From left Numbersixvalverde ridden by jockey Niall Madden races away from Nil Desperandum, Clan Royal and Hedgehunter to win the Grand National steeplechase during the Grand National meeting at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, northern England yesterday.- REUTERSLIVERPOOL, (REUTERS):
IRISH RAIDER Numbersixvalverde denied Hedgehunter back-to-back Grand National victories yesterday, scooting home by six lengths for a first success for trainer Martin Brassil and jockey Niall Madden.
The 11-1 winner is named after the Portuguese holiday home of owner Bernard Carroll.
The 10-year-old led narrowly over the last of 30 fences in the four and a half mile (7.2 km) slog and outstayed Hedgehunter, who ran a gallant race off top weight to take second under Ruby Walsh.
"I didn't see much of it, my hands were shaking too much," said Brassil after Numbersixvalverde became the third Irish horse to win the National in the last four years.
"It's brilliant. I had a dream run the whole way round and he jumped super," added Madden. "I wasn't sure I'd won until I crossed the line though. This means everything to me. It's magic."
Clan Royal, second in 2004 and sent off 5-1 joint favourite with Hedgehunter, was third, leaving champion jockey Tony McCoy still seeking a first National victory after 11 attempts.
An eventful race on rain-softened ground produced plenty of spills and there were only nine finishers from the 40 horses that set out.
But the 20-year-old Madden, nicknamed 'slippers' because his father was known as 'boots', escaped the trouble to stalk the leading runners.
PULLED AWAY
Pace-setting Ballycassidy's fall at Valentines on the second circuit left Hedgehunter and Clan Royal duelling at the front but Numbersixvalverde, last year's Irish Grand National winner, had them in his sights and pulled away for a famous victory.
Brassil, sending out his first National runner, said: "It was like a movie out there. Niall gave him a fabulous ride. He never panicked, he took his time."
The last horse home was Forest Gunner, ridden by Nina Carberry who was bidding to become the first woman to win the great race.
Carberry, at least had the satisfaction of winning her family battle with brother Paul, who won the race in 1999 on Bobbyjo, but was out of luck on Sir OJ who fell. The pair were the first brother and sister to contest the race.
There was no fairytale end to Donald 'Ginger' McCain's training career, although Inca Trail, one of his three runners, managed to finish eighth.
The 75-year-old McCain, who etched his name in Grand National folklore in the 1970s when Red Rum won three times and then won again with Amberleigh House in 2004, will retire at the end of the season.
Numbersixvalverde's victory saved bookmakers a huge payout with over £250 million (US$437 million) gambled on the race.
"We were staring doomsday in the face when Hedgehunter and Clan Royal hit the front," said Coral spokesman Simon Clare.
