- 'Closest ever finish' as Sunnyhillboy and Neptune Collonges race nose-to-nose to finish line
- Race marred by tragedy as favourite Synchronised is put down on the course after horror fall
- According To Pete also dies after falling at Becher's Brook
- But bookies laughing after huge public gamble on fairytale finish for first female winner
- Katie Walsh on Sea Bass leads part of the way but ends in third to becomes highest placed female jockey ever
By Rick Dewsbury and John Hutchinson
|
The Grand National lived up to its reputation for drama and tragedy in an equal measure today, as an outsider won after a nail-biting photo finish and the race favourite was killed after a horror fall.
Neptune Collonges ridden by Daryl Jacob, and a 33/1 shot, raced nose-to-nose with Sunnyhillboy after soaring past Katie Walsh on Sea Bass, who, in third place, became the highest placed female jockey ever to finish.
But in tragic scenes the race-favourite Synchronised, ridden by Tony McCoy, had to be put down after suffering an injury when he fell just minutes into the race at the infamous Becher's Brook sixth fence.
Neptune Collonges went on to give viewers a pulsating climax to the four-and-a-half-mile marathon at Aintree as it became the first grey to win the world's most famous steeplechase since Nicolaus Silver in 1961.
Tight: This shot shows just how close the finish was - with Neptune Collonges's nose just poking ahead
On the run-in: The two horses, Neptune Collonges the grey and Sunnyhillboy to the left, were neck and neck only a few yards from the line
Jubilant: Neptune Collonges and Daryl Jacob celebrate their National success
The 33-1 shot winner gave trainer Paul Nicholls his first National triumph after coming from behind to beat Sunnyhillboy on the line in a photo finish.
But in contrasting scenes, Tony McCoy limped away from the track after Synchronised was put down.
Before the race the veteran jockey was among the riders cantering towards the starting line when Synchronised, went round a corner and McCoy appeared to lose his balance.
Synchronised, winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, got loose and had to be caught by a trainer before being lead back to the stalls. McCoy had to jump in a car for a ride back to the starting lineup. The odds on Synchronised winning suddenly lengthened after the fall.
There were also worries about whether McCoy had suffered an injury himself in the pre-race accident, seen on TV pictures holding his arm, but after a doctor checked him over, he was given the all-clear.
The death will raise questions over whether the horse was fit to race after the nervous start and will bring renewed calls from animal rights activists for the race to be banned. Malcolm Jefferson's According To Pete was reported as another fatality, also falling at Becher's Brook.
The organisers of the race said a third horse, Killyglen, was receiving treatment but his injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.
It is the second time in two years two horses have died during the race itself.
Jitters: After trotting back to join the other horses for the start of the race, Synchronized (ridden by Tony McCoy) inspected the first fence and didn't look too eager - sadly this was a sign of things to come
Fatal fall: AP McCoy and Synchronised fall after the sixth fence. The horse had to be put down on the course
Tony McCoy is tended to by Paramedic after he falls at Bechers Brook. Right, he limps away as vets rush to his mount
Commenting on the death of the two horses today, Julian Thick, Aintree Managing director, said: 'We are desperately sad at these two accidents and our sympathies are with the connections of both horses.
'When a horse gets hurt, everyone is deeply upset.
'Safety is the first priority for the organisers of the Grand National and we make every effort to ensure that everyone involved in the event is able to participate safely.
'Since last year we have made further significant changes to the course and there have been four races run over the course without serious incident since then.
'After today we will, as always, be looking at all aspects of this year's race to see how we can improve safety further.'
Paul Nicholls, the trainer of winner Neptune Collonges, said: 'Millions of people watch the race many people get pleasure from it.
'We all knew before we came here the risks.
'The horses get looked after brilliantly but unfortunately these things do happen.'
On a happier note, jockey Katie Walsh, 27, came closer than any other woman before to becoming the first female rider to win the Grand National during her debut in the race.
The sister of star jockey Ruby Walsh, who was not able to take part following a fall earlier in the day, brought Seabass in third.
She said: 'He gave me an unbelievable spin.
'I was wrong a couple of times and he put me right but it is just a fantastic experience and great to get round.
'I want to go out and do it all over again.'
Elated: Trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Daryl Jacob celebrate therr victory in the John Smith's Grand National Chase
Triumph: Daryl Jacob smiles after guiding Neptune Collonges to success in the Grand National - at 33/1 some punters will also be smiling
The result saw Britain's bookmakers spared a multi-million pound payout after the huge public gamble on Seabass was foiled by the outsider Neptune Collonges. Seabass was backed from 20-1 down to a starting price of 8-1 joint-favourite, but the nine-year-old finished third, to the relief of the bookies.
