2006 Grand National

The 2006 Grand National (known as the John Smith's Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 159th official annual running of the Grand National steeplechase which took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 8 April 2006[1] and attracted the maximum permitted field of forty competitors for total prize money of £689,360 including £399,140 to the winner.[2]

2006 Grand National
Grand National
LocationAintree
Date8 April 2006
Winning horseNumbersixvalverde
JockeyNiall Madden
TrainerMartin Brassil
OwnerBernard Carroll
ConditionsGood

11–1 Irish shot Numbersixvalverde, ridden by Niall Madden, won the race, ahead of 5–1 joint-favourite and the previous year's winner Hedgehunter in second place. The other joint-favourite, Clan Royal, was deemed third in a photo finish ahead of Nil Desperandum at 33–1. Nine of the forty runners completed the course, the fewest since 2001.[3]

Runners and betting

Clan Royal was the long-time ante-post favourite with the public on the back of finishing second in 2004 and being carried out while leading in 2005, as well as being partnered with champion jockey Tony McCoy. But significant money on race day went on the 2005 winner Hedgehunter who was again to be partnered by Ruby Walsh. The pair went off as joint-favourites while other popular choices among the public were Racing Post Chase winner Innox from France, Garvivonnian, the winner of the Becher Chase over one circuit of the National course five months earlier, 2005 Betfred Gold Cup winner Jack High, 2005 Irish Grand National winner Numbersixvalverde, and the grey Ross Comm, considered to have been underestimated in the handicap by 10 lbs.

