2008 Grand National

The 2008 Grand National Steeplechase, sponsored by John Smiths was the one hundred and sixty-first official annual running of a Handicap Steeple-chase Horse race which took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool on Saturday April 5th 2008 and attracted the maximum allowed field of forty competitors for prizemoney of £450,640.

The competitors and betting

Cloudy Lane, ridden by Jason Maguire was the long time anti post favourite but was joined just before the off by Comply or Die, ridden by Timmy Murphy, the pair sent off at 7/1. Top weight of 11 stone 12lbs was carried by former winner Hedgehunter, ridden, as always by Ruby Walsh. The full order of betting at the off was as follows.

*7/1 Cloudy Lane, age 8, carrying 10 stone 11 lbs and a seventh ride in the race for Jason Maguire in the colours of Trevor Hemmings, trained by Donald McCain junior

*7/1 Comply Or Die, age 9, carrying 10 stone 9 lbs and a twelfth ride in the race for Timmy Murphy in the colours of David Johnson, trained by David Pipe

*10/1 Butler's Cabin, 2007 Irish Gand National winner, age 8, carrying 11 stone 3 lbs and a thirteenth ride for the jointly most experienced rider in the race, champions jockey Tony McCoy in the colours of J P McManus, trained by Jonjo O'Neill

*10/1 Hedgehunter, the 2005 winner now age 12, carrying top weight of 11 stone 12 lbs and an eighth ride for his partner in victory Ruby Walsh, also a winner in 2000 on Papillon, this year in the colours of Trevor Hemmings, trained by Willie Mullins

*10/1 Slim Pickings, last year's third placed horse now age 9 and carrying 11 stone 3 lbs and a ninth ride for Barry Geraghty, winner in 2003 on board Monty's Pass, riding in the colours of the Doubtful five syndicate, trained by Tom Taffe

*11/1 Simon, age 9, carrying 11 stone 7 lbs and a sixth ride for Dominic Elsworth in the colours of Mercy Rimell, trained by J Spearing

*12/1 Bewley's Berry, a former second in the Becher Chase over one circuit of the course, age 10, carrying 11 stone and providing a debut ride for Denis O'Regan in the colours of Andrea & Graham Wylie, trained by J Howard Johnson

*14/1 Chelsea Harbour, age 8, carrying 11 stone 12 lbs and a sixth ride for Davy Russell in the colours of Mrs P Duffin, trained by Thomas Mullins

*16/1 Snowy Morning, age 8, carrying 11 stone 1 lb and a ninth ride for David Casey in the colours of Quayside Syndicate and trained by Willie Mullins

*20/1 King John's Castle, age 9, carrying 10 stone 11 lbs and a thirteenth ride for Paul Carberry who had previously won the race in 1999 on Bobbyjo,making him, jointly the most experienced rider in the race running this year in the colours of J P McManus and trained by Arthur Moore

*20/1 Vodka Bleu, age 9, carrying 11 stone 2 lbs and a third ride for Paul Moloney in the colours of David Johnson, trained by David Pipe

*25/1 D'Argent, grey 11 year old, carrying 10 stone 12 lbs and a twelfth ride for Robert Thornton in the colours of Nigel Bunter, trained by Alan King

*25/1 Philson Run, previous year's fourth, age 12, carrying 10 stone 8 lbs an a second ride for his partner last year Daryl Jacob in the colours of Gale Force One, trained by Nick Williams

*25/1 McKelvey, the previous year's runner up and the subject of a five week profile on the BBC prime time week nights programme The One Show, age 9, carrying 11 stone and a second ride for his partner the previous year Tom O'Brien in the colours of N Elliott, trained by Peter Bowen

*25/1 Mr Pointment, Becher chase winner, age 9, carrying 11 stone 11 lbs and second ride for Sam Thomas in the colours of Stockton Heath Racing, trained by Paul Nicholls

*25/1 Point Barrow, winner of the 2006 Irish Grand National, age 10, carrying 10 stone 13 lbs and an eleventh ride for Tony Dobbin, winner in 1997 on Lord Gyllene, this year in the colurs of Mrs P Clune Hughes, Mrs M O'Dwyer & J Foley, trained by P Hughes

*28/1 Mon Mome, age 8, carrying 10 stone 11 lbs and a debut ride for Aidan Coleman in the colours of Vida Bingham, trained by Venetia Williams

*33/1 Dun Doire, third attempt for the 9 year old, carrying 10 stone 7 lbs and a sixth ride for Richard Mcgrath in the colours of Dunderry Racing Syndicate, trained by Tony Martin

