Tag Archive for: Grand National

Bob Davies reflects on lucky spare that delivered National glory

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Bob Davies went to Aintree 45 years ago believing he would not swap his mount for any other in the Grand National – including the mighty Red Rum – and his confidence proved spot-on.

Much of the build-up ahead of the Grand National on April 1, 1978, had surrounded Red Rum’s bid for a fourth win in the race.

Fate took a hand on that overcast, chilly day. The nation’s favourite horse, already pushing 13 years of age, was withdrawn on the morning of the race with a hairline fracture sustained the previous day.

Lucius, trained in Cumbria by Gordon Richards, was to prove one of the greatest spare rides in history.

“Dave Goulding had hurt his back and I was at Wetherby on the Tuesday before the National,” said Davies.

“Ron Barry asked me if I had a ride in the National. He said Lucius was going spare and asked, ‘Do you want me to ring Gordon for you?’.

“When I looked though Lucius’ form and saw what he’d done, I would not have chosen any other horse in the race, including Red Rum.

“Lucius’ best distance was two and half (miles), but he’d won over three. I always believed back then that a National would be won by a horse who was best over two and a half or three, than a horse who had won the Eider or a Welsh National over three-six or four miles.

“If someone had given me a choice of riding a horse who won the Mackeson (now known as the Paddy Power Gold Cup), or a horse that won the Welsh National, I would take the one that won the Mackeson every single time.”

Bob Davies would not swap any of his three titles for his National win
Bob Davies would not swap any of his three titles for his National win (PA)

Riding the nine-year-old for the first time, in one of the race’s tightest-ever finishes, Davies’ mount prevailed by a half a length from Sebastian, with Drumroan a staying-on neck further back in third.

“It was a close National. But the thing with him was he couldn’t be in front too soon,” said Davies

“I knew during the race Gordon was getting wild, because he was a lot closer than he wanted me to be. I was always close to the front of the field.”

Having taken the lead following the fall of the much-fancied Tied Cottage on the first circuit, Davies tucked Lucius behind Sebastian, ridden by Ridley Lamb, who was in receipt of 8lb.

With Lord Browndodd, The Pilgarlic, Coolishall and Drumroan all still in with chance two out, Sebastian got away better from both the penultimate and the final fences.

Though Lucius lost a little momentum over the last and was briefly relegated to third by the Coolishall, Lucius kept responding and when the Fiona Whitaker-owned gelding got his head in front just after the elbow, the writing was on the wall.

Lucius and Bob Davies after their 1978 Grand National triumph
Lucius and Bob Davies after their 1978 Grand National triumph (PA)

“He was never going to do too much, although in the race, in some respects, he was doing too much probably,” added Davies.

“He was only 14-1 anyway. I had no worries going round. He hit the third, but that was all.

“I only ever sat on Lucius twice, once in the National and once when he was photographed for the Schweppes calendar!”

A year earlier, when Red Rum had won his third National, Duffle Coat had sent Davies crashing to the turf at the first fence, one of only seven rides he had in the world’s most famous race.

“It took me a while to jump all the fences there,” he added. “I think I finally jumped all the fences when I rode Specify at the November meeting. Otherwise I had not jumped the fences between Becher’s Brook and Valentine’s.”

Davies, now 76, almost won it again with another spare ride the following year when the Nicky Henderson-trained Zongalero was beaten up the run-in by Rubstic, providing Scotland with a first win in the race.

“Zongalero was actually fantastic round there. He didn’t like it the second year, but the first year he was brilliant.

“I have a photograph of him jumping Becher’s and there is about six inches of daylight between his belly and the fence. He never even nodded,” said Davies.

Though riding a Grand National winner is the pinnacle for most jump jockeys, Shropshire farmer’s son Davies “would not swap it” for any of his three championships, sharing it with Terry Biddlecombe in 1968-69, before winning it outright the following season, then again in 1971-72.

