Blue skies and sunshine blessed the
2003 Martell Grand National at Aintree and in the lead up to the
world famous steeplechase, all the talk was of clear 7-1 favourite
Shotgun Willy, ridden by Ruby Walsh. Having already won the National
just 3 years earlier, the 9 year old was heavily backed in the 4 mile
4 furlong race, which was limited to 40 runners.
After the off, Tremallt, ridden by
Jason Macguire made the early running, leading over Becher’s Brook
for the first time, followed closely by the Joe Tizzard on
Montifault, Blowing Wind,Torduff Express and Monty’s Pass ridden by
Barry Geraghty.
Fallers
By fence 16 of this 30 fence race, 9 of
the field had gone by the wayside, including Youllneverwalkalone,
ridden by Conor O’Dwyer and Tony McCoy mount, Iris Bleu. Both were
fancied and backed into 8-1.
The bookies favourite, Shotgun Willy
had not had the best of races, failing to make any headway on the
leading pack. The Irish chestnut Gelding, trained by P F Nicholls and
owned by Paul Beck faded and pulled up just after jumping Becher’s
for the second time.
Heading for Home
The following few fences sorted the men
from the boys and going over Canal Turn, the field had become very
spread out, with a small leading group had forming that included 16-1
shot, Monty’s Pass, Barry Fenton on Gunner Welburn, Montifault,
Amberleigh House and Torduff Express.
Going into the 2nd from home, the
leading pack had been reduced to three, with 10 year old Monty’s
Pass, Amberleigh House and the Andrew Balding trained Gunner Welburn
vying for the lead. This was where the race was won, as Irishman,
Barry Geraghty found strode away through the elbow on Monty’s Pass.
Accelerating and pulling away all the
time, Monty’s Pass went on to win by an impressive 12 lengths from
Supreme Glory who got up well in the final furlongs to finish second,
with Amberleigh House in 3rd.
Irish eyes were smiling at Aintree, as
another Irish win was confirmed at the world’s grandest
steeplechase, earning the winning owner, Mike Futter a cool £348,000.
