Having fallen at the last, while still
in contention for the 2004 Martell Grand National, the 9 year old
Trevor Hemmings owned Hedgehunter had been installed as the 7-1F for
the 2005 running of this famous steeplechase. Also heavily backed
were last year’s runner up Clan Royal, trained by Jonjo O’Neill,
the Richard Ford trained Forest Gunner and French Grey, Strong
Resolve.
Last year’s winner, Amberleigh House
was listed as 16-1, 5th favourite.
The going for the rebranded John
Smith’s Grand National was good to soft and the 40 strong field set
off under leaden Aintree skies. The assembled crowd cheered as the
race was officially underway.
Over Becher’s
By the time the field crossed over
Becher’s Brook for the first time, there had been just 4 fallers,
with last year’s 3rd placed horse, Lord Atterbury, trained by M C
Pipe amongst those whose race ended in the first few fences. The
early running was being made by 150-1 outsider Glenelly Gale,
followed a couple of lengths back by Double Honour with Paddy Brennan
in the saddle and Astonville in 3rd.
The Chair
At the mid way point of the race, there
were still as many as 20 horses within touch of the leading bunch and
the arduous Aintree course had resulted in 8 fallers. The remaining
field was still headed by Glenelly Gale, who was starting to feel the
pace, causing the horse to fade away shortly after.
Bad Luck
Coming up to Becher’s Brook for the
second time, Clan Royal, who had been flanked by two riderless horses
for much of the straight was baulked by the pair, leading to a
refusal and disappointment for Jockey Tony McCoy.
This allowed favourite Ruby Walsh on
Hedgehunter to hit the front, jumping over Foinavon, followed by
Innox, ridden by Robert Thornton and 16-1 shot, Joly Bay in third.
It was a lead that Hedgehunter would
hold all the way to the finish line, Ruby Walsh skillfully saw the
steed home, some 14 lengths clear of the field. It was another
wonderful day for Irish racing, as the Irish trained and ridden horse
romped home to rapturous applause from the vibrant Aintree crowd,
earning owner Trevor Hemmings £406,000 in prize money in the process
