That’s all from me on a day that belongs to Rule The World, his teenage debutant jockey David Mullins, and trainer Mouse Morris, who adds to his Irish National triumph, a year after his son passed away. Here’s Chris Cook’s race report from a dramatic day. Thanks for joining me, and don’t spend those winnings all at once. Bye!
Rule The World had never won over jumps, and hadn’t won a race since January 2014. The 33-1 shot won by six lengths from The Last Samuri, a joint favourite whose trainer, Kim Bailey, can scarcely believe was overtaken at the last, with Vics Canvas, a 13-year-old available at 100-1, finishing third. There’s really no point trying to predict this race.
Updated
Good news: all horses and riders have made it back safely. There were only 12 finishers in tough conditions. Spare a thought for Bryan Cooper, who had his pick from two Mouse Morris-trained rides. He picked First Lieutenant, who fell at the second and never recovered, and left Rule the World to Mullins. Ouch!
Updated
Here’s David Mullins: “I couldn’t have expected things to go better... everything went to plan really. Credit to Mouse, he’s a genius... I’d never walked round this course before today”
Clare Balding has just tried to interview Mouse Morris, but the trainer, who also won the Irish National this year, could barely get a word out.
One man never short of a word or two is the owner, Michael O’Leary (he of Ryanair): “Coming to win the race on his first attempt... it was a masterful ride”. O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud also gave him a Gold Cup win earlier this year.
O’Leary says hello to his children, on the verge of tears, then hollers “free flights for everyone!” OK, I made the last bit up.
5.15pm: Crabbie’s Grand National RESULT
1 Rule The World (D Mullins) 33-1
2 The Last Samuri (D Bass) 8-1
3 Vics Canvas (R Dunne) 100-1
4 Gilgamboa (R Power) 28-1
Updated
Rule the World wins the 2016 Grand National!
19-year-old David Mullins brings home 33-1 shot Rule the World in the home straight for trainer Mouse Morris! The Last Samuri came second, with 100-1 Vics Canvas third.
Updated
The Last Samuri and Vics Canvas jump the last as one, with Rule the World close behind... it will be between these three, surely... and Rule the World gets up on the inside... he has too much pace for the joint favourite... and he romps away to win by a distance!
A mistake from Many Clouds hands the initiative to The Last Samuri, and with two to jump, he leads from Vics Canvas, Gilgamboa and Rule the World, with Morning Assembly out wide...
Over Foinavon and it’s still Many Clouds and The Last Samuri, with Saint Are losing ground. Aachen, who started so strongly, has refused a fence, with Gilgamboa, Goonyella and Rule the World well placed...
Updated
Ten fences to go, and Many Clouds comes through on the inside to lead by a nose from The Last Samuri. This could be a fierce battle, with Saint Are still close on the outside. Wonderful Charm, The Druid’s Nephew and Soll have all pulled up as the field begins to shrink...
Silviniaco Conti is in big trouble, and has been pulled up! Over a circuit to go as they approach the Chair, with a loose horse causing trouble. Sir Des Champs goes down at the Chair. Saint Are leads, with Aachen and Goonyella chasing...
Rocky Creek has been pulled up, with Home Farm, and appropriately enough, On His Own off the back. Aachen and Double Ross lead from Saint Are, with Many Clouds and The Last Samuri tucked in behind...
Over Becher’s Brook for the first time, with the remaining field landing safely. Holywell has continued despite falling at the second. The Romford Pele goes at the Canal Turn, with Double Ross and Aachen leading. Saint Are, Shutthefrontdoor and Many Clouds are all well placed...
Updated
Hadrian’s Approach goes down at the first, and at the second, Holywell has gone! First Lieutenant falls too, with Aachen heading the field in the early stages...
They're off!
The 2016 Grand National is under way...
The horses are galloping down to the starting line. The Last Samuri and Many Clouds are joint favourites at 8-1, with Goonyella, who is likely to enjoy these conditions, down to 10-1. Plenty of outside bets coming in rapidly, including The Romford Pele and Katenko...
Five minutes to go, as Laura Wright belts out ‘God Save the Queen’. Are you with the betting public, and Chris Cook, in backing The Last Samuri? Do you, like AP McCoy, like the look of Gallant Oscar, or are you with most of the tipsters in picking Holywell? Whoever you’ve picked, be lucky. It’s likely to be a testing race; obviously, we hope all horses and riders make it back unharmed.
