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2015 - Many Clouds

Many Clouds 2015 - 2.jpg

The winner

Many Clouds was possibly the most talented National winner since Red Rum, he was certainly the most popular. The following season he won at Kelso prior to his second attempt at the National and he appeared to have the best chance of recent National winners of becoming the first since Red Rum to win back to back Nationals. Sent off the joint favorite he was running well and was amongst the leaders when he blundered at the twenty sixth fence and that was effectively it. He weakened after two out, was not given a hard time and effectively walked across the line in last place. The following year he was better than ever and sealed his place in racegoers affections. He won over the Mildmay course at the Becher meeting before his career defining victory over King George VI Chase winner Thistlecrack in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham on 28th January 2017. Leading four out he was stongly challenged by Thistlecrack two out and despite everything that the novice threw at him he battled up the Cheltenham hill to win by a head. Moments after crossing the line he suffered a pulmanory haemorrage, collapsed and died. A truly wonderful horse his passing was widely mourned. The race he won on Becher Chase day was renamed in his honour and was run until 2021.

 Leading Fancies

 

Moments after winning the Game Spirit Chase on Mr Mole at Newbury on 7th February, nineteen times champion jockey AP McCoy stunned the racing world when he announced to Channel 4s Rishi Persad that he would be retiring at the end of the season. Whilst that would take him to the Bet365 Gold Cup meeting at Sandown there was a general feeling that should the champ win the National he would immediately retire. So it was that the whole of the racing world (with the possible exception of Sandowns clerk of the course Andrew Cooper and myself (who had tickets for that final day)) were willing the greatest jockey of all time to go out with a National winner and to be honest his final mount SHUTTHEFRONTDOOR did appear to fit the bill. A winner over the Mildmay fences on his debut he won the Irish Grand National on just his fifth start and had won his only race since (at Carlisle). Trained for this race he was the obvious favourite and he could prove to be very expensive for the bookies. ROCKY CREEK had finished fifth in this last year. Disappointing in the Hennessy but a subsequent wind op had put him back on track with victory at Kempton last time. BALTHAZAR KING who had flopped in this in 2013 but who had fnished runner up behind Pineau de Re in this last year had been competing in cross country events winning the valuable Grand Steeplechase at Craon in France and had been victorious at Cheltenham in November on his last start. Another fine run was on the cards. SOLL came in for some late support. He had run a blinder in 2013 but didn't see out the distance and finished seventh. Eliminated last year he had competed in the Topham instead. He had since changed stables and had won both starts for his new yard. THE DRUIDS NEPHEW was another who had changed stables at the beginning of the season. Unplaced behind Many Clouds at Newbury he had beaten a big field in a handicap chase at the Festival which put him right into contention for this one. FIRST LIEUTENANT had not won since his stellar season in 2011-12 when he lifted the Betway Bowl at this meeting but was still capable of running placed in Grade 1 races both here and in Ireland. Not sure this would suit him though and he was beaten when odds on over hurdles at Thurles last time out. AL CO had won last years Scottish Grand National but didn't appear to take to these fences when pulling up in a Becher Chase. MONBEG DUDE had been fancied for this last year but could only finish seventh having blundered at second Bechers. Fourth behind Many Clouds at Newbuy and in the Welsh National (a race he won in 2013). However he had finished a long way behind The Druids Nephew at Cheltenham. One very interesting challenger was LORD WINDERMERE the shock winner of the 2014 Cheltenham Gold Cup and twice placed in Grade 1 level in Ireland since. He had but showed nothing in this years renewal of the blue riband and was easy to back. And what about last years hero PINEAU DE RE ? He had only raced once over fences this season and no-one was realistically expecting a repeat win. OSCAR TIME at fourteeen was surely too old but he was ridden by Sam Waley-Cohen and not only had he been twice placed in this (2011 and 2013) but having had a season runnng in the hunter chase field he had sprung a shock at 25-1 when he landed the Becher Case in December. No fourteen year old though had ever won this race but another sound performance was on the cards. Finally a mention of the class horse of the race, an Aintree debutant being ridden by last years winning rider Leighton Aspell, MANY CLOUDS, who was running at surprisingly long odds of 25-1. A winner of both the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury & Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham before disappointing slightly in the Gold Cup. Maybe it was the weight that was putting the punters off.

4:15 : CRABBIE'S GRAND NATIONAL £429,600 to the winner, £176,800 to the second, £88,400 to the third, £44,200 to the fourth, £22,100 to the fifth, £11,000 to the sixth, £5,600 to the seventh, £2,700 to the eighth, £1,400 to the ninth & £700 to the tenth

 1     01-303p     LORD WINDERMERE    9, 11-10  (Jim Culloty - Ireland) - Brian O'Connell* 

 2    b4-1110       MANY CLOUDS    8, 11-9  (Oliver Sherwood) - Leighton Aspell 

 3    030-013     UNIONISTE    7, 11-6  (Paul Nicholls) - Noel Fehily

 4    220-2p1     ROCKY CREEK    9, 11-3  (Paul Nicholls) - Sam Twiston-Davies 

 5   4-24003     FIRST LIEUTENANT    10, 11-3  (M F Morris - Ireland) - Miss Nina Carberry 

 6        112-f11     BALTHAZAR KING    11, 11-2  (Philip Hobbs) - Richard Johnson

 7      12401-1     SHUTTHEFRONTDOOR    8, 11-2  (Jonjo O'Neill) - A P McCoy 

 8     31-0p00    PINEAU DE RE    12, 11-0  (Dr Richard Newland) - Daryl Jacob

 9      f-2103p    BALLYCASEY    8, 10-13  (Willie Mullins - Ireland) - Ruby Walsh 

10    0010-44     SPRING HEELED    8, 10-12  (Jim Culloty - Ireland) - Nick Scholfield 

11       404121     REBEL REBELLION    10, 10-12  (Paul Nicholls) - Ryan Mahon 

12     020100     DOLATULO    8, 10-11  (W.Greatrex) - Dougie Costello

13     01-p010     MON PARRAIN    9, 10-11  (Paul Nicholls) - Sean Bowen

15     1-40233     NIGHT IN MILAN    9, 10-9  (Keith Reveley) - James Reveley 

16       040211     RUBI LIGHT    10, 10-9  (R.Hennessy - Ireland) - Andrew Lynch 

17      p-12001     THE DRUIDS NEPHEW    8, 10-9  (N.Mulholland) - Aiden Coleman

18     220-001    CAUSE OF CAUSES    7, 10-9  (Gordon Elliott - Ireland) - Paul Carberry 

19   p23-p00     GODSMEJUDGE    9, 10-8  (Alan King) - Wayne Hutchinson 

20    01-0p33     AL CO    10, 10-8  (Nicky Henderson) - Denis O'Regan 

21    0-24430     MONBEG DUDE    10, 10-7  (M.Scudamore) - Liam Treadwell

22     110-33p     CORRIN WOOD    8, 10-7 (D.McCain) - David Casey

23   p/201u-p     THE RAINBOW HUNTER    11, 10-7  (Kim Bailey) - David Bass

24     pf-3331     SAINT ARE    9, 10-6  (T.George) - Paddy Brennan 

25   u0-000b     ACROSS THE BAY    11, 10-6  (D.McCain) - Henry Brooke

26    231p0-0    TRANQUIL SEA    13, 10-5  (W.Greatrex) - Gavin Sheehan

27        111u14     OSCAR TIME    14, 10-5  (R.Waley-Cohen) - Mr Sam Waley-Cohen

28       120p1p     BOB FORD    8, 10-4  (Rebecca Curtis) - Paul Townend

29   24/p2-00    SUPER DUTY    9, 10-4  (Ian Williams) - Will Kennedy 

30     0p10-2f     WYCK HILL    11, 10-4  (D.Bridgwater) - Tom Cannon

31       u-p11p4     GAS LINE BOY    9, 10-4  (Philip Hobbs) - James Best 

32     1p40-00    CHANCE DU ROY    11, 10-4  (Philip Hobbs) - Tom O'Brien 

33      0p1202     PORTRAIT KING    10, 10-3 (M.Phelen - Ireland) - Davy Condon 

34     13-0200     OWEGA STAR    8, 10-3  (P.Fahey - Ireland) - Robbie Power

35     f00p14       RIVER CHOICE    12, 10-5* (R.Chotard - France) - David Cotti

36     3200-11      COURT BY SURPRISE    10, 10-3  (Emma Lavelle) - Richie McLernon

37    3/01p4-0     ALVARADO    10, 10-3  (F.O'Brien) - Paul Moloney 

38     000-p11      SOLL    10, 10-2  (David Pipe) - Tom Scudamore

39      10110-p      ELY BROWN    10, 10-2 (C.Longsden) - Brian Hughes 

40    23-4132      ROYALE KNIGHT    9, 10-2  (Dr Richard Newland) - Brendan Powell 

Non Runner : 14  CARLITO BRIGANTE 

*Robbie McNamara was scheduled to ride Lord Windermere but was unable to take the ride due to injury

S.P : 6-1 Shutthefrontdoor, 8-1 Rocky Creek, 17-2 Balthazar King, 9-1 Soll, 10-1 The Druids Nephew, 14-1 Cause of Causes & First Lieutenant, 16-1 Unioniste, 18-1 Al Co & Godsmejudge, 20-1 Alvarado, Night In Milan & Oscar Time, 25-1 Ballycasey, MANY CLOUDS, Pineau de Re, Royale Knight, Saint Are & Spring Heeled, 33-1  Across the Bay, Court by Surprise, Lord Windermere, Mon Parrain, Rebel Rebellion, The Rainbow Hunter & Tranquil Sea, 40-1 Chance du Roy & Monbeg Dude, 50-1 Bob Ford, Owega Star, Portrait King & Rubi Light, 66-1 Corrin Wood, Dolatulo, Gas Line Boy, Super Duty & Wyck Hill, 100-1 Ely Brown & River Choice

Aintree debutants

Ballycasey, Cause of Causes, Corrin Wood, Court By Surprise*, Ely Brown*, First Lieutenant, Gas Line Boy, Godsmejudge*, Lord Windermere, Many Clouds, Night In Milan*, Owega Star*, Portrat King, River Choice*, Royale Knight*, Rubi Light*, Shutthefrontdoor, Spring Heeled*, Super Duty*, The Druids Nephew, Unioniste

Winners at Aintree

CHANCE DU ROY - Becher Chase (2013)

OSCAR TIME - Becher Chase (2014)

PINEAU DE RE - Grand National (2015)

REBEL REBELLION - Grand Seftom Chase (2013)

Result

1st     MANY CLOUDS - Leighton Aspell

2nd   SAINT ARE - Paddy Brennan

3rd    MONBEG DUDE - Liam Treadwell

4th    ALVARADO - Paul Moloney

Distances : one and three quarter lengths, six lengths & three and a half lengths 

Time : 

Owned by Trevor Hemmings

Trained by Oliver Sherwood

19 finshers

20 non-finishers (8 fell, 2 unseated rider, 1 hampered & unseated rider, 9 pulled up)

The Class of 2015

ACROSS THE BAY (IRE) (2004) b g - Bob's Return (IRE) - The Southern (IRE) (Glacial Storm (USA)) - Won NHF, 3 hurdles and 4 chases between 2008 & 2015. Started life in ireland for Noel Meade where he won a couple of hurdles and his first chase at Naas in February 2010. Only only his third start over fences he lined up in the Irish Grand National - perhaps not suprisingy he didn't get far - only the second fence where he unseated. When he came to the UK he was campaigned initially over hurdles and finished third at a big price behind Big Bucks in the 2012 Liverpool Hurdle. The following season he reverted back to fences and was actually quite good. Victories at Carlisle and Kelso in the autumn were followed by seventh in the Welsh National and victory in the Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock. At Aintree he he was very unlucky. In 2013 he led at the seventh until he was hampered by a loose horse at he water. He managed to get back in front and led again until second Foinavon and was still leading four out when he weakened rapdily to finish a distant fourteeenth. The follwing season he was unplaced in the Becher Chase, won at Haydock and again tried to make the running at Aintree. He was still in front at the water jump where he was carried off the course by the riderless Tidal Bay. Somehow he managed to stay in the race but he went from first to last and depute the best efforts of his understandaby gutted rider Henry Brooke he could not regain the lost ground and finished fourteenth for the second year running. It was not a case of third time lucky in 2015 and he was pulled up at second Valentines. He only raced one more time when he unseated at the very first fence in a chase over the MIldmay course the following month.