“Everyone wants to be champion jockey,” Davies added. “Back then, no yards had more than 50 or 60 horses. That was a big yard.

Rubstic (left), ridden by Maurice Barnes, and Zongalero, partnered by Bob Davies, take the last fence together in the 1979 National
Rubstic (left), ridden by Maurice Barnes, and Zongalero, partnered by Bob Davies, take the last fence together in the 1979 National (PA)

“Then you had Martin Pipe and, for a while, whoever was going to be riding for him was going to become champion jockey, just on the numbers game.”

Training regimens have changed and while Aintree will always hold a special place in Davies’ heart, some alterations to the big race itself he does not agree with.

“It changed a lot from when I first rode there to when I won the National. When I started, there was very little apron,” he explained,

“The take-off board was back and the fence was straight up. Then more slope and apron was put on.

“The fences have been modified so much now that they are park fences, basically.

A shot of the old Becher's Brook
A shot of the old Becher’s Brook (PA)

“The horses who jumped the National fences well, generally speaking, backed off into them.

“You didn’t get horses galloping in and taking them on a long stride generally.

“If you watched Red Rum go round there, he shortened into every fence. It has made a hell of a difference to how the race is run.”

Ludlow has been transformed over the years by Davies and his team
Ludlow has been transformed over the years by Davies and his team (David Davies/PA)

Davies retired from riding in 1982 and soon became one of the first professional jockeys to go into racecourse management, initially as an assistant clerk of the course at Ludlow and Bangor, before taking over permanently in 1984.

“I was at Ludlow for 35 years. We spent a lot of money there without any debt, effectively. We nearly rebuilt it,” he added.

Having retired in 2018, Davies still enjoys helping his successor Simon Sherwood with race planning when he’s not tending his 14-acre garden in Herefordshire.

“Ultimately, we wanted to get people to enjoy it and have a nice day out – that’s the important thing. I’ve enjoyed it and have been lucky enough that I’ve done my hobby all my working life.”

Emmet Mullins still struggling to grasp National achievement

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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!”

National thrill lives on for Ruby Walsh

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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.”

Mullins focused on present not past glories with National hero Noble Yeats

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Emmet Mullins has his feet on the ground as he prepares Noble Yeats for a Randox Grand National title defence.

The eight-year-old went into last year’s renewal a 50-1 chance with one chasing victory under his belt and a ninth-placed run in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival as his most recent piece of form.

He provided connections with a true fairytale when giving Sam Waley-Cohen, son of owner Robert, a famous victory on what was his last ever ride as an amateur jockey.

Sean Bowen has since taken over the reins and the gelding followed a path to the Gold Cup this season, in which he finished an excellent fourth. And with that meeting out of sight, his attentions turn to Aintree once more.

Though both horse and trainer have a cherished National victory to their names now, Mullins is not resting on his laurels or approaching the race any differently this time around.

Noble Yeats
Noble Yeats (Brian Lawless/PA)

“It’s been a bit different but not too much, I’ve never really let myself dwell on it,” he said.

“Though we’re getting close to it, it’s all about this year and last year’s done and dusted. It’s all about getting back there this year.

“I genuinely don’t look at Noble Yeats and think we won it last year, we’re in it again this year and that’s his aim.”

When asked what he would have said of Noble Yeats’ chances last season, the trainer added: “I probably wouldn’t have told you much! But I was still very confident myself.

“At the weights launch he was about 16-1 or 20-1. I suppose his run at Cheltenham in the Ultima was a bit disappointing but it was a big, competitive field and he was in among the hustle and bustle of it.

Noble Yeats crossing the line at Aintree last season
Noble Yeats crossing the line at Aintree last season (Steven Paston/PA)

“Sam came away from it happy, I was too and that’s when we decided that cheekpieces would be the little bit extra to get out of him.”

The odds seemed to be against Noble Yeats as no seven-year-old had won the National since Bogskar’s victory in 1940, but Mullins was blissfully unaware and quietly confident.

