Grand National – in numbers

/by

1 – Rachael Blackmore is the only woman to have ridden a Grand National winner – on Minella Times in 2021.

2 – Dual winners of the National are not a complete rarity over the years, with nine horses having won the race twice – most recently Tiger Roll in 2019.

3 – Red Rum is the only horse to have won the race three times, in 1973, 74 and 77.

4 – Ginger McCain, Red Rum’s trainer, was also successful with Amberleigh House in 2004 meaning he shares the record with Fred Rimell and George Dockeray for the most wins in the race at four.

5 – The number of times George Stevens rode the winner of the Grand National – Free Trader (1856), Emblem (1863), Emblematic (1864) and The Colonel (1869 and 1870) – the most of any jockey.

6 – 6-1 was the SP of 1920 winner Troytown, who has a handicap chase named after him at Navan.

7 – The minimum age of a horse allowed to run in the National is seven.

8 – Jonjo O’Neill trained 2010 winner Don’t Push It, but had eight rides in the race and never completed the course.

9 – Most common age of the winner. 46 of 174 runnings (with a winning age recorded).

10 – In 2010 the 10-year-old Don’t Push It won as the 10-1 joint-favourite

11 – Gordon Elliott saddled 11 runners in 2019.

12 – Peter Scudamore, champion jockey eight times, had 12 rides in the race without winning.

13 – Total number of mares to win the race. Charity (1841), Miss Mowbray (1852), Anatis (1860), Jealousy (1861), Emblem (1863), Emblematic (1864), Casse Tete (1872), Empress (1880), Zoedone (1883), Frigate (1889), Shannon Lass (1902), Sheila’s Cottage (1948) and Nickel Coin (1951).

14 – Hedgehunter won by 14 lengths in 2005 to give Willie Mullins his first win in the race and Ruby Walsh his second.

15 – It took Sir Anthony McCoy 15 attempts before finally winning the National on Don’t Push It.

16 – Manifesto, who ran in the race eight times, winning twice, made his final appearance at the age of 16 in 1904.

17 – Bruce Hobbs is the youngest jockey to win the National on Battleship in 1938.

18 – In 2018 Tiger Roll won the first of his two Grand Nationals. The Covid-19 pandemic denied him the chance to win a third.

19 – In 1919 the shortest-priced winner of the race Poethlyn (11-4) won.

20 – Tom Scudamore rode in the race 20 times before his recent retirement and was never placed.

21 – Champion jockey Richard Johnson had 21 rides in the race without winning. The closest he came was What’s Up Boys (2002) and Balthazar King (2014) who were both second.

22 – In 2022 amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen announced his ride on Noble Yeats would be the last of his career, and promptly went and won it.

23 – The largest number to complete the course in 1984 when Hello Dandy won

24 – Bobbyjo became the first Irish winner for 24 years when providing father and son Tommy and Paul Carberry with a famous success.

25 – Rubstic, the first of only two Grand National winners trained in Scotland in 1979 was returned at 25-1. One For Arthur (Lucinda Russell) is the other.

26 – In 1926 Jack Horner won, ridden by Tasmanian-born William (Billy) Watkinson. Sadly Watkinson died in a fall at Bogside just three weeks later.

27 – The first radio commentary was on the BBC in 1927, the race was won by Sprig.

28 – In 1928 the smallest number of finishers completed the course when just two came home with Tipperary Tim winning.

29 – In 1929 the biggest ever field went to post, 66.

30 – There are 30 fences on the Grand National course.

31 – Philip Hobbs has had 31 runners in the race without a winner.

32 – Tom Rimell won in 1932 with 50-1 chance Forbra. Tom’s son, Fred, went on to train four Grand National winners.

33 – Carrie Ford was 33 when, in 2005, she finished fifth on Forest Gunner – the highest placing for a female rider at that time.

34 – Golden Miller became the first and so far only horse to win the Gold Cup and Grand National in the same year.

35 – Former actress Mirabel Topham becomes a director of Tophams Ltd and remained in control of Aintree until its sale in 1973.

36 – Reynoldstown, ridden by Fulke Walwyn and trained and owned by Noel Furlong, win the second of his two Grand Nationals in 1936.

37 – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited Aintree for the first time in the Coronation year of 1937,  with Royal Mail an apt winner. Queen Elizabeth would later see her own Devon Loch snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in 1956.

38 – In 1838 the Grand Liverpool Steeplechase attracted just three runners. It was one of three unofficial precursors of the official Grand National.

39 – Lottery is classed as the winner of the first Grand National in 1839 for historical purposes. The race was renamed the Grand National in 1847.