AL CO (FR) (2005) ch g - Dom Alco (FR) - Carama (FR) (Tip Moss (FR)) - Won 3 hurdles and 7 chases between 2008 & 2019. Won a hurdle in his native France before moving to Jonjo O'Neill in April 2009. He won a few times over hurdles but did not set the world alight and was moved to Peter Bowen where he won  two novice chases in May 2012. He was completely unconsidered when he llined up for the 2014 Scottish National and at 40-1 leading four out he was clear at he last although he did his best to throw things away by twice jinxing to the right near to the finish. He just held on from Godsmejudge. On the back of that win he looked an ideal Aintree sort....he wasn't. He pulled up in the Becher and only got as far as the very fist fence in the National. He was not asked again and the following year finished third in the handicap chase over the Mildmay course on Grand National day.  He also won a small race at one of Aintree evening meetings in May 2016.  He ran in two more Scottish Nationals but didn't get close, won a hunter chase at Kelso in January 2018 and last saw a racecourse at Doncaster in 2019. He enjoyed a long career this one.

ALVARADO (IRE) (2005) ch g Goldmark (USA) - Mrs Jones (IRE) (Roselier (FR)) - Won NHF, 2 hurdles and 5 chases between 2009 & 2019. Won his first two starts over hurdles and his first three over fences. Won a chase at Cheltenhams Open meeting in 2013 which was his final victory. He could also be mulish refusing on two occassions.  He finished fourth in his two Nationals with only one race in between to continue the remarkable record his owners, the Rucker family had in the National. He provided then with their sixth and seventh consecutive places in the race. Like his predecessors, State of Play and Cappa Bleu he stayed on at the finish and never looked like troubling the leaders. Frustratingly he could not get into the race again (he was eliminated in 2016 & 2017) and in 2016 he ran in the Scottish National instead where he ran a blinder to finish second. He did return to Aintree in 2016 for the Becher Chase and surprisingly fell at the second fence. He finished fourth in the 2017 Scotish Grand National and was last seen at Cheltenham on New Years Day 2019.

BALTHAZAR KING (IRE) (2004) b g - Kings Theatre (IRE) - Afdala (IRE) (Hernando (FR) - Won NHF, 2 hurdles and 13 chases between 2008 & 2016. Won a bumper at Plumpton but was nohting more than an average hurdler. He did win his first two chases in the autumn of 2010 and added two more in the spring but he was disappointing when fancied for the Bet365 Gold Cup. He won on his first start in his second season over fences but having been amongst the backmarkers in the Hennessy connectons were looking elsewhere. He made his debut over the Cheltenham Cross Country course in December 2011 but he was unlucky as when in a challenging position he was one of three who took the wrong course before the last hurdle and he ended up on the floor. It was the first of what would be seven outings over the course. These visits yeilded four wins, two in the Festival event in 2012 and 2014 and two in the November race in 2013 and 2014 . He was a real Chletenham specialist as he also won four other rases there during his career. He also was a rare UK runner in cross country events in France. He won the Grand Cross Country De Craon in 2013 and 2014. As for the National, he was amongst the early leaders in 2013 and probably ran too free as the petrol tank emptied and he eventually finshed a well beaten fifteenth. A year later and ridden with a little more restraint he finished second five lengths behind Pineau du Re. His career came to shuddering halt though a year later when he took a crashing fall at the first Canal. He was down for some time and the fence had to be bypassed on he second circuit as he was receiving treatment. He suffered rib injuries and had a spell in the Liverpool equine hospital. He made a full recovery and even ran one more time at Cheltenham when he fell at the "cheese wedges" in the Festival cross country event. Wisely time was called on his career. A wonderful servant to connections and a very poplular horse.

BOB FORD (IRE) (2007) b g - Vinnie Roe (IRE) - Polar Lamb (IRE) (Brush Aside (USA)) - Won 2 hurdles and 6 chases between 2013 & 2021. Won an Irish point at his third attempt before moving to the UK. He won two hurdles in his novice days and also won his first chase, a three runner affair at Chepstow in March 2014. He started his second campaign over fences with a second win at Chepstow but he didnt look a natural Aintree type when he ran unplaced in the Grand Sefton. In the National itself he pulled up in the closing stages when tailing off and he returned in the Becher Chase where he finished unplaced. He was eliminated in 2016. He won a couple of times at Ffos Las later in his career but he did not return to Aintree and he ended life in points. He last ran under rules at Cheltenham in April 2021.

CHANCE DU ROY (FR) (2004) ch g - Morespeed - Le Chance Au Roy (FR) (Rex Magna (FR)) - Won 2 hurdles and 6 chases between 2007 & 2016. Usefu chaser on his day and became something of an Aintree specialist. He first ran over the National fences chasing the wonderful Always Waining in the 2012 Topham. Then came his only fall in his career when he fell at he fence after Valentines in the Grand Sefton when in a challenging position.  He again chose the Topham in 2013 and was arguably disappoining struggling throughout and his ninth place slightly flatters him as he was passing tired horses later.  Then he won the 2013 Becher Chase in a blanket finish having taken the lead two out from the long time leader Baby Run. I suspect he didn't really see out the National trip as in 2014 he finished a one paced sixth and he never got into the 2015 race finishing tenth. In beteen he finished in a second Becher Chase. That 2015 National was his last race for Philip Hobbs and he subsequently was sold to go hunter chasing. He didn't set the world alight in that sphere and after two disappointing runs the last being at Chepstow in March 2016 (he didn't beat a horse home) he was retired.​​

CORRIN WOOD (IRE) (2007) gr g - Garuda (IRE) - Allstar Rose (IRE) (Fourstars Allstar (USA)) - Won a hurdle and 3 chases between 2012 & 2017. Came from the Irish Pointing field were he was successful once in three starts. He won his first three starts over fences in 2013-14 but appeared out of his depth when unplaced in the RSA Chase at the Festival. He only had a couple of prep races fo the National although he had run well to finish third in the Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby. His National experience was brief - he made a mess of the first ditch and his rider wisely pulled him up. The folowing year he was eliminated so tried the slightly calmer waters of the Topham but was tailed off throughout eventually pulling up. He last ran under rules in January 2017 at Newcastle but returned to the pointing field and was successful once in 2018

COURT BY SURPRISE (IRE) (2005) b g - Beneficial - Garryduff Princess (IRE) (Husyan (USA)) - Won hurdle and 3 chases between 2010 & 2017. Won on debut over hurdles at Hereford in November 2011. He was only an average chaser and his greatest success came courtesy of the stewards when he was awarded the 2014 Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton when the runaway winner The Young Master was judged to be not qualified to run in the race. The National was his next race and it was not a happy experience. He was tailed off by halfway and pulled up before the nineteenth with a broken blood vessal.  He did not return but continued to be campaigned in handicaps in the south and he last raced at Ascot in April 2017

DOLATULO (FR) (2007) ch g - Le Fou (IRE) - La Perspective (FR) - Beyssac (FR) - Won NHF, 3 hurdles & 6 chases between 2010 & 2017. Won on the flat in france and over hurdles at Enghien before moving to the UK.  He was trained for a short time by Paul Nicholls for whom he won on his UK debut at Sandwon before returning to France where he was generally unsuccessful and then he came back a year and a half later, this time to be trained by Warren Greatrex. For new connections his first win actually came on the all-weather in a bumper at Southwell in March 2013 and he later won two times over fenes at Carlisle and Chepstow. He started favourite for the 2014 Grand Seftion but could only finish eighth and he finished last in the 2015 National. His best performance was arguably his third visit to Aintree when in a blanket finish and having been squeezed for room at the Elbow he finished third behind Highland Lodge. He later was unplaced in the Cross Country chase at the Festival and pulled up at long odds int he Scottish National. He was a useful hunter chaser in 2017 and went out with a victory at Cheltenham in May 2017 

ELY BROWN (IRE) (2005) b g - Sunshine Street (USA) - Browneyed Daughter (IRE) (Broken Hearted) - Won 5 hurdles and 2 chases between 2011 & 2015. Didn't have too many miles on the clock when he lined up for a brief appearance in 2015 (he fell at the first). He had been a fairly useful hurdler and had won at Aintree in October 2012 and whilst he had won his first two starts over fences in 2013-14 he had been off for almost a year and the National was only his fourth start over the larger obstacles. What he was doing there was anyone guess. He only raced two more times pulling up in the Bet 365 Gold Cup and over the Mildmay course in October 2015. 

GODSMEJUDGE (IRE) (2006) - Witness Box (USA) - Eliza Everett (IRE) (Meneval (USA)) - Won 2 hurdles and 3 chases between 2011 & 2017. Came from the pointding field winning a maiden point in 2011. He won a novice chase at Folkestones final meeting in December 2012 and later that season finished third in the National Hunt Chase at the Festival. He also put up a splendid display for a novice when lifting the Scottish Grand National on what was only his seventh start over fences. It had been a very busy and productive novice chase campaign but the following year he lost his way a bit but he seemd to come good in the spring. He only went down a lengh and a half to Alco when trying to win back to back Scottish Nationals and two weeks later he finsihed third in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown. He didn't hit such heights again but he did come in for some each way support when he lined up at Aintree in 2015 but he was tailed off when pulled up in the closing stages. He continued racing for a further two seasons last running at Warwick in May 2017

MON PARRAIN (FR) (2006) b g - Trempolino (USA) - Jadaina (FR) (Kadalko (FR)) - Won 2 hurdles and 7 chases between 2009 & 2018. Came to the UK with a mighty reputation having won five times in his native France including a chase at Auteuil. After he won his first start for Paul Nichols at Sandown by twenty two lengths he looked an almost certainty for the Topham and he started a warm 7-2 favourite. Approachig two out he was travelling extremely well, Ruby Walsh was motionless and victory looked a formality. But Always Waining stuck to his task and when he took the lead at the Elbow the favourite had nothing left and he was soundly beaten by four lengths. Whilst he did later win twice at Cheltenham he never hit such heights again. He lined up in a Becher Chase, a Grand National and later in his career a Foxhunters but he never troubled the leaders. He later ran in points and was last seen at Newton Abbot in July 2018.

NIGHT IN MILAN (IRE) (2006) b g - Milan - Chlone (IRE) (Mandalus (IRE) - Won 4 hurdles and 4 chases between 2010 & 2016. Plied his trade in the northern tracks. Won two chases at Doncaster in 2013-14 including the valuable Grimthorpe Chase at a long price and he was an unused reserve for that years National. He was suprisingly given an each way chance  bearing in mind he had not won for over a year in 2015 and he was still in touch three out before weakening and slowing almost to a walk in the run in finishing eigtheenth. He did most of racing at Doncaster and won a hurde there in January 2016 but sadly met his end at his favourite course when he took a fatal fall in a Veterans Chase the following month

OSCAR TIME (IRE) (2001) b g - Oscar (IRE) - Baywatch Star (IRE) (Supreme Leader) - Won NHF, hurdle and 5 chases bwteeen 2006 & 2015. Was very consistent and by the time he had won the Paddy Power Chase in 2009 he had only twice been oout of the first four in twenty three starts. After his Leopardstown success he fnished runner up to Bluesea Cracker in the Irish Grand National. He was relatively lightly raced prior to his first attempt at the Grand National in 2011 which was his first visit to the UK. He was prominent throughout but could not get to winner Ballabriggs, going down two and a quarter lengths. He missed the 20011-2012 season and in 2013 returned to Aintree and fnished fourth. He moved from Ireland to his owners yard the following year and won a point in May 2014 after being off the course since the National. He won two  hunter chases and then caused something of a sensation when he won the Becher Chase in a blanket finish at the age of thirteen. He became the oldest National runner for a quarter of a century when he lined up in 2015 and finished fifteenth. He had earnt his retirement. 

