Grand National: Teenage kicks Rule The World

TEENAGE jockey David Mullins landed in dreamland after he rode the aptly-named Rule The World to victory in the 169th renewal of the Grand National at a sodden Aintree racecourse.

Mullins powered home in the final straight of his maiden National to finish six lengths clear of joint favourite The Last Samurai and 100/1 shot Vics Canvas.

For trainer Mouse Morris too, this was an emotional triumph over the hurdles. Morris's son Christopher - nicknamed Tiffer - died last year aged just 30 of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning in Argentina.

And while victory on Merseyside cannot bring his son back, Morris immediately turned his thoughts towards him, saying: “Tiffer was looking down on me today. He helped me there."

For 19-year-old Mullins, a nephew of champion trainer Willie, this was an incredible start to his Grand National career.

But, for others in the starting field of 39, this was a very short race indeed. That was certainly true for Hadrian's Approach who unseated his rider at the first, while First Lieutenant and the fancied Holywell fell at the second.

At the front, Aachen took up the early lead from The Romford Pele, Double Ross and last year's runner-up Saint Are.

Meanwhile, Many Clouds - aiming to become the first back-to-back winner of the National since Red Rum in the 1970s - took up a good early position.

The Romford Pele then unseated his rider at the Canal Turn - but Aachen, Double Ross and Saint Are continued to lead the race as they headed back towards the grandstands.

A loose horse caused some bother at the Chair where On His Own and Sir Des Champs both fell.

Nonetheless, a large part of the field remained in with a chance of the big prize as they crossed the Melling Road to begin the second circuit.

They included still, of course, the history-chasing Many Clouds and his history-chasing jockey Leighton Aspell - and, as they jumped the 19th, they hit the front once more.

Excitement built as they retained their lead heading over Foinavon, around the Canal Turn and onto Valentine's.

But it was still too early to be rewriting the history books - and, at the 26th fence of 30, Many Clouds duly made a terrible error which completely took the wind out of his sails.

Thereafter, he and Aspell understandly went backwards - and, instead, it was the other joint favourite The Last Samurai who took the lead ahead of Morning Assembly and Vics Canvas.

As Morning Assembly faded just as quickly, Rule The World finally moved into a threatening position, taking the last fence in third behind The Last Samurai and Vics Canvas.

It was clear as they rounded the Elbow that this had indeed turned into a three-horse race - and, ultimately, it was Mullins who had timed his mount's ride to perfection.

Steaming past the other two contenders, nine-year-old Rule The World completed what was remarkably his first ever win over fences.

And it all means Mullins wakes up this morning knowing life will never be quite the same again.

GRAND NATIONAL 2016 RESULT 
Aintree, 5.15pm (Channel 4). Going: Soft, heavy in places. 39 ran.
 

1st	RULE THE WORLD	David Mullins	33-1 (6 lengths)
2nd	The Last Samurai	David Bass	8-1JF
3rd	Vics Canvas	Robert Dunne	100-1
4th	Gilgamboa	Robbie Power	28-1
5th	Goonyella	Jonathan Burke	12-1

Other finishers
6th Ucello Conti (25/1), 7th Vieux Lion Rouge (66/1), 8th Morning Assembly (16/1), 9th Shutthefrontdoor (12/1), 10th Unioniste (28/1), 11th Le Reve (50/1), 12th Buywise (33/1), 13th Pendra (50/1), 14th Triolo d'Alene (50/1), 15th Just A Par (40/1), 16th Many Clouds (8/1JF)

Failed to finish (pulled up unless stated)
1st Hadrian's Approach (unseated rider)
2nd First Lieutenant (fell), Holywell (fell)
8th (Canal Turn) The Romford Pele (unseated)
12th Rocky Creek
14th Silviniaco Conti
15th (The Chair) On His Own (fell), Sir Des Champs (fell)
18th Gallant Oscar (unseated)
19th Ballynagour (unseated)
21st Soll, The Druid's Nephew, Home Farm, Black Thunder
22nd (Becher's Brook) Katenko (fell), Boston Bob, Aachen, Onenightinvienna (unseated)
24th (Canal Turn) Wonderful Charm
26th Double Ross
27th Kruzhlinin
29th Ballycasey (unseated)
30th Saint Are

Aspell goes back-to-back on McCoy's Grand National farewell

LEIGHTON ASPELL completed a remarkable Grand National double after he followed up last year's victory on Pineau De Re with a second success on 25/1 shot Many Clouds.

Aspell thus became the first jockey since Brian Fletcher on Red Rum to win back-to-back Nationals, holding off a strong challenge from Paddy Brennan's Saint Are in the closing stages.

Monbeg Dude was third for 2009 winner Liam Treadwell and Alvarado finished fourth for the second year in a row with Paul Moloney.

Tony McCoy, racing for the last time in the big one at Aintree before his retirement, finished fifth on the appropriately-named 6/1 favourite Shutthefrontdoor.

But it was Dubliner Aspell who stole the headlines for the second year in a row.

Of course, for some of the runners and riders, the 2015 Grand National was a very short spin indeed.

Ely Brown and Gas Line Boy both fell at the first while Al Co unseated his jockey. At the third fence, Rubi Light also lost his rider while Corrin Wood hit the hurdle hard and was pulled up before the fourth.

At the fifth, Noel Fehily's French mount Unioniste fell and, at Becher's Brook, River Choice followed suit.

There was then a nasty incident at the eighth fence, the Canal Turn, as last year's runner-up Balthazar King fell and brought down Ruby Walsh's grey Ballycasey.

From then on, though, the race was thankfully run pretty cleanly with Rebel Rebellion leading the pack for most of the first circuit and into the start of the second.

It did not last. At the 18th, Rebel Rebellion struggled over and The Rainbow Hunter hit the front with Many Clouds and Shutthefrontthedoor not far behind.

Then, at Valentine's, The Druid's Nephew took the lead. As soon as he had it, though, it was taken from him as his legs buckled from him and he fell.

Former leader The Rainbow Hunter also failed at the 26th jump before pacesetter Rebel Rebellion was pulled up.

Instead, for the first time, the lead went to Many Clouds with the Shutthefrontdoor in second and Saint Are in third, and only a few left to jump.

From the last fence onwards, though, Shutthefrontdoor did not feature and the bookie-bashing hopes of 20-time champion jockey McCoy, and his many backers, sadly faded.

By contrast, Many Clouds was still going strong and Aspell opened up a lead of about four lengths as he rode around the Elbow. He would need almost all of them.

Ultimately, however, Saint Are had left it too late - and amazingly Aspell, despite changing horses, had landed the big prize again.

It was indeed a statistically significant win - and not just for the 38-year-old jockey.

Aged eight, Many Clouds is the youngest winner of the National since Bindaree in 2002. Meanwhile, at 11st 9lb, he is the heaviest winner since Red Rum.

There was good news, too, for the British Horseracing Authority which was able to report for a third year in a row that there had been no fatalities in its big event.

Undoubtedly, a nervous chill must have passed through its members when the field was prevented from jumping the Canal Turn for a second time.

But the stricken Balthazar King has made it to Leahurst Equine Hospital for treatment following his nasty fall.

Of course, the BHA and officials at racecourse have made big strides in improving the safety of the fences around Aintree.

Nevertheless, the fact that the incident at the Canal Turn occurred due to a collision between two horses does beg the question: is the Grand National field of 40 runners simply too big?

After all, fewer than half of the entrants tend to complete the course - and so it could easily be argued that reducing the competitors to 30, or even 25 would hardly affect the spectacle.

Moreover, at the end of the race, there can only be one winner - and, while McCoy was denied a fairytale ending, he does at least still have the memory of his 2010 win on Don't Push It.

Incredibly, though, in the last 12 months, Aspell has won more Grand Nationals than McCoy won in his whole career.

Yes, for Aspell and Many Clouds, the sun shone especially bright at Aintree today.


GRAND NATIONAL 2015 RESULT 
Aintree, 4.15pm (Channel 4). Going: Good. 39 ran.
 