40 – The maximum number of runners in the Grand National.

Emmet Mullins still struggling to grasp National achievement

/by

Trainer Emmet Mullins is still coming to terms with last year’s Randox Grand National success as he prepares Noble Yeats in his bid for back-to-back victories in the Aintree spectacular.

Mullins is of course from a family steeped in racing history, from his late grandfather Paddy to his training trio of uncles Tom, Tony and, most notably, the legendary Willie Mullins.

Emmet, who took out his training licence in 2015, trains just a stone’s throw from the latter’s huge operation at Closutton and spent a number of years riding for him before retiring from the saddle.

He enjoyed his fair share of success as a jockey, including a Cheltenham Festival victory aboard Sir Des Champs. But he is modest in assessing his riding ability.

Noble Yeats at Emmet Mullins' yard
Noble Yeats at Emmet Mullins’ yard (The Jockey Club)

“I don’t know if the scales would let me be a jockey, that was one part of the battle, but I wasn’t good enough,” he said.

“I suppose at the time there were 90 less horses in Willie’s, Ruby Walsh was number one, Paul Townend was number two and David Casey was probably still riding at the time.

“I was too far down the list and wasn’t doing as well as I’d have liked. I decided to retire and change and do something that I could potentially do better.

“I’d say there’s no doubt every one of the Mullins’ is different and an individual. There’s definitely something I’ve taken from every one of them and you put in your own bit and make it work.”

It did not take Mullins long to make an impact on the training scene, with St Stephens Green and Zero Ten a couple of his early flag-bearers.

Robert Waley-Cohen with the Grand National trophy
Robert Waley-Cohen with the Grand National trophy (Brian Lawless/PA)

The 2020/21 season brought notable success at Cheltenham with The Shunter, but those winners pale into significance following his life-changing success on Merseyside last April.

Noble Yeats was still a novice when he lined up for the Grand National.

But he had shown bits and pieces of form to give him a chance, including a runner-up finish to star novice Ahoy Senor in the Grade Two Towton at Wetherby – a performance that prompted prominent owner Robert Waley-Cohen to approach Mullins about the possibility of buying the then seven-year-old from the handler’s long-time friend Paul Byrne.

“They (Waley-Cohens) had seen him run in Wetherby when he was second to Ahoy Senor. I think by chance they were there as they had a runner that day,” said Mullins.

“Anthony Bromley (bloodstock agent) put it to them that they were looking for a Grand National horse, Noble Yeats ticked a lot of the boxes and it was great that they put that trust and faith in me.”

Noble Yeats’ first run for Waley-Cohen and his amateur rider son Sam came at the following month’s Cheltenham Festival, where he finished ninth in the Ultima Handicap Chase.

Having been beaten 20 lengths in the Cotswolds, he lined up as a 50-1 shot at Aintree, but Mullins insists he never lost faith.

He said: “When the weights came out, he was one of the fancied horses at the prices. Then he had the run in Cheltenham, it was Sam’s first ride on him and it probably didn’t go to plan, but it might have been the making of the horse, running in a big handicap chase at Cheltenham.

“I suppose his price drifted off the back of that, which made him go under the radar a bit more, but we never lost hope or confidence.

“It was a long prep – we had it planned from a long way out and everything went to plan.

“I remember saying to Sam the night before the race ‘if I had the last two weeks back, there’s nothing I would change’.”

Noble Yeats and Sam Waley-Cohen winning the Grand National
Noble Yeats and Sam Waley-Cohen winning the Grand National (David Davies/PA)

Come the big day Noble Yeats certainly stepped up the plate, making his move on the second circuit and finding plenty from the final fence to see off 15-2 favourite Any Second Now by just over two lengths.

Much of the post-race focus was on the winning rider, who having become the first amateur to win the National since Marcus Armytage aboard Mr Frisk in 1990, immediately called time on his career.

Mullins was quite happy to be slightly out of the spotlight, but nevertheless recalls the events of the day with great fondness.

“It’s many months later now and honestly it still hasn’t really sunk in,” he continued.

“I watched the race in the stand to the right of the tunnel when you come out of the parade ring. I was completely on my own and that was Plan A for me!

“I’m fairly sure looking back on it now I was watching the wrong horse for the first half of the race down to the Canal Turn, but by the time he jumped the water and passed in front of me heading out on to the second circuit, I thought he was in position A, a position from where National winners gone by have come from.

“I’m not sure about the horse, but that was the first blow I took! I had to take a breath and gather myself together and from then it was just plain sailing.

“He jumped brilliant and Sam was brilliant on him. He had the confidence to sit and wait until crossing the Melling Road and the rest is history.

