The Crabbie's Grand National |
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| Grade 3 Handicap £1,000,000 total prize fund, 7yo plus, 4m 3f 110y, Class 1 |
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| Saturday 5th April 2014 | |
1 Pineau De Re 25/1
2 Balthazar King 14/1
3 Double Seven 10/1JF
4 Alvarado 33/1
5 Rocky Creek 16/1
6
Chance Du Roy 33/1
40 ran Distances: 5l, 1¼l, 10l
TIME 9m 9.90s (slow by 5.90s)
40 horses and jockeys returned safe and sound
Jockey Leighton Aspell realised a lifelong ambition after he partnered 25/1 shot Pineau De Re to victory in the Crabbie's Grand National at Aintree this afternoon.
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The 37-year-old had announced his retirement in July, 2007 and went to work for trainer John Dunlop for 18 months but the lure of the saddle proved irresistible and he returned to race-riding in April, 2009.
He is currently enjoying his best season to date and this winner marked his 61st of the campaign.
The jockey had previously finished second in the Crabbie's Grand National on board Supreme Glory in 2003 and was visibly delighted having gone one better this afternoon.
"It's a dream come true," said Aspell.
"The feeling is just of elation when you cross the line. At my age, I won't have many more chances to win! Every year, you share winning the National with your friends but obviously you want to do it yourself.
"You keep going through a combination of tiredness and adrenalin now. I was trying to save as much as I could but he is such a little terrier he kept swinging back into the bridle. I was very conscious about being out in front - it's four miles and nearly four furlongs and there's no other race in the calendar that long.
"He's a small horse and he is going to try very hard over jumps, which he kept doing. When we got over the third last, Noel (Fehily, on Rocky Creek) tried to increase the pace and I couldn't quite get a real feel of what I was holding on to.
"I met the last really well and got a bit of daylight - he missed a few on the way round more through lack of daylight but I suppose it's the same for a lot out there. When I was settled in behind horses, we missed a few fences. From the Canal Turn last time, we had plenty of good daylight and he really enjoyed that part of the race.
"I knew we were in with a chance jumping Valentine's second time round. You're never certain of winning, even when you reach the Elbow, but I knew we'd have to tie up badly to be caught at that point. We didn't have a lot left to be honest but you wouldn't at the end of this sort of trip.
"It's a wonderful day. This is what we do it for. I remember watching the National as a very young boy and, as much as you enjoy sharing in everybody's success, you seek and crave a bit too. It's great to get a chance.
"Even to get a ride in the National is a great thing but to get one with a live chance is even better.
"My family made the effort to come over yesterday on the train and we had a night out last night. We are all here today to enjoy it too."
Crabbie's Grand National Chase (Grade 3 Handicap)
£1,000,000 added, 7yo plus, 4m 3f 110y, Class 1
40 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
| Horse Trainer |
Jockey Weight |
SP Distance |
|
| 1 |
Pineau De Re Dr R D P Newland |
L P Aspell 10st 6lbs |
25 - 1 Winner |
| 2 |
Balthazar King P J Hobbs |
R Johnson 10st 13lbs |
14 - 1 5 lengths |
| 3 |
Double Seven M Brassil |
A P McCoy 10st 11lbs |
10 - 1 1 1/4 length |
| 4 |
Alvarado F O'Brien |
Paul Moloney 10st 2lbs |
33 - 1 10 lengths |
| 5 |
Rocky Creek P F Nicholls |
N Fehily 11st 5lbs |
16 - 1 2 1/2 lengths |
| 6 |
Chance Du Roy P J Hobbs |
T J O'Brien 10st 6lbs |
