2015 - Many Clouds
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
AL CO
ALVARADO
BALTHAZAR KING
BOB FORD
CHANCE DU ROY
CORRIN WOOD
COURT BY SURPRISE
DOLATULO
ELY BROWN
GODSMEJUDGE
MON PARRAIN
NIGHT IN MILAN
OSCAR TIME
OWEGA STAR
PINEAU DU RE
PORTRAIT KING
REBEL REBELLION
RIVER CHOICE
ROYALE KNIGHT
RUBI LIGHT
SPRING HEELED
SUPER DUTY
THE RAINBOW HUNTER
TRANQUIL SEA
WYCK HILL
2016 - Rule The World
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
BALLYCASEY
BLACK THUNDER
BOSTON BOB
FIRST LIEUTENANT
GALLANT OSCAR
GILGAMBOA
GOONYELLA
HADRIAN’S APPROACH
HOLYWELL
HOME FARM
KATENKO
KRUZHLININ
LE REVE
MANY CLOUDS
MORNING ASSEMBLY
ONENIGHTINVIENNA
ON HIS OWN
ROCKY CREEK
RULE THE WORLD
SHUTTHEFRONTDOOR
SILVINIACO CONTI
SIR DES CHAMPS
SOLL
THE DRUIDS NEPHEW
THE ROMFORD PELE
TRIOLO D’ALENE
UNIONISTE
VICS CANVAS
2017 - One for Arthur
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
BISHOPS ROAD
CAUSE OF CAUSES
COCKTAILS AT DAWN
DOCTOR HARPER
DROP OUT JOE
GOODTOKNOW
LA VATICANE
LE MERCUREY
MEASUREOFMYDREAMS
MORE OF THAT
O’FAOlAINS BOY
ROGUE ANGEL
ROI DES FRANCS
SAPHIR DU RHEU
STELLAR NOTION
THE YOUNG MASTER
VICENTE
WONDERFUL CHARM
WOUNDED WARRIOR