“I had to exit stage left and gather myself for a second. I had no idea it was going to be Sam’s last ride, that was a bit more trust they put in, but thank God the horse put it all together.”

All those involved returned to Ireland to further celebrate the success, with Noble Yeats enjoying a homecoming parade in Mullins’ local village of Leighlinbridge.

Noble Yeats with connections outside the Lord Bagenal
Noble Yeats with connections outside the Lord Bagenal (Brian Lawless/PA)

Mullins said: “It was a bit surreal when I came home. I hadn’t really told anyone about the homecoming for the horse, but word seemed to have got round and I couldn’t believe the turn out in Leighlinbridge beside the Lord Bagenal (Inn).

“Noble Yeats is not the prettiest horse in the world. George (Mullins, Emmet’s father) saw him recently coming up the yard and said ‘what’s that broodmare doing riding out here?’. The rider just replied ‘if he wins me another National that’ll do me!’.”

The Grand National brought Mullins new-found fame and unsurprisingly further prospective owners.

But while Willie trains a formidable army of around 200 horses just next door, for now Emmet is happy with his lot.

“I’m very happy with the set up I have. It’s manageable and I have a good team of staff. There’s staff shortages across racing and we have a good team together and are doing a good job I think,” he added.

“There was one barn, now there’s two and we’re up to 29 stables. In my head it’s one step at a time.

“After winning the Grand National everyone would have said we’d bang up stables left, right and centre, but I deliberately didn’t. I put my foot down and said we’d be a little bit more calculated.”

For Mullins there is certainly no basking in the glory of what he has achieved, although his stable star will line up as a major contender following a fourth-placed finish in the Cheltenham Gold Cup under new rider Sean Bowen.

Trainer Emmet Mullins
Trainer Emmet Mullins (Brian Lawless/PA)

“I try my best not to let winning the Grand National change my life, but you’d have to ask my friends and family about that.

“My mentality is you see it, you do it and you move on and look forward. I suppose that’s part of the reason why winning the National hasn’t hit home, you’re looking for next year’s National winner and trying to buy horses for the year after’s National.

“I’m trying to see that five-year project the whole time. I suppose I did overshoot the first five-year plan a little bit!

“He seems to have come out of the Gold Cup well. He’s getting a bit wiser every time and seems to look after himself a bit. He needs a bit more coaxing and Sean was under pressure and hard at it in the Gold Cup. When he got a bit of daylight, he flew home.

“He was last jumping the first fence in the Grand National last year and wasn’t in contention for the first two miles which all worked out in his favour. There is no rule of thumb – it’s about getting the horse happy and confident with some space and getting the gaps.

“It will probably have to be taking the brave man’s route again to get that space but he negotiated it last year and fingers crossed can do it again. I will tell Sean to keep going back at look at Sam’s ride last year!”

Rambler been there and done that at Cheltenham – now for ‘ticket to greatness’ at Aintree

/by

The Randox Grand National is Corach Rambler’s “ticket to greatness” as Lucinda Russell goes in search of her second victory in the world’s most famous steeplechase.

The Kinross-based handler is well-versed in preparing one for Aintree. She sent out the late One For Arthur to become only the second-ever Scottish-trained winner of the race in 2017 and nursed her National hero back to his best while many were crying for retirement to finish sixth at the age of 10 in 2019.

Since One For Arthur so memorably landed a telling blow six years ago, only the Covid pandemic has been able to stop the Irish domination on Merseyside.

But now the Scottish handler has the perfect candidate to blunt the challenge from across the Irish Sea in Corach Rambler – the upwardly mobile eight-year-old who finds himself near the top of the betting for the big race following back-to-back victories at the Cheltenham Festival.

Corach Rambler ridden by Derek Fox on their way to winning the Ultima Handicap Chase on day one of the Cheltenham Festival
Corach Rambler ridden by Derek Fox on their way to winning the Ultima Handicap Chase on day one of the Cheltenham Festival (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I definitely think he has the qualities,” said Russell, when assessing her charge’s chances.

“He’s got the bravery and he has the desire to race and the will to win. It’s up to him and Derek (Fox, jockey) now to see if they take to the fences and keep out of trouble throughout the race.

“I think we saw at Cheltenham that he stays very well and he seems to travel really well as well. Although he gets sort of shuffled back sometimes, I thought he travelled much better this year than he did last year. That certainly gives you hope for Aintree.

“The big question is will he take to the fences and that will be a bit different for him. But his jumping seems to be one of his assets, it’s not that he’s extra flamboyant or anything, he’s very neat in his jumping. Although he’s a bold horse, he’s not stupid about things and that bodes well for Aintree.”