1st	MANY CLOUDS	Leighton Aspell	25/1 (by 1¾ lengths)
2nd	Saint Are	Paddy Brennan	14/1
3rd	Monbeg Dude	Liam Tredwell	40/1
4th	Alvarado	Paul Moloney	20/1
5th	Shutthefrontdoor	AP McCoy	6/1F

Other finishers
6th Royale Knight (25/1), 7th Tranquil Sea (33/1), 8th Cause of Causes (14/1), 9th Soll (9/1), 10th Chance Du Roy (40/1), 11th Mon Parrain (33/1), 12th Pineau de Re (25/1), 13th Owega Star (50/1), 14th Spring Heeled (25/1), 15th Oscar Time (20/1), 16th First Lieutenant (14/1), 17th Rocky Creek (8/1), 18th Night in Milan (20/1), 19th Dolatulo (66/1)

Failed to finish
1st Ely Brown (fell), Gas Line Boy (fell), Al Co (unseated rider)
3rd Rubi Light (unseated)
4th Corrin Wood (pulled up)
5th Unioniste (fell)
6th (Becher's) River Choice (fell)
8th (Canal Turn) Balthazar King (fell), Ballycasey (unseated)
19th Court By Surprise (pulled up)
25th (Valentine's) Across The Bay, Super Duty, Lord Windermere (all pulled up)
26th The Rainbow Hunter (fell), The Druids Nephew (fell)
27th Rebel Rebellion (pulled up)
28th Portrait King (fell)
29th Godsmejudge, Wyck Hill, Bob Ford (pulled up)

Grand National: Pineau De Re wins before riders' revolt

PINEAU DE RE won the 167th staging of the Grand National at Aintree before jockeys refused to attend a stewards' inquiry following a false start.

On a typically dramatic afternoon on Merseyside, the 11-year-old - priced at 25-1 - took advantage of many of the leading lights falling out of the running surprisingly early.

But, even before they were off, there was chaos as a false start brought back memories of the 1993 National that never was.

The jockeys had approached the tape before the starter had invited them to do so, knocking down his assistant. Then there was the false start.

Eventually, 39 runners and riders took part in the contest with only Brendan Powell - the rider of Battle Group - not involved, because his horse planted itself and would not approach the start.

It was proof, if it was further required, that if a horse really does not want to run, it will downright ensure that it doesn't - and there is nothing the jockey can do about it.

Away second time, with Teaforthree and AP McCoy's Double Seven as 10-1 joint favourites, rank outsider Twirling Magnet was first to fall.

It was not long, though, before some of the more fancied horses also dropped out of the running with Burton Port unseating his rider at the second before Big Shu fell at the open ditch third.

Across The Bay led the field over Becher's, where Last Time D'Albain unseated his rider - and there were three who could not make the Canal Turn successfully including the mount of Sam Twiston-Davies, Tidal Bay. 

Another three horses were out of the running on the next fence, Valentine's, including former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Long Run, ridden by amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen.

Then, at fence 15 - the Chair - Teaforthree unseated his rider Nick Scholfield.

Across The Bay had held onto the lead throughout the first circuit but he lost it in dramatic fashion after being driven wide by a loose horse who then crashed through a side railing.

Rocky Creek, eventually fifth, took up the front from Mr Moonshine and AP McCoy's horse Double Seven, leading them over Becher's for the second time as One In A Milan fell.

At this point, Pineau De Re was still having a quiet race - and was barely being mentioned in the commentary.

But timing is everything in the National and, as they approached the last two obstacles, the eventual winner had moved onto the shoulder of Rocky Creek. 

Pineau De Re jumped it in front as Rocky Creek began to tire with runner-up Balthazar King, Double Seven and Alvarado passing him on the approach to the finish.

At the Elbow, Pineau De Re had stretched his lead to a convincing six lengths and was never in danger of being caught, eventually officially winning by five.

Once again then, the National delivered on the side of sporting romance. Never mind the race that never was, this was almost the victory that never was for jockey Leighton Aspell.

The 37-year-old had even retired a few years ago, the highlight of his career having been a second-placed National finish on Supreme Glory in his debut in the race 11 years ago.

But, within 12 months, Aspell realised he had unfinished business - and the Irishman was right.

Yes, the jockeys' dispute is a story with some legs yet, particularly as they seem unanimous in their decision and yet the reason behind their refusal to attend the inquiry remains unclear.

Paul Struthers, the chief executive of the Professional Jockeys' Association, said: "All of them were in agreement that they weren't to go back in. I can't go into the specifics. We need to go into it a little bit more ourselves.

"I wouldn't want to go into the reasons why they were unhappy but they were very unhappy with the conduct of the inquiry and therefore refused to go back in."

Whatever happens from now with that, though, Aspell can take a back seat regardless - and enjoy a deep sense of satisfaction having landed the big one at last.


GRAND NATIONAL 2014 RESULT 
Aintree, 4.15pm (Channel 4)

1st	PINEAU DE RE	Leighton Aspell	25/1
2nd	Balthazar King	Richard Johnson	14/1
3rd	Double Seven	AP McCoy	10/1 JF
4th	Alvarado	Paul Moloney	33/1
5th	Rocky Creek	Noel Fehily	16/1

Other finishers
6th Chance Du Roy (33/1), 7th Monbeg Dude (16/1), 8th Raz De Maree (50/1), 9th Swing Bill (66/1), 10th Kruzhlinin (100/1), 11th Buckers Bridge (66/1), 12th The Package (14/1), 13th Vesper Bell (40/1), 14th Across The Bay (50/1), 15th Mr Moonshine (20/1), 16th Prince De Beauchene (20/1), 17th Hunt Ball (50/1), 18th Hawkes Point (50/1)

Failed to finish
Start Battle Group (refused)
1 Twirling Magnet (fell)
2 Burton Port (unseated rider)
3 Big Shu (fell)
6 (Becher's) Last Time D'Albain (unseated rider)
8 (Canal Turn) Tidal Bay (unseated rider), Our Father (unseated rider), Golan Way (fell)
9 (Valentine's) Long Run (fell), Mountainous (fell), The Rainbow Hunter (unseated rider)
15 (The Chair) Teaforthree (unseated rider)
20 Shakalakaboomboom (pulled up)
21 Quito De La Roque (pulled up)
22 (Becher's) One In A Milan (fell), Tricolo D'Alene (pulled up)
25 (Valentine's) Colbert Station (pulled up)
26 Rose of the Moon (fell), Vintage Star (pulled up)
27 Líon Na Bearnaí (pulled up)
28 Wayward Prince (fell)
29 Walkon (pulled up)

Auroras Encore lights up the Grand National

OUTSIDER Auroras Encore produced a blinding finish to win the 166th staging of the Grand National at Aintree by nine lengths this afternoon.

The 66/1 shot, ridden by 23-year-old Grand National novice Ryan Mania, jumped the last fence brilliantly to take over the lead from Teaforthree and Oscar Time before striding home.

Cappa Bleu also overtook the tiring pair to finish in second for an improvement on his fourth place last year.

But the best news came from the fact that the race avoided the controversy of the last two years. All 40 runners returned to the stables afterwards, and there were 17 who completed the course.

Of the horses that failed to finish, only two were classed as having fallen and six unseated their rider. No fewer than 14 horses were pulled up, for which credit must go to their jockeys, although that does also suggest that the field is still too big.

At least, however, the carnage at the opening fences - a regular feature of recent Nationals - was not repeated this year.

Most probably, it was a consequence of the start being moved further away from the grandstand and closer to the first fence. Indeed, the whole field succeeded in clearing the opening seven obstacles for the first time in the race's history.

It was not until the Canal Turn that some hopes were lost, as the Rainbow Hunter, Treacle and Big Fella Thanks all unseated their riders.

By then, Balthazar King had established a narrow lead with the Walsh siblings, Ruby and Kate, on On His Own and Seabass sitting in the pack.

So, too, was Tony McCoy on Colbert Station - but the champion jockey's race did not last much longer as he came off his horse while jumping the Chair towards the end of the first circuit.

Meanwhile, as the runners crossed the Melling Road for the second time, Across The Bay had hit the front, just ahead of Richard Johnson's mount, Balthazar King.

At Becher's again, remarkably, there were no fallers although former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander was pulled up.

And so, as the field took on the back straight, it appeared as if the Walsh fairytale was still very much alive with the two siblings riding alongside one another.

Five fences from the finish, though, On His Own - the mount of two-time winner Ruby - became only the second faller of the 2013 National, Tatenen having suffered the same fate at Fence 12.

Suddenly, sister Katie was indeed, to pardon the wordplay, on her own - and just as her mount was expected to challenge, Seabass tired and struggled over the line in 13th.

At the front, Across The Bay had also faded, and a close contest had developed between Teaforthree and Oscar Time as they headed for the last of the 30 fences.

Neither of them jumped it well, however, and they stumbled over the obstacle in sharp contrast to Auroras Encore who took great momentum into the 494-yard dash for the line.

Ultimately, the 11-year-old gelding finished a comfortable nine lengths clear to the delight of young Scottish jockey Mania and trainer Sue Smith, wife of the the former Olympic showjumper, Harvey. 

And so, while there may not have been a historic first female jockey winner, Smith became only the third female trainer to win the National, after two-time winner Jenny Pitman and Venetia Williams whose Mon Mome was a similar long-shot at 100/1 in 2009.

Joy, then, for the Smith stables in Bingley, west Yorkshire. Generally, though, there was also a huge sense of relief from officials at Aintree racecourse, and from Channel 4 who covered the spectacle for the first time ever.