“I didn’t know about the stat about seven-year-olds, I was unaware of it so I wasn’t concerned about it,” he said.

“He had won a three-mile novice hurdle 12 months previous in Navan, or two (miles) six (furlongs) at least, he was always a relentless stayer who came from a point-to-point background.

“There was never any reason to worry. He gallops and he jumps, what more do you want?”

Noble Yeats ridden by Sam Waley-Cohen
Noble Yeats ridden by Sam Waley-Cohen (Mike Egerton/PA)

Much of the post-race reaction to last year’s win focused on Waley-Cohen and the film-script quality of his final ride resulting in a Grand National winner, but the Carlow locals did not fail to celebrate Mullins’ part in the triumph and he was taken aback by the homecoming he received.

“The biggest shock I got was coming home for the homecoming at the Lord Bagenal, I hadn’t told anyone about it and I was genuinely shocked when I saw the crowds, all the local people that had come out to see him,” he said

“That was the big one that hit home more than anything.”

He added: “He’s been highly tried this year, we went down the Gold Cup route and we’ve probably gone up a few more pounds because of that. Tiger Roll had 11st 5lb (when winning for the second time) and we’re trying to come back 6lb higher with 11st 11lb. Everything’s going to be harder.

“No one knows until we go again and try, (but) he seems to have come out of it (Cheltenham) well.

“Sean will ride again, I think he got a ban but he was able to defer it with the Grade Ones at Aintree. Fingers crossed he can keep quiet and we’ll have him in the plate again.”

‘Robust policing plans’ in place after reported National protest plot

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Merseyside Police has underlined its “robust policing plans” after climate activists were reportedly plotting to “ruin” the Grand National by staging a protest on raceday.

Members of Animal Rebellion, an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion, plan to form a human barricade across the course at Aintree after sneaking into the event with ladders and bolt cutters, according to reports.

The Mail on Sunday reports more than 100 activists had signed up to take part on April 15, with the climate group planning to take them to the racecourse in mini buses, where it is claimed they would then glue themselves to the course.

Runners in the 2022 Grand National
Runners in the 2022 Grand National (David Davies/PA)

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: “Merseyside Police has a robust policing plan in place for Aintree, as it does for any major public event, to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved.

“We have been working with our partners, including the Jockey Club, for a number of months in the build-up to this year’s festival to ensure that any necessary plans and processes are in place to deal with any incidents that may arise and to prevent any significant or ongoing disruption to racegoers and local residents and businesses.

“We respect the right to peaceful protest and expression of views, but public order or criminal offences will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly.”

Six activists ran on to the track before the Derby at Epsom last year, while four climate-change protesters chained themselves to the rail by the winning post on the final day of Royal Ascot in 2021.

Russell and Scudamore pay tribute to One For Arthur

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One For Arthur, who won the 2017 Grand National for Lucinda Russell, has died from Colic at the age of 14.

Owned by Belinda McClung and Deborah Thomson, One For Arthur raced under the name of the Two Golf Widows and delivered Scotland’s second success in the race following Rubstic’s victory in 1979.

Winner of Warwick’s Classic Chase, he went on to Aintree glory that same season under Derek Fox and while injury scuppered his follow-up bid the next year, he returned to finish sixth to Tiger Roll in 2019.

He was being primed for the 2020 National, but the race was cancelled because of the Covid pandemic and he was retired that November.

“He was everything a woman wants in a man,” said Russell. “He was brave, honest and kind.

“He was the ideal National horse. He was such an athlete, had loads of stamina, lots of bravery, loved the fences and took his time.

“He was just a fabulous horse to have and set the yard off, and hopefully he would be proud of what we are doing now. He was the springboard for our yard.

“He had a great retirement. He was 14 fitted a lot into his years.”

One For Arthur went on to have a second career in the show ring, in the care of Aisling Dwan, daughter of the Grand National winner’s breeder, John.