Not only is the dual Ultima winner one of the stars of Russell’s rapidly-improving string, but he is also the apple of her partner Peter Scudamore’s eye.

Peter Scudamore and Lucinda Russell consider Corach Rambler part of the family
Peter Scudamore and Lucinda Russell consider Corach Rambler part of the family (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Corach Rambler and the former champion jockey are an inseparable pair and with the gelding very much part of the family at Arlary House, the bond between man and horse adds an extra layer of emotion ahead of their tilt at National glory.

“This is going to be very different to One For Arthur because this horse is very close to Scu which adds an extra angle to it,” continued Russell.

“Arthur was a horse we loved greatly, but it is a bit different when Corach is a horse that you half-invite into the house and is very close to us.

“That will add an extra anxiety to Scu’s day definitely, and I’m sure mine as well.

“That makes it even more special and for a horse like Corach, it’s his ticket to greatness. He’s won twice at the Festival and winning the same race two years running is quite an achievement – but it would be lovely for him if he could add a National.”

Cameron Sword, Thomas Kendall, Keith Garwood and Gary Scott, co-owners of Corach Rambler
Cameron Sword, Thomas Kendall, Keith Garwood and Gary Scott, co-owners of Corach Rambler (Andrew Milligan/PA)

It is easy to make comparisons between One For Arthur and this year’s contender. Both headed to Liverpool with a rating in the mid-to-late 140s and there are no secrets in the way big-race pilot Fox will navigate the 30 fences – biding his time and hoping to produce Corach Rambler deep into the contest as he did to great success previously.

However, the Kinross-based handler believes Corach Rambler’s ground versatility is one huge difference which could prove key on the big day.

She said: “I think we’re lucky with that, whereas Arthur was a horse who needed soft ground, and although he handled the good ground, it damaged him in the long run.

“I don’t feel that with Corach, I feel he can actually go on most grounds which is quite heartening ahead of a National.

“The ground isn’t a problem to him which is a big thing when you are taking on a race like the Grand National, because you never know what conditions are going to be like and you are only aiming at the one race – it’s not like you can stop and go somewhere else the next week.”

Corach Rambler will race off a mark 2lb lower than that of One For Arthur on Merseyside, but far from careful planning, it is just simple luck and a helping hand from the weather gods that sees the six-time winner line-up 10lb well-in following his win at Prestbury Park.

“It’s funny how it works out,” explained Russell. “After Newbury (Coral Gold Cup) we said we’d aim for the National and run one more time, and we kept entering him in all these races.

“We would have run him at Lingfield (on Winter Million weekend) if it had been on and it’s probably a good thing he didn’t run at Lingfield because he might have gone up in the handicap.

“In the end we look like total geniuses because he’s gone up 10lb after the weights have come out due to winning at Cheltenham.”

One of the endearing features of the Russell-Scudamore operation is the warmth shown by both trainer and assistant towards those housed at the yard.

And despite having total faith in their ability to prepare a horse for the big occasion, the strong connection they share with their inmates means there will be plenty of nerves when Corach Rambler faces the starter at 5.15pm on April 15.

“It would be slightly different (this year) because we have more confidence and we know how to produce the horses, knowing what it takes to win a National.” explained the handler.

“But there is still going to be the stress and anxiety of getting the luck in running. We get very close to these horses and in the last couple of years we seem to be getting even closer still because we ride them ourselves and are really hands on, it does add that extra element to it.”

A second National would be the perfect way for Russell to round off a stellar season which has seen her eclipse her previous best campaign numerically.

Grand National winner One For Arthur pictured with trainer Lucinda Russell at her yard in Kinross, Scotland
Grand National winner One For Arthur pictured with trainer Lucinda Russell at her yard in Kinross, Scotland (Ian Rutherford/PA)

Scooping the £500,000 first-prize would also take her past the £1million prize-money mark for the first time and shows the power the Aintree showpiece has to alter the course of a trainer’s journey.

“Arthur was a huge boost for the yard and shot us into people’s perceptions and we have been able to build on that,” said Russell.

“People say winning a National will change your life and I was kind of in denial, but it genuinely did. It does change your life and it changes your perception of yourself and boosts your own self confidence as much as other peoples.”

“The fact we have had a Cheltenham Festival winner this year and have some lovely novice hurdlers that we can’t wait to go over fences with next year, the future is looking very rosy, and if we can add a Grand National it would really show what a super season we have had.”

National thrill lives on for Ruby Walsh

/by

Ruby Walsh won all there is to win during his illustrious riding career – but as far as he is concerned, one day in Liverpool 23 years ago ranks above any other.