OWEGA STAR (IRE) (2007) br g - Basanta (IRE) - Los Monteros (IRE) (College Chapel) - Won NHF, 3 hurdles and 2 chases between 2011 & 2015. Had a very inauspicious start to his career running out at the very first fence in his first Irish point. He did win his bumper though and his first two starts over hurdles. He was nothing better than an average chaser and his best performance would have been his second in the Troytown Chase at Navan in 2014 and he wan well in the Paddy Power Chase on his next start. He had every right to take his chance at Aintree and he finished albeit a distant thirteenth. He never got another chance as later that year he was brought down and killled in the Kerry National at Listowel.

PINEAU DU RE

PORTRAIT KING (IRE) (2005) gr g - Portrait Gallery (IRE) - Storm Queen (IRE) (Le Bavard (FR)) - Won 3 chases between 2009 & 2018. Won his sole Irish point in 2009 but showed little over hurdles and did not manage to win a race until February 2011 when he won a competitive chase at Punchestown.  On the back of that he was sent over to Newcastle where he was sent off favourite for the Eider and he won. He next finished tenth in the Scottish National. He won again at Punchestown the following year but culd not win back to back Eiders but was then sent to Aintree. To be fair he ran a good race and was still with the leaders when he took a crashing fall three out which sadly ended his rider Davy Condons carerer. He changed hands and returned to Aintree for the Becher Chase when he was still in contenton when he came down two out.  Despite being eliminated for the 2016 National he became something of an AIntree regular and finally got round when he finished sixth in the 2016 Becher Chase and perhaps his best race in defeat at long odds when he finished third in the 2017 Topham. He ran in a third Becher Chase in 2017 finishing a never dangerous fifth. He also ran a coupe of times over hurdles at Aintree and finished third in a third attempt at the Eider in 2018. He last raced over rules a Hexham in March 2018 but later ran in a few points winning once in December 2018.

REBEL REBELLION (IRE) (2005) b g - Lord Americo (IRE) - Tourmaline Girl (IRE) (Toulon) - Won NHF, 2 hurdles and 7 chases between 2009 & 2017. Won his sole Irish point and won a bumper on the all -weather  before finishing unplaced in the Aintree Bumper in 2010. He was a useful novice chaser in 2012-13 winning on debut at Exeter and ran on two consecutive days at Scottish National meeting. He made a winning debut over the National fences when he won the 2013 Grand Sefton Chase and returned to race in another Grand Sefton, a Topham and a Foxhunters completing the course each time. The only time he didn't complete was in the 2015 Grand National - he didn't stay and was pulled up before second Valentines. He was a good solid dependable handicap chaser with victories at Newbury and Ascot on his CV. He later won a hunter chase for Bryony Frost at Newton Abbot in May 2017. He last raced at Cartmel in August 2017.

RIVER CHOICE (FR) (2003) ch g - River Mist (USA) - Noraca (FR) - Akarad (FR)) - Won 4 hurdles and 6 chases between 2006 & 2015. The National was his only start in the UK and it was also his last race. He got no further than first Bechers. Prior to that he plied his trade mostly at Enghien and Auteuil. He was definitely above average but not top class judging by his sixth in the 2014 Grand Steeplechase de Paris. 

ROYALE KNIGHT (2006) b g King's Theatre (IRE) - Gardana (FR) (Garde Royale (IRE)) - Won 2 hurdles and 7 chases between 2010 & 2017. Was next to useless over hurdles in Ireland and took time to get his act together in points before he finally won two in 2012. He left Ireland after his seond win and continued his winning ways with four chase victories in the autumn of 2012 including two at long odds on. He stayed forever and won a Borders National at Kelso in 2013 and a Durham National in 2014. He stayed on to finish fifth in 2015 but could not get into the race again being eliminated in both 2016 & 2017. He did win a second Durham National later in 2015 and finished fourth in the 2016 Scottish Grand National. He was last seen pulling up at Doncaster in December 2017. He never fell in his career.

RUBI LIGHT (FR) (2005) b g - Network (GER) - Genny Lights (FR) (Lights Out (FR)) - Won a chase in France before moving to Ireland where he was a fairly useful chaser winning the Red Mills Trial at Gowran in 2011 and finished third in the Ryanair in that years Festival. He won the Punchestown Chase that autumn and chased home future Gold Cup winner Synchronised in the Lexus Chase. Then he took a second Red Mills Trial and finished fifth in the Ryanair and fourth in the Punchestown Gold Cup so he was more than just useful. He lost his way thereafter but bounced back to form with two wins at Thurles and Wexford before he lined up in 2015. Unfancied he only got as far as the third fence. He last raced at Gowran in March 2016

SPRING HEELED (IRE) (2007) b g - Old Vic - Central Arch (Dilum (USA)) - Won 2 hurdles and 2 chases between 2011 & 2016.  Highlight of an otherwise fairly average career was victory in 2024 Kim Muir which was far beyond anything he showed before or since as he had eonly won one small race at Kilbeggan before that. He finshed fourth in the 2014 Galway Plate. At Aintree finished fourteenth and showed little thereafter. He last raced at Punchestown in June 2016.

SUPER DUTY (2006) b g - Shantou (USA) - Sarah's Cottage (IRE) (Topanoora (IRE)) - Won NHF, 3 hurdles and a chase between 2011 & 2015. Unbeaten in his first three starts and only out of the first two once in his first eleven (that was when he fell). He was runner up in the eee2013 Kim Muir and was placed in the Mildmay Chase on his next start. Pulled up in thee 2013 Hennessy and was genrally not so good thereafter. He was an oustider in the 2015 National and pulled up. He only raced two more times and he last raced at Sandown in December 2015. At nine his career was at an end.

THE RAINBOW HUNTER (2004) b g - Rainbow High - Sobranie (High Top) - Won a hurdle & four chases between 2009 & 2015. Came from the pointing field where he was successful twice in 2009. He won his debut chase at Ffos Las in November 2010 but didn't capitalise on that initial success and changed stables. Had an inauspicious start for new connections when he fell at the first in the Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton and he fell on his next start as well. He did win at Ascot in November 2012 and won the old Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster in 2014 but his jumping often let him down. He was arguably unlucky at Aintree hampered at the first Canal in 2013 and in 2014 he only got one fence further when he was again hampered and fell at Valentines. He failed to make it third time lucky as in 2015 whilst he was still in contention he fell five from home. He did not run again.

TRANQUIL SEA (2002) b g - Sea Raven (IRE) - Silver Valley (IRE) (Henbit USA)) - Won NHF, 3 hurdles and 9 chases between 2006 & 2015. Spent nearly all his career with Eddie O'Grady in Ireland. Won his point to point and ended his first season over timber winning a Grade 1 novices hurdle at the Punchestown Festival. He won his first chase and was even better on his secod season over the larger obstacles winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup and a Grade 2 even at Leopardstown but he disappointed in the Ryanair Chase. The next season he tasted Grade 1 success when he won the Punchestown Chase which was run that year at Fairyhouse but again he disappointed in the UK finishing a long way behind Maater Minded in the Melling Chase. He continued to be campaigned in top company in Ireland but tried his luck at Aintree finishing third in the Grand Sefton in 2012 and sixth in the Topham in 2013. He moved to the UK in November 2013, won a veterans chase at Doncaster and finished unplaced in the handicap chase over the MIldmay course on Grand National day in 2014 as he had been eliminated from the National itself. The following season at the age of thirteen he ran in his final race, the 2015 National and finished a staying on seventh.

WYCK HILL (2004) b g - Pierre - Willow Rose (IRE) (Roselier (FR)) - Won 5 chases between 2009 & 2016. Failed over hurdles but won his first two chases in the autumn of 2011. He was a failry useful chaser wihnning the Silver Cup at Ascot in 2012 and the Eider Chase in 2014. He finished unplaced in the Becher Chase in 2013 and pulled up in the latter stages of the National in 2015 (he was eliminated in 2014 & 2016). He only raced two more times after that and was last seen at Chepstow in March 2016.

2016 - Rule The World

Rule-The-World-1b-9-4-16.jpg

The winner

His delighted owner Michael O'Leary immediately declared that Rule the World would not be returning to Aintree to defend his crown due to his history of pelvic injuries. He hinted at retirement saying that the horse had done 'everything he can for Gigginstown'. It was therefore a surprise to see him line up in a novice chase at the Punchestown Festival where he ran respectively to finish sixth in a nine runner field. His expected retirement was announced shortly afterwards. 

Leading Fancies 

The runaway winner of this last year MANY CLOUDS was the top class chaser in the field, he jumped for fun and showed that he was in good heart for a repeat performance with an easy win at Kelso on his last start. This was the one they had to beat. THE LAST SAMURI had only once been out of the first three in nine completed starts over fences. He had beaten rival The Druids Nephew in the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster on his last start and was one for the short-list. HOLYWELL was a very smart individual who usually came good in the spring. He won the Mildmay Novices Chase at this meeting (beating future Gold Cup winner Don Cossack in the process) in 2014 and finished third in the Bowl last year. A runner up at the Festival last time out and he had sound chances if he took to the fences. SHUTTHEFRONTDOOR didn't provide AP McCoy with a final victory in this last year but he didn't stay and eventually finished fifth, fading in the closing stages. He'd suffered an interrupted preparation this year but was worth another chance. SILVINIACO CONTI was one the most talented and indeed popular chasers in the UK with two wins in the King George VI Chase at Kempton and victory in the last two Betfair Bowls over the Mildmay course at this meeting. He had disappointed in the King George this year but a wind operation and first time blinkers saw him bounce back to form with victory in the Ascot Chase, his seventh Grade one success. There was no doubting his achievements but I was left wondering if this was the right race for him. GOONEYELLA was one with no doubts about his stamina as he had won a Midands Grand National and he had finished second in the Scottish National last season (also finished seventh in an Irish Grand National). He only got as far as the first on his AIntree debut in the 2014 Becher Chase but he did finish albeit a long last in the race this season. SAINT ARE had won the handicap chase over the MIldmay course on this day in 2012 and chased home Many Clouds in this last year without ever looking like he was going to catch him. He was an Aintree specialist with three other races over these fences and he had finished each time. A recent win at Doncaster set him up for another solid performance. THE DRUIDS NEPHEW was running away with this last year when he slithered to the ground at the twenty sixth fence. Aimed for this all season he ran well behind The Last Samuri at Doncaster last time out.

5:15 : CRABBIE'S GRAND NATIONAL, £561,300 to the winner, £211,100 to the second, £105,500 to the third, £52,700 to the fourth, £26,500 to the fifth, £13,200 to the sixth, £6,800 to the seventh, £3,600 to the eighth, £2,000 to the ninth & £1,000 to the tenth 

 1    01-0221     MANY CLOUDS    9, 11-10 (Oliver Sherwood) - Leighton Aspell 

 2   01-22p1     SILVINIACO CONTI    10, 11-6  (Paul Nicholls) - Noel Fehily 

 3   0-0432p    FIRST LIEUTENANT    11, 11-4  (M F Morris - Ireland) - Brian Cooper 

 4   3033p-2    WONDERFUL CHARM    8, 11-3  (Paul NIcholls) - Sam Twiston-Davies 

 5    030pp0    BALLYNAGOUR    10, 11-2  (David Pipe) - Tom Scudamore  

 7    21-3400    GILGANBOA    8, 11-1  (Enda Bolger - Ireland) - Robbie Power 

 8     0u4020   ON HIS OWN    12, 11-1  (Willie Mullins - Ireland) - Mr Patrick Mullins 

 9    01f-002     THE DRUIDS NEPHEW    9, 11-0  (N.Mullholland) - Denis O'Regan 

10   0p/p3-10   TRIOLO D'ALENE    9, 11-0  (Nicky Henderson) - Jeremiah McGrath

11    0p-2p40    ROCKY CREEK    10, 10-13  (Paul Nicholls) - Andew Thornton

12      1f4/100    SIR DES CHAMPS    10, 10-13  (Willie Mullins - Ireland) - Ms Nina Carberry* 

