Grand National 2015 Fact Files |
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The Rainbow Hunter |
David Bass is excited at the prospect of riding The Rainbow Hunter in the Crabbie's Grand National after schooling the Kim Bailey-trained 11-year-old over Aintree-style fences on March 30.
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Bass reported The Rainbow Hunter full of enthusiasm following the session at Lambourn and the jockey is hoping his mount can put in a clear round after not getting far in the last two Nationals.
"He's been there the last two years and the furthest he's got is Valentine's (ninth fence), so hopefully we can get a bit further," Bass told Racing UK.
"He's got the right attitude. He hasn't got a lot of weight, so a clear round and we'll see what happens.
"I jumped off him after the gallops (on Monday morning) and he ne arly ran away with me.
"I told Kim it was as though he was two or three, he's got so much enthusiasm.
"The fact he's 11 and he's had a long absence is not going to worry me."
The Rainbow Hunter 11-10-07
Breeding: b g Rainbow High - Sobranie (High Top)
Breeder: Michael Massarella
Born: May 28, 2004
Owner: May We Never Be Found Out Partnership
Trainer: Kim Bailey
Form: FF204/311P4UP/261U-P
*Failed to complete in the last two renewals of the Crabbie’s Grand National, unseating his rider at the Canal Turn.
(eighth of the 30 fences jumped) in 2013 and again at Valentines (ninth) in 2014, when he was badly hampered.
*Has only run once since last year’s race when pulling up in the Grade Three BetBright Handicap Chase won by Rocky Creek at Kempton Park on February 21 on unsuitably soft ground. Trainer in good form.
“Registered biggest victory of his career in the Listed Sky Bet Chase over three miles at Doncaster in January, 2014, which came on the back of a wind operation.
Race Record: Starts: 32; Wins: 5; 2nd: 6; 3rd: 3; Win & Place prize money: £86,340
May We Never Be Found Out Partnership
The May We Never Be Found Out Partnership comprises Dermot Clancy, Kevin Clancy and Stephen Cannon, three members of Middlesex-based the Clancy Group and Oli Bell, 27, who is a presenter for Racing UK after a spell working on a horseracing channel in Australia. The Clancy Group Plc is a privately owned family business – through fellow operating company Clancy Docwra Limited and subsidiary and associate companies Clancy Plant Limited and Clancy Developments Limited – is well established as one of the UK’s leading contractors within the construction industry. Clancy Docwra has successfully developed from a ground works, drainage and road works contractor into a national construction company with a strong base in the water sector, as well as a significant presence in the gas, electricity, rail, highways, new build and refurbishment industries. Joint chairman Dermot Clancy Dermot joined the family company in 1970. He was appointed joint managing director along with his brother Kevin after the death of their father, founder Michael J. Clancy, in 1984. Born in 1951, Dermot’s life revolves around sport. He and his wife Vicky live in Penn, Buckinghamshire and have four sons and one daughter. Joint chairman Kevin Clancy joined the company in 1968. Born in London in 1950, Kevin remembers his father starting M J Clancy & Sons Limited in 1958 and the purchase of R E Docwra in 1974 before the creation of Clancy Docwra Limited in 2001. He trained and qualified as a civil engineer at Hatfield Polytechnic, while working at the company part-time. When he’s not at work, Kevin can be found following rugby and wine around the globe. He has five children and lives with his wife Mary in Farnham Royal. Kevin retired as a director of London Irish Rugby Club at the end of 2013, but remains a committed and enthusiastic fan. Bell, son of broadcaster Rupert Bell and nephew of trainer Michael Bell, went to Oundle School with Kevin Clancy’s daughter and started his media career in radio covering a variety of racing and sporting events and moved into television with Racing UK in 2006. He then spent a two-year stint in Sydney where he fronted the International racing coverage on Sky Racing Australia. He is now back with the channel as one of the main presenters, either in the studio, on-course or also out and about fronting features. The quartet purchased The Rainbow Hunter after speaking to Kim Bailey at Royal Ascot in June, 2012. Bailey told them that the horse would not only win at Ascot over fences later on that year but could end up being the perfect type for the Crabbie’s Grand National. The Rainbow Hunter completed the first part of the bargain when obliging at odds of 16/1 in the Mitie Events & Leisure Handicap Chase at Ascot on November 23, 2012, and has a chance of fulfilling the second part of the deal.
Crabbie’s Grand National record: 2013 The Rainbow Hunter (UR 8th); 2014 The Rainbow Hunter (UR 9th)
Kim Bailey (Thorndale Farm, Andoversford, Gloucestershire)
Born: May 25, 1953. Background: Bailey was bred for the jump game as his father Ken was a successful handler. Bailey currently trains at Thorndale Farm, Andoversford, Gloucestershire, having relocated from his native Northamptonshire in the summer of 2006, after beginning his training career at Old Manor Stables in Upper Lambourn. Following a low-profile riding career, he served as assistant to Humphrey Cottrill, Tim Forster and Fred Rimell before recording his first win as a trainer with Shifting Gold on January 7, 1978, at Sandown in the Anthony Mildmay Chase, a mere six days after taking over the reins from his father. He has trained some top-class jumpers who have rewarded him with training's highest accolades, notably the Crabbie’s Grand National (Mr Frisk, 1990), Cheltenham Gold Cup (Master Oats, 1995) and Champion Hurdle (Alderbrook, 1995). His highest total of British jump winners in a season was 86 in 1993-94 and he is enjoying his best season since 1996-97 with 55 successes (up to March 29, 2015). Achievements: Bailey is only one of two current trainers to have won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and Grand National. The other is Paul Nicholls. Mr Frisk was ridden to victory at Aintree by Marcus Armytage, the latest amateur to win the Crabbie’s Grand National. Mr Frisk’s course record of 8m 47.80s still stands today. Bailey has trained four winners in total at the Cheltenham Festival, registering his first victory there for 16 years when Darna won the 2015 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase in March.
Crabbie’s Grand National Record: 1983 Menford (Ref 19th); 1986 Late Night Extra (PU 11th); 1990 MR FRISK (WON); 1991 Docklands Express (Fell 1st), Mr Frisk (PU 22nd); 1992 Docklands Express (4th); 1994 Master Oats (Fell 13th); 1995 Romany King (6th), Master Oats (7th); 1996 Over The Stream (13th); 1997 Master Oats (5th), Glemot (UR 7th); 2000 Druid's Brook (UR 12th); 2001 Supreme Charm (UR 15th); 2002 Supreme Charm (5th); 2003 Wonder Weasel (Fell 3rd), 2004 Wonder Weasel (PU 28th); 2007 Longshanks (7th); 2012 Midnight Haze (15th); 2013 The Rainbow Hunter (UR 8th); 2014 The Rainbow Hunter (UR 9th)