It is coming up to four years since Walsh retired from the saddle and he is widely recognised as one of the greatest National Hunt jockeys of all time.

Walsh’s achievements speak for themselves. He is the most successful jockey in Cheltenham Festival history with 59 victories at the showpiece meeting on his CV, including two Gold Cups on Kauto Star, four Champion Hurdles and three Queen Mother Champion Chases.

But while all those big-race triumphs were special, Walsh feels the Grand National is on another level.

“It’s definitely one of the big ones and probably still ‘the one’,” said the 43-year-old.

“From a purist’s point of view you always think of the Gold Cup, but from an objective view of the sport, the Grand National is much bigger. It’s more appealing to a wider, public audience and it’s just an incredible race.

“If you ask people about horseracing, they’ll mention the Derby and the Grand National and the National is a unique contest.”

Ted and Ruby Walsh after Papillon's Grand National triumph
Ted and Ruby Walsh after Papillon’s Grand National triumph (PA)

Walsh was a fresh-faced albeit already greying 20-year-old when he first tackled the world’s most famous steeplechase in millennium year aboard Papillon.

Trained by the rider’s father, Ted, the horse brought strong form claims to Aintree, having previously finished second in the Irish Grand National and he was a heavily-backed 10-1 shot on the day.

Papillon jumped like a stag over fences that were far more formidable than they are now on his way to a one-and-a-quarter-length victory over Mely Moss, sparking scenes of unabashed jubilation from Walsh.

“It doesn’t feel like yesterday,” he said.

“My standout memory from the day is the feeling I had in the last three strides crossing the line, knowing he was going to win. That is a feeling you’d never forget.

“Papillon was an incredible jumper, but I don’t think you ever go out in a Grand National thinking about winning. You’re glad to be there, it’s such a hard race and even on Papillon, it’s just great to be part of it.

“You’re just glad to be riding in it. You don’t go into it thinking ‘this could win’, I don’t think that thought ever went through my head.

“To be there in 2000 and ride the winner of the Grand National for dad, that was the greatest moment of my career.”

It is hard to believe it now, but in the early part of Walsh’s career an Irish-trained winner of the National was a rarity.

Papillon was a Grand National hero
Papillon was a Grand National hero (Owen Humphreys/PA)

That is certainly not the case now, with the balance of power in National Hunt racing at present very much with the raiding party, as exemplified by the fact the last four winners of the National have been from across the Irish Sea.

Walsh said: “Bobbyjo won in 1999 and Papillon won in 2000, but all through my childhood Irish horses didn’t win the Grand National, they could barely compete in it.

“Irish racing changed in the late 90s and and Ireland changed as a country. Horses cost plenty and when money flows into the country, horses come with it.

“Irish racing has had an unbelievable 25 years and we’re enjoying it. As long as our trainers can keep attracting the financial investment from owners, that gives you a big chance. But if that stops and swings back to the other side of the Irish Sea, so will the success.”

Walsh went on to claim a second National verdict aboard 7-1 favourite Hedgehunter for Willie Mullins in 2005 and even though the race is run over a marathon distance, he feels tactics can prove crucial.

Ruby Walsh celebrates winning his second Grand National aboard Hedgehunter
Ruby Walsh celebrates winning his second Grand National aboard Hedgehunter (David Davies/PA)

“You need a bit of luck and to me, you go wherever there’s less horses,” he added.

“If you stand at the start and 30 want to go up the inside, you’re better playing against 10 on the outside than 30 on the inside. I suppose that’s a numbers game – you open your eyes and see what’s happening, go where there’s less and bring down the risk.

“Even when you’ve jumped three and think ‘yeah, this horse is liking it’, you still have 27 to go and one mistake is going to finish you.

“I didn’t ride many that didn’t take to it, possibly Shotgun Willie and On His Own the second time he ran in it, but I had some great rides over the fences and it’s an amazing feeling.

“I did have a couple of rides where I was thinking ‘how much further am I going to get’. My Will finished third in the National, but he didn’t get off the ground three or four times! I’ve had good rides and few hairy ones too, but that’s the joys of it I suppose.”

Ruby Walsh at Cheltenham
Ruby Walsh at Cheltenham (Mike Egerton/PA)

The National has a habit of throwing up a good tale, something Walsh believes is part of its magic.

He said: “From Mouse Morris winning it with Rule The World in the year he lost his son, with a young David Mullins riding him, to Emmet Mullins winning last year with Noble Yeats, there’s always a personal story.