Updated
The going on the Grand National course has just been changed to ‘Soft, Heavy in places’ after all the rain last night and today. That is even more testing than most of us were imagining when we made our calculations. It will make for fewer finishers but should also reduce the risk of injury to horses and jockeys, as the field will go slower and there will be more give underfoot if they fall. It is very good news for mudlovers, of whom Goonyella is the most obvious name in the field. It is probably not very good news for those at the top of the weights, since the effect of weight is exaggerated by testing conditions.
The going is now soft, heavy in places. As has been widely noted, conditions haven’t been this sticky since 2001, when 33-1 shot Red Marauder won the race – one of just two horses to get round without unseating their jockey. Ruby Walsh and AP McCoy got back on board Papillon and Blowing Wind respectively, with McCoy taking third ahead of the previous year’s winner.
Updated
Grand National betting
We have a new favourite, with The Last Samuri in to 9-1, ahead of Many Clouds at 10-1. A trio of contenders at 12-1: Silviniaco Conti, Shutthefrontdoor and Holywell, with Gallant Oscar and Goonyella in to 14-1 on account of the conditions. At 16-1, two horses that came close last year – The Druids Nephew and runner-up Saint Are, plus Morning Assembly. Willie Mullins-trained pair Sir Des Champs and Boston Bob are 20-1, but there’s still time for the markets to change.
Half an hour until they’re under starter’s orders. This is, of course, a day for pin stickers as much as seasoned punters, so there’s still time to print out our sweepstake guide:
And if you’ve got a spurious reason for backing a particular horse today, I’d love to hear it...
A bad day has just got even worse for Brian Hughes. He began it by thinking he would get to ride the classy O’Faolains Boy in the Grand National. Then he got moved onto the less fancied The Romford Pele when O’Faolains became a non-runner. Then he fell at the first hurdle in the first race and was stood down for the rest of the day (though we do not believe he has sustained a significant injury). One of the other horses he was due to ride today, Maggio, has just won at 50-1. Ugh. If he owes you money, this is not the time to ring up about it.
If you’re looking for an omen for an outside bet, that result gives us a couple – winning jockey James Reveley, who handled that ride impeccably, is on Vieux Lion Rouge at 80-1 in the big race – and he replaced Brian Hughes, who was injured earlier today – so perhaps his slated ride, The Romford Pele, is destined at 40-1...
In perhaps more relevant news, the going is very soft indeed, which could lead to a slow pace, plenty of horses pulling up, and a race that’s now even harder to call...
4.20pm Betfred Handicap Chase RESULT
1 Maggio (J Reveley) 50-1
2 Virak (H Cobden) 12-1
3 Al Co (S Bowen) 14-1
Updated
Virak is wilting, and Maggio romps into the lead, over the last, and wins by ten to twelve lengths! The 50-1 shot lands the win, with Virak second and Al Co third.
Over the third to last, Virak leads from Maggio, who has bolted through the field as Coologue falls off the pace. Al Co is in third, with the rest looking out of contention...
Racing Pulse pulled up with five to jump, with Virak and Coologue upping the pace. French outsider Al Co is in the mix too...
Eight to jump, with Coologue still in the lead, a length and a half from Virak, with Cloudy Too third. Favourite Mystifiable is well placed in the middle of the pack.
Richard Johnson leads the field on Coologue, a length clear of Virak, with Knock House losing touch at the back
And they’re off, for a wide open handicap chase that makes for a tidy National prelude... all over the first two fences safely. Nina Carberry’s Knock House is an early back marker, with Virat and Cloudy Too leading the way.
Betfred Handicap Chase Betting
13-2 Mystifiable; 7-1 Thomas Brown, Coologue 7-1; 15-2 Roc D’Aspis; 8-1 Knock House, Band of Blood; 9-1 Cernunnos; 12-1 Virak; 14-1 Cloudy Too; 16-1 Racing Pulse, Little Jon, Al Co; 33-1 No Secrets; 50-1 Maggio. Non-runner: Warden Hill (#9)
Updated
Chris Cook on the going at Aintree:
I’ve spent time shooting the breeze today with a couple of the experts I most respect, Jonathan Neesom and David Cleary, seeking their views on the state of the going. The conclusion is that this may well be the softest-ground National for 15 years, with the number of finishers unlikely to be more than 12.
The Timeform view of Friday’s going on the National course was that it was good to soft, since when we have had 7mm of overnight rain and continuing drizzle through the day. By the way, Douvan seems to have clocked a time consistent with ‘good’ going. The going is most certainly not ‘Good’, which just goes to show what a mighty animal he is.