Indeed, when Channel 4 gained the rights to broadcast the Grand National last year, it promised to "tell it like it is", even if that meant reporting on controversy and negativity.

But, instead, it has been rewarded with the surprise story of a jockey winning the world's greatest steeplechase at his very first attempt. Congratulations, Ryan Mania.


FULL GRAND NATIONAL RESULT
Going: Good to soft. 4m 3½f. All 40 ran.

1st Auroras Encore 66/1
2nd Cappa Bleu 12/1
3rd Teaforthree 10/1
4th Oscar Time 66/1
5th Rare Bob 16/1

Other finishers: 6th Swing Bill, 7th Soll, 8th Tarquinius, 9th Saint Are, 10th Always Waining, 11th Major Malarkey, 12th Join Together, 13th Seabass (11/2 fav), 14th Across The Bay, 15th Balthazar King, 16th Quiscover Fontaine, 17th Any Currency

Failed to finish:
Fence 8 (Canal Turn) The Rainbow Hunter, Treacle, Big Fella Thanks - all unseated rider  
Fence 11 Ninetieth Minute - pulled up
Fence 12 Tatenen - fell
Fence 14 Viking Blond - pulled up
Fence 15 (The Chair) Colbert Station - unseated rider
Fence 17 Lost Glory - pulled up
Fence 19 Joncol, What A Friend - both pulled up
Fence 21 Becauseicouldntsee - pulled up
Fence 22 (Becher's) Imperial Commander - pulled up
Fence 23 (Foinavon) Forpadydeplasterer, Quel Esprit, Weird Al - all pulled up
Fence 24 (Canal Turn) Ballabriggs - pulled up
Fence 25 On His Own - fell, Harry The Viking - pulled up
Fence 27 Mr Moonshine - pulled up
Fence 30 Roberto Goldback, Sunnyhillboy - both unseated rider, Chicago Grey - pulled up, Mumbles Head - refused

Channel 4 takes up the Grand National reins

CHANNEL FOUR will broadcast the Grand National for the first time in its history amid a sibling rivalry with Ruby and Katie Walsh both on the back of well-fancied horses.

Ruby - who has twice won the National already with Papillon in 2000 and Hedgehunter in 2005 - rides On His Own (10/1), while Katie will aim to become the first female jockey to win the race on favourite Seabass (7/1), who she rode to third last year.

Even if neither of the Walshes win, their father Ted could yet still be celebrating himself if Colbert Station (14/1) comes home first. The nine-year-old gelding will be ridden by none other than Tony McCoy, the 17-time champion jockey, though he has won the National just once, in 2010.

Stiff competition is expected to come from 2011 winner Ballabriggs (16/1) - trained by Donald McCain, son of Aintree legend Ginger - while 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander (16/1) has also been well-backed.

Meanwhile, Chicago Grey (12/1) looks likeliest of the four greys in the field to make it two-in-a-row after Neptune Collonges' stunning win last year broke a 51-year-old curse.

However, the other greys - Quel Espirit (50/1), Swing Bill (80/1), and Tarquinis (80/1) - are well down in the betting, and will do well to finish the gruelling four-mile quest.

Then again, the National is a race where anything can happen, as proven by Foinavon, a 100/1 shot in 1967 whose win earned him a fence name, and the recently-retired, Mon Mome, who started at the same price in 2009.

Whoever wins, though, Aintree officials and the British Horseracing Authority will be desperate for a clean race after the last two years, both of which have seen two horses die and, consequently, fences bypassed.

For the record, Ornais and Dooneys Gate died in 2011, while favourite Synchronised and According to Pete both died in 2012.

The death of Dooneys Gate at Beecher's Brook - an obstacle infamous for its 6ft 9in drop - led to modifications being made but both of the fatalities in 2012 came there again. This has led to further alterations being made.

Outwardly the 16 National fences look the same as last year, with no major alterations to their size and shape but, hidden from view is a new plastic centre replacing the wooden stakes which traditionally supported the structure of the fences.

The intention is to make them more flexible and less likely to cause dangerous falls when hit by horses.

Additionally, the start line has been moved further away from the grandstand in attempt to keep the horses and jockeys calmer while the jockeys themselves have been warned about curbing their speed.

Earlier this week, Katie Walsh defended the horses in the National, stating that they were "so well looked after; better than some children, to be honest".

She added: "Anyone who gets up on Christmas Day and mucks out loves animals. Sure, it's a dangerous sport. But every night, all over the world, a lot of horses are left out in fields starving.

"I don't read the criticism because it's not worth it. At the end of the day, it would be a lot worse if it had been two jockeys who lost their lives. I think everyone should remember that."

However, it was rather black irony that the only fatality at the National meet-up this week was an 11-year-old horse, Battlefront... ridden by Ms Walsh.

And, if anything, one of the biggest problems with the race has not been rectified. The size of the field, at 40 horses, is still far too big, and several of them will lack to stamina to last the course.

After all, would the race be any less of a spectacle if there were only 30 runners, as suggested by international charity, World Horse Welfare?

Surely, it would not and - while there would still be unfortunate accidents and incidents - the percentage of finishing horses would surely be much higher. It is now eight years since more than half the runners actually completed the course.

Regardless of that, the Grand National remains a British institution, even if it is a slightly troubled one, in search of a main sponsor after John Smith's declined to renew their eight-year association.

The move to Channel 4 is also expected to result in a decline in a viewership - not that the BBC1 is exactly competing this afternoon.

In place of their usual Grand National coverage are repeats of Bargain Hunt, Homes Under The Hammer and Escape to the Country - licence fee payers money well-spent...

Nevertheless, there is no reason why the world's greatest steeplechase being on Channel 4 should make it any less watchable.

Simon Holt is an experienced lead commentator and C4 Racing have provided exemplary coverage of the Cheltenham Festival since 1995.

Indeed, from 2013, the channel has become the exclusive home of free-to-air televised racing following a deal last March. This includes the Epsom Derby and the Royal Ascot meeting which are both in June.

Back to the present, and let's hope for a clean, controversy-free race with victory for either Seabass, or Imperial Commander, or Balthazar King (20/1), or Oscar Time (50/1) - just to make me some money...

The race is scheduled to start at 4.15pm. A full list of the runners and riders is below:

Card no | Form | NAME | Breeding | Age - Weight | Trainer / Jockey
1) 51U/1P/-2 IMPERIAL COMMANDER (IRE) 12-11-10 Nigel Twiston-Davies/Sam Twiston-Davies

