Grand National History 2006 - 2000
Aintree Grand National 2006
The 2006 Grand National was won 11-1 shot “Numbersixvalverde” who finished ahead of last year's winner and joint favourite “Hedgehunter”.
“Numbersixvalverde”, ridden by Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden and trained by Martin Brassil in County Kildare trailed “Hedgehunter” late on, with “Hedgehunter” determined to become the first winner since “Red Rum” to win back-to-back Grand Nationals.
“Numbersixvalverde” didn’t challenge until late, moving up to catch the two horses with the shortest odds “Clan Royal” and “Hedgehunter” after the leading horse “Ballycassidy” fell at Valentines.
The three of them pulled ahead and fought hard to establish a lead. Unfortunately for “Hedgehunter” again ridden by “Ruby Walsh” the same jockey who was victorious a year earlier, the race just seemed to long as the lighter “Numbersixvalverde” galloped ahead.
The jockey Niall Madden and trainer Martin Brassil were ecstatic with the victory, which was a tense affair early on due to the race being delayed following a false start when Ross Comm went over the starting tape.
“Clan Royal” finished in third place, ahead of “Nil Desperandum”, in a photo finish as 9 of the 40 starters finished the race with Nina Carberry on “Forest Gunner” the last home.
Aintree Grand National 2005
The 2005 Grand National was won by pre-race favourite “Hedgehunter”, ridden by Ruby Walsh winning the Grand National after taking the lead when “Clan Royal” ridden by Tony McCoy was taken out by a loose horse. Hedgehunter won the race by 14 lengths.
Ruby Walsh won the Grand National for the second time with his first victory coming in 2000 when he rode “Papillon”. "Becher's Brook frightened the heart out of me, but it was some thrill," said the Irishman who was given trainer Willie Mullins' ride.
"Whatever happened, I thought 'I'm not going to move until I get to the elbow'. I got the elbow and said 'come on'. "He's a proper horse. He's brilliant."
“Royal Auclair” followed in second place with “Simply Gifted” trailing in third ahead of “It Takes Time”. Female Jockey Carrie Ford finished in fifth place on “Forest Gunner”.
Forty horses lined up to take part in the 2005 Grand National including "Amberleigh House", "Bindaree", "Clan Royal", "Lord Atterbury", "Monty's Pass" and "Spot Thedifference".
Aintree Grand National 2004
Last years Grand National was again watched the world over and for one trainer in particular, Ginger McCain, proved to be a story of legendary proportions. With 39 horses lining up for the 157th running of the Grand National, the 73 year old trainer of 3 time winner in the 1970's, "Red Rum" was about to experience something he hadn't since that time 27 years ago. The excitement grew down the stretch as last years third place horse "Amberleigh House" crossed the winning line surviving past the 28 horses, which didn't finish and holding off the 10, which did. The 12 year old horse, the oldest winner for almost a decade and a 16-1 marginal outsider ran a wonderful race befitting of "Red Rum", passing over the three time champions grave at the winning post.
Trainer Ginger McCain said afterwards "I never thought I was going to win another National" and was utterly delighted when "Amberleigh House" finished 3 lengths ahead of "Clan Royal" after staying close to the leader in the run-in, then catching up to overtake at the most crucial time.
Owned by John Halewood and with a total prize fund of £600,000 "Amberleigh House" and jockey Graham Lee put on a fantastic display. "Lord Atterbury" was third, with last year's champion "Monty's Pass" in fourth. "Clan Royal" had moved into first place and looked set to win after "Hedgehunter" who had lead the pack crashed out at the last fence, but was getting very tired approaching the elbow allowing "Amberleigh House" to take center stage.
The 2004 Grand National marked the first time the Tattersalls Enclosure sold out at the event with thousands turning up to experience the race day. Over 10 million people in the UK and 600 more worldwide watched the race which saw one of the best finishes in Aintree and Grand National history.