13   43-04p2     HOLYWELL    9, 10-12  (Jonjo O'Neill) - Richie McLernon

14   01/10-3p     SHUTTHEFRONTDOOR    9, 10-11 (Jonjo O'Neill) - Barry Geraghty 

15    10-0413     SOLL    11, 10-11  (David Pipe) - Conor O'Farrell

16    40-3243    BUYWISE    9, 10-11  (Evan Williams) - Paul Moloney 

17    40-00p1     BOSTON BOB    11, 10-10  (Willlie Mullins - Ireland) - Paul Townend 

18      411200     AACHEN    12, 10-10  (Venetia Williams) - Henry Brooke 

19   22/3-224    MORNING ASSEMBLY    9, 10-9  (P.Fahy - Ireland) - Davy Russell

20   0-24000    DOUBLE ROSS    10, 10-9  (Nigel Twiston-Davies) - Ryan Hatch 

21     12-3042    GOONEYELLA    9, 10-8  (Jim Dreaper - Ireland) - J J Burke 

22   0/1p-023    UCELLO CONTI    8, 10-8  (Gordon Elliott - Ireland) - Daryl Jacob 

23    0-00312    UNIONISTE    8, 10-8  (Paul Nicholls) - Nick Scholfield 

24     p02010    LE REVE    8, 10-8  (Lucy Wadham) - Harry Skelton 

25    43-1u00    GALLANT OSCAR    10, 10-8  (A J Martin - Ireland) - Mark Walsh 

26      11-1220    ONENIGHTINVIENNA    7, 10-8  (Philp Hobbs) - Tom O'Brien 

27      u12-311     THE LAST SAMURI    8, 10-8  (Kim Bailey) - David Bass 

28   30/02-10    KRUZHLININ    9, 10-7  (Philip Hobbs) - Richard Johnson

29     s32204    RULE THE WORLD    9, 10-7  (M F Morris - Ireland) - David Mullins  

30    031-002    JUST A PAR    9, 10-6  (Paul Nicholls) - Sean Bowen  

31    430/p-p0    KATENKO    10, 10-6  (Venetia Williams) - Will Kennedy

32     f2-00p0    VICS CANVAS    13, 10-6  (D A McLoughlin - Ireland) - Robert Dunne

33     100-0u0    BLACK THUNDER    9, 10-6  (Paul Nicholls) - Mr Sam Waley-Cohen 

34    pb-4030    BALLYCASEY    9, 10-6  (Willie Mullins - Ireland) - Ms Katie Walsh 

35    101/0p-0     HADRIAN'S APPROACH    9, 10-6  (Nicky Henderdon) - Nico de Boinville

36        111u20    VIEUX LION ROUGE    7, 10-5  (David Pipe) - James Reveley 

37    30/40-10    PENDRA    8, 10-5  (C.Longsdon) - Aiden Coleman

38      312-001    SAINT ARE    10, 10-5  (Tom George) - Paddy Brennan 

39     f0p0-00    HOME FARM    9, 10-4  (H de Bromhead - Ireland) - Andrew Lynch

40      1-00f30    THE ROMFORD PELE    9, 10-4  (Rebecca Curtis) - Trevor Whelen

Non Runner : 6  O'FAOLAINS BOY - Brian Hughes

* Ruby Walsh was due to ride Sir des Champs but was ruled out having fractured his wrist in the Topham Chase 

S.P : 8-1 Many Clouds & The Last Samuri, 11-1 Holywell, 12-1 Goonyella, Shutthefrontdoor & Silviniaco Conti, 16-1 Gallant Oscar, Morning Assembly, Saint Are & The Druids Nephew, 20-1 Sir des Champs, 25-1 Boston Bob & Ucello Conti, 28-1 Gilgamboa & Unioniste, 33-1 Buywise, Kruzhlinin, Onenightinvienna, On His Own, RULE THE WORLD & The Romford Pele, 40-1 Just A Par, Katenko, Soll & Wonderful Charm, 50-1 Aachen, Ballycasey, Ballynagour, Black Thunder, First Lieutenant, Hadrians Approach, Home Farm, Le Reve, Pendra & Triolo D'Alene, 66-1 Rocky Creek & Vieux Lion Rouge, 80-1 Double Ross, 100-1 Vics Canvas 

Aintree debutants

Aachen, Ballynagour, Black Thunder*, Boston Bob*, Buywise, Gallant Oscar*, Gilgamboa*, Hadrians Approach*, Holywell*, Home Farm*, Katenko*, Le Reve*, Morning Assembly*, Onenightinvienna*, Pendra, Rule the World*, Silviniaco Conti*, Sir des Champs*, The Last Samuri, The Romford Pele*, Ucello Conti, Vieux Lion Rouge, Wonderful Charm

Winners at Aintree

MANY CLOUDS - Grand National (2015)

TROLO D'ALENE - Topham Chase (2013)

Result

1st     RULE THE WORLD - David Mullins

2nd   THE LAST SAMURI - David Bass

3rd    VICS CANVAS - Robert Dunne

4th    GILGAMBOA - Robbie Power

Distances : six lengths, eight lengths & two lengths 

Time : 9 mins 29 seconds

Owned by Giggingstown Stud

Trained by Michael "Mouse" Morris in Ireland

16 finshers

23 non-finishers (4 fell, 6 unseated rider, 12 pulled up, 1 hampered & unseated rider)

The Class of 2016

AACHEN (2004) b g - Rainbow Quest (USA) - Anna of Saxony (Ela-Mana-Mou) - Won 3 hurdles and 5 chases between 2009 & 2017. Won four times on the flat in 2007 & 2008. Moved to the UK in 2009 and started his British career with a hat-trick of wins in novice hurdles but he was amongst the backmarkers in the County Hurdle in his next race.  He didn't capitlaise in that early success and was unplaced in the Coral Cup at the 2012 Festival. It wasn't working for him over hurdles so he went chasing winning first time at Towcester in June 2012. He could best be descirbed as a little hit and miss. He won a few chases but then would flop and would usually pull up. He made the early running in 2016 but lost his position on the second circuit and pulled up before Bechers. He ran four more times and pulled up each time, his last race was at Uttoxeter in May 2017. 

BALLYCASEY (IRE) (2007) b g - Presenting - Pink Mist (IRE) (Montelimar (USA)) - Won NHF, 2 hurdles and 8 chases between 2011 & 2019. Won his bumper and his first two hurldles before he found Morning Assembly too good for him at the Punchestown Festival. He won his first two chases, beating future Gold Cup winner Don Cossack  in a Grade One at Leopardstown in Februay 2014. He started joint favourite for the RSA but could only finish fourth behind O'Faolains Boy. He won at Gowran on his first start in 2014-15 but pulled up in the Ryanair Chase. He was hampered and unseated at first Canal Turn in 2015. A year later he unseated two out when behind. Interestingly he was ridden by Ruby Walsh for his first National and his sister Katie for his second. He didn't return to Aintee but still managed wins at Grade 2 level in Ireland and finished third in a Galway Plate. He later raced over the Cross Country Course at Cheltenham and the banks course at Punchestown and it was over the latter course that he finished fourth at the 2019 Punchestown Festival on his final start.

BLACK THUNDER (FR) (2007) bl g - Malinas (GER) - Blackmika (FR) (Subotica (FR)) - Won NHF, 2 hurdles and 3 chases between 2011 & 2017. Won his first three chases including a defeat of Many Clouds at Haydock and won a Grade 2 chase at Lingfield but he fell in the RSA Chase.  He was clearly useful and won a small race at Sandown in his second season at odds on but was no match for Many Clouds in the Cotswold Chase nor The Druids Nephew in the Ultima at the Festival. He unseated in the Welsh National and appeared to be on the decline. He was not fanced for the 2017 National and was pulled up at the fence before Bechers second time. He only raced a handful more times although he did pick up a hunter chase at Kelso in January 2017. He was pulled up in the Cheltenham Foxhuntrers and was last seen falling at Valentines in the 2017 Foxhunters.

BOSTON BOB  (IRE) (2005) b g - Bob Back (USA) - Bavaway (Le Bavard (FR)) - Won NHF, 4 hurdles and 5 chases between 2011 & 2016. Very classy individual. Won his first three starts over hurdles and started favourite for the Albert Bartlett at the Festival but was beaten by the brilliant but ill-fated Brindisi Breeze. He won his first two chases and was fancied for the RSA Chase but he fell when leading at the last fence. He also fell on his next start at the Punchestown Festival. He won a hurdle on his next start before a couple of below-par efforts (including finishing only sixth in the Ryanair Chase, three Festivals - three failures) but he bounced back to form with victories in the Melling Chase and the Punchestown Gold Cup where he had the likes of Long Run and On hIs Own behind him. Whilst still campaigned in the highest class he could not get his head in front the following season and was down the field in Coneygrees Gold Cup. He did win again when taking the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February 2016 but  was surprisingy easy to back on his next start, the National. He pulled up lame before Bechers second time and he did not see a racecourse again

FIRST LIEUTENANT (IRE) (2005) ch g - Presenting - Fourstargate (IRE) (Fourstars Allstars (USA)) - Won NHF, 3 hurdles & 3 chases between 2010 & 2017. Won his point and his bumper in 2010 and was a top novice hurdler that season winning the Baring Bingham at the Festival where he beat future champion hurder Rock On Ruby by a short head. He won his first novice chases at Tipperary and looked to be heading to the top in this sphere too but usually he found one or two too goof for him. He finished second in the RSA Chase, runner up in the Down Royal Champion Chase and was also placed behind Bobs Worth in the Hennessy. He was only a head behind Tidal Bay in the Lexus Chase and also filled the runners up spot in the Ryanair Chase. Then finally he got his head in front one final time when he won the Aintree Bowl in 2013. After that it was back to playing second fiddle, third in the Punchestown Gold Cup behind Bobs Worth (agaain) in the Lexus Chase, third in the Irish Gold Cup and fourth in the Betfair Bowl and second in the Puchestown Gold Cup. By 2015 it was clear he was not going to win another top class event so why not try the National. At his first attempt he made mistakes over the first two fences and he struggled in rear thought and a year later (after he had finished third in the Hennessy Gold Cup and runner up in the Lexus) he came down at the second when with the leaders. He continued to be highly tried and he later ran over the cross country course at Cheltenham, finished unplaced in the 2017 Irish Grand National and was last seen in the La Touche Cup at the 2017 Punchestown Festival

GALLANT OSCAR (IRE) (2006) b g - Oscar (IRE) - Park Wave (IRE) (Supreme Leader) - Won 2 hurdles & 3 chases between 2010 & 2017. Showed very little in his younger days and he didn't manage a win until his tenth start in all codes. He later raced over both hurdles and fences, finished third in the Ultma at the Festival in 2015, was eliminated from the National and won a handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival two months later. At Aintree he made a mess of the eighteenth fence and whilst his rider Mark Walsh did his best to cling onto the horses neck gravity ulitmately won out. He only ran three more times and was last seen in a hurdle at Punchestown in February 2017.

GILGAMBOA (IRE) (2008) b g - Westerner - Hi Native (IRE) (Be My Native (USA)) - Won 3 hurdles and 6 chases between 2013 & 2018. Won three of his five novice hurdles in 2013-14 but was amongst the tail enders behind Vautour n the SUpreme at e Festival. He won three of his five nvice chases the following season culminating with victory in the Grade One Ryanair HGOld Cup at Fairyhouse. He was runnig in tp cpmany in 2015-16 but was generally found wanting and was again no macj for Vautu n the Tyanair cHase. Then dame Ainyree and he ran a blinderfinsihing fourth . Two races later he wa brought down in the Hilly Way Vhase at Cork and was off the course for a year. When he returned it was inthe amateur game and hr ewon two hunter chases at Down Royal and onl his last start at Punchestown in February 2018GOONYELLA (IRE) (2007) br g - Presenting - Miss Fresher (FR) (Pampabird) - Won 3 chases between 2011 & 2016. After fiinshng unplaced on his debut at Stratford he left Nigel Twiston-Davies and moved to Jim Dreaper in Ireland. Initially campaigned in points and hunter chases winning three times between the flags and a maiden hunter chase. His first race out of the amateur game was when he pulled up in the Irish Grand National but he won at the Punchestown Festival on his next start. In 2013-14 there were two Nationals (Welsh and Irish - both unplaced) but he was eleminated from the big one. He unseated at the first in the 2014 Becher Chase but 2014-15 saw him gain his biggest success when he won the Midlands National and he was only three quarters of a length behind Wayward Prince in the Scottish Grand National. He finished unplaced in the 2015 Becher Chase and finished fifth in the Grand National in 2016. He was only nine but after a race over the Banks course at Punchestown and a fourth place over the Cheltenham cross country course in December 2016 he disappeared.​​​​

HADRIAN’S APPROACH (IRE) (2007) b g - High Chaparral (IRE) - Gifted Approach (IRE) (Roselier (FR)) - Won 2 hurdles and 3 chases between 2011 & 2017. Won his Irish point, his first hurdle and his first chase (the latter two both at Ascot) and was a useful novice chaser finishing third in the RSA Chase in 2014. He unseated early in the Hennessy in his second season over fences but won a small race at Newbury and ended on a high when he led close home to lift the Bet 365 Gold Cup at Sandown. He didn't repeat that form the following season which included his attempt at the National which was brief (he unseated at the very first fence) and he could only finish sixth in a second Bet 365 Gold Cup. Lightly raced the following season he was sadly killed in a fall in the Kim Muir at the Festival.

