Corach Rambler justified his preference for delivering trainer Lucinda Russell a second Grand National success under a faultless ride from jockey Derek Fox.
Russell and Fox combined to win the steeplechase in 2017 with One For Arthur and broke a streak of four successive victories for Irish trainers since as Corach Rambler (8/1) beat Vanillier (20/1) and Gaillard Du Mesnil (10/1) in front of a raucous Aintree crowd. Noble Yeats (10/1), a shock winner at 50/1 twelve months ago, finished a fine fourth carrying 19lbs more than 12 months ago, with The Big Dog (12/1) in fifth.
Having been delivered late after bold hold-up rides in both of his Cheltenham successes, Fox positioned Corach Rambler far more prominently and avoided much of the first-circuit chaos that saw a number of leading contenders exit the race and a string of loose horses cause havoc. Fox had not ridden since suffering a shoulder injury in a fall at Wetherby on April 6, but returned in the nick of time to partner Corach Rambler, who won by just over two lengths despite seeming to idolize the run-in. Recap it all with Standard Sport’s dedicated blog below!
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Corach Rambler justified his preference for delivering trainer Lucinda Russell a second Grand National success under a faultless ride from jockey Derek Fox, after the race was delayed by animal rights activists.
Russell and Fox combined to win the steeplechase in 2017 with One For Arthur and broke a streak of four successive victories for Irish trainers since as Corach Rambler (8/1) beat Vanillier (20/1) and Gaillard Du Mesnil (10/1) in front of a raucous Aintree crowd.
Noble Yeats (10/1), a shock winner at 50/1 twelve months ago, finished a fine fourth carrying 19lbs more than 12 months ago, with The Big Dog (12/1) in fifth.
Read our full report here
Grand National recap
fallers
- Fury Road
- The Big Breakaway
- Hill Sixteen
- Sam Brown
pulled up
- Any Second Now
- Velvet Elvis
- Dunboyne
- Cape Gentleman
- Back On The Lashes
- Capodanno
- Coco Beach
Unseated
- Galvin
- Mr Incredibles
- Lifetime Ambition
- Cloudy Glen
- Longhouse Poet
- Gabby’s Cross
- Delta Work
- Recite A Prayer
- Darasso
- Eva’s Oskar
- Diol Ker
Update on Grand National fallers
“Sadly, while racing in the Grand National, Hill Sixteen sustained an unrecoverable injury. Our sincere sympathies are with connections,” a Jockey Club spokesperson said.
“Recite A Prayer and Cape Gentleman were assessed on course by our skilled veterinary staff and walked onto the horse ambulance for further assessment in the stables.”
Emotional reaction from Peter Scudamore
“This is very special”
Winning training Lucinda Russell has been asked how this compares to One For Arthur’s victory six years ago.
“Yes it is a bit different,” she tells ITV Racing.
“Scu [Peter Scudamore] does a lot of work with this horse so it’s very important for us that its safe and he jumps well. He just loved the fences, he loved everything about it. It’s very personal this one. I’ll always remember One For Arthur but this is very special.
“Derek Fox was very close to not making the ride. He had a terrible fall, hurt his shoulder again. I am so pleased he was on it because he knows Corach so well. He is a fabulous jockey.”
Statement from Merseyside Police
“Just after 5pm a large number of protesters attempted to gain entry on to the course.
“The majority were prevented from breaching the boundary fencing but the nine individuals who managed to enter the course were later arrested by officers.
“We respect the right to peaceful protest and expression of views, but criminal behavior and disorder will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly.”
Finishers in full…
- Corach Rambler
- vanillier
- Gaillard Du Mesnil
- Noble Yeats
- The Big Dogs
- Born By The Sea
- Roi Mage
- Mister Coffey
- A Wave Of The Sea
- Le Milos
- Our Power
- Enjoy D’allen
- Fortescue
- Carefully Selected
- Minella Trump
- Francky Du Berlais
- Ain’t That A Shame