Aintree going is soft
That recent deluge has officially changed the going to soft. That’s going to send a ripple through the markets, with Shutthefrontdoor, Gallant Oscar, Boston Bob and On His Own among the horses whose odds are coming in. There’s still time for a flutter if you fancy – take a late look at Chris Cook’s guide:
Betfred Handicap Chase: Preview
Here’s the day’s second fiendish handicap, to set you up for the king of all fiendish handicaps an hour later. It’s a good-quality chase for stayers and therefore is not wildly dissimilar to the National. Indeed it was won in 2009 by Don’t Push It, who landed the National a year later, while today’s National entrant Saint Are also won this race in 2012. Mystifiable is the favourite, having won both his races over fences this season, though the grey is another stone higher in the weights this time. Cernunnos comes from the red-hot Tom George stable and was beaten only by a handicap blog last time; he’ll be most unlucky to run into such a well-treated rival here. Mick Channon’s Knock House runs here, having missed the Grand National cut by two. Here’s hoping he has better luck than the horse who missed out by one spot, Bishops Road, who unseated at the first fence yesterday. Roc D’Apsis ran on to be third in a good-quality race at Kempton last time, despite early mistakes. This grey will go close here if he can manage to turn in a better round of jumping.
Guardian tip: Roc D’Apsis
Next up at 4.20pm, it’s the Betfred Handicap Chase, before the main event which is at 5.15pm. It’s a later start time this year, in case you’re wondering what on earth’s going on.
Jockey Tom Scudamore talks to Racing UK about his cruise home on Thistlecrack: “It was very straightforward... a fantastic experience. He’s such a good horse, a clean jumper, he makes my job very easy... he’s got it all. It’s a thrill of a lifetime to be on him”
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More from Chris Cook on what’s been a less than thrilling day’s racing so far...
So that makes three races in a row on Grand National afternoon in which, for an awful lot of punters, betting interest is killed by a small field and a favourite at long odds-on. It is a subject of concern among bookmakers, as I found when chatting to two of their number just now. Their feeling is that, while it is helpful to run the National later in the afternoon, you then need to put in place a race programme leading up to it that builds excitement in stages. Instead, what we have had is a kind of lull that has lasted 90 minutes.
To some extent, this is just bad luck, because even a three-runner Grade One can sometimes be fiercely competitive. But the feeling is that this afternoon’s programme needs work and could perhaps benefit from the reintroduction of the Aintree Hurdle, which used to be run on this day but has now moved to a slot two days earlier. Or perhaps the exciting handicap hurdle that opens the card could be moved to a later slot. This will not be the purist view but the betting angle needs to be taken into account if racing wants to maximise interest and income.
That was awesome from Thistlecrack and we have certainly been treated to three impressive performances, following Douvan and Yorkhill earlier. But what we really want is to have two awesome horses in the same race...
Trainer Colin Tizzard seems reasonably pleased with that dominant performance, although he was rightly concerned by that clatter over the second last. It’s another short-priced winner at Aintree, the third in a row.
3.40pm Liverpool Stayers' Hurdle RESULT
1 Thistlecrack (T Scudamore) 1-4 Fav
2 Shaneshill (P Townend) 8-1
3 Prince of Scars (G Elliott) 110-1
6 ran
Updated
Thistlecrack wins, with Shaneshill winning a tussle for second. Prince of Scars fought back gamely to take third with Different Gravey tiring.
Thistlecrack pulls clear over the third last, and despite stumbling over the second last, is racing away...
Prince of Scars flagging in last, struggling over the fences, with Aqalim faring little better. Serienshock and Shaneshill sit behind Different Gravey, with Thistlecrack still a couple clear with three to go...
Tom Scudamore looking comfortable, setting the pace at the front on Thistlecrack with one circuit to go. The favourite and Different Gravey threatening to pull away from the field...
A modest tempo so far, with Thistlecrack holding a two-length lead over Different Gravey with 10 to jump...
They’re off... Thistlecrack making the early running, with Different Gravey second...
There’s a delay before the start, as Nico de Boinville hops off Different Gravey and fetches a new girth, after the first one snapped. Heavy favourite Thistlecrack is waiting patiently...
Thanks Tony! The Liverpool Stayers’ Hurdle is about to get under way at a sodden Aintree. The going was already soft, but rain is lashing the course now...
I’m going to hand over to my colleague Niall McVeigh who will take you down to the start for the next and then onto the Grand National. The best of luck with whatever you’ve backed today ...
3.40pm Betting: 1-4 Thistlecrack, 7-1 Different Gravey, 14-1 Prince Of Scars, Shaneshill, 100-1 Serienschock, Aqalim.