HOLYWELL (IRE) (2007) b g Gold Well - Hillcrest (IRE) (Thatching) - Won 2 hurdles & 5 chases between 2012 & 2017. Dual winner at the Cheltenham Festival winning the Pertemps Final in 2013 and the Ultima HandicapChase (the old National Hunt Handicap) in 2014 which was pretty impressive as he was still a novice and it the was only his sixth start over fences. After that he beat future Gold Cup winner Don Cossack in the Mildmay Chase at Aintree. Lightly raced the following year he finished a very credible fourth behind Coneygree in the 2015 Gold Cup. Thereafter he finished second in the Ultima at the 2016 Festival but his attempt at the National ended early when he fell at the second fence. He was last seen in a handicap hurdle at Aintree in April 2017.

HOME FARM (2007) b g Presenting - Tynelucy (Good Thyne (USA)) - Won hurdle & 2 chases between 2011 & 2019. Average Irish chaser who was out of his depth in the 2015 Gold Cup. He struggled and was pulled up. It had been a similar story when he lined up in the 2014 Irish Grand National and in the 2016 Grand National where he pulled up. He later won an Irish point in 2017 and was last seen running over the Punchestown Banks course in February 2019.

​KATENKO (FR) (2006) b g Laveron - Katania (FR) (Villez (USA)) - Won 2 hurdles & 5 chases between 2010 & 2018. Useful when trained in France by Jean Berand de Balanda winning five times including at Group 3 level. Moved to Venetia Williams in November 2012, was quite useful, won a couple of races but was totally outclassed in the 2014 Gold Cup finishing last of the eleven finishers. He was lightly raced thereafter and fell at second Bechers when in rear in the 2016 Grand National. He last raced at Uttoxeter in April 2018.

KRUZHLININ (GER|) (2007) ch g Sholokhov (IRE) - Karuma (Surumu) - Won 4 hurdles and 6 chases between 2011 & 2019. Won 4 hurdles and 6 chases between 2011 & 2021. Won three times at Kelso over fences before his first attempt at the Nationa when at odds of 100-1 he finished tenth. The following year he pulled up. He won over brush hurdles the following season and pulled up in the Scottish National in 2017. He was off for a year and then was a revelation in points. Starting in November 2018 he won thirteen times over the next two years. He finished unplaced in the 2019 Aintree Foxhunters but won a chase at Navan. He won his last start, a hurdle at Limerick by a nose in October 2021.

LE REVE (IRE) (2008) br g Milan - Open Cry (IRE) (Montelimar (USA)) - Won 2 hurdles and 6 chases between 2012 & 2021. Sandown speicliat who ran sixteen times at the Surrey track winning the Grand Military Gold Cup in 2019 and two other chases there and finished third in the 2015 Bet365 Gold Cup. He also won the 2019 Surrey National at Lingfield. He finiehed elebveth in the 2016 National which was his only visit to Aintree. He was last seen at Fontwel in Feburary 2021. 

MANY CLOUDS (IRE) (2007) br g Cloudings (IRE) - Bobbing Back (IRE) (Bob Back (USA) - Won NHF, 2 hurdles & 9 chases between 2012 & 2017. Probably the most popular National winner since Red Rum and whilst fans of Tiger Roll may disagree with me probably the best. He won his bumper in February 2012 before finishing unplaced in the Festival Bumper on his next start. He was an average hurdler. He was a better than average novice chaser but he was brought down in the RSA Chase and was no match for Holywell in the Mildmay Novices Chase at Aintree. He developed into a very very good chaser in 2014-15. He won the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury, beat Smad Place in the Cotswold Chase and started joint second favourite for the Gold Cup where he flopped, finishing a well beaten sixth behind Coneygree. How he was allowed to start at 25-1 for his next race, the Grand National is a complete mystery to me. Maybe punters were put off by the lacklusre display at Cheltenham, maybe some felt the National came too close to Cheltenham. Whatever - at Aintree he was sublime. Yes he was left in the lead after The Druids Nephew slithered to the ground at the twenty sixth fence but thereafter the result was not really in doubt and he won by a comfortable one and three quarter lengths over Aintree perennial Saint Are. Worryingly he "wobbled" after passing the finishing line and for the second time a Trevor Hemmings National winning jockey walked into the winners enclosure without his horse. As a precaution he was led into the cooling off area and doused with water. He eventually went into the winners enclosure and the following day was bucking and kicking none the worse for the experience as he appeared to the worlds media. The following season yielded just the one win at Kelso and in the National all was looking set for a second victory (he seemed the most likely since Hedgehunter to be able to complete a double). He was up with the leaders as the field ran down to Bechers second time but after an uncharateristic mistake at the twenty sixth his effort petered out and he literally walked across the line last of the sixteen finishers. There is no doubt that he would have stood a great chance in the National in 2017 and to be honest he would not have looked out of place in the Gold Cup either based upon his final two runs. He won at Aintree over the Mildmay course and in the Cotswold Chase where he held off the new kid on the block, Thistlecrack in the bravest of manner by a head. He gave his all, collapsed moments after crossing the line and his death was widely mourned. I am not sentimenal, I have been following this great sport for too many years but even I sobbed in my wifes arms that night.

​MORNING ASSEMBLY (IRE) (2007) b g - Shantou (USA) - Barrack Village (IRE) (Montelimar (USA)) - Won NHF, 2 hurdles and 2 chases between 2012 & 2016. This one has a very brief career running only fifteen times under rules. He won his bumper and a grade one novice hurdle a race at the Punchestown Festival in 2024. He won his first two chases including beating future Gold Cup winner Don Cossak at Punchestown in November 2014. He finshed third in the 2015 RSA Chase and was amongst the leading Irish novice chasers that season. He missed the 2014-15 season and the following one was his last under rules. He only went down by a head on his comeback race at Fairyhouse and then filled the same position at Gowran before finishing fourth in the Ultima Handicap Chase. He ran well at Aintree and was with the leaders four out before fading to finsih eighth. That was it but he did resurface two years later in points winning one at Kirkistown

ONENIGHTINVIENNA (IRE) (2009) b g - Oscar (IRE) - Be My Granny (Needle Gun) - Won NHF, 2 hurdles and 2 chases between 2013 & 2016. Won an Irish point. Having won his last two starts over hurdles he gained a hat-trick when winning his first chase at Exeter in November 2015. He was still a novice when he lined up at Aintree in what was only his fifth chase and he got as far as second Bechers where he was hampered and unseated. The following season he won a chase at Cheltenhams Open meeting but sadly suffered fatal injuries on the flat on his next start, the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow.

ON HIS OWN (IRE) (2004) b g Presenting - Na Mhuire (IRE) (Roselier (FR)) - Won NHF, 2 hurdles & 6 chases between 2010 & 2017. Won his Irish maiden point and bumper in 2009 before beng moved to the UK where his first start for new connections was the Festival Bumper in which he was amongst the backmarkers behind Cue Card. He went chasing the following season, won twice but fell in the National Hunt Chase. When trainer Howard Johnson was warned off he was moved to Willie Mullins. He was fancied for the 2012 Grand National but fell at Bechers second time when in contention and the following year he fell at Valentines second time when behind. That summer he contested the Grand Course de Haies D'Auteuil finishing seventh. In 2014 he was in good form having won the Thyestes Chase and Bobbyjo Chase and 16-1 represented good each way value in the 2014 Gold Cup. In a blanket finish he was carried wide by the eventual winner Lord Windermere in the last hundred yards and ultimately he only went down by a short head. The resulting stewards enquiry lasted fiteen minutes but concluded that there had been interference but that it had not affected the result. He finished fifth in the race a year later and at long odds and finished last in Don Cossacks race in 2016. In the summer of 2015 he returned to Auteuil trying the Grand Steeplechase de Paris this time in which he finished seventh. He failed to finish in his third National in 2016. It was the Chair that caught him out - at least he fell at a famous fence each time. In 2015 he tried Cheltenhams cross country course and Punchestowns banks. He won a point in January 2017 and was last seen finishing runner up in a hunter chae at Thurles that month. He enjoyed a very interestng career and he so nearly won a Gold Cup

ROCKY CREEK (2006) b g Dr Massini (IRE) - Kissandtell (IRE) (Broken Hearted) - Won hurdle and 5 chases between 2011 & 2017. Won his point to point. Was a useful novice chaser winning three times including the Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot and finished third in the Mildmay Chase. He finished second to Triolo D'Alene in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup on his first race of his second season and his next start was the National where he was one of the favourites despite it only being his sixth race over fences. He led down to Bechers on the second circuit and had regained the lead four out but headed at the second last he weakened to ultimately finish fith but it was a great performance nonetheless. On his next start he finished second in the Down Royal Champion Chase and won the old Racing Post Chase at Kempton. Fancied again for the National again in 2015  but this time though he was never travelling well and he finished amongst the backmarkers. He enjoyed a similar campaign the following season which started with another second place in the Down Royal Champion Chase this time behind future Gold Cup winner Don Cossack but the rest of the season was a bit of a non event. He flopped in the Grand Sefton and in his third National he blundered badly at the eleventh when behind and he was not asked to go any further. It did look as if he was on the downgrade but he did enjoy one final day in the sun when he won the London National at Sandown in December 2016. He was last seen pulling up early in a veterans chase at Newbury in March 2017. 

RULE THE WORLD

SHUTTHEFRONTDOOR (IRE) (2007) bb g  - Accordian (IRE) - Hurricane Girl (IRE) (Strong Gale (IRE)) - Won 3NHF, 3 hurdles & 3 chases between 2011 & 2017. Unbeaten in his bumpers he was surprisingly beaten when at long odds on for his debut at the lost Folkestone racecourse in November 2012 before winning three hurdles on the bounce and was fancied for the Pertemps Final at the Festival where he ran very credibly to finish fourth to Holywell in a big field. He then went chasing, won his debut over the Mildmay course. Novices have a good record in the Irish Grand National and despite this being onlh his fifth chase he started favourite and won under pressure by three quarters of a length The following season it was all about the National and after impressing in a graduation chase at Carlisle in November he was put away. In Februrry AP McCoy acnnounced his retirement from the saddle at the end of the season and there was much speculation as to who would be his final National ride. This one seemed obvious and as a result of the Champs decision he was sent off a very hot favourite. It was believed that McCoy would immediately retire if he won the National and he did come close. He was prominent throughout but never got close to Many Clouds. To be honest the rest of his career was something of an anti climax. He still had a lot of racing in him but he only ran six motre time. He finished ninth in 2016 and was last seen finishing unplaced in the 2017 Irish National.​​

SILVNIACO CONTI (FR) (2006) ch g Dom Alco (FR) - Gazelle Lulu (FR) (Altayan (IRE)) - Won 5 hurdles & 11 chases between 2010 & 2017. Won both starts in France for Guillaume Macaire and then came to Paul Nicholls and continued his winning ways in his first three starts in a novice hurdles and so impressive was he when winning the Persian War at Chepstow that there was talk of a Champion Hurdle attempt. However a disappointing run in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton put pay to that ambition and he was put away for the season. There was talk of upping in distance over timber but in the end he went chasing but only managed two wins in that first season although he did win the Mildmay Chase at Aintree. Then he started to get very good. In the run up to his first attempt at the Gold Cup he won the Charlie Hall, beat Long Run in the Betfair and took the Denman Chase. He appeared to be travelling very well in the 2013 Gold Cup when he fell for the first and (as it turned out) only time in his career. The next season he beat Cue Card in the King George but could only finish fourth in the blanket finish that was he 2014 Gold Cup when he first went left and then wandered right under pressure losing the lead in the final 110 yards - disappointing as if he was going to win a Gold Cup this had to be his year. He won the Aintree Bowl on his next start. In 2014-15 he won his second Betfair Chase and a second King George but once again Cheltenham was not a happy hunting ground. He was travelling well on the second circuit but was being ridden four out and he could only finish seventh. The Gold Cup was not his race and he was not asked again. He won a second Aintree Bowl though so it was very surprising to see him the following year in a season that had seen him pull up when he was going for a third King George to go for the National instead of the Bowl. He ran well for the first ten fences but started to drop back and he was not given a hard time pulling up before the fourteenth fence when it was very clear all chance had gone.​ It was not a total dead loss season as showing just what a versatile animal he was he won the Ascot Chase by twenty lengths. That turned out to be his last victory and he was retired after finishing unplaced in the AIntree Bowl in 2017. Sadly the following year he died in a team chasing event. I always thought he was overrated and he did not capture the public imagination like his King George predecessors Kauto Star or Long Run or his contemporary Cue Card. However when you look at his record in the cold light of day it was very impressive indeed.