Starting price Number Name Age Weight (st, lb) Jockey Trainer Owner Colours
33/1 1 Royal Auclair 9 11–12 Christian Williams Paul Nicholls Clive Smith Green with yellow spots, yellow and green halved sleeves, purple cap
5/1 JF 2 Hedgehunter 10 11–12 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins (Ireland) Trevor Hemmings Yellow and green quarters, white sleeves, green cap
22/1 3 Cornish Rebel 9 11–9 Joe Tizzard Paul Nicholls Graham Roach Red with white crossbelts, hoops on sleeves and star on cap
50/1 4 Therealbandit 9 11–9 Richard Johnson Martin Pipe David Johnson Blue with green sleeves and red cap
50/1 5 It Takes Time 12 11–8 Timmy Murphy Martin Pipe David Johnson Blue with green sleeves and white cap with green spots
150/1 6 Le Roi Miguel 8 11–7 Liam Heard Paul Nicholls Green/Rose/Cowell White with black spot, green sleeves with white armband and cap
100/1 7 Native Upmanship 13 11–0 Conor O'Dwyer Arthur Moore (Ireland) Sue Magnier Navy blue
10/1 8 Innox 10 10–13 Robert Thornton François Doumen (France) J. P. McManus Green and orange hoops, green cap with white star
40/1 9 Silver Birch 9 10–12 Sam Thomas Paul Nicholls Paul Barber & Des Nichols Dark green with V, lime green sleeves, dark green and white checked cap
100/1 10 Whispered Secret 7 10–12 Rodi Greene Martin Pipe David Manasseh & Dan Levine Blue with yellow piping and chevrons on sleeves
100/1 11 Rince Ri 13 10–12 Andrew McNamara Ted Walsh (Ireland) Frank Moriarty Claret and white stripes with checked cap
66/1 12 Puntal 10 10–12 Barry Geraghty Martin Pipe Terry Neill White with red spotted sash and armbands, quartered cap
33/1 13 Lord of Illusion 9 10–11 Jason Maguire Tom George Patrick Kennedy Green with white inverted chevrons, white sleeves with green stars, white and pink quartered cap
50/1 14 Ebony Light 10 10–10 Stephen Craine Donald McCain Roger Bellamy White with blue cross of lorraine, striped sleeves and white cap
100/1 15 First Gold 13 10–10 Richard McGrath François Doumen (France) J. P. McManus Green and orange hoops with purple cap
5/1 JF 16 Clan Royal 11 10–10 Tony McCoy Jonjo O'Neill J. P. McManus Green and orange hoops with white cap
33/1 17 Le Duc 7 10–10 Jamie Moore Paul Nicholls Green/Rose/Cowell White with black star, green sleeves with white armband, green cap
33/1 18 Sir Oj 9 10–10 Paul Carberry Noel Meade (Ireland) Brian Keenan Claret and pink checks
33/1 19 Forest Gunner 12 10–10 Ms. Nina Carberry Richard Ford John Gilsenan White with red braces, black sleeves and red cap
20/1 20 Joe's Edge 9 10–10 Davy Russell Ferdy Murphy Chemipetro Ltd. Grey with red cross of lorraine, checked sleeves and red cap
25/1 21 Juveigneur 9 10–9 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson Trevor Hemmings Green and yellow quarters with white sleeves and cap
50/1 22 Amberleigh House 14 10–9 Graham Lee Donald McCain Halewood International Ltd. Black with red and white striped sleeves and hooped cap
80/1 23 Ballycassidy 10 10–9 Leighton Aspell Peter Bowen R. Owen & P. Fullagar White with red V, red and green striped sleeves, red cap
40/1 24 Inca Trail 10 10–9 Brian Harding Donald McCain Halewood International Ltd. Black with red and white striped sleeves, white cap
11/1 25 Garvivonnian 11 10–8 Garrett Cotter Ned Mitchell (Ireland) Angela Long Red and yellow diablo and checked cap
11/1 26 Numbersixvalverde 10 10–8 Niall Madden Martin Brassill (Ireland) Bernard Carroll Green, black sleeves, white cap
200/1 27 Iznogoud 10 10–8 Tom Scudamore Martin Pipe County Stores and Avalon Surfacing Yellow with burgundy crossbelts, blue sleeves, yellow and blue quartered cap
9/1 28 Jack High 11 10–7 David Casey Ted Walsh (Ireland) Brenda Ross Pink with blue diamond hoop and diamonds on sleeves, white cap
25/1 29 Haut De Gamme 11 10–7 Keith Mercer Ferdy Murphy Haut De Gamme Partnership Black with sky stripe and hoops on sleeves, hooped cap
33/1 30 Nil Desperandum 9 10–7 Tommy Treacy Frances Crowley (Ireland) Mike Shone Red, white sleeves, red and grey quartered cap
66/1 31 Baron Windrush 8 10–7 Carl Llewellyn Nigel Twiston-Davies Double Octagon Partnership Yellow and orange diamonds, yellow sleeves and cap
66/1 32 Heros Collonges 11 10–7 J. P. McNamara Paul Nicholls Merchant Rentals plc Grey, blue V, sleeves, star on cap
100/1 33 Tyneandthyneagain 11 10–7 Peter Buchanan Howard Johnson Howard Johnson Red, blue chevrons, hooped cap
66/1 34 Risk Accessor 11 10-06 Noel Fehily Jonjo O'Neill J. P. McManus Green and orange hoops, purple cap
25/1 35 Direct Access 11 10-06 Tony Dobbin Nicky Richards Direct Access Partnership Orange and blue hoops, orange sleeves with blue armband, orange cap
50/1 36 Colonel Rayburn 10 10–6 John Cullen Paul Nolan (Ireland) Thatch (Ferns) Racing syndicate White and red diablo, white sleeves with black hoops, white and black hooped cap
100/1 37 Iris Royal 10 10–6 Marcus Foley Nicky Henderson Sir Robert Ogden Pink and violet quarters, white sleeves, pink and violet quartered cap
16/1 38 Ross Comm 10 10–5 Dominic Elsworth Sue Smith Kevin Treanor Red, grey V, diablo sleeves and quartered cap
33/1 39 Shotgun Willy 12 10–5 Andrew Tinkler Richard Guest Paul Beck Blue and yellow diablo, purple and orange diablo sleeves, blue and yellow quartered cap
50/1 40 Just in Debt 10 10–4 Alan Dempsey Martin Todhunter Bill Hazeldean Red, blue stars and sleeves with red stars, white cap