3.40pm Liverpool Stayers’ Hurdle PREVIEW
Another short-priced favourite is likely to dominate this. Thistlecrack was perhaps the most impressive winner of the Cheltenham Festival last month, travelling throughout the World Hurdle as if he were the best by far and pulling seven lengths clear without apparent effort. He could cap a fine week for his West Country trainer, Colin Tizzard, who also won a Grade One here on Thursday with Cue Card. Different Gravey is a major improver from the Nicky Henderson yard. Taking on Thistlecrack is a much greater test than anything he’s faced but we don’t yet know of a ceiling to his ability. Willie Mullins runs Shaneshill, back over hurdles for the first time in almost a year. He ran a fine race to be second in a novice chase at the Festival and he might have more to give in marathon races over hurdles.Guardian tip: Thistlecrack
Updated
3pm Doom Bar Maghull Novice Chase RESULT
1 Douvan (P Townend) 2-13 Fav
2 The Game Changer (B J Cooper) 8-1
3 Fox Norton (N D Fehily) 14-1
5 ran
Also: 25-1 Ballybolley 4th
Updated
... with The Game Changer second ... and the rest ... well somewhere else in the Liverpool area.
Douvan well clear at the last ... and clears it easily with his best jump to complete a five-timer over fences...
Douvan two out ... and well clear
Douvan breezes into the lead ...
Not much to report with Alisier D’Irland leading and Douvan poised to strike four out ...
... fence six.. halfway .. the leader made a slight mistake two lengths ahead of Douvan
A circuit to go and Alisier still leads and Douvan reached for the fourth ...
... Douvan got a little low over fence number two ... and then reached for fence three ...
and they’re off ... Alisier D’Irlande leads from Douvan, who was hardly impressive over the first ...
they are lining up for the 3pm race ...
Whelan swap confirmed
Trevor Whelan back in for The Romford Pele ride after Brian Hughes stood down #GrandNational https://t.co/b2ROtRw8mn pic.twitter.com/Hf3xv13YEv
— Racing Post (@RacingPost) April 9, 2016
Paul Townend’s experience on Yorkhill just shows that it isn’t unequivocal good news for a backup jockey when he suddenly gets a chance on the yard’s big names. The horse completely failed to settle, to the point where Townend had to give in and let him stride to the front after almost a circuit of wrestling with him. It was odds-on that the chestnut would fold close home and get collared after running like that but instead, extraordinarily, he found more. So it all works out well for Townend, who will have been more aware than anyone of the flak that awaited him if he got beat on a 30-100 shot while deputising for Walsh. He will be hoping for a much easier time of it on Douvan now.
3pm Betting: 1-6 Douvan, 9-1 Alisier D’irlande, 25-1 Fox Norton, The Game Changer, 66-1 Ballybolley
3pm Doom Bar Maghull Novice Chase Preview
Continuing the theme of short-priced favourites trained by Willie Mullins, here comes Douvan, a 1-5 shot for this Grade One novice chase. Just to clarify, odds of 1-5 mean that, for every £5 you risk, your hoped-for profit is £1. So if you give the bookie a tenner and Douvan wins, your total return, including your initial stake, is £12. Frankly, I’m allergic to risking five times what the bookie is risking, so there is just no way I can back Douvan. On the other hand, if you’re a fan of his, you may feel that a 20% return on investment is generous. Douvan is certainly a mighty beast and Mullins seems to think this might be the best horse he’s ever had. But a lot can go wrong in novice chases and let’s not forget that Mullins had another 1-5 shot here yesterday in Vautour, who fell at halfway. Most of Douvan’s rivals are known quantities who shouldn’t trouble him but the same cannot be said of Alisier D’Irlande, a progressive youngster who has won his last two over fences by wide margins. It’s too early to say he can’t give Douvan a race and the available odds of 9-1 are not bad.
Guardian tip: Alisier D’Irlande
Updated
2.25pm EZ Trader Mersey Novice Hurdle RESULT
1 Yorkhill (P Townend) 3-10 Fav
2 Le Prezien (Sam Twiston-Davies) 8-1
3 Flying Angel (Ryan Hatch) 17-2
6 ran
Also: 9-1 Bello Conti 4th
Non Runner: 3
Updated
Yorkhill comes to the last and goes clear but is tired and Le Prezien gets close but the favourite grinds out for a win, clearly tired by his earlier exertions.
Jumps it well and still clear and not being asked by his jockey ...
Out of the back straight and Yorkhill comes to the third-last ...
Four out ... Yorkhill leads by two lengths from Flying Angel ...
... Yorkhill made a mistake before tugging himself into the lead and kicks clear ...
A circuit to go ... little has happened but Yorkhill is still desperate to get on with things ...