SIR DES CHAMPS (FR) (2006) b g Robin des Champs (FR) - Liste En Tete (FR) (Video Rock (FR)) - Won 3 hurdles & 8 chases between 2010 & 2017. Won his sole hurdle at Auteuil when trained by Emmanuel Clayeux in France. Moved to Willie Mullins and was unbeaten over his first two seasons including two Festival wins. Won the Martin Pipe in 2011 and the Jewson Novices the following year. After a coupe of defeats he won the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown and the Punchestown Gold Cup beating Long Run. In between he finished runner up to Bobs Worth in the Gold Cup. The following season was curtailed with a serious tendon injury and he was off for nearly two years. Perhaps not surprisngly when he returned he was not as good although he did win his reappearance, a listed event at Thurles. He tried his luck at Aintree but he fell at the Chair and his next start where he pulled up in the Bet 365 Gold Cup at Sandown was his last under rules. He ran in Irish points over the next two years but sady broke down badly in May 2018.

SOLL (2005) ch g Presenting - Montefolene (IRE) (Montelimar (USA)) - Won a hurdle and 5 chases between 2011 & 2016. Won an Irish point and his first hurdle. He had three runs for Willie Mullins including a win at Down Royal but he was brought down at half way during the National Hunt Chase at the Festival. He moved to the UK and went straight in at the deep end finishing unplaced in the Hennessy and the Welsh National. He was prominent throughout the 2013 National but weakened in the closing stages to finish seventh. He missed the cut in 2014 so ran in the Topham instead over a distance that was clearly too short for him and he finished unplaced. Ambitiously he was sent France next to contest the Grand Steeplechase de Paris at Auteuil and was pulled up. He moved stables again and went to David Pipe winning his first two starts for new connections. He clearly liked Aintree was prominent again in his second National and he faded although this time he did have an escuse, a broken blood vessal. In his final season he finished fourth in the Becher Chase, held on to win the Veterans Final at Sandown by a neck from Aachen and in his final National struggled and pulled up before the twenty first fence. It was his final race. 

THE DRUIDS NEPHEW (IRE) (2007) b g - Kings Theatre (IRE) - Gifted (Shareef Dancer (USA)) - Won hurdle and 3 chases between 2011 & 2019. Won an Irish point in May 2011, won a novice hurdle at Kempton in 2012 before finishing sixth at 100-1 in the 2012 Albert Bartlett at the Festival. He went chasing the following season winning at Wincanton on his third attempt and ran in his second Festival finishing sixth in the Novice Handicap Chase. He managed it third time lucky by winning the 2015 Ultima which put him amongst the favourites for the 2015 National. Oh what might have been. He was with the leaders throughout and took the lead at second Valentines. He was cruising when he simply slithered on landing at the next and that was it. It was too far out to say whether if he would have won and Many Clouds was a particularly wonderful winner.  He was very lightly raced thereafter and never got into the 2016 National pulling up before the twenty first fence. He was off the course for nearly two years after finishing unplaced in the 2017 Bet365 Gold Cup and he broke down on his reappearance at Cheltenham in January 2019 and was retired soon afterwards.

THE ROMFORD PELE (IRE) (2007) b g - Accordian (IRE) - Back and Fore (IRE) (Bob Back (USA)) - Won NHF, 3 hurdles and 5 chases between 2011 & 2018. Won three chases on the bounce in 2014 but was then off for a year and never quite recaptured that initial promise. Prior to his one attempt at the National he finished third behind Thistlecrack in the Cleeve Hurdle at odds of 50-1. At Aintree he came down at the first Canal. He did not return but still won the odd chase including over the Mildmay course in October 2017. Sadly in the Summer National at Uttoxeter in July 2018 he collapsed and died. 

TRIOLO D'ALENE (FR) (2007) ch g Epalo (GER) - Joliette D'alene (FR) (Garde Royale (IRE)) - Won 7 chases between 2011 & 2017. Won a small chase in France and won on debut for Nicky Henderson at Ascot in January 2012 before finishing unplaced at the Festival in the Handicap Novice Chase. The following year he showed an improvement in form to take the Topham Trophy holding on from Walkon. Further success that autumn in the Hennessy Gold Cup had him touted as a potential National horse but it was the Gold Cup of 2014 that he lined up in on his next start and he  finished tenth although he was bumped two out. He lined up next in the National but didn't really get into that race either and was pulled up before second Bechers. Very lightly raced thereafter he did win a small race at Kempton in 2016 but it was a generally disappointing season pulling up in the Hennessy and he almost walked across the line in fourteenth place in the 2016 National. He pulled up lame at Kempton in Februay 2017 and time was called on his career.

UNIONISTE (FR) (2008) gr g - Dom Alco (FR) - Gleep Will (FR) (Laniste) - Won a hurdle and 10 chases between 2011 & 2019. Won over hurdles at Pau and his debut chase at Auteuil In May 2013 before leaving Guillaume Macaire for Paul Nicholls. He won on his British debut over the Milmday course and added two more wins at Cheltenham and Newbury starting favourite for the 2013 RSA Chase where he finished fourth. The following season he finished third in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, won a listed event over the Mildmay course at the Becher meeting and finished down the field in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown. In 2014-15 he disappointed in the Hennessy but won at Sandown in the new year and fnished a credible third behind future Gold Cup winner Coneygree in the Denman Chase. He seemed an ideal National sort but got no further than the fifth fence. The following year he completed the course in the Becher Chase and finished tenth in the National. He was amongst the backmarkers both times though. He was sold to David Maxwell to run in hunter chases and he won three in 2018 including a bizarre race at WIncanton when he was left to finish alone after all his rivals pulled up in testing conditions. He was unplaced as well in both the Cheltenham and Aintree Foxhunters Chases. He last ran under rules at Fakenham in May 2019. He was sold again and ended his days running in point in 2021 & 2021.

VICS CANVAS (IRE) (2003) b g - Old Vic - Oilpainting (IRE) (Welsh Term (IRE)) - WOn NHF, 3 hurdles and a chase between 2010 & 2016. Started life in Irish points (he won one) but he didn't run under rules until he was seven winning his bumper. He didn't see a fence until he was eleven but on only his fourth start over the bigger obstacles he gained his sole success over fences -it was a big one though, he won the Cork Grand National. After that he finished third in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown but got no further than the first fence in the Irish Grand National. Showing no ill effects he next raced in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown he finished a very credible second behind Just A Par. Not bad for a twelve year old having his first full season over fences. The following year he finished fifth in a blanket finish for the Becher Chase and lined up at odds of 100-1 in the Grand National. He survived a monumental blunder at first Bechers (Robbie Dunne performing perhaps the last great jockey recovery in the race) and he went on to finish third and to be fair he held every chance at the last fence. A late developer, he was now thirteen and he was not asked to race again.

2017 - One for Arthur

One for Arthur.jpeg

The winner

One For Arthur was ruled out the following season with a tendon injury, but the intention to return to the Grand National was always on the cards. He returned to the track on Becher Chase day in 2018 but unseated his rider early in a chase over the Mildmay course. He also unseated on his second start. He was denied a third run due to drying ground so was forced to contest the 2019 National without a single completed race to his name that season. All things considered he ran a superb race, like in 2017 he hunted around the first circuit and was making progress in the later stages of the race finishing an honourable sixth. A fifth place in the Becher Chase at the end of 2019 followed and all eyes were on a third attempt at the National but then the Covid-19 pandemic changed everything and the National was cancelled. Connections decided he had done enough and his retrement was announced in October 2020.  He died from colic in March 2023.

Leading Fancies

Aintree debutant BLAKLION was all the rage this year. A second season chaser and winner of the RSA Chase at the Festival last year. He had not added to that victory but was running consistently and last time out was only narrowly beaten by Vieux Lion Rouge at Haydock. Another debutant DEFINITLY RED was in good form this season wining the Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby and had the The Last Samuri behind him at Doncaster last time out. Only blip was an unfortunate unseat at Haydock when hampered. PLEASANT COMPANY had been disappointing on his UK debut when he pulled up in the National Hunt Chase at last years Festival but he followed that with a victory at the Punchestown Festival and this season had Thunder and Roses and Lord Windermere behind him in the Bobbbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse. This was the leading irish challenger. VIEUX LION ROUGE didn't look like he stayed when he finshed a well beaten seventh in this last year. However he clearly liked the course as he had caught Highland Lodge on the line in the Becher Chase. He had followed that with another last minute victory this time over Blaklion in the Haydock Grand National Trial. If he could last home he would be one of the ones to beat. ONE FOR ARTHUR was a useful chaser trained in Scotland by Lucinda Russell. A winner of the Classic Chase from a big field at Warwick on his last start and had only finished three lengths behind Vieux LIon Rouge in fifth place in the Becher Chase. He certainly had a shout at this but Scotland had only ever won the National once. CAUSE OF CAUSES was a three times winner at the Cheltenham Festival having won the cross country chase this year. Got behind early in this in 2015 but stayed on to finish 8th. THE LAST SAMURI had run a blinder in this last year finishing six lengths runner up behind the now retired Rule The World. Subsequently he had finished third in a blanket finish in the Becher Chase just behind Vieux Lion Rouge and Highland Lodge. Beaten by Definitly Red at Doncaster on his last start he had an excellent each way chance. MORE OF THAT was a former top class long distance hurdler who won the 2014 Stayers Hurdle beating none other than Annie Power. Then he was off for a year. Won his first two starts over fences in November 2015 and looked to have a stellar future over fences but a number of setbacks had reduced him to just six more starts over the larger obstacles and he had struggled this season. This would be a tall order despite his obvious class. DROP OUT JOE had rivals Ballynagour and Gas LIne Boy behind him when winning the Summer Cup at Uttoxeter in June. Suffered a potentially career ending injury afterwards so it was quite a training perfromance to get him ready for this but question marks remained. HIGHLAND LODGE was the winner of the Becher Chase in 2015 but missed the cut in this last year. Almost made it a historic double in the Becher but was touched off by Vieux Lion Rouge in the closing stages. The consensus was that he wouldn't stay the full National distance but it was great to see him in the race at last. This was a very good renewal.