The day would however belong to the winners with jockey Graham Lee describing the victory as "a fairytale" and trainer Ginger McCain claiming he would have been happy to finish in the first six or eight after thinking "Amberleigh House's" best chance to win had come and gone a year ago when they finished third. Ironically "Clan Royal" had beaten them at the same course earlier that year leading Jockey Lee to say he had gone home and watched the video over and over again after being so angry they had lost.
Owner John Halewood, who was born in Liverpool also, said it was "the best day of my life". The whole team plans to compete again in 2005 for another crack at the big race. The feat may appear unlikely with the horse already being 12 in 2004 but "Amberleigh House" does have a good record at Aintree with only one bad day when he was brought down in his first appearance in 2001.
Aintree Grand National 2003
"Monty's Pass" ridden by Barry Geraghty ran a to a very convincing 12 length victory in the 2003 Grand National with "Supreme Glory" coming through in second and "Amberleigh House" back in third. Becher's Brook again took a favourite out of the race as "Shotgun Willy" ridden by Ruby Marsh in at 7-1, falling the second time around the course. Paul Carberry another of the pre-race favourites was unseated at the 19th fence while riding "Ad Hoc".
The race itself ended quite easily for "Monty's Pass" who finally moved to join the race leaders after the water jump who battled on as the field was finally strung out following the Foinavon fence with "Gunner Welburn" leading only a handful of horses. Then with only two fences left, "Monty's Pass" went clear from eventual 2004 winner "Amberleigh House" and a tiring "Gunner Welburn" to power home for victory.
The 2003 Grand National was a good day for bookmakers with so many of the more fancied horses not completing the course. One in particular however ended up paying out over £400,000 on two bets with William Hill seeing their worst hit Grand National in history.
Aintree Grand National 2002
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Jim Culloty wins the 2002 Grand National at Aintree, but only ended up entering the race on "Bindaree" after original rider, Jaime Goldstein is ruled out when he breaks his leg in the week leading up to the race. Jim and "Bindaree" didn't have it easy in the race though after almost seeing a premature end to their participation when another horse "Beau", which had lost it's jockey threatened to block "Bindaree's" path to glory. "Bindaree" survived the incident however to win in a frantic finish, beating out "What's Up Boys" who had been tipped to become the first grey winner in 42 years, in a very dramatic win.
The 2002 Grand National say record crowds of over 120,000 people coming through the turnstiles and 63,500 watching the big race. Bookmakers the Tote saw a record turnover of more than £3 million as a result of the race for an event that's popularity keeps on growing. 2000 winner Ruby Marsh raced again, but not on last years winning horse "Papillon", he rode "Kingsmark" to an impressive fourth as 11 of the starters completed the course with 2000 runner up "Mely Moss" the last of the finishers.
Aintree Grand National 2001
"Red Marauder" won the 2001 Grand National in a race that saw only 4 horses finish it seemed truly amazing that the 36, which fell were all reported to be fine. Just as amazing is the fact race winner "Red Marauder" who could have fallen 5 times came through the race unscathed. The horse was largely un-favoured beforehand at 33-1, but with conditions much worse than many can ever remember at a National the determined horse and jockey Richard Guest triumphed in style.
The win also ended more than three months of abstinence for Guest who vowed on January 1st not to drink until he won the Grand National or the Gold Cup. The race also saw the first North East horse win the National since "Red Alligator" in 1968. Richard Guest also sold his whip and gave the £2,200 it raised to charity as the jockey took £310,000 in prize money. The other three finishers were "Smarty" brought home in second place by Timmy Murphy. "Blowing Wind" in third ridden by Tony McCoy and last year's winner "Papillon" again ridden by Ruby Walsh finishing fourth.
Aintree Grand National 2000
"Papillon" won the 200 Grand National ridden by Ruby Walsh, which saw successive victories from Irish jockeys. The race was closely contested with "Papillon" winning by one and a quarter lengths from second-placed "Mely Moss". "Papillon" was subject to huge gambling the morning of the race seeing the odds drop from 33-1 down to around 10-1 netting a supposed one million pound coup. The 2000 Grand National also strangely saw another family connection with trainer Ted Walsh and his son Ruby riding to victory.
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