'The gamble on Seabass caught us totally by surprise, as the public put their faith in Katie Walsh, and had she become the first lady to ride the winner of the world's most famous race, we would have been paying out for a week!' said Coral's David Stevens.
'Luckily for us, we were let off the hook, as the 33-1 shot Neptune Collonges snatched a dramatic victory right on the line, sparing the betting industry a multi-million pound payout,' added Stevens.
Fred Done, chairman of bookmaker Betfred, said: 'Paying out on Neptune Collonges' National victory is a drop in the ocean compared to the fortune I would have had to shell out if Seabass would have won.
Paddy Power added: 'Punters probably won't remember the 2012 Grand National as a race that filled their wallets.
'Seabass finishing third was the only thing that they really had to cheer about as he went off 8-1jf from 22-1 with us in the morning but the bookies certainly came out on top.
'Unlike some other leading UK bookmakers, we paid out on fifth-placed In Compliance and punters who found that one at 100-1 will definitely be living it up tonight.'
Carnage: Horses jump Beechers Brook at the start of the race. There were two confirmed fatalities
Tumble: Jockey James Reveley, centre, falls from Always Right at The Chair fence during the Grand National
Thrills and spills: James Reveley rolls away from the crash. A number of other fallers in the race will renew calls for smaller fences
Neptune Collonges runs clears as According to Pete and jockey Henry Haynes and On His Own and Paul Townshend fall at Bechers
On the course, Ms Wash went into first with just two fences to jump and the race looked to be heading for a fairytale finish. She would have been the first ever female winner of the national, but after finishing third she took the title of the highest placed.
Sunnyhillboy moved ahead of her and went nose-to-nose with Neptune Collonges in a photo finish. The grey took the bumper 975,00 prize money - one of the richest jump races in Europe.
Cappa Bleu finished fourth, with In Compliance fifth and last year's winner Ballabriggs sixth.
A clearly overcome Jacob said: 'You can't beat this. I was on a tough horse and I said to Paul that one day I would ride you a National winner.
"That was two years ago and now I've done it.'
Trainer Paul Nicholls said: 'He's probably the best horse we've run in the race. He's got great form, he's been placed in Gold Cups, he stays, he's genuine and Daryl gave him a fantastic ride when you analyse where he went. It's absolutely brilliant.
'It's blown Nicky Henderson out of the water now (in the trainers' championship). Any good race would do, but this is the race we wanted.'
The world's favourite steeplechase race also attracted 600 million TV viewers across the globe.
Bookmaker William Hill said it anticipated 200 million would be wagered on the big race alone, which is due to start at 4.15. The
Wags such as Coleen Rooney, accompanied by her son Kai, and Alex Gerrard gave an additional touch of glamour to the occasion.
In the style stakes, Liverpool star Steven Gerrard's wife Alex plumped for a tuxedo-inspired Galaxy-style dress in cream and black. Coleen opted for a softer flower and butterfly print for her outfit, dressing son Kai in a white jacket and teal scarf.
Drama: Neptune Collonges, right, pulls clear of the pack as he comes down off the final fence
Classy performer: Neptune Collonges and Daryl Jacobs (left) beat Sunnyhillboy on the line
In a cruel repeat of the 2012 Grand National, Ruby Walsh was forced to give up his ride on leading contender On His Own after a fall from Zarkandar.
The Irish jockey was stood down for the rest of the day following his tumble at the sixth flight in the John Smith's Aintree Hurdle.
The British Horseracing Authority tweeted: 'Ruby Walsh has been stood down for the rest of the day on medical grounds after assessment following fall on Zarkandar.'
Two years ago, Walsh missed the National and was out for several months after being badly injured in the same race in a fall from Celestial Halo.
Paul Townend switched to On His Own in the big race, with Andrew Tinkler replacing Townend on The Midnight Club.
The race came on a bumper day of sport for Merseyside as Liverpool and Everton played out their rivalry in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Fans of both sides walked around the racecourse with stickers proclaiming 'I'm a Red' and 'I'm a Blue' and watched the game on screens throughout the course.
The horses at the starting line up of the Grand National today after an early fall in the warm up and a false start
Three riders and their horses fall on a turn as the others push on for the finishing line
Tony McCoy hits the ground after unexpectedly falling from his horse during the warm
Tony McCoy canters back to the lineup after an early fall during warm up. He came off again early in the race
A massive cheer went up when Liverpool scored a 1-1 equaliser in their FA Cup semi-final Wembley derby with Everton just as the first race of the day, won by Simonsig, drew to a conclusion. But Evertonians looked glum after Liverpool striker Andy Carroll grabbed a late winner for the Reds.
