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And they’ll be dancing in the streets of Newry . . .
I’d be interested in reading any other local slants on the GN.
Ballyholland hoping for Grand National success
Last Updated Mar 2010
By: Tony BagnallTHE excitement is rapidly building in the locality as the countdown begins to John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday, April 10.
This year for the first time in almost 115 years a Newry horse will feature in arguably the greatest horse race in the world.
Cathal McGovern’s steed, aptly named Ballyholland, will be one of the 40 runners that starts at Aintree.
And Moorehill Road man McGovern is optimistic that Ballyholland is in with a shout of success.
Cathal told the Democrat: “Ballyholland is not without a chance. He’s in great form and he jumps well. He has not raced over four and a half miles but many astute punters are putting their money on him and not only punters from the Newry area.
“We will be heading over to Liverpool on the Thursday. We have our Aintree car park badge and we are looking forward to a great weekend.”
Ballyholland gave the area massive boost when he won the William Hill Galway Plate in July.
The eight-year-old horse, bought for a mere 2000 euros, and trained by Colin McBratney at Crossgar, was ridden by Limerick jockey Andrew McNamara at Galway and the same jockey will also be on board at Aintree.
Councillor Jackie Patterson, who also hopes to be at Liverpool for the National cheering on Ballyholland, spoke about the horse, saying: “He has as good a chance as any. Many top jockeys were looking to ride Ballyholland. He’s a great jumping horse.”
Jackie also told the Democrat that in 1897 his great grandfather Billy Morgan (from Water Street in the town) was a farrier to the last horse from the locality that ran in the National. Come Away was from Forkhill and left from Newry to travel to Liverpool on the boat.
Jackie said the great race was held up for a few minutes while Billy Morgan changed a shoe on Come Away.
Hopefully this year’s National won’t be held up by Ballyholland changing a shoe and that the Newry horse will storm past the winning post in first place with Tony Bagnall shouting like a madman as his 50 pence stake makes him a tenner or so.
I didn’t know that Valentine’s was named after a horse.
JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL 2010: Looking back at the Aintree showpieces which began the decades down the years
Mar 31 2010 by Chris Wright, Southport Visiter
JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL 2010: Looking back at the Aintree showpieces which began the decades down the years
SINCE the first official races were held at Aintree in 1829, there have been many memorable winners of the Grand National.
Now as we begin another 10-year cycle in 2010, we look back on the first winners from each decade.
1829
PRIOR to the creation of the race we know today as the Grand National, Aintree was the home to Flat horse racing from 1829.
The first official races at Aintree were organised by a syndicate, headed by the owner of Liverpool’s Waterloo Hotel, William Lynn. He leased the land from Lord Sefton, set out a course and built a grandstand.
Lord Molyneux laid the foundation stone on February 7, 1829 and placed a bottle full of sovereigns in the footings. The first Flat fixture was held five months later on July 7. A horse called MUFTI won the opening race, the one and a quarter mile Croxteth Stakes.
1840
JERRY had been the last of 18 runners in 1839 when Lottery won but dropped out just before the race. He went on to win as a 12-1 outsider in his Grand National debut in 1840. Jerry, ridden by Bartholomew Bretherton, ended up with a seemingly easy victory from what had been a hard fought race.
The 1840 Grand National, however, is far more famous because of the events surrounding another horse Valentine. Irish amateur Alan Power was so confident in his horse that he bet they would be ahead at the wall.
The pair were ahead approaching the second brook before the horse reared up violently and corkscrewing over, but still reaching the other side. The brook has been known as Valentine’s Brook ever since.
1850
TINY in stature, but with a huge heart, Irish-trained ABD-EL-KADER became an instant favourite with the Aintree crowd when defying his build to negotiate the Grand National fences.
Unquoted in the betting prior to the first victory in 1850, the bookmakers were not so generous the following year when installing Abd-El-Kader the 7-1 joint favourite, but the handicapper seemed to have a shorter memory, and, just 6lb higher than the previous year, Abd-El-Kader duly obliged to become the first horse to win the Grand National twice.
1860
THE 1860s proved to be the decade for mares in the Grand National. ANATIS, the 7-2 favourite, became the third of 13 mares to win and the first of four that decade.
1870
THE COLONEL was sent off 100-7 for his first Grand National victory in 1869, although the relative confidence behind the six-year-old may have been more reflective of his jockey George Stevens, who had already won the great race three times, than the form that The Colonel had shown.
Despite a hike in the weights for the following year’s renewal, The Colonel attracted considerable support and the 7-2 favourite held off the challenge of The Doctor to win by half a length and hand Stevens his fifth win, a record which still stands.
1880
EMPRESS won the 1880 Grand National ridden by Tommy Beasley who had also ridden Martha to finish second in 1878 and third place in 1879. Due to his past performances Beasley and Empress started at 8-1 in a race which saw only 14 starters. But of those 14 there were 10 finishers.
1890
JOCKEY Arthur Nightingall had finished second in 1888 and third as in 1889 but finally won the Grand National in 1890 when aboard favourite ILEX at the starting odds of 4-1. Pan, who Nightingall finished third on a year earlier, was again place at 100-1.
1900
THE winner AMBUSH II was owned by The Prince of Wales, later to become King Edward VII.
1910
BOB CHADWICK won the Grand National aboard JENKINSTOWN in 1910 having finished second 12 months earlier on Judas. The pair beat Grand Steeplechase de Paris winner Jerry M, who was ridden by Lester Piggott’s grandfather Ernie. Jerry M and Piggott carried top weight of 12st7lb, but went one better when winning the 1912 National.