2) P/33F0-0 WHAT A FRIEND 10-11-09 Paul Nicholls/Sam Thomas

3) 3PF-4PP WEIRD AL (IRE) 10-11-08 Donald McCain/Timmy Murphy

4) 1113-04 QUEL ESPRIT (FRA) 9-11-07 Willie Mullins IRE/Paul Townend

5) 40/-U312 BIG FELLA THANKS 11-11-06 Tom George/Denis O'Regan

6) 1113-23 SEABASS (IRE) 10-11-06 Ted Walsh IRE/Katie Walsh

7) 0-1U355 ROBERTO GOLDBACK (IRE) 11-11-06 Nicky Henderson/Barry Geraghty

8) P012-5P SUNNYHILLBOY (IRE) 10-11-04 Jonjo O'Neill/Richie McLernon

9) 1/46-P03 BALLABRIGGS (IRE) 12-11-04 Donald McCain/Jason Maguire

10) 11-0620 TEAFORTHREE (IRE) 9-11-03 Rebecca Curtis/Nick Scholfield

11) 3-11201 ACROSS THE BAY (IRE) 9-11-02 Donald McCain/Henry Brooke

12) 1P3-02P JOIN TOGETHER (IRE) 8-11-02 Paul Nicholls/Daryl Jacob

13) 413-5211 COLBERT STATION (IRE) 9-11-01 Ted Walsh IRE/AP McCoy

14) 2P1536 FORPADYDEPLASTERER (IRE) 11-11-00 Thomas Cooper IRE/Andrew McNamara

15) P1/B1F-1 ON HIS OWN (IRE) 9-11-00 Willie Mullins IRE/Ruby Walsh

16) 0-35233 JONCOL (IRE) 10-10-13 Paul Nolan IRE/Robbie Power

17) P0F1-12 BALTHAZAR KING (IRE) 9-10-12 Philip Hobbs/Richard Johnson

18) 1334-22 CAPPA BLEU (IRE) 11-10-11 Evan Williams/Paul Moloney

19) 2/4-4U60 OSCAR TIME (IRE) 12-10-11 Martin Lynch IRE/Sam Waley-Cohen

20) 44001-00 ALWAYS WAINING (IRE) 12-10-10 Peter Bowen/Tom O'Brien

21) 15U-606 TATENEN (FRA) 9-10-10 Richard Rowe/Andrew Thornton

22) 423F-01 TREACLE (IRE) 12-10-09 Tom Taaffe IRE/Noel Fehily

23) 011611 LOST GLORY (NZ) 8-10-08 Jonjo O'Neill/Mark Wals

24) P-P1440 SWING BILL (FRA) 12-10-08 David Pipe/Conor O'Farrell

25) U01-F430 SAINT ARE (FRA) 7-10-08 Tim Vaughan/Dougie Costello

26) B-0U631 CHICAGO GREY (IRE) 10-10-07 Gordon Elliott IRE/Paul Carberry

27) 010F-605 QUISCOVER FONTAINE (FRA) 9-10-07 Willie Mullins IRE/David Casey

28) 3B0-643 RARE BOB (IRE) 11-10-06 Dessie Hughes IRE/Bryan Cooper

29) 04-311P4 THE RAINBOW HUNTER 9-10-06 Kim Bailey/Aidan Coleman

30) F-63PP5 BECAUSEICOULDNTSEE (IRE) 10-10-06 Noel Glynn IRE/Martin Ferris

31) 12P-P00 HARRY THE VIKING 8-10-06 Paul Nicholls/Ryan Mahon

32) 2360264 MR MOONSHINE (IRE) 9-10-05 Sue Smith/Peter Buchanan

33) 1133FP MUMBLES HEAD (IRE) 12-10-04 Peter Bowen/Jamie Moore

34) 3F6042 NINETIETH MINUTE (IRE) 10-10-03 Tom Taaffe IRE/Niall Madden

35) 0P45F5 AURORAS ENCORE (IRE) 11-10-03 Sue Smith/Ryan Mania

36) P11420 TARQUINIUS (FRA) 10-10-02 Gordon Elliott/K Renwick IRE

37) 614U40 ANY CURRENCY (IRE) 10-10-00 Martin Keighley/Ian Popham

38) 2P-265P MAJOR MALARKEY (IRE) 10-9-13 Nigel Twiston-Davies/Tom Scudamore

39) 621B-001 SOLL 8-9-12 Jo Hughes/Mark Grant

40) 023P25 VIKING BLOND (FRA) 8-9-11 Nigel Twiston-Davies/Adam Wedge

Grand National 2012: Neptune Collonges lifts the curse of the greys

NEPTUNE COLLONGES became the first grey in 51 years to win the Grand National in the closest-ever finish to the big race at Aintree.

The 33/1 shot, ridden by Daryl Jacobs, won by nothing more than a nostril from Sunnyhillboy to give trainer Paul Nicholls his first ever victory in the race.

But the National was again marred by the death of at least two of the 40 entrants as Synchronised and According To Pete both fell fatally at Becher's Brook on separate circuits.

Even before it all began, there had been drama as Ruby Walsh - set to ride On His Own - injured himself on the day for a second successive year after falling in the Aintree Hurdle.

Then, immediately before the start, Synchronised unseated jockey Tony McCoy and escaped his rider before being brought under control.

There was still time for problems with the tape and a couple of false starts before they all got away on the third occasion.

But the race did not last very long for Viking Blond, who fell at the first, or the more-fancied Junior and West End Rocker, who both fell at the second.

Sunnyhillboy, Seabass and Shakalakaboomboom held the early initiative as State of Play, Chicago Grey and Rare Bob failed to make it past the fifth.

And then, at the sixth, the daunting Becher's Brook, this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Synchronised so sadly made his last ever jump.

Alfa Beat fell at the next obstacle, Foinavon, before last year's runner-up Black Apalachi could not make it past the Canal Turn along with four other horses who all unseated their riders.

Next to fall was Treacle at the 10th where Arbor Supreme also unseated his rider - and then, at the 11th, the well-backed Giles Cross became the first to be pulled up.

As they crossed the Melling Road, Planet of Sound was setting the pace while Always Right only just failed to make it around the first circuit after he unseated his rider at the Chair.

Heading into the second lap, Planet of Sound was looking solid and had stretched his lead to three lengths. Meanwhile Quiscover Fontaine fell at the 17th before, at the 19th, Vic Venturi refused and the struggling Deep Purple was pulled up.

Then came Becher's for a second time and it sadly proved terminal for the unfortunate According to Pete who was destroyed after the race having been brought down.

Becher's was also where the race ended for On His Own, with replacement jockey Paul Townend, while Mon Mome and Postmaster were both pulled up.

But, despite the thinning of the field, it was clear as we reached the closing stages that this was going to be a classic.

There were no fewer than eight horses in with a shout with Shakalakaboomboom just edging Seabass as they approached the penultimate fence.

Seabass, ridden by Katie Walsh - who was hoping to become the first ever female jockey to win the National - then jumped into the lead as Shakalakaboomboom faded.

But Walsh's dreams were crushed when Sunnyhillboy jumped best at the last and took up the front as they headed for the winning post.

All of a sudden, Seabass was heading backwards into third but it could never be said that Sunnyhillboy had it in the bag once Neptune Collonges had responded in the chase.

Instead, a stronger finish and a stretch for the line meant it was Neptune Collonges who narrowly got his nose over first and thus broke the hoodoo over grey horses which had lasted since Nicolaus Silver won in 1961.

This was perhaps the best finish which the Grand National had ever seen - it was certainly the tighest and such a brilliant way for the BBC to finish the coverage of the race.

Nevertheless, the decision to give up the rights to Channel 4 now looks even more foolhardy in the light of this dramatic finale.

At least, the loss of the National saves the BBC from being associated with what is becoming an increasingly controversial event.

For, the other headline to come out of today was that Synchronised and According to Pete have now joined Ornais and Dooneys Gate from last year in dying during the race.

Three of the four fatalities occurred at Becher's Brook and certainly still more needs to be done about that fence. A reduction in the number of runners would also help to avoid horses being brought down accidentally.

Of course, further alterations will not eliminate the risk in a steeplechase completely.

But, at the moment, the hazardous nature of the Grand National means it still too often resembles a death trap than the spectacle which it really should be.


FULL GRAND NATIONAL RESULT
Going: Good, good to soft in places.
4m 4f. All 40 ran.

1st Neptune Collonges 33/1
2nd Sunnyhillboy 16/1
3rd Seabass 8/1 joint fav
4th Cappa Bleu 16/1
5th In Compliance 100/1

Other finishers: 6th Ballabriggs, 7th Hello Bud, 8th Tharawaat, 9th Shakalakaboomboom, 10th Swing Bill, 11th The Midnight Club, 12th Planet of Sound, 13th Neptune Equester, 14th Calgary Bay, 15th Midnight Haze

Failed to finish:
Fence 1 Viking Blond - fell
Fence 2 Junior - fell, West End Rocker - fell
Fence 5 State of Play - unseated rider, Chicago Grey - brought down, Rare Bob - brought down
Fence 6 (Becher's) Synchronised - fell fatally
Fence 7 (Foinavon) Alfa Beat - fell
Fence 8 (Canal Turn) Black Apalachi - fell, Tatenen - unseated rider, Organisedconfusion - unseated rider, Killyglen - unseated rider, Becauseicouldntsee - unseated rider
Fence 10 Treacle - fell, Arbor Supreme - unseated rider
Fence 11 Giles Cross - pulled up
Fence 15 (The Chair) Always Right - unseated rider
Fence 17 Quiscover Fontaine - fell
Fence 19 Vic Venturi - refused, Deep Purple - pulled up
Fence 22 (Becher's) On His Own - fell, According to Pete - brought down fatally, Mon Mome - pulled up, Postmaster - pulled up
Fence 27 Weird Al - fell

Grand National 2012: Synchronised goes for the double in BBC's Aintree swansong

SYNCHRONISED will aim to become the first horse since Golden Miller in 1934 to win both the Grand National and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in a single season tomorrow.

The nine-year-old gelding, ridden by 16-time champion jockey Tony McCoy, upset the odds at Cheltenham, beating a strong field which was headed by Long Run and Kauto Star.

But, this time, the roles are reversed with Synchronised set to go off as 6/1 favourite in the 4.15pm at Aintree.

McCoy, who won the National for the first time in 2010 at the 15th attempt on Don't Push It, will also hope to achieve a double after being beaten last year by Jason Maguire on Ballabriggs.

The defending champion is back, priced at 12/1, as trainer Donald McCain looks to extend his family's outstanding legacy in this contest.

Ballabriggs' victory was the McCains's fifth after Donald's father Ginger had three famous wins with Red Rum in the 1970s and another with Amberleigh House in 2004.

Sadly, Ginger will not be at Aintree this year after he died in September two days before his 81st birthday.

However, his eternal association with the Grand National was confirmed yesterday by the unveiling of a specially-commissioned bronze bust overlooking the parade ring.

That is not the only modification to have been made at Aintree in the last year but, unfortunately, the other changes have happened out of necessity rather than anything else.