5:15 : RANDOX HEALTH GRAND NATIONAL, £429,600 to the winner, £176,800 to the second, £88,400 to the third, £44,200 on the fourth, £22,100 to the fifth, £11,000 to the sixth, £5,600 to the seventh, £2,700 to the eighth, £1,400 to the ninth & £700 to the tenth

 1      112-032    THE LAST SAMURI    9, 11-10  (Kim Bailey) - David Bass 

 2     3-p30f0    MORE OF THAT    9, 11-6  (Jonjo O'Neill) - Barry Geraghty

 3      020142    SHANTOU FLYER    7, 11-5  (Rebecca Curtis) - Jonathan Moore 

 4     01-02p1     PERFECT CANDIDATE    10, 11-5  (F O'Brien) - Paddy Brennan

 5     0-3f210     SAPHIR DU RHEU    8, 11-5  (Paul Nicholls) - Sam Twiston-Davies

 6     320041     ROI DES FRANCS    8, 11-3  (Gordon Elliott - Ireland) - Jack Kennedy 

 7     20-400p   WOUNDED WARRIOR    8, 11-2  (N.Meade - Ireland) - Sean Flanagan

 8      2p0-112    WONDERFUL CHARM    9, 11-2  (Paul Nicholls) - Ms Katie Walsh 

 9     0-34312    TENOR NIVERNAIS    10, 11-1  (Venetia Williams) - Aiden Coleman* 

10     13-4032    BLAKLION    8, 11-1  (Nigel Twiston-Davies) - Noel Fehily 

11      11000-1     DROP OUT JOE    9, 11-1  (C.Longsdon) - Tom O'Brien 

12     1-32023    LE MERCUREY    7, 11-0  (Paul Nicholls) - Sean Bowen

13     031-f00     THE YOUNG MASTER    8, 10-13  (N.Mulholland) - Mr Sam Waley-Cohen 

14    p-0p001     CAUSE OF CAUSES    9, 10-13  (Gordon Elliott - Ireland) - Mr J J Codd 

15    p-2pp1p     REGAL ENCORE    9, 10-13  (A.Honeyball) - Robbie Power 

16     u200-11     VIEUX LION ROUGE    8, 10-2  (David Pipe) - Tom Scudamore 

17       1-131u1      DEFINITLY RED    8, 10-12  (B.Ellison) - Danny Cook 

18    0-04024    UCELLO CONTI    9, 10-12  (Gordon Elliott - Ireland) - Daryl Jacob 

19    0-2p012     DOUBLE SHUFFLE    7, 10-12  (T.George) - Adrian Heskin 

20   1p-3404     HOUBLON DES OBEAUX    10, 10-12  (Venetia Williams) - Charlie Deutsch

21      13p-141     PLEASANT COMPANY    9, 10-12  (Willie Mullins - Ireland) - Ruby Walsh 

22    243-101     ONE FOR ARTHUR    8, 10-11  (Lucinda Russell) - Derek Fox

23    022ppp     BALLYNAGOUR    11, 10-11  (David Pipe) - David Noonan 

24    1p00-pp    O'FAOLAINS BOY    10, 10-11  (Rebecca Curtis) - Paul Townend

25   4/021p-2    HIGHLAND LODGE    11, 10-11  (J.Moffatt) - Henry Brooke 

26     1uf-403     BISHOPS ROAD    9, 10-10  (Kerry Lee) - Jamie Moore 

27    3pp/200    LORD WINDERMERE    11, 10-10  (J.Culloty - Ireland) - Leighton Aspell

28    p0-03f2     SAINT ARE    11, 10-10  (T.George) - Davy Russell 

29     01-f000    VICENTE    8, 10-10  (Paul Nicholls) - Brian Hughes 

30    202-4p1    JUST A PAR    10, 10-9  (Paul Nicholls) - Harry Cobden

31      13f0-p0     MEASUREOFMYDREAMS    9, 10-9  (N.Meade - Ireland) - Donagh Meyler

32     u21022     RAZ DE MAREE    12, 10-9  (G.Cromwell - Ireland) - Ger Fox 

33     103242     STELLAR NOTION    9, 10-9  (H de Bromhead - Ireland) - David Mullins 

34    000000    ROGUE ANGEL    9, 10-8  (M F Morris - Ireland) - Brian Cooper 

35     0f-p4fp     COCKTAILS AT DAWN    9, 10-8  (Nicky Henderson) - Nico de Boinville 

36     200220   THUNDER AND ROSES    9, 10-7  (M F Morris - Ireland) - Mark Enright 

37      243144     GAS LINE BOY    11, 10-7  (Ian Williams) - Robbie Dunne

38    p-0021p     GOODTOKNOW    9, 10-7  (Kerry Lee) - Jake Greenall

39    0-2010p     LA VATICANE    8, 10-6  (David Pipe) - Richie McLernon

40    u-p02p0    DOCTOR HARPER    9, 10-6  (David Pipe) - Conor O'Farrell 

* Liam Treadwell was due to ride Tenor Nivernais but missed the ride through injury

S.P : 8-1 Blaklion, 10-1 Definitly Red, 11-1 Pleasant Company, 12-1 Vieux Lion Rouge, 14-1 ONE FOR ARTHUR, 16-1 Cause of Causes, More of That, Saphir du Rheu, The Last Samuri & Vicente, 20-1 Rogue Angel, The Young Master & Ucello Conti, 25-1 Highland Lodge, Saint Are & Thunder and Roses, 28-1 Wonderful Charm, 33-1 Cocktails at Dawn, Double Shuffle, Drop Out Joe, Just A Par, Lord Windermere, Perfect Candidate, Raz de Maree, Regal Encore & Wounded Warrior, 40-1 Measureofmydreams & Tenor Nivernais, 50-1 Doctor Harper, Gas Line Boy, Houblon des Obeaux, Le Mercurey, O'Faolains Boy, Roi des Francs, Shantou Flyer & Stellar Notion, 66-1 Ballynagour, Bishops Road & Goodtoknow, 80-1 La Vaticane

Aintree debutants

Blaklion, Definitly Red, Doctor Harper*, Double Shuffle, Drop Out Joe*, Houblon des Obeaux, Le Mercurey*, Measureofmydreams*, More of That*, O'Faolains Boy*, Pleasant Company, Regal Encore, Roi des Francs*, Saphir du Rheu*, Shantou Flyer, Stellar Notion*, Tenor Nivernais, Vicente*, Wounded Warrior*

Winners at Aintree

HIGHLAND LODGE - Becher Chase (2015)

VIEUX LION ROUGE - Becher Chase (2016)

Result

1st     ONE FOR ARTHUR - Derek Fox

2nd   CAUSE OF CAUSES - Mr Jamie Codd

3rd    SAINT ARE - Davy Russell

4th    BLAKLION - Noel Fehily

Distances : four and a half lengths, three and three quarter lengths & half a length 

Time : 9 mins 29.9 seconds

Owned by The Two Golf Widows

Trained by Lucinda Russell

19 finshers

21 non-finishers (4 fell, 3 unseated rider, 1 hampered & unseated rider, 13 pulled up)

The Class of 2017

BALLYNAGOUR (IRE) (2006) b g - Shantou (USA) - Simply Deep (IRE) (Simply Great (FR)) - Won 2 hurdles & 3 chases between 2011 & 2020. Won an Irish Point in 2010 and was sold to France. There he won a chase at Auteuil and a hurdle at Engjhein. He came to the UK in 2013 and won on his debut for new connections a Warwick.  On the back of this he started favourite for the Festival Plate at Cheltenham but could only finis eighth in a big field. He was clearly well thought of as his next start was the Melling Chase where he finished third and then he ran in the Punchestown Champion Chase where he chased home Queen Mother winner Sizing Europe. The following season he pulled up in the Hennessy and did not see a racecourse again until he returned to Aintree where he ran Silviniaco Conti to a head in the Bowl.  After falling in the Punchestown Gold Cup he was sent to France where he wonthe valuabe Prix La Barka but could only finish fifth in the Grand Course de Haies D'Auteuil. In 2015-16 he was again highly tried but was showing signs of downturn - he was a distant last in the Betfair Chade, pulled up relatively early in the King George and was unplaced in another Festival Plate. He was therefore unconsidered when he lined up at Aintree for the National but he was still in touch when he blundered at the nineteeth and unseated. He returned to France and finished unplaced in the Prix Barka. He ran in a seocnd National in 2017 and did finish the course in eleventh place. He last raced in hunter chases and points the last unde rules at Bangor in February 2020.

BISHOPS ROAD (IRE) (2008) b g - Heron Island (IRE) - Nice Resemblance (IRE) (SHernazar - Won NHF, hurdle and 4 chases between 2013 & 2021. He pulled up in his debut point but won his second, his bumper and his only hurdle in a big field at Gowran in October 2013. I'd like to say he won his first chase a year later but he was unplaced but did win on his third attempt at Leopardstown.  In 2015 after proving that he was little more than an average chaser he moved to the UK and won his first two starts for new connections at Sandown and Haydock, the latter being very impressive as it was the Grand National Trial. He missed the cut for the National so ran in the Topham instead, started favourite but unseated at the very first fence. His dform dipped after that and he was not fancied when he lined up in the 2017 National and was one of several who were pulled up in the closing stages prevenring the 1984 record for the most finishers being broken.  He later ran in hunter chases and points winning at Cheltenham in May 2019. He completed the course in the 2021 Foxhunters Chase. He last ran at Stratford in May 2021.

​CAUSE OF CAUSES (USA) (2008) b g - Dynaformer (USA) - Angel of My Heart (FR) (Rainbow Quest (USA)) - Won 5 hurdles and 3 chases between 2012 & 2018. A very consistent horse who ran in six consecutive Cheltenham Festivals. Won on the flat in France before being moved to Ireland. He fell on his debut over hurdles but picked up small races at Kilbeggan and Downpatrick before springing a surprise to win the Ladbrokes Hurdle at Ascot at 25-1. His first Cheltenham visit was in the Supreme in 2013 where he was an outsider and finished unplaced. He was purchased shortly afterwards by JP McManus. Festival trip number two was unlucky. In the Kim Muir he was challenging at the last but blundered and lost momentum and finished second.  After that run he finished unplaced in the Irish Grand National. He was still without a win over fences when he finally got off the mark at Festival visit number three, a twelve length victory in the 2015 National Hunt Chase. After that he ran in his first National finishing eighth. His second victory over fences also came at the Cheltenham Festival. This time in the Kim Muir and again it was by twelve lengths. Ridiculously he was eliminated in the National so he ran instead in the Scottish equivalent but he was pulled up. By 2017 he was running over the cross country course at Cheltenham and won his third chase at the Festival over the course before his superb perfomance in the 2017 National. Challenging for the lead at the second last he was outstayed by One for Arthur but only went down by four and a half lengths. In 2018 he made what has his final racecourse appearance when he pulled up in the cross country race at the Festival. He pulled up lame and was retired. He only won three chases but they were all at the Festival - not bad at all.

COCKTAILS AT DAWN (2008) b g - Fair Mix (IRE) - FOnd Farewell (IRE) (Phardante (FR)) - Won hurdle & 2 chases between 2012 & 2018. Highlight came when he won a novice chase at Sandowns Finale meeting in 2015. He enjoyed no luck at AIntree falling early in the Topham and in the National he came down at the first giving rider Nico De Boinville his second consecutive first fence departure. He left Nicky Henderson later thay year and went to Gordon Elliot. He achieved very little and was last seen out at Galway in August 2018. He died later that year.

DOCTOR HARPER (IRE) b g - Presenting - Supreme Dreamer (IRE) (Supreme Leader) - Won 2 NHF, 4 hurdles & a chase between2012 & 2017. Won his first two bumpers before finishing unplaced at the Festival and won four hurdles during his sole campaign ovee timber including a handicap at the National meeting. Over fences he finished second in a three horse race at Plumpton behind L'Ami Serge, won his sole chase at Leicester and unseated two out when beaten when favourite for the Kim Muir. He finished seven in the same race a year later before his National attempt where he pulled up havng been behind throughot. Not a happy experience as he did not see a racecourse again

DROP OUT JOE (2008) ch g - Generous (USA) - La Feuillare (FR) (Nikas) - Won 2 hurdles & 4 chases between 2013 & 2017. Won his first two hurdles and his first chase but his victory in the Badge Ales Trophy in 2015 would have been a surprise. He proved it was no fluke though by landing the Summer National at Uttoxeter in June 2016.  The National was his next race and it did seem very ambitious to run without a prep race. He was pulled up in the closing stages and  he was not seen out again.​​​

GOODTOKNOW (2008)  b g - Presenting - Atlantic Jane (Tamure (IRE)) - Won hurdle and 4 chases between 2012 & 2021. Fairly average chaser although he did manage to string two wins together in 2016. He was pulled up in the Scottosh National that year. His best performance probably came in defeat when he chased home One for Arthur in the Classic Chase at Warwick and he chased him home again at Aintree although this time he was nearly fifthy lenghs behind in thirteenth place. He returned to AIntree the followng December and pulled up when tailed off in the Becher Chase. He last raced under rules at Leicester in March 2021 but later ran wihthout success in points.