“What Rachael (Blackmore) achieved winning it on Minella Times was incredible, Paul Carberry won it for his father Tommy Carberry on Bobbyjo and I was lucky to win it for dad. Small yards win Grand Nationals and Tommy Carberry, dad and Jimmy Mangan winning it with Monty’s Pass epitomises that.

“It doesn’t always have to be the greatest horse that wins the Grand National, something well handicapped can take to the place. That’s why it’s such a unique race.”

The famous fences are not the fearsome structures they once were, but remains a special event.

“I think the modifications to the fences have been really good. It’s a much easier race, yet the amount of spruce they put on the fences just creates an optical illusion as they’re still big and green,” he added.

“It’s an optical illusion now more than being a massive test, but I think it still works and it’s still a great race.

“It’s such a big day, a huge crowd and such a build-up and such an atmosphere – it is a special day for jockeys to partake in.

“Most people riding in it are professional athletes and to be performing on a stage, almost like a Premier League footballer or international rugby player in front of 70-odd thousand people, you don’t get to do that very often.

“When you go out to ride in the Grand National, you almost feel like you’re walking out into a pitch in one of those great stadiums and it’s a special feeling to be part of it.”

No surprises, as big names all stand ground for National

/by

All the leading contenders for the Randox Grand National have stood their ground at the five-day declaration stage for Saturday’s big race at Aintree.

A maximum field of 40 looks assured for the £1million showpiece, with Corach Rambler heading the market for Lucinda Russell.

Last year’s winner and recent Gold Cup fourth Noble Yeats will bid to join the likes of Red Rum and Tiger Roll as a multiple winner of world’s greatest steeplechase.

Venetia Williams, who won the prize in 2009 with 100-1 shot Mon Mome, will rely on Cloudy Glen for the late Trevor Hemmings, with Royale Pagaille bypassing the race for the Irish version added to the withdrawal of her Haydock Grand National Trial winner Quick Wave.

Lucinda Russell with National favourite Corach Rambler
Lucinda Russell with National favourite Corach Rambler (Andrew Milligan/PA)

The defection of that duo means good news for trainers Sam Thomas and Gordon Elliott, who see Our Power and Dunboyne respectively sneaking in near the foot of the handicap, while Francky Du Berlais, Fortescue, Back On The Lash and Defi Bleu are also guaranteed a run.

Envoi Allen, The Shunter, Gin On Lime and Battleoverdoyen also had places in the field but were removed as the contenders were whittled down to 50, with the Elliott-trained Gevrey and Punitive, who are next on the list, potentially missing the cut. Gevrey though ran a huge race in the Irish National, going down by just a length in a last-gasp finish.

Our Power, winner of four of his eight starts over fences, including Ascot’s London Gold Cup and the Coral Trophy at Kempton on his previous two runs, carries just 10st in the four-and-a-quarter-mile marathon.

Dunboyne, who was runner-up in the Thyestes at Gowran Park and then fourth in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham, is one of seven sure of a place in the line-up for County Meath handler Elliott as he bids for a fourth win following the success of Silver Birch (2007) and Tiger Roll (2018 and 2019).

Delta Work leads Gordon Elliott's team
Delta Work leads Gordon Elliott’s team (Mike Egerton/PA)

Delta Work and Galvin, who gave Elliott a one-two in Cheltenham’s cross-country chase, spearhead the Summerhill handler’s team, which also includes Coko Beach, Fury Road, Escaria Ten and the aforementioned Defi Bleu, although he too was in action in the Irish National, outrunning his odds to be third.

Any Second Now, who was runner-up to 50-1 winner Noble Yeats 12 months ago, tops the weights with 11st 12lb for Ted Walsh.

He is one of five horses who will bid to give owner JP McManus a third victory following those of Don’t Push It (2010) and Minella Times (2021).

No less than 34 of the 50 left are Irish-trained, with the all-conquering Willie Mullins set to saddle five in Capodanno, Carefully Selected, Gaillard Du Mesnil, Mr Incredible and Recite A Prayer.

Onesto on course for showdown with Luxembourg and Vadeni

/by

Onesto is the latest high-class middle-distance operator to throw his name into the hat for a red-hot renewal of the Prix Ganay later this month.

The Fabrice Chappet-trained colt built on an encouraging fifth-placed run in the French Derby to win the Grand Prix de Paris in the summer before going close in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown when second to Aidan O’Brien’s Luxembourg.

Although somewhat disappointing when next seen in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, he ran a perfectly respectable race when seventh in the Japan Cup to end his three-year-old campaign.