He competed at the Dublin Horse Show in August alongside Tiger Roll and returned to Scotland to take part in hunter trials under former work-rider Ailsa McClung.

Peter Scudamore, Russell’s partner and assistant at Arlarly House Stables, felt that his potential was unlocked by the women who adored him.

“It’s only just dawning on us how important he was to us,” said Scudamore. “What was so lovely was that all the girls were around him.

“The Two Golf Widows are wonderful characters and then obviously Lucinda trained him.

“Ailsa McClung looked after him at home and rode him at home. Then Jamie Duff and Erin Walker played a huge part in looking after him.

“Basically, he was owned by women, trained by a woman and looked after by girls all the time and I feel very sad for them, because they adored him and gave him a most magnificent life.

One For Arthur’s owners Belinda McClung (centre) and Deborah Thomson with trainer Lucinda Russell (left) with the trophy
One For Arthur’s owners Belinda McClung (centre) and Deborah Thomson with trainer Lucinda Russell (left) with the trophy (Ian Rutherford/PA)

“He had a good life, but it is they who will miss him, because they adored him.

“He came back to Dumfries just before Christmas to Ailsa and she took him out hunting and cross country and he loved it. He was a great character.”

One For Arthur earned £622,437 in prize-money and won seven times, and while he will be remembered for his Aintree heroics, it is his character and gentle demeanour that he will be most fondly remembered for by those who looked after him.

One For Arthur and Derek Fox jump the last in the 2017 Grand National
One For Arthur and Derek Fox jump the last in the 2017 Grand National (Niall Carson/PA)

Scudamore added: “I think the women surrounding him saw his character more than I did to begin with, but then I just watched him blossom towards that race.

“I really do feel that, because of the love and the adoration the girls gave him, I feel his full character came through. He knew he’d won. He reacted off the adoration he was given.”

National tilt off the agenda now for Hewick after Cheltenham fall

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Hewick will not run in the Randox Grand National after his crashing fall in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon has revealed.

The popular eight-year-old, who shot to prominence when taking the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in April, was running a storming race in racing’s blue riband and enjoying himself towards the head of the field under Jordan Gainford.

In the process of belying his odds of 40-1 with a tremendous performance, the Galway Plate and American Grand National winner unfortunately came to grief two out.

“We are very proud of the horse and thanks be to God he’s OK. He was going so well,” said Hanlon.

“He always hits a flat spot and he was just after coming out of it, and Jordan was very convinced that, while he might not have beaten the winner, he said, ‘I thought we might have been second’.”

With ground conditions softer than ideal, Hanlon was in two minds about running him against Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame.

He added: “If only the ground was better. He needs good ground and the ground would have been too soft for him, but he gave a goodish account of himself.

“I’d say the ground hasn’t been as soft for seven or eight years on the Friday.

“It was a tough decision to run. We walked the track twice – once at seven o’clock in the morning and again at 11 o’clock – and it was amazing how much it dried out between seven and eleven.

“He’d handle good ground. But in our country it would have been yielding to soft. It was tacky ground.”

Hewick will be given time to overcome his exertions and while Aintree is almost certainly off the agenda, Hanlon has not ruled out bringing him back for a defence of his bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown or the Punchestown Gold Cup.

He said: “He’s good now, thanks be to God. We are happy to have him home because he got an awful fall.

“He won’t go to the National. I would be 99 per cent sure. We’ll see how he is, but he has had such a fall. We’ll probably end up going back to Punchestown for the Gold Cup.

“He’ll have better ground and it’s six weeks from now.”

Hewick, who was purchased for a mere £800, loved the quicker conditions when taking the valuable prize at Sandown’s traditional end-of-season finale last year.

Jockey Jordan Gainford and Shark Hanlon could head back to Sandown
Jockey Jordan Gainford (left) and Shark Hanlon (second left) could head back to Sandown (Nigel French/PA)

While the extended three-mile Grade One Punchestown Gold Cup may be the preferred option, a return to Sandown has not ben ruled out for the gelding who has earned just shy of £400,000 for owner TJ McDonald.

