Horses

Neptune Collonges

admin June 4, 2026

Run on April 14, 2012, on going officially described as good, good to soft in places, the 2012 Grand National was notable for producing the closest finish in history. The 8/1 joint-favourite, Seabass, ridden by Katie Walsh, led over the final fence, but was headed by Sunnyhillboy, ridden by Richie McLernon, halfway up the run-in. However, in what was described as a “head-bobbing, pulsating finish”, Neptune Collonges, ridden by Daryl Jacob, bore down on the leader in the final hundred yards and stayed on to lead in the final stride and win by the minimum possible margin, a nose. Seabass could find no extra, but still finish third, five lengths away and, in so doing, achieved what was, at the time, the best-ever result for a female jockey in the Grand National.

Despite further safety changes, following the deaths of Ornais and Dooneys Gate during the 2011 Grand National, the result of the 2012 Grand National was, once again, overshadowed by fatal injuries to two horses. The Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Synchronised, fell at Becher’s Brook on the first circuit and fractured a leg when running loose, while According To Pete did likewise when brought down at the same fence on the second circuit.

Owned by the late John Hales and trained by Paul Nicholls, for whom he was a first Grand National winner, Neptune Collonges had contested the Cheltenham Gold Cup four times in his younger years. He achieved his best placing in the ‘Blue Riband’ event in 2008, as a seven-year-old, when a rallying third behind stable companions Denman and Kauto Star, beaten seven lengths and a short-head. By the time of his Aintree triumph, he was an 11-year-old, rated 17lb below his peak, but had only been beaten a head, off a 2lb higher mark, in the Grand National Trial at Haydock on his previous start so, despite his 33/1 starting price, was perfectly entitled to run well. In fact, he became just the third grey to win the Grand National after The Lamb (1868 and 1871) and Nicolaus Silver (1961).

Ballabriggs

admin June 4, 2026

Run on April 9, 2011, on going officially described as good, good to soft in places, the 2011 Grand National was an eventual renewal, overshadowed by fatal injuries to two horses, which led to the bypassing of two fences, including Becher’s Brook, on the second circuit. Ultimately, 19 of the 40 starters completed the course and were led home by 14/1 chance Ballabriggs, in a time of 9:01.2, significantly slower than the course record of 8:47.8, set by Mr. Frisk on firm going in 1990, but nevertheless the second-fastest winning time in history.

Owned by the late Trevor Hemmings, trained by Donald McCain Jnr. and ridden by Jason Maguire, Ballabriggs was on, or close to, the pace throughout and, despite a blunder at Valentine’s Brook on the second circuit, regained the lead at the next fence and was never headed thereafter. That said, four other horses, Oscar Time, Niche Market, Big Fella Thanks and the 2010 winner, Don’t Push It, remained in serious contention approaching the second last. Ballabriggs jumped the final fence with a two-length lead and, although Oscar Time, ridden by leading amateur Sam Whaley-Cohen, reached his quarters halfway up the run-in, he found extra in the closing stages and drew away again to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths. Don’t Push It stayed on to finish a modest third, a further 12 lengths away, while State Of Play, who had been only seventh jumping the final fence, stayed on relentlessly to finish fourth, two lengths further back.

In saddling Ballabriggs to victory in the world-famous steeplechase, McCain Jnr. followed in the footsteps of his father, Donald ‘Ginger’ McCain, who saddled the legendary Red Rum to an unprecedented hat-trick in 1973, 1974 and 1977, plus Amberleigh House in 2004. Winning connections collected the lion’s share of the record £950,000 prize money awarded for what was, at the time, the most valuable National Hunt race in the country. Winning jockey Maguire told the BBC, “This is crazy. I’ve got to thank Donald [McCain], Mr. Hemmings, my mother and father, everybody. It’s a dream come true.”

Comply Or Die

admin June 3, 2026

On April 5, 2008, a maximum field of 40 runners went to post for the Grand National. Joint-favourites at the ‘off’ were Cloudy Lane, trained by Donald McCain and carrying the famous green, yellow and white silks of the late Trevor Hemmings, and Comply Or Die, trained by David Pipe and carrying the equally famous blue, green and white silks of the late David Johnson. The pair had finished first and second in the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock the previous December and, at Aintree, Comply Or Die was 4lb better off for the two-and-a-half lengths he was beaten on that occasion.

Since Haydock, Cloudy Lane had gone on to complete a hat-tirck, in the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster, while Comply Or Die had won the Eider Chase at Newcastle on his only subsequent start, so both market leaders arrived at Aintree at the top of their form. In an eventful renewal, overshadowed by the death of the 2007 runner-up McKelvey, who unseated jockey Tom O’Brien early on the second circuit and was fatally injured while running loose, just 15 of the 40 starters completed the course.