*33/1 L'ami, age 9, carrying 11 stone 1 lb and a thirteenth ride for 1996 winning jockey, Mick Fitzgerald, making him jointly the most experienced rider in the race in the colours of J P McManus, trained by Francois Doumen

*33/1 Turko, age 6, carring 11 stone 10 lbs and a twelfth ride for Richard Johnson in the colours of The Stewart Family, trained by Paul Nicholls

*50/1 Iron Man, age 7, carrying 11 stone 5 lbs and providing a third ride for Christian Williams in the colours of R Owen & P Fullager, trained by Peter Bowen

*66/1 Bailey Breeze, age 9, carrying 10 stone 11 lbs and a debut ride for Paddy Flood in the colours of R A Scott, trained by Mouse Morris

*66/1 Black Apalachi, age 9, carrying 10 stone 8 lbs and a third ride for Andrew McNamara in the colours of Gerard Burke, trained by Dessie Hughes

*66/1 Fundamentalist, age 10, carrying 11 stone 4 lb and a third ride for Paddy Brennan in the colours of C Cornes, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies

*66/1 Idle Talk, age 9, carrying 10 stone 9 lbs and a seventh ride for Brian Harding in the colours of Trevor Hemmings, trained by Donald McCain junior

*66/1 Joacci, age 8, carryin 10 stone 13 lbs and a debut ride for Johnny Farrelly in the colours of David Johnson, trained by David Pipe

*66/1 Kelami, age 10, carrying 10 stone 9 lbs and a debut ride for Barry Keniry in the colours of Halewood International Ltd, trained by Francois Doumen

*66/1 Knowhere, age 10, carrying 11 stone 11 lbs and eleventh ride for Joe Tizzard in the colours of H R Mould, trained by Nigel Twiston Davies

*66/1 Madison Du Berlais, age 7, carrying 11 stone 9 lbs and a eighth ride for Tom Scudamore in the colours of Roger Stanley & Yvonne Reynolds II, trained by David Pipe

*66/1 Naunton Brook, age 9, carrying 10 stone 10 lbs and a third ride for Andrew Tinkler n the colours of David Langdon, trained by Nigel Twiston Davies

*80/1 Cornish Sett, age 9, carrying 10 stone 10 lbs and a debut ride for Mr Nick Scholfield in the colours of Peter Hart, trained by Paul Nicholls

*100/1 Ardaghey, first reserve who got into the race after the withdrawal of one of the other runners, age 9, carrying 10 stone 7 lbs and a debut ride for David England in the colours of D J & S A Goodman, trained by Nigel Twiston Davies

*100/1 Backbeat, age 11, carrying 10 stone 9 lbs and a debut ride for Wilson Renwick in the colours of Andrea & Graham Wylie, trained by J Howard Johnson

*100/1 Bob Hall, age 7, carrying 10 stone 11 lbs and an eighth ride for Noel Fehily in the colours of J P McManus, trained by Jonjo O'Neill

*100/1 Contraband, age 10, carrying 11 stone and a second ride for Keith Mercer inthe colours of F G Wilson, trained by Paul Murphy

*100/1 Hi Cloy, age 11, carrying 11 stone 12 lbs and a fourth ride for Tom Doyle in the colours of Susan McCloy, trained by Michael Hourigan

*100/1 Tumbling Dice, a 9 year old carrying 10 stone 10 lbs and a debut ride for Tom Ryan in the colours of Mrs John Donegan, trained by Tom Taffe

*125/1 Milan Deux Mille, age 6, carrying 10 stone 9 lbs and a second ride for Tom Malone in the colours of F G & J E Wilson, trained by David Pipe

*125/1 Nadover, age 7, carrying 10 stone 9 lbs and a third ride for last year's winning jockey Robbie Power in the colours of Mr G H Storey, trained by Charlie Mann

*125/1 No Full, age 7, carrying 10 stone 12 lbs and a third race ride for Shay Barry in the colours of Mrs P Doyle, trained by Eion Doyle

The Race

The runners were sent away toa clean first start with "No Full" leading over the first fence, which all forty runners cleared safely but the run down to Becher's Brook for the first time claimed seven victims as "Black Apalachi" fell, having just taken the lead at the second fence where he was quickly joined by "L'Ami", whose rider Mick Fitzgerlad had to go to hospital with neck an back injuries and "Backbeat". "Tumbling Dice" and "Iron Man" both useated their riders when taking off too soon at the third fence while "Ardaghey" and "Fundamentalist" got in too close to the fourth fence and both fell to leave thirty-one runners continuing to the famous Brook, led by "Mr Pointment" and "Milan Deux Mille".