“I wouldn’t mind going back to the bet365 Gold Cup. I will talk to the owners and see,” added Hanlon. “He’ll either go for the (Punchestown) Gold Cup or the bet365 – he’ll go one way or the other.”

The Cheltenham Gold Cup was Hewick’s first run since taking the American National at Far Hills in October and the County Carlow handler felt that while he needed the break, he may navigate another path back to Prestbury Park next season.

Hanlon added: “We will go different next year. We will probably give him a run maybe at the Dublin Festival, because he hadn’t had a run for six months, which was a long time, but I’m not sorry we didn’t give him a run, because he needed his break.

“Listen, we are thrilled with him and everyone got a buzz out of it. He’s the people’s horse, but because of the fall, the National has gone.

“He lives to fight another day and we know we have a good horse. He’s entitled to be there at Cheltenham again next year to have another go.”

Longhouse Poet tunes up for National with Down Royal victory

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Longhouse Poet advertised his Randox Grand National claims with victory at Down Royal on Friday.

Martin Brassil’s charge was one of three Aintree entries, along with Roi Mage and Farclas, to line up in the Bluegrass Stamm 30 Chase over three and a quarter miles.

Longhouse Poet was sent off the 7-4 favourite in the hands of JJ Slevin, with Farclas next best at 7-2, but the latter was pulled up at an early stage.

The market leader was prominent throughout and took it up with three to jump before Roi Mage headed him approaching the last.

However, Longhouse Poet put in a better leap at the final obstacle, allowing him to pull a length and a quarter clear at the line.

Brassil – who won the National in 2006 with Numbersixvalverde – said, “He needed to do that. JJ had a bit of a mishap with him in Fairyhouse in the Bobbyjo (unseated the first fence), so we wanted to get them to gel a bit more. It would be (important) when you are going around there (Aintree).

“He jumped great and handles the ground and it was lovely to see. He was (value for the winning margin), you would never know how much you have left with him as he just only does enough. When something comes to him, he stretches them a little bit again.”

Longhouse Poet finished sixth in last year’s National and Brassil is hoping for an improved effort this time.

He added: “He did (run a cracker for a long way in the Grand National). He probably over-raced himself, he was very fresh on the day. That’s why I wanted to get a race closer to the National into him, so he wouldn’t be too buzzed up.

“Darragh (O’Keeffe) gave him a great ride (in the Grand National), he had a fantastic round of jumping and all roads lead back there now.”

Longhouse Poet is a best-priced 20-1 with Paddy Power for the National, with Tuesday’s Cheltenham winner Corach Rambler the general 7-1 favourite.

Longhouse Poet booked for National prep at Down Royal

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Martin Brassil will send Longhouse Poet to Down Royal next Friday for his Grand National prep run.

The nine-year-old was a well-supported sixth behind Noble Yeats in the Aintree marathon last year and is currently a general 16-1 chance for the four-and-a-quarter-mile spectacular on April 15.

He reverted to hurdles on his first three runs this season, including when scoring at Limerick on Boxing Day.

However, he unseated JJ Slevin at the first on his return to fences in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse last month.

Brassil, who enoyed Grand National success with Numbersixvalverde in 2006, said: “He will probably run in a three-and-three-quarter-mile chase at Down Royal on St Patrick’s Day. That will be his last run before Aintree. I’ve been happy with him.

“I’m reasonably happy with his National weight at 154. As long as the weights don’t go up, he has a grand racing weight.

“He ran a nice race last year, but probably over-raced a bit. He probably got a bit exuberant. You have to remember it is a long way round there twice.”

Fastorslow (right) was touched off by Commander Of Fleet in the Coral Cup last year
Fastorslow (right) was touched off by Commander Of Fleet in the Coral Cup last year (David Davies/PA)

The Kildare handler is still no nearer to deciding which race Fastorslow, who is similarly owned by Sean and Bernardine Mulryan, will contest at Cheltenham next week.