... The Dutchman setting a steady gallop in the lead ... Flying Angel next, travelling okay, Bello Conti and then Yorkhill ... still not settling ...
and they’re off ... The Dutchman leads ... Yorkhill has not got over his rush of bloood and brings up the rear, though having to be restrained ...
2.25pm race ... lining up now. Yorkhill keen and overshot the start ...
It’s that sort of day ...
Trying to explain the principles of a handicap to a non-punter. Was asked if it was a race for disabled horses. Genuinely true #ffs
— Kate Miller (@racingkate) April 9, 2016
2.25 Betting: 1-3 Yorkhill, 7-1 Le Prezien, 8-1 Bello Conti, 10-1 Flying Angel, 25-1 The Dutchman, 28-1 Prince Of Steal.
Brian Hughes will not be riding The Romford Pele
The search is on for Trevor Whelan who went to Aintree today thinking he was going to be riding The Romford Pele but was then “jocked off” (I know but it’s the usual parlance) when Brian Hughes’ intended runner O’Faolains Boy was withdrawn. Now Hughes has suffered an injury in the first race that means he can’t ride for the rest of the day, Whelan is being hunted down so he can get back on “Pele” who is a 40-1 shot.
Race Two: 2.25pm Ez Trader Mersey Novice Hurdle
This Grade One (ie top-class) novice hurdle lacks strength in depth. Yorkhill is the standout talent, having won the Neptune at last month’s Cheltenham Festival, extending his unbeaten record over hurdles to three. He represents the mighty Willie Mullins stable but does not carry Ruby Walsh this time, Walsh having broken his wrist yesterday, letting Paul Townend get aboard for the first time. Townend is an excellent substitute and was champion jockey in Ireland five years ago. Le Prezien is worth respecting after a Grade Two success at Kelso, while Flying Angel won one of the season’s best handicaps in the Imperial Cup. But nothing is entitled to get close to Yorkhill unless something goes wrong with the favourite, which is why he’s on offer at no better than odds of 3-10.
Guardian tip: Yorkhill
Updated
1.45pm Gaskells Waste Management Handicap RESULT
1 Ubak (Joshua Moore) 16-1
2 If In Doubt (B J Geraghty) 9-2 Fav
3 Silsol (Jack Sherwood) 20-1
4 Murrayana (P J Brennan) 20-1
19 ran
Non Runners: 9, 19, 20.
Updated
Plenty in with a chance now as Ubak takes the lead .. If In Doubt finished incredibly well to take second (phew) with Silsol back in third and Murrayana fourth ...
Rock The Kasbah leads from Silsol ...
If In Doubt is in trouble and won’t be winning ...
If In Doubt being niggled as Rock The Kasbah still takes them out of the back straight at the front of the field...
Saddlers Encore is struggling and Kings Palace has pulled-up very quickly ...
A circuit to go and Rock The Kasbah still leads ... Silsol pulling hard ... At Fishers Cross is prominent ... Mydor travels wide all the way ... If In Doubt the favourite is in midfield and King Palace stays at the back ...
Brian Hughes walked away okay ... no more jockey changes for the National yet ...
Kings Palace is at the back and Rock The Kasbah leads as they approach flight three...
Urban Hymn is down at the first and Silsol is badly hampered ... horse up okay ... Brian Hughes was the jockey who came off ... he’s supposed to ride The Romford Pele in the national later...
they’ve turned round again ... and they’re off ...
... and we have the first false start of the day (what a surprise) ... now they’ll have to stand in a line! (as is the rule these days) ...
1.45pm race ... they’re lining up ... and coming towards the tape now ....
Shutthefrontdoor is the day’s gamble in National
Okay, so I backed this beast when the weights came out at 25-1 but had sort of given up hope after he pulled-up next time out (the excuse afterwards was sore feet) and his trainer, Jonjo ONeill, stated on Friday that he wouldn’t like a lot of rain and it persisted down all night at Aintree.
Anyway, the bookmakers are reporting Shutthefrontdoor the best-backed runner of the day so far. William Hill have cut the horse to 10-1 from 16-1 after whet they describe as “a huge plunge” on the horse that went off favourite last year carrying Tony McCoy on his last ride around Aintree.
Race One betting
4-1 If In Doubt, 9-1 Arpege D’Alene, KIngs Palace, Squouateur, 10-1 Mydor, 12-1 Rock The Kasbah, 16-1 Ballycross, 20-1 Ubak, 25-1 At Fishers Cross, Minella Daddy, Murryana, Silsol, Urban Hymn, Tiger Roll, Join The Clan, 33-1 Childrens List, Saddlers Encore, 66-1 Pinnacle Panda, Ruacana.
