Scallywag - Burlington Belle (Galivanter) - Won 2 hurdles & 5 chases between 1990 & 1998. Once won over the Mildmay course in May 1995. Only raced in one National but was something of an Aintree regular contesting five events over the big fences in total. Best performance came in 1995 Becher when he finished fourth behind Young Hustler. Not much luck in his other efforts falling in two Tophams and another Becher. Last raced at Hexham in May 1998.
LIFE OF A LORD (1986) br g Strong Gale (IRE) - Ruby Girl (Crash Course) - Won 12 chases between 1991 & 1996. Came from the pointing field where he won 6 times between 1991 & 1992. Despite wining three times in the autumn of 1993 he lost his way thereafter and it was not until a change of trainer in 1995 to a young Aiden O'Brien that he hit a rich vein of form. Won four time during the summer of 1995 the highlight being a twenty length (surely a record) victory in the Galway Plate followed by victory in Irelands other important summer jumps race, the Kerry National at Listowel. Off the course for five months he flopped in Irish Gold Cup and finished seventh in the National. Ended his season on a high winning the Whitbread Gold Cup. That summer he won a second Galway Plate but tragedy struck as he tried to add a second Kerry National when he broke a leg on the flat and he had to be put down. He remains O'Briens only National runner.
LUSTY LIGHT (1986) b g Strong Gale - Pale Maid (Rise 'n' Shine) - Won 8 chases and 2 hurdles between 1991 & 1996. Ran up a sequence of five wins in the autumn of 1994 which included the valuable Charisma Gold Cup at Kempton and the Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton. That winning streak was ended abruptly with a refusal in the Rehearsal Chase at Chepstow. A thirty length victory over the very useful Bradbury Star at Wincanton and a disappointing run in the Cathcart Cup at the Festival followed and he started at 12-1 for the National where he was one of seven to hit the ground at the very first fence. The following year he was tailed off in Rough Quests National and also finished well behind in the Whitbread Gold Cup which was his last start over rules. He later won a couple of point to points. He was owned by Brian Burrough who owned 1983 National hero Corbiere.
OVER THE DEEL (1986) ch g Over the River (FR) - Catherine Girl (Bargelo) - Won 11 chases between 1990 & 1998. Won five of his first eight chases and mostly raced in the north of England although he did pull up in the 1993 Whitbread on a very rare foray down south. Will be remembered as something of an Aintree specialist running six times over the National fences. Highlight was his third place at odds of 100-1 in 1995 National. He also finished ninth a year later. Ran in two Becher Chases and three Tophams (stirrup iron broke at the first fence in 1993 and rider managed to stay in the saddle for another six fences). The 1998 Topham was his last start under rules and he was pulled up before the Canal Turn. Jumped a total of 140 National fences successfully.
OVER THE STREAM (1986) b g Over the River (FR) - Bola Stream (Paddys Stream) - Won 6 chases between 1991 & 1997. Won his only point to point but showed little over hurdles. Only managed to win once for Micky Hammond but took on a new lease of life when moved to Kim Bailey for whom he won five out of his first eight starts before finishing third in the 1996 Becher Chase. His second visit to Aintree was a less happy experience as he never troubled the leaders when unplaced in the 1996 National. Lightly raced thereafter and last raced in May 1997 at Sedgefield.