1920
TROYTOWN gave amateur rider Jack Anthony his third success, winning by 12 lengths in heavy ground. The race was worth a record £5,000. Algy Anthony, who in 1900 had ridden Ambush to victory, trained the winner.
1930
SHAUN GOILIN won the 1930 Grand National ridden by Tommy Cullinan. The horse also finished third two years later. For jockey Cullinan it was a sweet success as two years earlier, when aboard Billy Barton he led until late in the race only to be beaten into in second place by Tipperary Tim.
1940
THE Lord Stalbridge-trained/owned BOGSKAR won the final Grand National before World War II stopped the event between 1941 and 1945.
1950
HER Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, (who became the Queen Mother on the death of her husband in 1952) had her first runner. Monaveen, jointly owned by Princess Elizabeth (the present Queen), finished fifth behind winner FREEBOOTER.
1960
The BBC televised the race for the first time, 33 years after the initial radio coverage. Peter O’Sullevan, Clive Graham and Peter Bromley were the commentators. Neville Crump trained his third and final Grand National winner, MERRYMAN II, ridden by Gerry Scott, who acted as the Grand National starter in 1996.
Crump was also successful with Sheila’s Cottage in 1948 and Teal four seasons later.
1970
PAT TAAFFE, successful in the Grand National on Quare Times in 1955, landed a second victory aboard GAY TRIP, his last ride in the race.
1980
DESPITE seeming to be unsuited by heavy ground, BEN NEVIS won the Grand National in desperate conditions which saw only four finishers.
The 12-year-old was ridden by merchant banker Charles Fenwick, who became the second American amateur to triumph in the race following Tommy Smith 15 years earlier. Aintree mourned the death of Mirabel Topham, who died aged 88.
1990
MR FRISK set a new record Grand National winning time of 8m 47.8s when partnered by Marcus Armytage, the most recent amateur to be successful.
2000
ANOTHER Irish father and son combination was successful as Ruby Walsh partnered PAPILLON, trained by his father Ted, to victory.
The nine-year-old had been backed down to 10-1 from 33-1 on the day of the race and cost the bookmakers a reported £10million.
The race was worth £500,000 for the first time.
You honestly didn’t know Valentines was named after a horse? The naming of the fence is one of my all time favorite National stories… the very horse went on to come third.
No, Unlike you lot, I’m not a Grand National nerd.
But being a National nerd is the best!
National course is soft, heavy in places and with rain expected for the next 4 days plus 12mm on Monday; the course should be heavy all over. The latter half of the week is going to make all the difference…
After the next couple of days the weather model projections are still hinting at a slightly drier spell, with showery rain, but no real warm temps in sight.
If i had to make a call today for GN Saturday i reckon the ground will not change that much from today’s ground conditions.
There will be ‘soft’ in the going, but to what degree of ‘soft’ is still open to change.- Total Posts 17716
I’ve gone with Snowy Morning and Comply or Die. I also have a small each way on Lennon. I think he’s a sound jumper and if he runs will get round, at 200’s with coral was worth a quid each-way.
Lennon may well jump well, but as he has no chance of staying 3m, let alone 4 1/2 miles. I would not back him at 2000/1.
Then again, I’ve never been a fan of "Lennon".
Sorry, private joke!Lol.
I wouldn’t normally have 1 bet in a handicap like this (where it’s extremely difficult to find the winner) but it’s "The Grand National" and all sense goes out the window.
- Total Posts 17716
I’ve gone with Snowy Morning and Comply or Die. I also have a small each way on Lennon. I think he’s a sound jumper and if he runs will get round, at 200’s with coral was worth a quid each-way.
Lennon may well jump well, but as he has no chance of staying 3m, let alone 4 1/2 miles. I would not back him at 2000/1.
Then again, I’ve never been a fan of "Lennon".
Sorry, private joke!Have to be honest, I didnt expect Piraya to get declared so if he does I make it that Chief Dan George will miss out by 1
Have to be honest, I didnt expect Piraya to get declared so if he does I make it that Chief Dan George will miss out by 1
Long way to go yet. If the ground remains soft or there’s more rain mid-week we’ll prob see more horses pulled out.
I can’t believe that we’re in a situation where The Chief could possibly run in and win the National; it’s like some sort of dream scenario to me. I said months ago that a dark horse could spring up from nowhere and surprise everyone, but never imagined it could be him. Not sure if it’s a dream or nightmare, though.
I just honestly don’t see anyone below 11,4 getting in. Best hope is a reserve spot…
I just honestly don’t see anyone below 11,4 getting in. Best hope is a reserve spot…
You’re expecting an 11 runner national
?Presuming you mean 10st4, Peter?
If so, Chief Dan George is the next runner down. Officier De Reserve and Faasel won;t be running
I see Priests Leap, Pablo du Charmil, Deutschland, Dooneys Gate, Glenfinn Captain, Air Force One, Oodachee, Officie de Reserve and Fassel as definites out with Ellerslie George, Equus Maximus Conna Castle and Notre Pere (??) as maybes
However,i’ve also got Lennon, Abbeybraney and Joe Lively as possible deflections
8/9 more withdrawals and Knowhere’s in
I’d say 9 because Whinstone Boy is more likely to get chosen over Knowhere if it came down to a ballot.I hope, for the benefit of all the runners Knowhere does not get in.
I thought there was once a rule to stop poor jumpers from running.
So STOP Knowhere from running!
He`s run in three nationals and never actually fallen .
Granted he was dodgy as a youngster but i see little problem with his jumping nowadays .
His fall at Cheltenham was a blip.
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