After all, none of the racing authorities wish to see a repeat of 12 months ago when, in an unprecedented move, fences were omitted on the second circuit after the fatal falls of Ornais and Dooneys Gate on the first circuit.

Dooneys Gate's death occurred at the tallest obstacle Becher's Brook and, consequently, the area where horses land after jumping that one has been levelled out.

This has also happened at the first fence which the horses usually approach at great speed while the fourth fence has been lowered by a couple of inches.

Unfortunately, the course improvements still do not deal with surely one of the most hazardous aspects of the race.

For, with as many as 40 entries starting again this year, it is inevitable that there will still be pile-ups whatever alterations are made.

As such, it is no wonder that the National is generally considered to be little more than a lottery - and that argument was further reinforced by Mon Mome's stunning win in 2009 at a price of 100/1.

The 12-year-old French horse runs again this year, at the slightly shorter price of 33/1, but the chance element of the race will encourage punters to bet on horses for a myriad of reasons.

Horses with people's names are always well-backed and it is indeed this factor which has naturally attracted me towards According To Pete, also 33/1.

Other entries which meet this criterion include the much-fancied Junior (9/1) and Giles Cross (12/1) as well as Weird Al (40/1), Rare Bob (40/1), Vic Venturi (40/1) and Swing Bill (50/1).

Alternatively, a cursory glance at the record books will often provoke a flutter. For example, as noted by this blog, last year marked the 50th anniversary since a grey horse won the National.

But, despite the presence of four chances, the curse of the greys continued and that particular stat has now reached a 51st year.

Now Neptune Collonges (25/1) has been joined by Chicago Grey (14/1), Alpha Beat (33/1) and the aforementioned Swing Bill as another four bid to end the hoodoo this year.

Perhaps a better bet would be on a female jockey winning for the first time. Nina Carberry is on Organisedconfusion (20/1) while Ruby Walsh's sister Katie will be aboard Seabass (14/1).

Of course, Ruby could make headlines himself if he wins his third National on On His Own (10/1) after previous victories on Papillon in 2000 and Hedgehunter in 2005.  

And BBC television, in particular, will be looking for a spectacular finish having confirmed within the last month that this will be the last Grand National on their channel for the forseeable future.

In fact, with Channel 4 taking over this meeting as well as the Derby at Epsom and Royal Ascot, the BBC will be left without any horse racing at all next year.

But, as astonishing as that sounds, it has been coming. After all, the BBC's coverage of the sport in recent years has amounted to just a few days per year on the big events.

As Greg Wood in the Guardian noted: "The BBC cut back from 29 days of racing to 13 from 2010, with all its main events squeezed between early April and mid-June. For the other 10 months of the year, there is precious little BBC racing to miss."

By contrast, Channel 4 now has an extensive portfolio and broadcasts major races from Newmarket, Sandown Park, York, Goodwood and Haydock Park.

Channel 4 has also been commended for sprucing up coverage of the four-day Cheltenham Festival, and no doubt there will be a similar freshening up of the whole Grand National weekend.

There are fears, though, that the National's move from the BBC may well cause its status as an event on the national sporting calendar to slip.

And, as the Daily Telegraph appositely pointed out at the time of the announcement: what exactly is a public-service broadcaster like the BBC for, if not the Grand National?

Odds from Ladbrokes.com, subject to change. Compare Grand National odds at all major bookmakers at Oddschecker.


GRAND NATIONAL 2012: RUNNERS AND RIDERS
Aintree 4m 4f. Maximum 40 run.


KEY 
Number), Form, NAME (breeding), Age-Weight, Owner, Trainer/Jockey

1) 13-P0311 SYNCHRONISED (IRE) 9-11-10 J P McManus, Jonjo O'Neill/A P McCoy

2) 11/1121-4 BALLABRIGGS (IRE) 11-11-09 Trevor Hemmings, Donald McCain/Jason Maguire

3) 1/10P-13P WEIRD AL (IRE) 9-11-08 Brannon, Dennis, Dick, Holden, Donald McCain/Timmy Murphy

4) 106-P422 NEPTUNE COLLONGES (FR) 11-11-06 John Hales, Paul Nicholls/Daryl Jacob

5) 2F-0511 CALGARY BAY (IRE) 9-11-06 Camilla Radford, Henrietta Knight/Dominic Elsworth

6) F-6041UP ALFA BEAT (IRE) 8-11-05 Irvin Naylor, John Hanlon IRE/Davy Russell

7) F01/35-23 PLANET OF SOUND 10-11-05 Charles Lloyd-Baker, Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson

8) 51U/022/2 BLACK APALACHI (IRE) 13-11-03 Teresa Burke, Dessie Hughes IRE/Denis O'Regan

9) 6/3U34-1F DEEP PURPLE 11-11-03 Paul Green, Evan Williams/Jamie Moore

10) 131/321-02 JUNIOR 9-11-02 Middleham Park Racing LI, David Pipe/Tom Scudamore

11) 10-U3032 CHICAGO GREY (IRE) 9-10-13 John Earls, Gordon Elliott IRE/Paul Carberry

12) 3100-015 TATENEN (FR) 8-10-13 The Stewart Family, Richard Rowe/Andy Thornton

13) F11/-1111 SEABASS (IRE) 9-10-12 Gunners Syndicate, Ted Walsh IRE/Ms Katie Walsh

14) 000-1122 SHAKALAKABOOMBOOM (IRE) 8-10-12 Liam Breslin, Nicky Henderson/Barry Geraghty

15) 11PB-P1 WEST END ROCKER (IRE) 10-10-12 Barry Winfield & Tim Leadbeater, Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson

16) 22-30112 ACCORDING TO PETE 11-10-12 Peter Nelson, Malcolm Jefferson/Harry Haynes

17) 14P1-B1 ON HIS OWN (IRE) 8-10-11 Andrea & Graham Wylie, Willie Mullins IRE/Ruby Walsh

18) 2113-1PP ALWAYS RIGHT (IRE) 10-10-10 John Wade, John Wade/James Reveley

19) 3F2P/-133 CAPPA BLEU (IRE) 10-10-10 William & Angela Rucker, Evan Williams/Paul Moloney

20) PU-345053 RARE BOB (IRE) 10-10-09 D A Syndicate, Dessie Hughes IRE/Bryan Cooper

21) 12-133F5 ORGANISEDCONFUSION (IRE) 7-10-08 Grace Dunlop, Arthur Moore IRE/Miss Nina Carberry

22) P/P-51423 TREACLE (IRE) 11-10-08 Bjorn Nielsen, Tom Taaffe IRE/Andrew Lynch

23) 3/216-B430 THE MIDNIGHT CLUB (IRE) 11-10-08 Susannah Ricci, Willie Mullins IRE/Paul Townend

24) 63F/-52PP0 MON MOME (FR) 12-10-08 Vida Bingham, Venetia Williams/Aidan Coleman

25) 0P2F-60 ARBOR SUPREME (IRE) 10-10-07 J P McManus, Jonjo O'Neill/MP Walsh

26) 03F-30P01 SUNNYHILLBOY (IRE) 9-10-05 J P McManus, Jonjo O'Neill/Richie McLernon

27) F-030341 KILLYGLEN (IRE) 10-10-04 David McCammon, Stuart Crawford IRE/Robert Power

28) 2F-4010 QUISCOVER FONTAINE (FR) 8-10-04 J P McManus, Willie Mullins IRE/David Casey

29) 4-P13000 THARAWAAT (IRE) 7-10-04 Gigginstown House Stud, Gordon Elliott IRE/Brian O'Connell

30) 42F-63F22 BECAUSEICOULDNTSEE (IRE) 9-10-03 Noel Glynn, Noel Glynn IRE/Davy Condon

31) 144/P3/4- STATE OF PLAY 12-10-03 William & Angela Rucker, Evan Williams/Noel Fehily

32) 2313P20 SWING BILL (FR) 11-10-03 David Johnson, David Pipe/Conor O'Farrell

33) FP-26611 POSTMASTER 10-10-02 The Bill & Ben Partnership, Tim Vaughan/Dougie Costello

34) 3/P22-121 GILES CROSS (IRE) 10-10-01 KCMS Partnership, Victor Dartnall/Paddy Brennan

35) 21/10P-16 MIDNIGHT HAZE 10-10-00 Kim Bailey Racing Partnership, Kim Bailey/Sean Quinlan

36) 0044B-20 VIC VENTURI (IRE) 12-10-00 Seamus Dunne, Dessie Hughes IRE/Harry Skelton

37) 431U0-P3 IN COMPLIANCE (IRE) 12-10-00 Dessie Hughes, Dessie Hughes IRE/Niall Madden

38) 00-143P5 VIKING BLOND (FR) 7-10-00 Caroline Mould, Nigel Twiston-Davies/Brian Hughes

39) PP-5U654 HELLO BUD (IRE) 14-10-00 Seamus Murphy, Nigel Twiston-Davies/Sam Twiston-Davies

 40) 0-315045 NEPTUNE EQUESTER 9-9-09 Koo's Racing Club, Brian Ellison/Felix De Giles

Grand National 2011: McCain legacy continues with Ballabriggs victory

JASON MAGUIRE wrote another chapter in the McCain family's Grand National legacy after riding Ballabriggs to victory by two lengths on an unseasonably warm afternoon at Aintree.