"No Full" was up in the leading dozen runners when he clipped the top of Bechers and fell and the casualties increased at the Canal Turn where "Madison Du Berlais" fell and hampered "Philson Run", whose rider was unseated. The eleventh fence claimed two more fallers when "Contraband" and "Kelami" both failed to negotiate that obstacle, leaing twenty-six runners to complete the first circuit.

The Water jump marked the end of the first circuit and was taken with "Chelsea Harbour" having moved up to lead from "Mr Pointment", "D'Argent", "Simon" and "Comply Or Die" next in a tightly packed field, which was reduced by one when "Point Barrow" was pulled up, his rider feeling that the horse was not enjoying the race. Five other runners all left the contest before reaching Becher's Brook for the second time, "Vodka Bleu", "Naunton Brook" and "Bob Hall" were all pulled up before the open ditch {19th fence}, "Joacci" fell at the next and "McElvey" also unseated his rider. "McElvey" then veered sharply off the course after jumping the next fence falling when trying to negotiate the running rails and suffering injuries which proved too severe for the horse to be saved.

At Becher's Brook for the second time the first dozen remained tightly grouped consisting of "Chelsea Harbour, Mr Pointment, Comply or Die", the grey "D'Argent, Butler's Cabin, Snowey Morning, Idle Talk, Bewley's Berry, Knowhere, Simon, Mon Mome" and "Hedgehunter", that number being instantly reduced when "Butler's Cabin" fell there.

"Knowhere" and "Simon" were beginning to lose touch when the unseated at Valentine's Brook where "Turko" also fell to leave the race between "Chelsea Harbour, Mr Pointment, Snowey Morning, Bewley's Berry, Comply or Die, Idle Talk" and "Hedgehunter" with "Slim Pickings, Mon Mome" and "King John's Castle" all still in touch. Co Favourite "Cloudy Lane" had never been in the front rank and now looked too far off the pace to mount a challenge as did "Nadover, Bailey Breeze" and "Hi Cloy" with "Cornish Sett" and "Milan Deux Mille" tailed off five fences to jump.

"D'Argent" also looked like he was just starting to drop away when he fell four fences from home as "Snowey Morning, Bewley's Berry, Comply or Die, Slim Pickings" and "King John's Castle" kicked away from the remainder on the long run to the second last flight, which was jumped four abreast, "King John's Castle" just behind. The run to the last fence did for "Bewley's Berry" as "Snowey Morning" and "Comply or Die" jumped together with "King John's Castle" now moving into a challenging position.

"Comply or Die" took the final fence the better and was never headed on the long run in, winning going away by four lengths from "King John's Castle" with "Snowey Morning" a length and a half third, "Slim Pickings" was again fourth sixteen lengths behind. Eleven others finished in the following order, "Bewley's Berry, Cloudy Lane, Nadover, Baily Breeze, Chelsea Harbour, Mon Mome, Hi Cloy, Cornish Sett, Hedgehunter, Idle Talk" and "Milan Deux Mille". "Dun Doire" was pulled up before jumping the second last fence and long time leader "Mr Pointment" pulled up before the last flight.

Aftermath

This was the first Grand National win for all of the connections with jockey Timmy Murphy telling reporters that the race was the highlight of his career, confessing that the trainer had said the horse was a certainty to win. Owner David Johnson was also delighted to win after having had approximately twenty horses compete unsuccessfully in previous Nationals.

All of the other jockeys to complete the course returned stating their happiness with their mounts and such was the competitive nature of the race that all had felt they still had a chance at Becher's second time, the only exception being Tom Malone, whose Milan Deux Mille was already tailed off at that stage and finished a long way behind the rest. None of the jockeys who failed to complete the course were bold enough to state that they would have won or even gone close had they not exited.

This was Tony Dobbin's final ride in the National, having announced his retirement before the race.

As a result of spinal injuries suffered in the race, Mick Fitzgerald also announced his retirement from race riding in August 2008

Coverage

The 2008 Grand National was televised live in the United Kingdom in a four hour long broadcast on BBC one, presented by Clare Balding with Rishi Persad and guest presenter Rchard Dunwoody. The commentary team of four commentators was Ian Bartlett, Michael O'Heir, Darren Owen and lead commentator Jim McGrath who called the horses home. The action was broadcast via fifty-two cameras, including cameras situated inside fences, although the use of jockey cams, cameras placed inside riders helmets was not used this year for the national. This was the forty-ninth annual broadcast of the race live by the BBC but was the first not to be broadcast as part of a Grandstand special.

reference

Official BBC coverage of the 2008 Grand National