The seven-year-old, who was runner-up in the Coral Cup at the Festival last March, holds entries in both the Ultima Handicap Chase on Tuesday and the Magners Plate Handicap Chase on Thursday.

Fastorslow has run just twice over fences in Ireland, both coming in Grade One company this season.

He finished fifth of six to Galopin Des Champs in the John Durkan Memorial at Punchestown and last of five to Gentlemen De Mee in the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown.

Brassil lamented the lack of options for Fastorslow, who won his only other chase outing when scoring for Arnaud Chaille-Chaille at Auteuil in September 2019.

“The conditions of a lot of the races over here excluded him from having a run, because he won in 2019 and the conditions said you couldn’t have won before May 2021, and that is why I had to run him in a couple of Grade Ones,” he said.

“They have given him plenty of weight, too, especially for a horse who hasn’t won a hurdle race since he was three.

“He won a chase when he was three – now he’s seven and rated 150 over fences and 147 over hurdles.

“At the moment we will go to the Ultima, but we will confirm him for the Plate as well. The weights have already gone up 4lb in the Ultima, but we’ll wait and see.”

He added: “He is hugely inexperienced, even though he does jump very well and we wouldn’t have any worries about that. At the same time, it is a big ask. If he has a bit of class, it will have to come out.”

Jockey Niall Madden (left) and Martin Brassil with 2006 Grand National winner Numbersixvalverde
Jockey Niall Madden (left) and Martin Brassil with 2006 Grand National winner Numbersixvalverde (Niall Carson/PA)

Brassil will run An Epic Song in either the Coral Cup or the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle next week, although he would welcome slower conditions for the six-year-old.

“He would be very much ground dependent,” Brassil added. “He would want a real nasty turn of weather.

“I confirmed him for the Coral Cup. If he doesn’t make the cut there, he’ll go in the Martin Pipe.

“He’d want a lot of rain and about a foot of snow to melt, like at the old-fashioned Cheltenham – the Desert Orchid days or days of The Thinker.”

Snowden admits Ryanair would be ‘sensible’ shout for Ga Law

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Connections are still considering the best route to take with Ga Law – and whether the “sensible” option would be to run in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham next week and forgo a Grand National bid this year.

The Paddy Power Gold Cup winner is also in the Boodles Gold Cup, a race which offers Ga Law a potential route to the National in that a first-four finish would secure his qualification criteria for Aintree.

He is, however, a big price for the blue riband and much shorter for the Ryanair – and the dilemma comes as Ga Law needs a top four finish over three miles for the National after falling in the Sky Bet Chase, a race he was very much in contention for at the time.

Snowden said: “If he is going to be a progressive horse in graded races next season, then this is the year to have a crack at the Grand National.

Ga Law and jockey Jonathan Burke after winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup
Ga Law and jockey Jonathan Burke after winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup (David Davies/Jockey Club)

“But he fell at the last on his most recent start at Doncaster and even though the handicapper suggested he showed improved form over three miles, he is not qualified for the Grand National as he has not finished in the first four over three miles.

“The sensible route is to go to the Ryanair and forget about the Grand National. The Gold Cup is a seriously competitive race and we would have to run our heart out to finish fourth and if we did, it is only four weeks then until the Grand National.

“I think we confirm for the Ryanair and we confirm for the Gold Cup and we sit and wait until declarations and see what it all looks like and make a decision at the time. We have got ourselves into a tricky position, but a lovely position.”

Looking at options beyond the Ryanair, should that be the race he goes for, Snowden said: “If we went for the Ryanair, you could then have a look at one of the Grade One races at Aintree or the Grade Two Oaksey Chase at Sandown Park on the last day of the season.

“We don’t need to decide yet. We have the money in the bank from the Paddy Power and we can pay for the confirmation stage at Cheltenham and see what it looks like. We have come this far, so let’s kick the can down the road a little bit further.”