Irish raider Numbersixvalverde won the Grand National here on Saturday giving jockey Niall ”Slippers” Madden victory with his first ride and Ireland their fifth win in the world’s most famous race in the last eight years.
The Martin Brassil-trained 11-1 shot beat home last year’s winner and topweight Hedgehunter (5-1) while Clan Royal (5-1) was third and Nil Desperandum (33-1) fourth.
Only nine of the 40 runners finished.
The winner, named after his owner Bernard Carroll’s holiday home in Portugal, took control over the last of the 30 fences as Hedgehunter found his top weight too much and Madden, whose father is called Boots and his brother Socks, pulled clear.
Clan Royal, second two years ago and unluckily carried out last year when cruising, also found the run-in too much and once again left 10-time champion jockey Tony McCoy searching for his first win in the race.
”It was just like watching a movie,” said Brassil who was making only his second visit to Aintree.
”I had trouble finding the course, luckily my horse knew his way round better than me!” He paid tribute to his jockey, who rode his first winner aged just 16.
”Niall gave him a fabulous ride. It’s great for the young lad. He was in a perfect position all the time, and has such a good relationship with the horse and really believes in him.”
Asked about his plans to celebrate adding his name to the great race’s roll of honour the trainer smiled: ”I’m sure we’ll find a way.”
Roisin Carroll, daughter of the winning owner, said: ”Our horse enjoyed that race. Towards the end we weren’t so much thinking as doing a lot of praying. From day one we knew he was special. We had a very good inkling after his Irish National win [last year].”
Madden said that he had tried to imagine what it would be like to win the race when he woke up in the morning.
”I tried to imagine it but I couldn’t,” he said.
”It means everything. It is magical.”
The race had to be called back after a false start but it caught Irish runner Native Upmanship unawares and he started about 20 lengths behind but once it got under way it had its usual roll call of casualties.
Joint top weight Royal Auclair — second last year — and the hotly-fancied French runner Innox — bidding to end a drought of over 130 years for France — both went.
By halfway another leading Irish hope Garvivonnian had given up the ghost being pulled up and three others including the heavily backed Jack High went at the Chair.
Out into the country for the second time the survivors — 27 of the 40 runners were still standing — were led along by outsiders Ballycassidy and Puntal, ridden by Grand National winning jockey Barry Geraghty.
Ballycassidy was still going like a dream and well out in front until he came a cropper at Valentines, five from home, leaving Hedgehunter in front.
However Numbersixvalverde was running equally smoothly and was to prove too good in the end. – Sapa-AFP