The McCains have now trained the winner on five occasions, most famously when father Ginger prepared Red Rum for his three victories in 1973, 1974 and 1977.

Ginger McCain also trained Amberleigh House in 2004, and now Ballabriggs is a first success for his son, Donald.

In an exciting finish, Ballabriggs, priced at 14/1, beat Oscar Time, ridden by amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen in nine minutes, one second (9:01), the second-fastest Grand National time.

Tony McCoy's defending champion Don't Push It was in third, ahead of State Of Play in fourth and Niche Market in fifth.

The much-fancied The Midnight Club, ridden by Ruby Walsh, was out of the paid places in sixth while, in keeping with tradition (see preview), none of the greys made an impression once again.

But this year's race will no doubt be overshadowed by the deaths of Ornais and Dooneys Gate at the fourth and sixth fences as they became the 80th and 81st fatalities in the event's 164-year history.

In an unprecedented move, the two hurdles where those horses fell were subsequently bypassed on the second circuit with the remaining participants waved around them by chequered flags. 

Animal rights activists were given yet more ammunition after the finish when the shattered Ballabriggs failed to make it into the winners' enclosure with Maguire. Instead, the 11-year-old had been taken back to the stables suffering from exhaustion and dehydration but he was soon confirmed to be OK.

Nevertheless, the gruesome sight of dead horses being covered by tarpaulin is hardly what the sport needs and questions must surely be asked if the current state of the course is just too demanding.

To me, banning the race altogether would be too extreme and it will not happen anyway.

But, just as Formula One reacted to the driver deaths by modifying its tracks, perhaps horse racing officials need to do the same with some of the bigger fences.

Meanwhile, the BBC hardly helped the situation with its apparent reluctance to acknowledge the horses' deaths. Commentators did note that two of the hurdles were being missed out but they did not make any effort to explain the omissions.

And when anchor Claire Balding eventually did confirm which horses had died, she spoke of "equine fatalities". It was a horrendous and needless euphemism which detracted from otherwise traditionally sharp coverage.

The race began amid the usual fanfare as 70,000 people in stands watched a field of 40 on a gloriously sunny day on Merseyside.

As usual, for several horses, the race was a brief affair with That's Rhythm falling at the first and Becauseicouldntsee bringing down the unfortunate Vic Venturi at the second.

The fourth hurdle also had two fallers in Ornais, one of the two horses to die, and Calgary Bay.

Dooneys Gate, the other horse which died, fell at the sixth fence, Becher's Brook, and that fence also accounted for Or Noir De Somoza, The Tother One and West End Rocker.

As the field swept around the Canal Turn, the 100/1 shot Santa's Son had emerged from the early scramble into the lead, evoking memories of other shock winners, Foinavon in 1967 and Mon Mome just two years ago.

But, of course, there was still a long way to go, and eventual victor Ballabriggs was also up near the front of an open contest.

At the 10th and 11th fences, Tidal Bay and Quolibet both unseated their riders but the front-runners were unaffected.

And so, at this stage, Ballabriggs and Oscar Time were still chasing down pacesetters Santa's Son and Majestic Concorde while Don't Push It was beginning to make his way through the field.

Grand Slam Hero fell at the 13th before a vital moment at the Chair as Ballabriggs' magnificent leap put him into the lead for the first time.

Quinz was pulled up at the Water Jump, the last of the fences on the first circuit while Can't Buy Time was the only faller at the 18th before all the remaining horses overcame the 19th.

Then came the unnerving sight of the field being waved around the 20th fence and the 22nd, meaning Becher's Brook was only jumped once this year.

The second jump of the Canal Turn claimed the well-placed Majestic Concorde as he unseated rider Robbie McNamara - and Maguire then almost went the same way on Ballabriggs as he stumbled over Valentine's, five fences from home.

Nevertheless, both horse and jockey held it together just as some of others began to struggle badly.

Sir Alex Ferguson's What A Friend was pulled up at the 27th along with early leader Santa's Son while Killyglen produced a tired jump and fell.

At the 28th, former winner Comply Or Die was pulled up and Arbor Supreme unseated his rider and, at the 29th, Hello Bud was pulled up.

The five horses vying for the lead got over those last few fences without a problem, though, and that set up a grandstand finish as they came around the Elbow.

Don't Push It had most work to do, still lying in fifth as they jumped the last but he finished strongly to overtake State Of Play and Niche Market, and give a good account on his title defence.

However, he was still no match this year for Ballabriggs and Oscar Time who had pulled away to set up a duel for the finish line.

Ballabriggs was the clear winner, quickly establishing and holding onto a lead of two lengths to give the McCains - and the bookmakers - another great Grand National afternoon.


2011 GRAND NATIONAL: How they finished
4m 4f at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool. All 40 ran.

Placed
1st Ballabriggs 14/1
2nd Oscar Time 14/1
3rd Don't Push It 9/1
4th State Of Play 28/1
5th Niche Market 16/1

Finished
6th The Midnight Club 8/1f
7th Big Fella Thanks
8th Surface To Air
9th Skippers Brig
10th Backstage
11th King Fontaine
12th Silver By Nature
13th In Compliance
14th Bluesea Cracker
15th Character Building
16th Golden Kite
17th Chief Dan George
18th Royal Rosa
19th Piraya

Failed to finish
Fence 1 That's Rhythm - fell
Fence 2 Vic Venturi - brought down, Becauseicouldntsee - fell
Fence 4 Ornais - fell (fatal), Calgary Bay - fell
Fence 6 (Becher's Brook) Dooneys Gate - fell (fatal), The Tother One - fell, Or Noir De Somoza - fell, West End Rocker - brought down
Fence 10 Tidal Bay - unseated rider
Fence 11 Quolibet - unseated rider
Fence 13 Grand Slam Hero - fell
Fence 16 Quinz - pulled up
Fence 18 Can't Buy Time - fell
Fence 24 (Canal Turn) Majestic Concorde - unseated rider
Fence 27 Santa's Son - pulled up, What A Friend - pulled up, Killyglen - fell
Fence 28 Comply Or Die - pulled up, Arbor Supreme - unseated rider
Fence 29 Hello Bud - pulled up

--

Preview: Will the Grand National be a grey day at last?
THE WAIT for a grey horse to win the Grand National has now stretched to 50 years, since Bobby Beasley won on the aptly-named Nicolaus Silver back in 1961.

Indeed, Nicolaus Silver is one of only two greys ever to have won the world's greatest steeplechase, the other being The Lamb which tasted victory twice in 1868 and 1871.

This year, four grey horses are lining up to end the hoodoo. There are two outsiders, Piraya (150/1) and French horse Quoilbet (150/1), and two more fancied bets in Character Building (28/1) and Silver By Nature (14/1).

Silver By Nature is also looking to end another barren spell by becoming the only second-ever Scottish-trained winner. So far, only Rubstic has won from north-of-the-border, crossing the line first in 1979.

But, as reigining BBC Sports Personality of the Year AP McCoy found out, such records only exist eventually to be broken.

McCoy won his first National on his 15th attempt last year on Don't Push It (14/1) and both jockey and horse are reunited to defend their crown, carrying top weight of 11st 10lbs.

McCoy's win on Don't Push It was also a first taste of success in the National for the horse's trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, and his owner JP MacManus.

Still looking to break his duck, though, is another notable trainer, Paul Nicholls. This time, Nicholls has four different horses in the running, including What A Friend (12/1), which is part-owned by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

Other fancied runners in the Aintree race include Paul Carberry's mount Backstage (13/1), Sam Whaley-Cohen's Oscar Time (12/1), and Jason Maguire's Ballabriggs (15/1), which is trained by Donald McCain, son of Red Rum's trainer, Ginger.

However, the likely ante-post favourite is Ruby Walsh's ride, The Midnight Club, with a price at the time of writing in at 10/1.

Walsh has a good record in the Grand National and will be going for a hat-trick of wins having previously rode Papillon and Hedgehunter to victory in 2000 and 2005.

His younger sister Katie had also been set to make her bow in the event on Our Monty but the eight-year-old gelding was withdrawn with a leg infection.

Walsh's absence leaves Paul Carberry's sister Nina, on the aforementioned grey Character Building, as the only female jockey in the race.

Our Monty was replaced by 80/1 shot Royal Rosa and there were two other late replacements with Skippers Brig (40/1) and Golden Kite (80/1) coming in for Northern Alliance and Roll Along.