33 - 1 Short Head |
| 7 |
Monbeg Dude M Scudamore |
P Carberry 10st 9lbs |
16 - 1 3 lengths |
| 8 |
Raz De Maree D T Hughes |
D J Condon 10st 3lbs |
50 - 1 16 lengths |
| 9 |
Swing Bill D Pipe |
C O'Farrell 10st 1lbs |
66 - 1 Short Head |
| 10 |
Kruzhlinin D McCain Jnr |
K Renwick 10st 6lbs |
100 - 1 4 1/2 lengths |
| 11 |
Buckers Bridge H de Bromhead |
A E Lynch 10st 10lbs |
66 - 1 2 1/2 lengths |
| 12 |
The Package D Pipe |
T Scudamore 10st 4lbs |
14 - 1 18 lengths |
| 13 |
Vesper Bell W P Mullins |
Ms K Walsh 10st 5lbs |
40 - 1 6 lengths |
| 14 |
Across The Bay D McCain Jnr |
Henry Brooke 10st 11lbs |
50 - 1 2 lengths |
| 15 |
Mr Moonshine Mrs S J Smith |
Ryan Mania 10st 12lbs |
20 - 1 7 lengths |
| 16 |
Prince De Beauchene W P Mullins |
P Townend 10st 10lbs |
20 - 1 37 lengths |
| 17 |
Hunt Ball N J Henderson |
A Tinkler 11st 7lbs |
50 - 1 33 lengths |
| 18 |
Hawkes Point P F Nicholls |
Ryan Mahon 10st 6lbs |
50 - 1 1 length |
| UR |
Tidal Bay P F Nicholls |
Sam Twiston-Davies 11st 10lbs |
16 - 1 |
| Fell |
Long Run N J Henderson |
Mr S Waley-Cohen 11st 9lbs |
12 - 1 |
| PU |
Triolo D'Alene N J Henderson |
B J Geraghty 11st 6lbs |
16 - 1 |
| PU |
Quito De La Roque C A Murphy |
B T O'Connell 11st 1lbs |
40 - 1 |
| PU |
Colbert Station T M Walsh |
M P Walsh 11st 0lbs |
33 - 1 |
| PU |
Walkon A King |
W Hutchinson 11st 0lbs |
33 - 1 |
| Fell |
Wayward Prince Mrs H Parrott |
Jack Doyle 10st 13lbs |
66 - 1 |
| UR |
Teaforthree Miss R Curtis |
Nick Scholfield 10st 12lbs |
10 - 1 |
| DNS |
Battle Group J Farrelly |
Brendan Powell 10st 10lbs |
40 - 1 |
| PU |
Lion Na Bearnai T Gibney |
D N Russell 10st 10lbs |
33 - 1 |
| Fell |
Big Shu Peter Maher |
P Buchanan 10st 8lbs |
14 - 1 |
| UR |
Burton Port Jonjo O'Neill |
Brian Harding 10st 8lbs |
16 - 1 |
| UR |
Our Father D Pipe |
D F O'Regan 10st 8lbs |
25 - 1 |
| Fell |
Mountainous R Lee |
J E Moore 10st 7lbs |
40 - 1 |
| UR |
The Rainbow Hunter K C Bailey |
Aidan Coleman 10st 7lbs |
25 - 1 |
| PU |
Vintage Star Mrs S J Smith |
B Hughes 10st 7lbs |
50 - 1 |
| Fell |
Golan Way Tim Vaughan |
Michael Byrne 10st 5lbs |
66 - 1 |
| Fell |
Twirling Magnet Jonjo O'Neill |
R P McLernon 10st 5lbs |
100 - 1 |
| Fell |
Rose Of The Moon D O'Meara |
Jake Greenall 10st 3lbs |
50 - 1 |
| PU |
Shakalaka-boomboom N J Henderson |
D Bass 10st 3lbs |
16 - 1 |
| UR |
Last Time D'albain L P Cusack |
R C Colgan 10st 2lbs |
50 - 1 |
| Fell |
One In A Milan Evan Williams |
Adam Wedge 10st 2lbs |
40 - 1 |
Pineau De Re is the third consecutive 11-year-old to win the Crabbie's Grand National, following on from Auroras Encore in 2013 and Neptunes Collonges in 2012.
Pineau De Re is a fortified wine produced in Charente, Western France.
Pineau De Re is the second Scottish-owned winner in succession of the Crabbie's Grand National, following Auroras Encore who has two Scottish owners among the three-strong partnership who owns him.
Pineau De Re is the ninth horse starting with the letter P to win the Crabbie's Grand National in 167 runnings.
Leighton Aspell, the winning rider, is the second jockey in succession to have retired from riding and then made a comeback. Ryan Mania, the winner on Auroras Encore in 2013, did the same.
Pineau De Re is the sixth Crabbie's Grand National winner to be bred in France, following on from Neptune Collonges (2012), Mon Mome (2009), Lutteur II (1909), Reugny (1874) and Alcibiade (1865).
PINEAU DE RE DELIVERS NATIONAL DREAM FOR OLD FRIENDS
Dr Richard Newland and John Provan have been friends for 25 years and their longheld dream of training and owning the winner of the Crabbie's Grand National became reality on Saturday when 25/1 shot Pineau De Re landed the big prize in the hands of Leighton Aspell.