Updated
Race One: 1.45pm ... the Gaskells Waste Management Handicap Hurdle
The opener on Grand National day is one of those races the bookies like, a big-field handicap hurdle in which you can give a chance to at least half the runners. It’s sort of a re-run of the Pertemps Hurdle at last month’s Cheltenham Festival and many frustrated backers of If In Doubt will be trying to get their money back. Philip Hobbs’s runner was widely felt to be one of the most unlucky in Cheltenham week, finishing strongly after trouble in running, but odds of 4-1 are short enough for such a hot race and the stable is not going as strongly as it was earlier in the season. A case can also be made for Arpege D’Alene, who finished a hair’s breadth in front of If In Doubt and now wears cheekpieces to improve his focus. He possibly should not be available at double the odds of his rival. Mydor and Squouateur are the interesting Irish runners. The latter couldn’t justify his big reputation at Cheltenham but gets an extra half-mile here, which should help.
Guardian tip: Long House Hall (hasn’t bothered to turn up; a non-runner in the correct parlance)
Throughout the afternoon, my esteemed colleague, Chris Cook, the National Newspaper Challenge Tipster of the Year in 2015, will be previewing the races (yes there are other ones apart for the big ‘un) and we will be starting that now with his look ahead to the first at 1.45 ...
Updated
Late jockey change alert: Hughes switches to Pele
The fact that O’Forffsididntthinkiwouldeverhavetocheckthespellingagain Boy has gone lame has meant that his intended rider, Brian Hughes, switches to The Romford Pele (who is named after Ray Parlour ... and a lot of people know that)
Brian Hughes now rides The Romford Pele in the Grand National. His intended mount O'Faolains Boy is a NR. Trevor Whelan misses out
— chris cook (@claimsfive) April 9, 2016
When I started going to the National meeting in the 80s (I travelled hundreds of miles to see Dawn Run run and she fell at the first) there weren’t that many souls who bothered to go. Now Ladies’ Day (the Friday of the Grand National meeting at Aintree) is an event that attracts over 47,000 people.
There’s two ways of looking at Ladies’ Day. Through the lens of the Daily Mail’s photographers or via the eye of a fashion expert. Either way it appears some of the ladies lined up for today’s racing are already struggling, six hours before the tapes are up for the big race.
11.30am update: Girl already walking around without shoes at #Aintree
— Melissa Jones (@fillyonform) April 9, 2016
Updated
I recall Harvey Smith doing this back in the day on the BBC. Sir Anthony McCoy, Tony if you prefer or “The Champ” (richly deserved as he won the jump jockeys’ title 20 years in a row) went round the Grand National course for Channel 4, where he is gainfully employed these days, and this was the result:
.@AP_McCoy rides retired ex-chaser HELLO BUD over a full circuit of the #GrandNational course with #JockeyCamhttps://t.co/7EKnOmnGeo
— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) April 9, 2016
The 2015 hero Many Clouds will emulate Red Rum, the most famous horse in Grand National history, if he wins the race for the second time this afternoon. Rummy, as he came to be affectionally known, is buried near the winning post at Aintree and BBC reporter Frank Keogh, Twitter’s ‘Honest Frank’, has paid a visit today.
#GrandNational Flowers from McCain family at Aintree grave of Red Rum
— Francis Keogh (@HonestFrank) April 9, 2016
'To Red. In our hearts. Precious memories' pic.twitter.com/xP2ZsGJkPu
Can you imagine the sort of publicity a royal winner of the National would generate today? Especially after the Devon Loch incident in 1956 when the Queen Mother’s runner collapsed on the run-in with the race at his mercy.
Well, the British Film Institute have unearthed film of the first Grand National winner ever to have been well, er, filmed. His name was Ambush II, he won in 1900 and he was owned by the Prince of Wales, the future Edward VII.
Ambush II lived on, so to speak. The horse’s skeleton went on display at the World Museum Liverpool a few years back. Little is known as to how or why his skeleton came to Liverpool but it was held at the University of Liverpool’s Veterinary School for many years before being given to Liverpool museum in 1961.
The very first #GrandNational winner ever filmed. Ambush II, victor of 1900 https://t.co/4B1FCHr8K2 #BritainOnFilmhttps://t.co/KWeXSn6mLM
— BFI (@BFI) April 9, 2016
Updated
Here’s how the collective genius of tipsters in the national press have divided their favours this morning:
3 tips Holywell
2 Many Clouds, Saint Are
1 The Druids Nephew, The Last Samuri, Gilgamboa, Morning Assembly, Silviniaco Conti, Wonderful Charm
Willie Mullins is, of course, the top. He’s the Coliseum, the Louvre museum and every other good thing. But the one thing he can’t seem to do is win a handicap chase in Britain, which is relevant because that’s what the Grand National is.