Golden Kite's inclusion gives former jockey Adrian Maguire his first runner in Britain as a trainer but, on the other side of the coin, it could be a frustrating afternoon for the experienced Barry Geraghty.

Geraghty, who won the Grand National in 2003 on Monty's Pass, is now without a ride after the withdrawal of Northern Alliance, although many were surprised that he was not on a stronger horse anyway.

Best odds provided in each case and may vary among bookmakers. Odds for the whole field can be found at Oddschecker.com.


2011 GRAND NATIONAL FULL RUNNERS-AND-RIDERS
No Form Name (Trainer) Jockey
1) 23P1-P070 DON'T PUSH IT (IRE) (Jonjo O'Neill) Tony McCoy

2) 104-3226 TIDAL BAY (IRE) (Howard Johnson) Brian Hughes

3) 61/211-524 WHAT A FRIEND (Paul Nicholls) Daryl Jacob

4) 501B-7744 VIC VENTURI (IRE) (Dessie Hughes) Andrew Lynch

5) U62/1-31 MAJESTIC CONCORDE (IRE) (Dermot Weld) Robbie McNamara

6) 2F1425 OR NOIR DE SOMOZA (FR) (David Pipe) Barry Geraghty replaced Tom Scudamore
7) 01F24-41 DOONEYS GATE (IRE) (Willie Mullins) Mr Patrick Mullins

8) 2U14-2F44 BIG FELLA THANKS (Ferdy Murphy) Graham Lee

9) 205-244 THE TOTHER ONE (IRE) (Paul Nicholls) Ryan Mahon

10) 3111-112 BALLABRIGGS (IRE) (Donald McCain) Jason Maguire

11) U3133-21 THE MIDNIGHT CLUB (IRE) (Willie Mullins) Ruby Walsh

12) 529P-F58 NICHE MARKET (IRE) (Paul Nicholls) Harry Skelton

13) 5121-071 SILVER BY NATURE (Lucinda Russell) Peter Buchanan

14) 0BP-57011 BACKSTAGE (FR) (Gordon Elliott) Paul Carberry

15) 30011-753F CHIEF DAN GEORGE (IRE) (Jimmy Moffatt) Paddy Aspell

16) 4-56242 CALGARY BAY (IRE) (Henrietta Knight) Hadden Frost

17) P2P-2536 KILLYGLEN (IRE) (Stuart Crawford) Robert Power

18) 3152-263 OSCAR TIME (IRE) (Martin Lynch) Sam Waley-Cohen

19) 510-1131 QUINZ (FR) (Philip Hobbs) Richard Johnson

20) 2212-42 BECAUSEICOULDNTSEE (IRE) (Noel Glynn) Davy Russell

21) 2/000-06P COMPLY OR DIE (IRE) (David Pipe) Timmy Murphy

22) 2F-FF25P QUOLIBET (FR) (Jonjo O'Neill) Mark Walsh

23) 11FP18P GRAND SLAM HERO (IRE) (Nigel Twiston-Davies) Aidan Coleman

24) 0/144/P3- STATE OF PLAY (Evan Williams) Paul Moloney

25) 3211-11P5 KING FONTAINE (IRE) (Malcolm Jefferson) Denis O'Regan

26) 566U-3431U IN COMPLIANCE (IRE) (Dessie Hughes) Leighton Aspell

27) 005P-1P HELLO BUD (IRE) 13-10-05 (Nigel Twiston-Davies) Sam Twiston-Davies

28) 2P/07-11P WEST END ROCKER (IRE) (Alan King) Robert Thornton

29) 6-2207710 SANTA'S SON (IRE) (Howard Johnson) Jamie Moore

30) 0C21-046 BLUESEA CRACKER (IRE) (James Motherway) Andrew McNamara

31) 391059 THAT'S RHYTHM (FR) (Martin Todhunter) James Reveley

32) PP2/111/-0 SURFACE TO AIR (Chris Bealby) Tom Messenger

33) 00P-234PP PIRAYA (FR) (David Pipe) Johnny Farrelly

34) 16F-8P5P CAN'T BUY TIME (IRE) (Jonjo O'Neill) Richie McLernon

35) 000-30563 CHARACTER BUILDING (IRE) (John Quinn) Miss Nina Carberry

36) 1215/1P/-52 ORNAIS (FR) (Paul Nicholls) Nick Scholfield

37) 0U2F-0P2 ARBOR SUPREME (IRE) (Willie Mullins) David Casey

38) P5U-42P ROYAL ROSA (FR) (Howard Johnson) Paul Gallagher

39) 41/313-011 SKIPPERS BRIG (IRE) (Nicky Richards) Dominic Elsworth

40) 1d10019 GOLDEN KITE (IRE) (Adrian Maguire) Shane Hassett

The Grand National 2010: McCoy gains Aintree absolution

TONY McCOY finally removed a huge weight from his shoulders after tasting success for the first time in the Grand National at Aintree yesterday afternoon.

McCoy had never won the race in 15 previous attempts despite having been champion jockey 14 times with more than 3,000 career wins.

But, much to his relief, this year he delivered at last on Don't Push It in front of a crowd of 70,000.

McCoy is a man who rarely shows his emotions but the 35-year-old could not hide his elation after this win.

He said: "I'm the biggest dreamer in the world. I dream every day, and for the past five or six years I've dreamt that I would win the National."

This was also a first win in the National for the horse's trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, and his owner JP MacManus.

Don't Push It began the day as a dark horse but, by the time the race started, he had become much fancied.

As the biggest market mover, his odds halved from 20/1 on Friday to a start price of 10/1 joint favourite.

The other favourite, Big Fella Thanks, had been well backed all week but he required a shock late change of jockey after Ruby Walsh suffered a broken arm having fallen badly in the 14.50.

Barry Geraghty took the reins and guided him to a commendable fourth place behind Black Apalachi in second and State of Play in third.

The race began in confusion as a false start brought back memories of the National that never was in 1993.

Then, as the starter lined up the horses for a second start, fancied grey King Johns Castle showed little interest in getting ready for the restart.

When jockey Paul Carberry finally mounted his horse after several attempts, the silly grey remained stubborn and refused to move.

And so, it was a field of 39 that approached the first of 30 fences.

But the race was short-lived for the likes of Eric's Charm, Pablo du Charmil, My Will and Made in Taipan who all fell at the opening few hurdles.

By the time they reached fence six, Conna Castle, Black Apalachi and Hello Bud had emerged as the frontrunners with Don't Push It well back in the field.

Conna Castle took a wide bearing around the Canal Turn but retained the lead ahead of Black Apalachi and Hello Bud, ridden by 17-year-old A-level student Sam Twiston-Davies.

This remained the running order until the first few fences of the second circuit.

Then, at fence 20, Black Apalachi took over the lead from Conna Castle who was sucked back into the field and eventually pulled up two from home.

As they approached the Canal Turn for the second time, Don't Push It began to make some headway and was in the chasing pack alongside Hello Bud and Big Fella Thanks.

Still, Black Apalachi held onto the lead. But it was soon clear that nothing would take the win away from McCoy this time.

Demonstrating perfect timing, Don't Push It approached the final fence almost level with Black Apalachi for the first time.

A brilliant leap put Don't Push It in the lead as Black Apalachi gave a tired jump by contrast.

Then, the gap in energy levels showed as McCoy rode around The Elbow into an ever-more comfortable lead, eventually winning by five lengths.

This was a huge win for McCoy, the biggest of his career. And, after almost two decades of trying, few can say he did not deserve it.

FOR THE RECORD - WHERE THEY FINISHED
Finishers:
1st Don't Push It 10/1jf
2nd Black Apalachi 14/1
3rd State of Play 16/1
4th Big Fella Thanks 10/1jf
5th Hello Bud, 6th Snowy Morning, 7th Character Building, 8th Cloudy Lane, 9th Tricky Trickster, 10th Joe Lively, 11th Cerium, 12th Comply or Die, 13th Piraya, 14th Preists Leap

Non-finishers:
FENCE 1 Eric's Charm (f)
FENCE 2 Pablo du Charmil (f)
FENCE 4 My Will (f)
FENCE 5 Made in Taipan (f)
FENCE 8 Can't Buy Time (ur)
FENCE 14 Irish Raptor (f), Royal Rosa (ur)
FENCE 15 Arbor Supreme (ur)
FENCE 17 Beat The Boys (pu)
FENCE 19 Madison du Berlais (ur), The Package (ur)
FENCE 20 Backstage (bd), Vic Venturi (f), Flintoff (pu), Nozic (pu)
FENCE 22 Ballyfitz (f), Maljimar (f)
FENCE 23 Dream Alliance (pu), Ellerslie George (ur)
FENCE 26 Mon Mome (f)
FENCE 27 Ballyholland (pu), Palypso de Creek (f)
FENCE 28 Niche Market (pu), Conna Castle (pu), Ollie Magern (pu)
DID NOT START King Johns Castle
(f)=fell, (ur)=unseated rider, (pu)=pulled up, (bd)=brought down

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PREVIEW
THE world's greatest steeplechase takes place at Aintree later today with an eager field of 40 all hoping to be this year's hero at the John Smith's Grand National.