Dr Newland, who trains 12 horses in Claines, Worcestershire, said: "Two out or three out we were getting excited. I was jumping up and down with my daughter. Leighton [Aspell, jockey] had a plan and delivered it superbly well. He's a great guy and a good jockey and I'm thrilled for him.
"When something like this happens you think perhaps I should stop now because it just can't get better than this. He's a classy, classy horse Pineau De Re, I've always thought that. When I got him he was 10, he's 11 now but he doesn't act like an 11-year-old, he's got loads of ability and he still has all the enthusiasm to do the job. He has the combination of stamina and a touch of speed and it was just a wonderful performance even though he made a few errors.
"This is a hobby for me really and I have no real plans to change anything at the minute. I have great work colleagues at Newbridge and I love working with them too. I'm lucky enough to be able to do this [training] and enjoy it but if you do it as a full-time job there's a higher level of stress and less fun. I have a big gang of supporters here today and my three daughters so that makes it extra special.
"I feed the horses in the morning, harrow the gallop and leave instructions for the day. I go out with the horses when I can but quite often I have to leave it to the team. Carolyn, who has lead up today, Millie, who does the work at home and has been with me for a long, long time. Chris Ward, Amanda and now Charlie Hammond, who are work riders. Chris has put this horse right and done all of the work on him.
"John Provan and I met 25 years ago and he's my oldest racing friend and we've been coming here to Aintree for 20 years together long before I trained or even owned horses. It was always our dream to have a National runner."
Owner John Provan added: "We have brought everybody today, we are all sharing in the magic moment in time. It's fantastic, absolutely fantastic. We love taking on the big guys. We have come against Paul Nicholls and all the jockeys - it's hard to get a really good jockey when you want one.
"Leighton Aspell did the job absolutely perfect today - we couldn't have asked anymore from a jockey. I have to say a big thank you to all of Richard's staff, such lovely staff. They all do their job 100 per cent and it's just fantastic for them. They will all be in the celebrations tonight."
BALTHAZAR THE SECOND KING
Balthazar King has enjoyed a terrific campaign winning all four of his previous starts and put in a career best to finish in second place, with the 14/1 chance beaten just five lengths.
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"Jumping the third-last I thought we were going to be fifth or sixth or something but he ran on very well after that.
"This is enormous for the horse and he is a superstar. He is so consistent, tough and he tries so hard. I have enormous pride in him."
"Chance Du Roy ran well (sixth) and I thought at the third-last he was the one with the better chance."
Richard Johnson was aboard Balthazar King, and said: "He gave me 200 per cent. I was struggling a long way out and he is a fantastic horse. I thought we had a good chanc
e going to the Elbow and he gave his all. It would have been great to win but I couldn't be happier."
McCOY CHAMPION IN THIRD
Champion jockey Tony McCoy was always prominent aboard Martin Brassil's Double Seven, with the 10/1 joint favourite boxing on well in the closing stages to be beaten a length and a quarter back into third place.
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The jockey said: "He ran great. The ground was probably a little dead for him and it caught him out a little bit.
"He is a very gutsy little horse and has been very well prepared by Martin Brassil. He told me to be very positive and believe in the horse.
"I thought jumping the last ditch that I had a chance of winning but the dead ground caught him out a bit from there.
"He is a hardy little horse with plenty of guts.
"Well done to Dr Newland and Leighton Aspell as they are both nice people."
ALVARADO FLIES FOR FOURTH
Rookie trainer Fergal O'Brien was thrilled with the run of Alvarado, with the nine-year-old 33/1 chance shrugging off a 94-day absence from the track to finish with a full head of steam and claim fourth place under Paul Moloney.
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O'Brien said: "It was a fantastic run and Paul has given him a great ride.
"I am over the moon with the horse. He hasn't run for a long time and everyone has done a great job at home.
"I thought he would run a good race if he got into a rhythm.
"The horse is very talented and he was fantastic today. He was a little keen which hasn't helped him but he has finished really well.
"He did come home so well, especially considering he hadn't run for so long.
"I have been associated two National winners when I was with Nigel Twiston-Davies and this is a wonderful place. We have had a wonderful couple of days and I am over the moon."
CREEK FIFTH
Rocky Creek was another to have been handy throughout but weakened back to fifth.
His jockey Noel Fehily said: "He gave me a great spin."