 

HIGHLAND LODGE

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LA VATICANE (FR) (2009) gr m - Turgeon (USA) - Taking Off (FR) (Kahyasi (IRE)) - Won 3 hurdles and 4 chases between 2013 & 2017. Won his first two starts in Auteuil and added another hurdle there and two chases at Pau over a two year period in France. He moved from Francois Cottin to David Pipe in March 2015 and won on his fifth attempt for new connections when taking a small race at Wincanton. He was next seen in the Topham where she finished eighth. A year later she finished down the field in the National which was her penultimate start. She was not seen again after a poor performance at Newton Abbot in May 2017.
LE MERCUREY (FR) (2010) b g - Nickname (FR) - Feroe (FR) (Bulington (FR)) - Won 2 hurdles and 3 chases between 2013 & 2017.  Won two three year old hurdles at Auteul before movingto the UK. He won his first two chases at Plumpton and Ascot and was clearly useful. He ended his novice campaign with perhaps his best performance when he beat Bristol de Mai in the Future Novices Chase at Ayr. Campaigned in good company the following season he finished behind Many Clouds over the Mildmay course and Native River in the Denman Chase. Purchased on the eve of the National by the Thompson family he ran in the colours of 1992 hero Party Politics. He nevr got into the race though and finished a distant twelfth. And that was that - he was only seven but he was not seen out for three years. When he resurfaced in an Irish point he was fatally injured on the flat.

MEASUREOFMYDREAMS (IRE) (2008) b g - Shantou (USA) - Le Bavellen (IRE) (Le Bavard (FR)) - Won NHF, 2 hurdles and 2 chases between 2014 & 2019. Won an Irish point, two novice hurdles but he was a 100-1 outsider when he finished unplaced in the 2015 Albert Bartlett at the Festival. Jump forward a year and unbeaten in two starts over fences he starts 9-1 for the National Hunt Chase where he finished third. On the back of these efforts he started joint favourite for the Scottish National but fell at the thrid fence. A week later he was at Sandown but finished unplaced in the Bet 365 Gold Cup at Sandown. He only had two starts between this flop and his effort in the National where he was unfancied and unseated at the Chair. He ran in the next two Irish Nationals but generally showed nothing and last ran over rules in a Punchestown hunter chase in May 2019. He later returned to the pointing field without success.

MORE OF THAT (IRE) (2008) b g Beneficial - Guigone (FR) (Esprit du Nord (FR)) - Won 5 hurdles & 2 chases between 2012 & 2017. Won on his debut at the now lost Folkestone racecourse at what was their penltimate meeting. He was off the course for a year but enjoyed a stunning second season remaining unbeaten winning at Weherby, Haydock and the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham before becoming the first horse to beat the legendary Annie Power in the Stayers Hurdle. He lost his unbeaten record on his next start at Newbury in November 2014 but was off again due to wind surgery and broken blood vessels. Then he went chasing, won his first two starts (both at Cheltenham) and then finished third when favourite for the RSA Chase in 2016 but he burst a blood vessel again. He never won another race and in fact only managed a place two more times. He finshed sixth in the 2017 Gold Cup, pulled up in the National and was last seen at Ascot, fnishing a very remote last of three in December 2017.

​​​​​​​O’FAOLAINS BOY (IRE) (2007) b g - Oscar (IRE) - Lisa's Storm (IRE) (Glacial Storm (USA)) - Won NHF, 2 hurdles and 3 chases between 2012 & 2018. Won an Irish point, his first two starts over hurdes and finished fourth in the Albert Bartlett at the Festival before going chasing. After a slow start he beat Many Clouds in the Reynoldstown Chase and sprung a surprise when beating Smad Place by a neck in the RSA CHase in 2014. He was no match though for Hollywell and Don Cossack though when he flopped when favourite for the MIldmay Chase on his next start. He won at Newbury in his second season but was the outsider in the Gold Cup at 40-1 but he belied those odds, making all the running until three out when the petrol tank emptied and he eventually finished a distant seventh. The National was next on the agenda but on the morning of the race he was found to be lame and he had to be withdrawn. A year later he lined up on the back of two pulled ups and he was a long way behind when his rider called it a day after he jumped the last fence. Technically another pulled up. He only ran two more times and was last seen pulling up in the Welsh National​​

ROGUE ANGEL (IRE) (2008) b g - Presenting - Carrigeen Kohleria (IRE) (Luso (GER)) - Won hurdle and five chases between 2012 & 2019. Useful long distance chaser who was a regular in the big Irish handicaps and he was particularly effective in 2015-2016 winning the Galway Plate, the Kerry National and at this second attempt the Irish Grand National which he won by the shortest of short heads after being bumped in the closing stages. He finished tenth in the 2016 Becher Chase and in his sole National he disputed the lead with his stable companion Roi Des Francs for most of the race. The tank finally emptied after the third last and he pulled up on the flat. He pulled up in the Becher Chase and the following year he ran no sort of race whe he pulled up in the Topham. He won a small race at Kilbeggan later in his career and was last seen at Fairyhouse in April 2019.

ROI DES FRANCS (FR) (2009) b g - Poliglote - Grande Souveraine (FR) (Sillery (USA)) - Won NHF, 2 hurdles & 3 chases between 2013 & 2017. Clearly useful but one that disappeared shortly after his one National appearance at the age of eight. He and his stable companion Rouge Angel made a splendid sight as they disputed the lead almost from flag fall. He led at the fourth until he was badly hampered by a loose horse after the water jump. He managed to regain the lead untl the twenty third and it was only in the closing stages that he lost his place and he eventually only beat one home. Maybe this took a lot out of him. He pulled up in his next race, the Irish Grand National nine days later and was not seen out again.

SAPHIR DU RHEU (FR) (2009) gr g Al Namiz (FR) - Dona du Rheu (FR) (Dom Pasquini (FR)) - Won 5 hurdles & 4 chases between 2012 & 2018. Useful hurdler but his first attempt at chasing didn't go to plan. He won a chase at Exeter in December in 2014 but either side of that he unseated and fell in two races won by Coneygree. He reverted to hurdles, won the Cleeve Hurdle and found himself favourite for the Stayers Hurdle in 2015 where he ran superbly to finish second behind Cole Harden. At the end of the season he reverted to fences and won the Mildmay Novices Chase at Aintree. He only won one more race and whilst he was highly tried he struggled. He ran credibly in the Gold Cup in 2017 finishing fifth and he fell on the first circuit in the Grand National the following month. Surprisingly he lined up again in the Gold Cup in 2018 pulling up in what was his final start.​​​

STELLAR NOTION (IRE) (2008) bb g - Presenting - Green Star (FR) (Green Tune (USA)) - Won NHF, hurdle and 4 chases between 2013 & 2021. Won his bumper, his debut over timber and his first two novice chases, the second of which was on Boxing day at Kempton. He was disappointing thereafter, changed stables at the end of the season and didn't show much in two starts for Paul Nicholls. Moved again this time to Ireland he won on debut at Listowel and finished placed in two big field handicaps at Leopardstown before being sent to compete in the National. He faded quickly on the first circuit and was tailed off by the thirteenth fence where he pulled up.  He also pulled up in the Irish National on his next start and eventually returned to his original trainer in the UK. He did manage a win in a small race at Kelso but by 2019 he was competing in points. He last ran under rules at Wetherby in February 2021 but he won four time between the flags.

THE YOUNG MASTER (2009) b g - Echo Of Light - Fine Frenzy (IRE) (Great Commotion (USA)) - Won 3 hurdles and 6 chases between 2012 & 2021. Started life on the all-weather and took time to get on the scoresheet wining at Fontwell on his eighth start over timber. He fell on his next start but then ran up an unusual sequence of wins, winning two hurdles and two all weather flat races in a row. He went chasing in September 2014 and won his first two starts at Worcester and Cheltenham. Then came his controversial moment. He was stunnng in the Badger Beer Trophy at Wincanton beating a big field decisively. A new talent had emerged on the scene but then the race was taken away from him as he was not actually qualified to run. The entry conditions stipulated that entries must have raced at least three times over fences. He had run in just two. He gained some compensation by taking the Silver Cup at Ascot but lost his unbeaten record when he was unplaced in the RSA Chase. The following season he unseated at he very first fence in the Hennessy, was beaten out of sight by Thistlecrack in the Cleeve Hurdle and finished third in the Kim Muir. Then came perhaps his second finest moment, victory in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown where he denied Just A Par back to back victories in the race by the shortest of short heads as he led literally in the last stride. The following season he unseated at the seond last fence havng been behind for most of the race in the Becher Chase and in the National he fell at first Bechers when amonst the leaders. He did finally get round when he finished sixth in the 2017 Becher Chase. His jumping did sometimes let him down as he unseated at the first fence again this time in the Scottish National of 2018 and when in a challenging position in the 2019 Kim Muir. He did win back to back chases at Chepstow and Cheltenham in the autumn of 2018 and finished second in the 2019 Bet365 Gold Cup. He was last seen out pullig up in the 2021 Bet365 Gold Cup of 2021 a race he ran in five times.

VICENTE (FR) (2009) b g - Dom Alco (FR) - Ireland (FR) (Kadalko (FR)) - Won 2 hurdles and 5 chases between 2012 & 2019. Having had a busy novice chase campaign which had yielded three wins he lined up in the National Hunt Chase where he finished fifth and won the Scottish National in 2016 by two and three quarter lengths from Alvarado. He joined a very select band of dual winners of the Scottish classic when he snatched victory in the dying strides from Cogry a year later. In beteen these successes he fell at the first fence in the National. He failed in his attempt to win three Scottish Nationals when he finished fifth in 2018. He fell heavily in the Eider Chase at Newcastle in April 2019 and he was not seen out again.

WONDERFUL CHARM (FR) (2008) b g - Poliglote - Victoria Royale (FR) (Garde Royale (FR)) - Won 2 hurdles and 10 chases between 2011 & 2020. Won a four year old chase at Auteuil before being moved to Paul Nicholls. He won the Grade 2 Persian War Novices Hurdle at Chepstow on debut at odds on. He then had a breathing operation and was off the course for four months so running him the World Hurdle on his next start seemed a little ambitious. He finished eighth which in the circumstances was not a bad performance.  He then went chasing, won his first three races over fences two of those were at Grade 2 level and he was fifth in the Novices Handicap at the Festival and third in the Mildmay Chase. Started favourite for the Down Royal Champion Chase later that year but he was beaten by Don Cossack and in a season that yielded just one win could be said to have been disappointing. He was outclassed in the Kiing George and ended the season pulling up in the Bet365 Gold Cup. He came to Aintree in 2016 on the back of just one run at Cheltenham and he was never a factor and pulled up on the second circuit. He then became a very good hunter chaser winning six times in that sphere over the next three seasons. He was also beaten a neck in the 2017 Cheltenham Foxhunters. He did run in one more National in 2017 and got home in his own time and he did not feature in two subsequent visits in the Foxhunters. He was last seen at Musselburgh in February 2020 but he ran in a couple of points after that.

WOUNDED WARRIOR (IRE) (2009) b g - Shantou (USA) - Sparkling Sword (Boradsword (USA)) - Won NHF, hurdle and 3 chases between 2013 & 2020. Won his Irish point (beating Definitly Red). Won on debut over hurdles at Navan. He beat Rule the World in a Grade 2 chase at Naas in January 2015 and finished third in the RSA at the Festival. He was campaigned in top quality events in Ireland but was without a win in two years when he lined up at Aintree and he was behind throughout until pulling up in the closing stages. He pulled up ni the Irish Grand National on his next start. He did win a race at the Punchestown Festival in 2018 and last ran under rules at Gowran in March 2020. He moved to the UK and ran in points in 2021 and 2022 winning once.  

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