PARTY POLITICS (1984) br g Politico (USA) - Spin Again (Royalty) - Won 8 chases between 1989 & 1996. A giant of a horse (at over 17 hands) - he treated the National fences like hurdles when he triumphed in 1992 five days before a General Election to become the most topically named National winner of all time. Bred by his first owner David Stoddart, he showed some promise in points in 1989 but fell on his debut under rules at Uttoxeter in December 1989 and pulled up on his second. He made it third times lucky beating Romany King (who he would meet again) in a big field at Warwick in February 1990 and two weeks later beat a future Gold Cup winner (Garrison Savannah) at the same course. In 1990-91 he won three out of his first four starts all in small fields and once won at prohibitive odds of 1-9 at Warwick. He was outclassed and pulled up at odds of 33-1 in the Gold Cup on his final start that season. In 1991-92 second places in the Hennessy Gold Cup and Welsh National put Aintree firmly on the map although he was soundly beaten at Haydock by Cool Ground in the Greenalls Gold Cup on his prep-race. At Aintree he started at 16-1 supported no doubt by those once a year punters who liked the name. In the days leading up to the race Stoddart sold him to David and Patricia Thompson, the owners of the Cheveley Park Stud and as well as new colours he would be partnered by a new jockey Carl Lewellyn. Regular rider Andy Adams who had partnered him in all bar one of his races broke his leg and whilst Richard Dunwoody had ridden him at Haydock he was committed to Brown Windsor so Llewellyn got the ride. Prominent throughout there were many still standing after the second Canal. He took the lead four out and was never seriously threatened thereafter and held on to beat Romany King who had chased him home three years previously at Warwick. Adams never rode the horse again. Following two lacklustre performances in the autumn of 1992 the horse had a breathing operation and trainer Nick Gaselee who had kept the horse after his sale to the Thompsons believed the horse was at the peak of his form a year later having won the Greenalls Gold Cup on his prep run. Certainly he seemed to have a real chance of adding a second National. Sadly it was not to be as 1993 was the void year and he was pulled up in the chaos at half way. He missed 1994 with a leg injury after winning his sole race at Chepstow. In 1995 after a year on the sidelines he twice chased home Master Oats but he pulled up on his traditional prep run at Haydock. In the National partnered by experienced jockey Mark Dwyer (Llewlellyn was claimed to ride Young Hustler) he bided is time on the first circuit but turning for home he was looking to be the only danger to runaway leader Royal Athlete. He tried his hardest but he could not close the gap finishing a very honourable second beaten seven lengths. He had one more try in 1996 when he was kept to just one prep race at Haydock. He was still fancied at 10-1 in a race that appeared to lack both quality and depth so it was a surprise that he got no further than the third fence where he took a nasty looking fall. He was retired but often returned to Aintree on Grand National day for the "Parade of Champions". He died in July 2009 aged twenty five.
RIVERSIDE BOY (1983) ch g Funny Manl - Tamorina (Quay Side) - Won 4 hurdles & 3 chases between 1988 & 1996. Must have been difficult to train as after he ran in a NHF race on his debut in 1988 he disappeared for nearly two years but when he made his belated hurdles debut at Cheltenham he made quite an impression. Whipping round at the start he won the race but was disqualified for interference. He then won four more novice events on the trot. Lightly campaigned in his novice chase season he won a small race at Chepstow and was sent to contest a listed novice chase at the Punchestown Festival where he finished unplaced. In 1993 he finished behind Party Politics in the Greenalls Gold Cup and managed a circuit of the void National before pulling up at half way. He won his most valuable race over fences when he beat Just So in an uncharacteristically small field to lift the Welsh Grand National. Another sound performance followed in the Greenalls and then he ran well for a circuit in the National before trying to run out after the first circuit. His rider managed to galvanise him to consent to go out for a second time but after running wide at the seventeenth he refused, unseated his rider and ran down the fence riderless at the eighteenth. He finished second in a third attempt at the Greenalls in 1995, competed the course in both the 1995 & 1996 Nationals after he which he went pointing with some success winning six races between 1997 & 1999.
RUST NEVER SLEEPS (1984) b g Jaazeiro (USA) - Alice Kyhoerer (Crepello) - Won 2 hurdles and 7 chases between 1987 & 1996. Very useful Irish chaser. Won on his debut over fences at Tramore in January 1989 and in his second season won a listed chase a the Punchestown Festival. Missed 1990-91 season but returned better than ever with wins at Tramore and Punchestown. In 1993 he finished second in a very good renewal of the Irish Grand National behind Ebony Jane at odds of 66-1. In 1994 he pulled up in his second Irish National a week before he nearly got round in the National itself, unseating a young Paul Carberry (who was having his first ride) at the twenty seventh fence. In 1995 he finished second again in the Irish National. Unlucky this year, he had developed a clear lead three out but weakened in the home straight and was just caught near the line by Flashing Steel. He did gain some compensation with a second win at the Punchestown Festival. Lightly raced in 1995-96 his second attempt at the National ended in tragedy. Ironically in a race of very little grief he broke a shoulder on the flat approaching the thirteenth fence and he had to be put down.