Onesto returns following his ParisLongchamp win
Onesto returns following his ParisLongchamp win in the Grand Prix de Paris (Molly Hunter/PA)

The Frankel colt holds entries for the Tattersalls Gold Cup (Curragh, May 28) and Epsom’s Coronation Cup (June 2) but before those options are considered, Odesto will return at Longchamp on April 30 for the Ganay – a race already confirmed as the starting point for old adversaries Luxembourg and Arc third Vadeni.

“He is in good form and is heading to the Ganay, I’m very happy with him,” said Chappet.

“He’s got all the entries and he is a Group One winner so you have to make all the nice entries he deserves. But we will decide after the Ganay where we go next.”

Although another crack at the Arc will always remain an option for the four-year-old, Onesto’s main aim during the 2023 campaign is to secure top-level honours at a mile and a quarter.

“The Arc is the end of the year on heavy ground and there is plenty of time until we get to that, but the main plan is to win a Group One going 2000 metres,” added Chappet.

“He’s a Group One winner over a mile and a half and he goes well going a mile and a quarter as we saw in Ireland last year, so the main target is try to win one going 2000 metres.”

Paul Nicholls’ star chaser Clan Des Obeaux is retired

/by

Clan Des Obeaux, one of the best chasers Britain has produced in the last few years, has been retired.

The dual King George VI Chase winner, owned by Paul Barber, Ged Mason and Sir Alex Ferguson, was last seen finishing second to Allaho in the Punchestown Gold Cup last April.

However, he suffered a suspensory injury ahead of a planned return to action at the Grand National meeting, where he was set to defend his Aintree Bowl title, and trainer Paul Nicholls lost a race against time to get him fit for a hat-trick bid for the race he won in 2021 and 2022.

Connections feel the 11-year-old, who won five Grade One races, including the 2018 and 2019 King George and the 2021 Punchestown Gold Cup, owes them nothing, and they have decided to draw stumps on a career that saw him win nine of 27 races over fences and finish runner-up on another nine occasions in that sphere.

“We are announcing that we are retiring Clan Des Obeaux,” Nicholls said on his weekly ‘Ditcheat Decs’ with Betfair.

“He’s got a minor injury which just keeps niggling him, it’s not going to come right and even if we give him another six months off we’ll be in the same situation this time next year.

“So, having a chat with Paul Barber, Jed Mason and Alex Ferguson, between us we decided that he’s been such a wonderful horse, he’s won two King Georges, two Aintree bowls, the Punchestown Gold Cup. He’s been an amazing horse.

“He’s had a fantastic career, I think he’s won over £1 million in prize money. He’s going to have a happy retirement.

“He’ll have a little bit of time off, probably needs six months out in the field, and we’ll find another job for him.

“I think winning at Punchestown the season before last, that was a good day, to go and beat the Irish on their home ground was good. He was top of his game and that was fantastic.’’

Brighterdaysahead registers ‘bittersweet’ success for Gordon Elliott

/by

Gordon Elliott described Brighterdaysahead’s success in the closing bumper at Fairyhouse as “bittersweet” after the loss of star novice chaser Mighty Potter earlier on the card.

Four-time Grade One winner Mighty Potter was sent off the 6-5 favourite for the WilllowWarm Gold Cup Chase but sustained a fatal injury when falling at the 10th fence in the Grade One heat.

Brighterdaysahead is a half-sister to Mighty Potter and she proved a fitting winner of the Tattersalls Ireland George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper for the Cullentra House team, triumphing as the 5-4 favourite in the hands of Harry Swan.

A winner at Gowran previously, she quickened up impressively to win by four lengths.

Elliott said: “That’s the game we’re in, you’ve got to keep your head up and keep going.

“We won the last race in Cork and the last race here and she’s a half-sister to Mighty Potter.

“We’ll keep the head up and keep going. It’s heartbreaking to lose a horse like him, but we won’t lie down and we’ll try to find the next one.

“I have good owners behind me and good staff. It’s hard for Andy and Gemma Brown (of Mighty Potter’s owner Caldwell Construction) but they are a big part of Cullentra and we’ll get behind them and find another one.

“Everyone is very upset but on a brighter note this is a good mare. It’s bittersweet. That’ll be her for the season now.”

Head mapping out Classic campaign for Big Rock

/by

Christopher Head has the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club in his sights having seen Big Rock make all in the Prix la Force at ParisLongchamp.

The Rock Of Gibraltar colt was a Listed winner on the all-weather at Chantilly last month, but was taking a further step up in class for this nine-furlong Group Three assignment.

Big Rock proved more than up to the task and having set a brisk pace from the front in the hands of Aurelien Lemaitre, had enough in reserve to easily brush aside the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained favourite Padishakh and pull two and a half lengths clear at the finish.