It wasn’t always a problem. Notably, Mullins won the National itself with Hedgehunter, back in the day. But that was 11 years ago and it was the last time he won a British handicap chase. He is 0/54 in such contests in the past four years alone.
There are lots of contributing factors here, not least that Mullins doesn’t give much of a stuff about handicaps, which are rather quotidien for a big-timer like him. He wants to win Grade Ones. Often, his chasers drop into handicaps only because they’ve proved they can’t quite compete in good Graded races - but then they get lumps of weight to carry because they’ve been running with credit in the very best races.
From the perspective of a cynical punter, it looks like the best way to win handicaps is to bring your horse along steadily, never quite letting racing officials see how good he really is until the big day arrives. It’s a kind of sandbagging and Mullins would be as good at it as any other trainer, if he could be bothered.
But we can’t look at his four National runners (On His Own, Sir Des Champs, Boston Bob, Ballycasey) as yet more brilliant beasts from County Carlow, like Yorkhill and Douvan. Compared to their stablemates, they’re a little bit washed up.
That’s the theory, anyway. I think Sir Des Champs might be an exception. He probably can’t cut it at the highest level any more but the handicapper has taken quite a chance in dropping him 19lb from his peak rating. The trainer says this one has been working well. If any of the four are going to snap the Mullins losing streak in British handicap chases, it’s him.
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Betting news: Shutthefrontdoor is attracting plenty of money in Grand National betting this Saturday morning. Hill’s say he has overtaken Many Clouds as their worst result from online betting, though shop punters are still expected to line up for Many Clouds as the day wears on. Coral also say Shutthefrontdoor is the best-backed horse of the day so far. There is still 16-1 available with some firms.
Lots of punters will remember Shutthefrontdoor from last year, when he was the final ride in the race for AP McCoy and was sent off as 6-1 favourite. He showed up well for a long way before tiring into fifth place.
His stamina seemed to be the issue that day, so that must again be a concern on today’s softer surface. But he didn’t help himself by being so keen through the first half of the race, having not had a run for months. He has been in action more recently this time and perhaps that will help him to behave more professionally.
Each-way punters scoff at Barry Geraghty and turn their noses up at Davy Russell. When it comes to the Grand National, Paul Moloney is the only jockey for them. The 37-year-old Irishman has been placed in the last seven (SEVEN!) Nationals.
It’s an amazing achievement. No, he didn’t actually look like winning on any of those occasions, but he probably wasn’t on a horse with a serious winning chance. What he excels at is guiding his mount through the turmoil of a National and grabbing some prize money. Fourth place is worth £50,000 in this race. Moloney has been a reliable source of income for the connections of his Aintree mounts.
Extending his run to eight is going to be a serious test of his powers, however. His conveyance this time is Buywise, who has a nasty habit of clouting a fence and then maybe clouting the next one as well. The horse has a tonne of ability if only he could put together a complete round of good jumping.
Just to make things really interesting for the jockey, Buywise’s stamina is also in doubt. So I think we can expect Moloney to try switching him off at the back, coaxing him over the first line of fences and maybe try to make up a few places if they get as far as The Chair.
In the National, Paul Moloney makes his own luck. But it would be a kind gesture if you could cross your fingers for him just the same.
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Any of you who will be at Aintree today, I urge you to take in a mini-show being put on by four game young actors just outside McCoy’s bar, near the paddock. They appear to have been hired by the racecourse to re-enact some of the great stories from Grand National history, which they were doing with irreverent verve before an audience of perhaps four just now. I saw one of them going splat on his belly while one of his comrades held up a slate with ‘1956’ on it.
Just in case you have a system for picking your Grand National horse, we’ve sorted out the field into some helpful categories:
Grey horses! Unioniste, Ballycasey
Chestnuts! Silviniaco Conti, First Lieutenant, Triolo D’Alene, Soll, Double Ross, The Last Samuri, Kruzhlinin, Vieux Lion Rouge, Pendra
Trained in Wales! Buywise, The Romford Pele
Wears blinkers! Silviniaco Conti, Holywell, Soll, Le Reve, Just A Par, The Romford Pele
Really young! Onenightinvienna, Vieux Lion Rouge (they’re both seven, younger than every National winner since 1940)
Really old! Vics Canvas (he’s 13, older than every National winner since 1923)
Ridden by a jockey who’s won the National before! Many Clouds, Leighton Aspell … Gilgamboa, Robbie Power … Shutthefrontdoor, Barry Geraghty … Ucello Conti, Daryl Jacob
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It has been quite a bright, sunny start to the day here in the north-west, following a blizzard of Grand National news stories on Friday evening which left a significant change to the cast list for this afternoon’s big race.
