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SIMON MY NATIONAL TREASURE by RICHARD DUNWOODY
TALK ABOUT IT IN OUR HORSE RACING FORUM If there is one race I miss lining up for, it is the Grand National. I have so many great memories of Aintree and have I've enjoyed such good fortune there, having won the big one twice - with West Tip in 1986 and Miinnehoma in 1994 - and been in the money on five other occasions. It is the one race that really gets the adrenalin flowing, the one race that is embellished in the consciousness of the once-a-year punter and, as far as jump racing goes, it rightly deserves its tag of the 'world's greatest race'. The results have often been remarkable, probably none more so that Foinavon's race in 1967, when he survived a mass pile-up and won at odds of 100/1 (paying 444/1 on the Tote). Another extraordinary result occurred 100 years ago. Two of the 24 that lined up for the 1908 National were stable companions: Mattie Macgregor, a six-year old mare carrying 10st 6lb and ten-year old chestnut gelding Rubio, who shouldered 10st 5lb. Rubio was a promising hunter chaser until he broke down as a five-year-old and was retired. He was sent to the landlord of The Prospect Arms in Towcester to pull an omnibus, in harness, ferrying guests between the hotel and the railway station. It worked wonders and his injuries completely healed. Three years later in 1906 he was back in training with Fred Withington, a former jockey-turned-trainer, who later trained Red Splash, the first winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1924. Neither of Withington's horses were fancied for the 1908 National, but the Hampshire trainer recorded a remarkable result, with Rubio (sent off at 66/1), beating Mattie Macgregor (25/1) by ten lengths. That's a training feat that has never been equaled. Frank Douglas-Pennant kept Rubio throughout his career and became the longest-lived Grand National winning owner, dying in 1967 at the age of 101. There are a number of trainers who have a chance of repeating the remarkable double on Saturday. Paul Nicholls, David Pipe, Willie Mullins, Nigel Twiston-Davies, Peter Bowen and Francois Doumen are all likely to have multiple runners. It is unlikely that you would get great odds that a trainer completes a one-two 100 years on from Withington's remarkable double. Neither will those odds be large if Cloudy Bay scores. Trained by Donald McCain, whose father trained the great three-time winner Red Rum, the eight-year-old could be the shortest-price National favourite for 30 years. He has won his last three chases and landed the Grimthorpe Chase in fine style at Doncaster on his latest start. However, short-priced favourites and seemingly well-handicapped horses do not have a great record in the race. I think the last winner to fall into that bracket was Rough Quest in 1996. Cloudy Lane will have to buck the trends and I'm a fan of Simon. John Spearing's horse may not be the biggest, but he stamped himself as a leading staying handicap chaser last season with victory in the Grade Three Racing Post Chase at Kempton. He ran really well for a long way in the national last season, falling at the 25th when still in with a chance and he has a decent wins to runs ratio, having won six and been placed second six times in 24 career starts. But whatever passes the post in front, one thing's for sure: a horse that used to pull a bus, like Rubio, won't be winning this year! TALK ABOUT IT IN OUR HORSE RACING FORUM
By Bettingzone.co.uk Used with permission. |
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