Corach Rambler rocketed to the head of the market in 2023, following his second successive win in the Ultima Handicap Chase. Like many others in the field, the Lucinda Russell star had to prove himself over this trip but, with the Grand National weights published ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, he was officially 10 pounds well in on ratings.
Another towards the head of the betting was defending champ Noble Yeats, who arrived on the back of a solid fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but was 19 pounds higher in the handicap compared to his 2022 success. Noble Yeats and National Hunt Chase champ Gaillard Du Mesnil initially spearheaded the Irish challenge but were joined as co-second favourites by the Rachael Blackmore-ridden Ain’t That A Shame, who was the major plunge horse on the day.
Result
- 1st – Corach Ramblers 8/1F, Jockey: Derek Fox, Trainer: Lucinda Russell
- 2nd – Vanilier 20/1, Jockey: Sean Flanagan, Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
- 3rd – Gaillard Du Mesnil 10/1, Jockey: Paul Townend, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 4th – Noble Yeats 10/1, Jockey: Sean Bowen, Trainer: Emmet Mullins
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £500,000
- 2nd – £200,000
- 3rd – £100,000
- 4th – £65,000
- 5th – £40,000
- 6th – £30,000
- 7th – £20,000
- 8th – £15,000
- 9th – £10,000
- 10th – £5,000
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – £9
- Tote Places – 1st – £3.20, 2nd – £5.80, 3rd – £2.60
- Exacta – £219
- Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – £166.25
- Trifecta – £2,269.80
- Tricast – £1,699.84
Recap
An eventful renewal, with protests at the track seeing the start delayed by 15 minutes. Whether the delay unsettled the field we will never know for sure, but many runners did seem lit up once the race was underway – possibly contributing to a total of eight horses making it no further than the second fence.
Away from the trouble in behind was Gordon Elliott’s Coko Beach, who immediately set out to make the running, closely followed by Mister Coffey, Minella Trump and Lifetime Ambition. Confirmed stayers Noble Yeats and Gaillard Du Mesnil were ridden patiently towards the rear of the field, whilst favourite Corach Rambler had secured a handy position on the rail in about ninth or 10th.
There was little change at the head of affairs headed out into the second circuit, with Mister Coffey and Coko Beach continuing to take them along. Amongst those beginning to catch the eye were The Big Dog, who loomed up on the outside, and Noble Yeats, who improved from the rear to midfield. Corach Rambler, meanwhile, continued to travel nicely just off the pace.
Moving to the second last, Coko Beach had wilted, but Mister Coffey was around seven lengths clear of the field, only for his stamina to wilt on the run to the last. It was Corach Rambler who swooped through to forge ahead rounding the elbow. Vanillier flew home from the back but never quite looked like getting there, as Corach Rambler came home two and a quarters lengths clear at the line.
A second Grand National win for the Lucinda Russell/Derek Fox partnership, following the success of One For Arthur in 2017 – the fact that One For Arthur sadly passed away in the lead-up to the race added a poignant note to a famous Scottish success.
Runners
- 1. Any Second Now – SP: 14/1, Trainer: Ted Walsh, Jockey: Mark Walsh
- 2. Noble Yeats – SP: 10/1, Trainer: Emmet Mullins, Jockey: Sean Bowen
- 3. Galvin – SP: 22/1, Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Davy Russell
- 4. Fury Road – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr.
- 5. The Big Dog – SP: 12/1, Trainer: Peter Fahey, Jockey: Aidan Coleman
- 6. Capodanno – SP: 22/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Danny Mullins
- 7. Delta Work – SP: 11/1, Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Keith Donoghue
- 8. Sam Brown – SP: 66/1, Trainer: Anthony Honeyball, Jockey: Jonathan Burke
- 9. Lifetime Ambition – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Mrs John Harrington, Jockey: Sean O’Keeffe
- 10. Carefully Selected – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Michael O’Sullivan
- 11. Coko Beach – SP: 28/1, Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Harry Cobden
- 12. Longhouse Poet – SP: 20/1, Trainer: Martin Brassil, Jockey: J J Slevin
- 13. Gaillard Du Mesnil – SP: 10/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Paul Townend
- 14. Darasso – SP: 100/1, Trainer: Joseph O’Brien, Jockey: Luke Dempsey
- 15. Le Milos – SP: 12/1, Trainer: Dan Skelton, Jockey: Harry Skelton
- 16. Escaria Ten – Non-runner
- 17. The Big Breakway – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Joe Tizzard, Jockey: Brendan Powell
- 18. Cape Gentleman – SP: 100/1, Trainer: John Joseph Hanlon, Jockey: Jody McGarvey
- 19. Roi Mage – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Patrick Griffin, Jockey: Felix De Giles
- 20. Diol Ker – SP: 100/1, Trainer: Noel Meade, Jockey: Kieren Buckley
- 21. A Wave Of The Sea – SP: 66/1, Trainer: Joseph O’Brien, Jockey: Shane Fitzgerald
- 22. Minella Trump – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Donald McCain, Jockey: Theo Gillard
- 23. Vanilier – SP: 20/1, Trainer: Gavin Cromwell, Jockey: Sean Flanagan
- 24. Velvet Elvis – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Thomas Gibney, Jockey: Darragh O’Keeffe
- 25. Ain’t That A Shame – SP: 10/1, Trainer: Henry De Bromhead, Jockey: Rachael Blackmore
- 26. Corach Rambler – SP: 8/1F, Trainer: Lucinda Russell, Jockey: Derek Fox
- 27. Enjoy D’allen – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Ciaran Murphy, Jockey: Simon Torrens
- 28. Mr Incredible – SP: 14/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Brian Hayes
- 29. Mister Coffey – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Nicky Henderson, Jockey: Nico de Boinville
- 30. Cloudy Glen – SP: 80/1, Trainer: Venetia Williams, Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
- 31. Hill Sixteen – SP: 80/1, Trainer: Sandy Thomson, Jockey: Ryan Mania
- 32. Gabbys Cross – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Henry De Bromhead, Jockey: Peter Carberry
- 33. Recite A Prayer – SP: 80/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Jack Foley
- 34. Eva’s Oskar – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Tim Vaughan, Jockey: Alan Johns
- 35. Our Power – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Sam Thomas, Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
- 36. Dunboyne – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Jack Tudor
- 37. Francky Du Berlais – SP: 125/1, Trainer: Peter Bowen, Jockey: Ben Jones
- 38. Fortrescue – SP: 100/1, Trainer: Henry Daly, Jockey: Hugh Nugent
- 39. Back On The Lash – SP: 22/1, Trainer: Martin Keighley, Jockey: Adam Wedge
- 40. Born By The Sea – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Paul John Gilligan, Jockey: Philip Enright
Non-Runners
Escaria Ten (vet’s certificate)