Ruby Walsh, who had chosen to ride Sir Des Champs from the four-strong team fielded by Willie Mullins, will miss the race after fracturing his wrist in a fall in Friday’s Topham Chase. He will be replaced by Nina Carberry, his sister-in-law, aboard a horse whose best form would give him a very plausible chance of success.
Another legacy of Friday’s racing is a sense that attention has returned to the National’s inherent risks. Two horses were killed in falls during Friday’s Topham Chase, and though there is always a risk when horses jumps fences, the fact that both fell at Becher’s Brook, the most famous obstacle on the course, was a reminder that the Grand National will always be subject to far more scrutiny than any other race in the calendar.
The obvious favourite for today’s National is Many Clouds, the winner 12 months ago, who needs only to repeat that performance to go very close. He is also the obvious “story” horse as he attempts to become the first dual winner since Red Rum in 1974, though Sir Des Champs runs him close with Nina Carberry holding the reins.
The race for the trainers’ title is another plotline bound up with the big race. Paul Nicholls wiped out Nicky Henderson’s challenge for the championship when Neptune Collonges nosed out Sunnyhillboy in 2012, and would do the same to Willie Mullins, who hit the front on Friday, if the third-favourite Silviniaco Conti or another of his six-strong team could get home in front.
Kim Bailey, successful 26 years ago with Mr Frisk, also has a big chance to record his second National victory with The Last Samuri, while The Druids Nephew, who fell five out last last year when still travelling strongly in front, is back to attempt to set the record straight.
It is difficult to rule out any of the 39 runners with absolute certainty, however, because this is a modern National which does not conform even to the rules of a decade ago. The bottom weight today will carry 10st 4lb, a lot less than Many Clouds but still a more realistic relative burden that most National top weights of the past.
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The going on the Grand National course is now soft, good to soft in places after more rain than expected, a total of 7mm, fell at Aintree overnight. More showers are forecast for later in the morning although it was bright and sunny start to the day on Merseyside.
Clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch said: “We had 7mm of rain overnight and the forecast is for a bright, sunny day with the possibility of showers after lunchtime.”
Horses who normally prefer better ground have been eased following the news with Saint Are, second in the National last year,out to 18-1 from 16-1. Shutthefrontdoor was also 18-1 from 16-1, with Holywell out to 14-1. Silviniaco Conti is another to have weakened while Many Clouds continues to be well supported as 8-1 favourite, with The Last Samuri and Morning Assembly also backed.
O’Faolains Boy misses National
O’Faolains Boy is out of the Grand National after trainer Rebecca Curtis discovered the nine-year-old to be lame on Saturday morning. A best-priced 33-1 for the big race, he was to be ridden by Brian Hughes.
“He was absolutely fine yesterday but when he pulled out this morning he was just a bit sore,” said Curtis. “He has a slight bit of swelling under his hock. “He’ll be fine in a few days but obviously it rules him out for today, unfortunately. Why today?”
Curtis expects to get O’Faolains Boy back on the track before the end of the month. “He’ll be absolutely fine again next week,” she said. “He’s in the Scottish National and the bet365 Gold Cup [at Sandown] and there’s also Punchestown so he will go again this season.”
The trainer also has the quietly fancied lightly weighted runner The Romford Pele among the now 39 runners set to run in the race.
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Preamble
Hello and welcome to Grand National day, the biggest day of the racing year bar none and the one event that truly transcends the sport. Personally, I loved the days before racing’s weights-and-measures man, Phil “Tinkerman” Smith, started to fiddle about with the race and we started to get 100-1 shots winning again.
These days it’s truly wide open and the shortlists have become ever longer – everyone has an opinion which are not as easily dismissed and consequently more and more people are having a wager again. I’m banking on Gallant Oscar and The Last Samuri, but the best piece of advice is to shop around, get the best price about your fancy and take those odds early in the day.
Last year the shorties at the front of the betting were clipped but few of the outsiders were pushed out and in the end the bookmakers were betting 165% over-round on the race. I could spend a lot of time explaining what that means but in essence punters were ripped off and backers might get little change out of the ‘Old Enemy’ this year. So get to the betting shop or surf online as soon as possible.
The tapes go up for the first race at 1.45pm BST with the big one set to start at the new, later off-time of 5.15pm. Stick with us here for more sage advice and the latest news from Aintree where Greg Wood and Chris Cook will be reporting from the track as we bring you the only Thoroughbred contest that merits the tag “the greatest race in the world”.
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