Today's race also marks the 52nd and last time the BBC broadcasts the event before it moves to Channel 4 for the next four years.
Despite grey skies, the weather remained dry but forecasters predicted rain and even hail later in the afternoon.
'It will be pretty chilly at the Grand National today, reaching about 9C. There will be showers this afternoon, with hail mixed in,' said Paul Mott, forecaster at MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association.
The big favourite this year was Synchronised, ridden by 16-times champion jockey AP McCoy.
But punters also backed Katie Walsh, the 27-year-old sister of star jockey Ruby Walsh, to become the first woman to win the Grand National with Irish gelding Seabass.
Mummy's boy: Coleen looked in her element playing with two-year-old Kai. Wayne was getting ready for his football
Time out: Coleen had a break from holding her son as she cheered on the horses with her friends
Competing with her for that honour is her sister-in-law Nina Carberry, also 27, riding Organised Confusion.
Veteran racing pundit John McCririck hailed the 'history' and 'tradition' of the Grand National.
He said: 'Around the world people see the race. It is the ultimate test of the bravery of horses and riders.
'Today we might have history made. Always remember one thing about racing - it is the only professional sport where women compete on equal terms as men.
'Here we have two ladies riding on equal terms; the only concession made to women in racing is that they have separate changing rooms.
'Women are as good as men and this is the one sport where they can prove it.
Representing women: Jockeys and sisters in law, Nina Carberry, left, and Katie Walsh before the race. Both were hoping to become the first female winner ever
'The National always brings up stories - everyone remembers the excitement and drama of the race, the awful failures, the heartbreak people have when things go wrong - and it just grips the nation.'
Outside the racecourse, animal rights activists gathered to protest against the festival.
As racegoers came out of Aintree train station and towards the course they walked past some 20 to 30 protesters, who gave out leaflets and waved banners which read: 'DON'T bet on cruelty'.
Fiona Pereira, an activist for Animal Aid, was at the protest wearing a black Victorian-style dress and a hat depicting a horse falling over a jump fence with the letters RIP.
She said: 'The three-day meeting here has killed about 36 horses since the year 2000 and one of those horses died just this week.
Excitement: Racegoers cheer as they watch racing earlier in the day at Aintree
Wacky races: A racing fan in a yellow suit carrying beer and another racegoer in outlandish costume and enormous cigar
Drink up, girls: This group of friends get ready for the big race of the day with orange juice and beer
'We protest especially against the Grand National because of the nature of the course, it is more demanding and the field is an enormous size, there are 40 horses that take part, and the race takes place over impossible obstacles.'
Four horses died at the meet last year, including Dooneys Gate and Ornais during the big race itself.
In the wake of these deaths, the organisers of the Grand National introduced changes this year to the course, which included reducing drops on the landing side of fences.
Tony Moore, chair of animal rights group FAACE, said: 'It does not make any difference, it is purely cosmetic. The lower the fences are, the faster the race, the harder they fall.'
Earlier in the day, Mick Kinane landed the honours on American Trilogy in the John Smith's Aintree Legends Charity Flat Race at Aintree.
The 13-times champion Irish Flat jockey, who retired at the end of 2009, took the Paul Nicholls-trained grey into the lead about two furlongs out.
Brushing off the challenge of Waldvogel, ridden by 1997 Grand National-winning jockey Tony Dobbin, American Trilogy stormed clear to win by nine lengths.
Day of sport: Race goers watch the FA Cup Semi final between Liverpool and Everton on big screens during day three of the 2012 John Smith's Grand National meeting at Aintree
Waldvogel kept on for second, a length and a half ahead of Cape Express, ridden by Marcus Armytage, who won the National in 1990.
Kinane said: 'A fraction of it (ability) is still there, it was great to do it.
'Bob (Champion) rang me in December and he caught me at a good moment. I put the phone down and thought what have I got myself into? Just as I'd come to terms with retirement!
'This is a fantastic cause and it's a pleasure to be a part of it. I was fishing around for a ride and Paul Nicholls came up with this horse. He said the horse had lost a bit of confidence over fences and his rating suited the race.
'I said to Paul afterwards to take a picture so he could get a Flat one on the wall to go with all the jumps winners! It was great to ride for the champion trainer and the horse travelled beautifully. I was very confident turning for home that unless somebody was stalking me, I was in good shape.'
Nicholls said: 'It's lovely to give Mick a winner and it was a nice outing for the horse, too. I'm pleased for the owners as they've lost family to cancer, so they wanted to support this race. He travelled so well, I'm tempted to run him on the Flat. He did run on the Flat in France and I'm sure there'll be some races for him.'
whats the music that is in the BBC Grand National?
ResponderEliminargrand national