SIR PETER LELY (1987) b g Teenoso (USA) - Picture (Lorenzaccio) - Won 4 hurdles & 7 chases between 1990 & 1997. Winner in the flat. Apart from finishing thirteenth in the 1996 Whitbread Gold Cup and his Aintree exploits he did most of his racing in small events in the north. Although he only contested one National in 1996 he was something of an Aintree specialist with a hundred percent completion rate. Fourth behind Dublin Flyer in 1995 Topham he finished second in the 1995 Becher Chase and, on his final racecourse appearance (where he injured a knee) sixth in the 1996 Becher Chase.
SON OF WAR (1987) gr g Pragmatic - Runwardasha (Run the Gauntlet (USA)) - Won NHF, hurdle & 6 chases between 1991 & 2000. Only ran once in the UK when fancied for the 1996 Grand National where he unseated at the second Canal Turn. Won Irish Grand National in 1994, a race he ran in three times. A rare foray out of handicaps was when he finished fourth behind Imperial Call in 1994 Irish Gold Cup. Ended his career over the banks course at Punchestown where he chased home the legendary Risk Of Thunder four times including in three La Touche Cups, the last being his final racecourse appearance in May 2000.
SUPERIOR FINISH (1986) br g Oats - Emancipator (Mansinh (USA)) - Won 2 hurdles and 5 chases between 1990 & 1998. Won on his debut over hurdles at Wolverhampton in March 1991. Had a successful novice chase campaign, winning three times and finishing second behind Young Hustler in the RSA Chase at the Festival. The following season he developed into a useful staying chaser with a win at Warwick and a third place in the Scottish National. He was without a win the following season but finished third in the Greenalls Gold Cup, unplaced in both the National Hunt Festival and the Whitbread Gold Cup. In between he was leading when unseating at the tenth fence in the National. In 1995-96 he finished third in the Hennessy and won the Mildmay Memorial at Sandown with a devastating late run to snatch the race from Sibton Abbey and Greenhill Tare Away who looked to have the race between them after the last. He finished a very credible third in the National without ever looking like winning and finished the season with another failure in the Whitbread (his third in a row). Lightly raced thereafter he made the long journey to Pardubice to contest the Velka Pardubicka in October 1998. He cleared the fearsome Taxis with ease but refused when leading at the sixth fence, the Czech equivalent of the Canal Turn and set off a chain reaction which put further seven horses out of the race. He broke down on his next start at Sandown a month later and was retired.
SURE METAL (1983) b g Billion (USA) - Sujini (Tycoon) - Won hurdle & 6 chases between 1987 & 1996. Won on his debut over fences at Chepstow in December 1987. Sprang a 100-1 shock when landing a handicap chase at the 1990 National meeting. Also won three times at Haydock during 1991. Will be remembered for blazing the trail in the void National of 1993, for missing all signs that something was amiss as he led onto the second circuit. He was still full of running when he fell at the twentieth fence, Very lightly raced thereafter and when he lined up in the National of 1996 he had only raced twice in three years. He led in the early stages of that race too but lost his place on the second circuit and finished in his own time completely tailed off. Last seen falling at Perth in September 1996.
THREE BROWNIES (1987) b g Strong Gale (IRE) - Summerville Rose (Straight Law) - Won a hurdle and 5 chases between 1992 & 1996. Won his sole hurdle at Clonmel in November 1992 and didn't see the winners enclosure again until he won a novice chase at Gowran Park in January 1994. His finest hour came when he won the 1995 Munster National at Downpatrick but at Aintree he was a revelation. Unfancied on the back of pulling up in the Midlands National he ran an absolute blinder. Up with the leaders throughout he led for parts of the race and was still in with a shout until fading two out to eventually finish sixth. He did not return to Aintree although he did win his first two starts of the next season. For whatever reason he was not seen out after falling on his third start, at Fairyhouse at the end of November 1996.
VICOMPTE DE VALMONT (1985) b g Beau Charmeur (FR) - Wish Afar (Three Wishes) - Won 2 hurdles and 5 chases between 1991 & 1997. Won novice hurdles at Newbury and Sandown in 1991-92 and finished unplaced in a novice event at the Grand National meeting. Fairly useful chaaer who never fell or unseated during his career. Pulled up in the Midlands National in 1995 and in 1996 National got outpaced early and was last at half way. Never really got into the race but as he stayed forever he passed tired horses to finish tenth. Off the course for a year he won on his reappearance at Lingfield. Last seem in a hunter chase at Plumpton in March 1997.