Head is now eyeing a run in the Group Three Prix De Guiche won by Vadeni en route to French Derby glory in 2022, before stepping Big Rock up to 10 furlongs for the Jockey Club itself on June 4.

“He is quite a surprise,” said the winning trainer.

“We won a Listed race on the Polytrack with him at the beginning of the season and of course we didn’t know the quality of the horse and if we would be able to go on to the Jockey Club and have that sort of program, but he did the job very well.

“He is a horse who likes to dominate in his race and impact the others with a real race. He did that today and he was quite impressive. The ground was not a problem for him and I think he could do that over even further.

“I still need to talk to the owner to confirm it, but the main idea, provided the horse comes out of the race well, is to go to the Prix de Guiche and then to the Prix du Jockey Club.”

Also in the French capital, Stephane Wattel’s Simca Mille returned to his very best to win the feature Prix d’Harcourt.

A winner four times last season – including when taking the Prix Niel over an extra two furlongs – he bounced back from a disappointing end to the 2022 campaign in the Japan Cup to register the fifth success of his career in the hands of Alexis Pouchin.

There was also little joy for the British and Irish raiders in the Prix Vanteaux as both Richard Hughes’ Sparkling Beauty and Aidan O’Brien’s Delightful struggled to land a blow in a race won in good style by Carlos Laffon-Parias’ Jannah Rose.

Mullins chalks up extraordinary Easter Sunday eight-timer

/by

Willie Mullins enjoyed an Easter Sunday to remember as a remarkable across-the-card eight-timer saw him break his own record for number of winners in a National Hunt season.

The all-conquering champion trainer’s previous best tally of 212 was achieved in the 2017/18 campaign and having reached the double century at the end of March, it has been obvious for some time that he would go past that number before the current season ends at Punchestown later this month.

Mullins began Easter Sunday with 205 winners under his belt and several chances across the two Irish meetings at Cork and Fairyhouse.

The Closutton handler ended up saddling a treble at Cork, with Bachasson’s (6-4) front-running success in the Grade Three feature preceded by victories for the Rich and Susannah Ricci-owned pair of Mister Policeman (evens) and Aione (4-1), both ridden by Michael O’Sullivan.

At Fairyhouse he claimed five winners, with Ashroe Diamond (2-1) and Flame Bearer (17-2) striking Grade One gold, Nick Rockett (9-1) and Hercule Du Seuil (7-1) both winning Grade Twos and Cheltenham Festival runner-up Dinoblue (evens) going one better as one of three winners on the afternoon for jockey Mark Walsh.

Nick Rockett continued his steep upward trajectory with victory in the Paddy Kehoe Suspended Ceilings Novice Hurdle under the trainer’s nephew Danny Mullins.

Previously successful in a Thurles bumper and a maiden hurdle at Naas, the six-year-old proved up to the rise in class as he pulled 15 lengths clear of his rivals.

Mullins’ assistant, David Casey, said: “We thought he had improved a bit from Naas, we weren’t sure going there what to expect as he was a horse that was always going to improve with time.

Nick Rockett after winning at Fairyhouse
Nick Rockett after winning at Fairyhouse (Gary Carson/PA)

“Danny said he improved a lot more than he thought he would and he put up a very good performance. He travelled super and jumped great.

“We always had him down as a horse for the future for jumping fences. I think the best is ahead of him.”

Hercule Du Seuil raced keenly throughout the Cafe En Seine Novice Hurdle, but it is testament to his latent ability that he still had enough in the tank at the finish to see off his stablemate and 6-5 favourite Hunters Yarn by a length and three-quarters in the hands of Walsh.

Casey added: “It was a good performance. I thought he’d gone fast enough and it looked like they might swallow him up turning in, but Mark said he got a good breather into him between the fourth and third last and he toughed it out well.

“He wants nicer ground and we gave him a break over the winter. He’s not in any of the graded races at Punchestown and the plan is to go chasing.”

Walsh, who had earlier steered Tony Martin’s Golf Marin to a maiden hurdle win, completed his treble for owner JP McManus aboard Dinoblue in the BoyleSports Novice Handicap Chase.

Second in her previous three races, including in the Grand Annual last month, the six-year-old had a fight on her hands when the final fence fall of Whiskeywealth left her in the clear.

“Mark said he thought he was probably a fraction lucky, but either way, even if she had been second I thought it was a very good performance coming back from a tough run in Cheltenham,” said Casey.

“She jumped super and you need a bit of luck. There is an open handicap at Punchestown and she’ll get an entry in it, we’ll see what happens.”