Runners and riders must overcome 30 fences over the two circuits of the famous course which totals a truly gruelling 4 miles and 856 yards in length.

The race attracts even the most casual punters, often with spurious reasons for backing a particular horse such as its name or colours.

And this guide identifies some of the stories likely to produce the most media interest. Coverage on BBC1 begins at 1pm with the race scheduled to start at 4.15pm.


Front runner
Favourite Big Fella Thanks (10/1) gives Jockey Ruby Walsh a big chance to win his third National after past successes on Papillon in 2000 and Hedgehunter in 2005.

In contrast to Walsh, victory would be champion trainer Paul Nicholls’ first win in this race.

Of course, the National is the race where anything can happen and a lack of experience could count against Big Fella Thanks - no seven-year-old horse has won this race for 70 years.

But, if any jockey can be trusted to deliver under pressure, Irishman Walsh can be, having won on Hedgehunter at 7/1.

Repeat success
The winners from the last two years, Mon Mome (12/1) and Comply or Die (16/1), are both in this year’s race. If either horse wins, it will become the first horse since the great Red Rum to win the National on more than one occasion.

Last year, Mon Mome became the first 100/1 winner of the National since Foinavon in 1967. Foinavon has since had a fence on the Aintree course named after his success which was attributed to a huge pile-up.

Mon Mome’s shock win was no such fluke and the French thoroughbred has proved its worth again in recent times – finishing third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup at 50/1.

Comply or Die, the 2008 winner, was strongly fancied for back-to-back wins. He almost achieved it but had to settle for second place, some 12 lengths behind Mon Mome, despite a valiant attempt.

This year, jockey Timmy Murphy and trainer David Pipe will hope to go one better again.

Galloping greys
No grey horse has won the National since Nicolaus Silver in 1961 but the Carberry family hopes that will change this year.

Paul Carberry mounts 2008 runner-up King Johns Castle (28/1) as this year’s oldest rider while his sister Nina Carberry, on Character Building (20/1), hopes to become the first woman to ride the winner of this great race.

Two other grey horses, Beat the Boys (100/1) and Piraya (150/1), have made the cut but both of those will be running as rank outsiders.

Still waiting
Fourteen-time champion jockey Tony McCoy may have ridden more than 3,000 winners in a sparkling career but, incredibly, he has never won the biggie at Aintree.

This year, McCoy is in good company having chosen Don’t Push It (20/1) as his ride. Trainer Jonjo O’Neill and owner JP McManus have never won the National either.

McCain magic
No Grand National aficionado will forget the glorious Red Rum and his three victories in the 1970s.

And, although he had to wait quite some time, trainer Ginger McCain oversaw a fourth success when Amberleigh House galloped home in 2004.

Ginger is now retired but handed over control of his Cheshire stables to his son, Donald, who will hope to continue the McCains’ legacy at Aintree with Cloudy Lane (40/1), ridden by Jason Maguire.

Young gun
Teenager Sam Twiston-Davies was granted special dispensation by the British Horseracing Authority to ride Hello Bud (40/1).

Grand National rules prevent jockeys with fewer than 15 career wins taking part but 17-year-old Twiston-Davies has made the cut on account of the capability which he has already shown at his tender age.

Hello Bud is one of five entries from Sam's trainer father Nigel Twiston-Davies who enjoyed a shock win in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month, courtesy of Imperial Commander.

Dream ticket
The fairytale story of this year’s National could be Dream Alliance (40/1).

A 23-strong syndicate bred the horse on a slagheap allotment and paid £10 a week to fund revolutionary stem-cell treatment after he suffered a career-threatening injury at Aintree.

Now, back at the famous course, Welsh National winner ‘Dream’ hopes to provide a finish appropriate to his name for jockey Tom O’Brien.

Name game
Certain horses are likely to be backed regardless of odds, given the open nature of the race.

Casual punters looking for a reason to lay money on a horse will often look for a personal connection with the horses’ names.

And so, this year, expect Vic Venturi (25/1), Joe Lively (80/1), Ellerslie George (100/1), Eric’s Charm (40/1), Ollie Magern (150/1) and Royal Rosa (100/1) to be backed by Victors/Victorias, Joes/Joannas, Georges, Erics, Ollies and Rosas respectively.

King Johns Castle (28/1) will not only attract interest by grey fans (see above) but also Johns, while keen cricketers are sure to have their ears pricked at the Venetia Williams-trained horse, Flintoff (50/1).

The Flintoff name is not a coincidence – double Ashes hero Andrew part-owns the horse.


FULL LIST OF RUNNERS AND RIDERS
No Form Name (Trainer) Jockey
1 01-3244 MADISON DU BERLAIS (David Pipe) Tom Scudamore

2 1-P3463 MON MOME (Venetia Williams) Aidan Coleman

3 211501 VIC VENTURI (Dessie Hughes) Paddy Flood

4 151U-02 BLACK APALACHI (Dessie Hughes) Denis O'Regan

5 5-50030 JOE LIVELY (Colin Tizzard) Joe Tizzard

6 01-423P DON'T PUSH IT (Jonjo O'Neill) AP McCoy

7 P002-00 COMPLY OR DIE (David Pipe) Timmy Murphy

8 121-210 TRICKY TRICKSTER (Paul Nicholls) Barry Geraghty

9 1-03520 NICHE MARKET (Bob Buckler) Harry Skelton

10 2404P2 MADE IN TAIPAN (Tom Mullins) Niall Madden

11 UPP/-21P DREAM ALLIANCE (Philip Hobbs) Tom O'Brien

12 FU-3644 CLOUDY LANE (Donald McCain) Jason Maguire

13 1P00-60 NOZIC (Paul Nicholls) Liam Treadwell

14 53-2057 MY WILL (Paul Nicholls) Nick Scholfield

15 3606-4F PABLO DU CHARMIL (David Pipe) Danny Cook

16 P6-51110 BALLYHOLLAND (Colin McBratney IRE) Andrew McNamara

17 0112313 BACKSTAGE (Gordon Elliott IRE) Davy Condon

18 FP-1P1PP BEAT THE BOYS (Nigel Twiston-Davies) Brian Hughes

19 100-000U0 PREISTS LEAP (Tom O'Leary IRE) Philip Enright

20 1103223 SNOWY MORNING (Willie Mullins IRE) Paul Townend

21 314F-016 CAN'T BUY TIME (Jonjo O'Neill)

22 2U136-2U1 BIG FELLA THANKS (Paul Nicholls) Ruby Walsh

23 60/144-P STATE OF PLAY (Evan Williams) Paul Moloney

24 143301-00 CHARACTER BUILDING (John Quinn) Nina Carberry

25 00-12100 ELLERSLIE GEORGE (IRE) (Nick Mitchell) Christian Williams

26 02P5-011 ERIC'S CHARM (Oliver Sherwood) Wayne Hutchinson

27 212/0-0000 KING JOHNS CASTLE (Arthur Moore IRE) Paul Carberry

28 043545U CONNA CASTLE (IRE) (Jimmy Mangan IRE)

29 2P-4P1540 BALLYFITZ (Nigel Twiston-Davies) David England

30 F2-305467 OLLIE MAGERN (Nigel Twiston-Davies) Tom Molloy

31 330-30U2 ARBOR SUPREME (IRE) (Willie Mullins IRE) Paul Townend

32 02P-253 MALJIMAR (IRE) (Nick Williams) Daryl Jacob

33 03-02312 THE PACKAGE (David Pipe) Graham Lee

34 000-33010 PIRAYA (David Pipe) Johnny Farrelly

35 U01-4U5 IRISH RAPTOR (Nigel Twiston-Davies) Paddy Brennan

36 50PP/05-0 CERIUM (FR) (Paul Murphy)

37 1P6-1420 PALYPSO DE CREEK (Charlie Longsdon) Tom Siddall

38 11-035U00 HELLO BUD (Nigel Twiston-Davies) Sam Twiston-Davies

39 P63/52-P FLINTOFF (Venetia Williams) Andrew Tinkler

40 56/-33P5 ROYAL ROSA (FR) (Howard Johnson)

Expected Going: Good to soft
Weather forecast: Sunshine, 16 deg C
Full list of odds at Ladbrokes.com
A note on reading form:
1 = 1st, 2 = 2nd, up to 6 = 6th, 0 = Lower than 6th, P = Pulled Up, U = Unseated Rider, F = Fell, / = Change in season, - = Change in calendar year. Latest results to the right.