Ridden by Jason Maguire, Cloudy Lane was asked for an effort three fences from home, where he made a mistake, and thereafter weakened to finish a distant sixth. Comply Or Die, meanwhile, led going well two out and, once shaken up by jockey Timmy Muphy, forged clear on the run-in to put four lengths between himself and his nearest pursuer, King Johns Castle, with Snowy Morning a close third, a further length-and-a-half away, with 16 lengths back to the fourth horse home, Slim Pickings.

Comply Or Die ran in the next three Grand Nationals. In 2009, off a 15lb higher mark, he finished 12-length runner-up to 100/1 outsider Mon Mome, in 2010, he finished a distant twelfth behind Don’t Push It and, in 2011, was tailed off when pulled up two out behind Ballabriggs. He was retired immediately afterward, with Pipe saying, “He’s been great for Pond House, for me and for David Johnson and his family and everyone involved with him.”

Grand National Runners 2026

admin March 28, 2026

The 2026 Aintree Grand National is almost upon us once again below are the remaining 55 entires and weights list for the race taking place on 11th April, ranked by weight. This will be removed further in due time due to the 34 line up limit on the number of horses that can take part. So it’s not final delcarations time yet, with confirmed jockeys etc. For more on the past and present of Grand National Runners check out the official site:

Auroras Encore

admin March 19, 2025

For most punters the dream is to bet on a winning outsider and pocket a lot of cash. When you consider since 1839 there have been just a handful of winners at 100/1 you may be pushing your luck for something more. However, never say never because one day you may be surprised.

For example, in 1967 Foinavon won at odds of 100/1. However, his price on the Tote was 444/1. Now that is what you call a big win. A bet of £50 (a lot of money in the 60s) would have seen a profit of £22,200.

So what was all the fuss about in 2013?

Auroras Encore won the 166^th Aintree Grand National for trainer Sue Smith and jockey Ryan Mania in the ownership of Douglas Pryde, Jim Beaumont & David van der Hoeven. They pocketed a prize of £547,268. Not bad for a horse that cost just 7,000 (Euros) as a yearling, when purchased by Frank Barry. He was later purchased by the trainer’s husband Harvey Smith for 9,500 (3yo). Considering this son of Second Empire out of a once-race mare went on to win total prize money of £725,737 it was a good time had by all.

Auroros Encore was with his trainer (Sue Smith) for his entire career which started as a five-year-old making his debut on the 19^th February 2007. He finished second at Market Rasen at odds of 25/1 in a National Hunt Flat Race (2m 1 1/2f).

He proved victorious on his fifth start of his formative season at Sedgefield (11^th December).

In total, he ran 47 times and achieved 8 wins.

Noted wins included:

3^rd April 2008 – Aintree John Smith’s Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race) £34,206 (50/1)

Another outstanding effort when runner-up in the Scottish Grand National (when headed close home, beaten a head.) He went for home at the fourth last, held a length lead at the last but couldn’t quite hold on. A brave effort and he lost nothing in defeat.

He won prize money of £38,466.

In a masterful decision, Auroras Encore would only race in the Aintree Grand National. On the 6^th April 2013 this gelding took his chance with Ryan Mania in the saddle. The eleven-year-old ran off a light weight of 10-3 on going described as ‘good to soft’. A 40-strong field saw just 17 horses complete the course. Seabass, the 11/2f, finished tired in 13^th place.

In an inspired ride, Auroras Encore tracked the leaders, made a mistake at the 10^th, hit 4 out, stayed on to lead last, driven out to win by nine lengths at odds of 66/1 (133/1 on the Tote). Sue Smith said regarding the apparent improvement in form: ‘The gelding appreciated the better ground and the greater distance.’

All horses returned safely to their stables.

Sue Smith said: ‘I would have been happy to have been in the first four or five and we’ve won it. The horse ran a fantastic race, Ryan gave him a fantastic ride and always had the horse where he wanted to be. He ran so well in the Scottish National (2^nd) that we knew he would get the trip.’

Ryan Mania said: ‘Everything went right. Crossing the Melling Road I thought we could be in the first three or four. I couldn’t believe the way the front two stopped in front of me at the last.’

He may have been an outsider but there was no fluke about this.

Auroras Encore would race just race three more time retiring after finishing 9^th at Doncaster on the 25^th January 2014 after he suffered a fracture to his right foreleg. He had an operation to insert screws into his leg.

Smith said: ‘I just want him to have a happy retirement. They got him up successfully after surgery and he was staying overnight in the operation box. Fingers crossed. He won the National for us. It doesn’t get bigger than that. He doesn’t owe us anything. This is a racing injury and I’m afraid that is what you have to expect from the job on occasion. I just want him back to his retirement.’