The race

There was one false start when Ross Comm tried to bite the tape as it went to rise. The runners were recalled and got away at the second attempt despite the calls from Conor O'Dwyer that his mount Native Upmanship was not ready, being left twenty lengths adrift at the start. Shotgun Willy led over the first fence which claimed Juveigneur, Whispered Secret, Tyneandthyneagain, last year's runner up Royal Auclair and the highly fancied Innox, while the fences leading to the sixth, Becher's Brook, also ended the hopes of Baron Windrush at the third, Ross Comm at the fourth and Ebony Light at the fifth, with Just in Debt failing to negotiate the famous sixth.

Shotgun Willy was headed at the Canal Turn by the tighter jump of Ballycassidy but it was Puntal who moved to the front at the ninth (Valentine's) and led the field back to the racecourse minus Le Duc who had unseated his rider back at the Turn.

Thirty of the original forty starters continued onto the racecourse to The Chair, where Jack High, Silver Birch and Heros Collonges all came to grief. Garvivonnian also blundered there and was pulled up before taking the next, the Water Jump, which marks the end of the first circuit.

Ballycassidy and Puntal had enjoyed a lead of about six lengths on the first circuit but the former began to draw away from the latter and the rest of the field on the run to Becher's for the second time. Behind, Lord of Illusion, Iris Royal, Shotgun Willy, Cornish Rebel, Le Roi Miguel, Direct Access and Amberleigh House all pulled up with Haut De Gamme falling at the 20th fence.

Becher's itself claimed tail-ender Sir Oj and the Foinavon fence saw the tiring First Gold unseat his rider, to leave sixteen runners still in the contest as the field turned at the Canal for the second time.

Ballycassidy still led by four lengths at this point, with only the struggling Rince Ri and Iznogoud too far behind to challenge.

The leader hesitated at Valentine's however and fell to leave Hedgehunter leading the still tightly-packed survivors back towards the finish while behind him the 27th fence was far enough for Native Upmanship and Rince Ri who both refused after seeing Therealbandit, Iznogoud and Colonel Rayburn all pulled up. It Takes Time also called it a day after taking the third-last flight to leave nine runners still in the race.

The long run towards the second-last fence paid for Joe's Edge and Forest Gunner, while Hedgehunter, Clan Royal and Numbersixvalverde jumped abreast with their three rivals still tucked in behind. Inca Trail and Risk Accessor were both beaten by the last fence which Numbersixvalverde jumped just ahead of Hedgehunter and Clan Royal, with Nil Desperandum still in touch in fourth.

Numbersixvalverde was now pushed out to take the run-in, and reached the elbow ​1 1⁄2 lengths up on Hedgehunter with equal distances to Nil Desperandum and Clan Royal. From there on the leader increased his advantage over the other three to win by six lengths. Hedgehunter came in second and Clan Royal was given third in a photo finish ahead of Nil Desperandum in fourth.[4][5]

Finishing order
Position Name Starting price Distance Prize money
1st Numbersixvalverde 11/1 Won by 6 lengths £399,140
2nd Hedgehunter 5/1 JF 1¼ lengths £149,730
3rd Clan Royal 5/1 JF Short head £74,970
4th Nil Desperandum 33/1 A distance £37,380
5th Risk Accessor 66/1 16 lengths £18,760
6th Puntal 66/1 2½ lengths £9,380
7th Joe's Edge 20/1 22 lengths Nil
8th Inca Trail 40/1 3½ lengths Nil
9th Forest Gunner 33/1 Last to complete Nil

Non-finishers
Fence Name Fate
1st Royal Auclair Fell
Innox Fell
Whispered Secret Unseated
Juveigneur Fell
Tyneandthyneagain Fell
3rd (open ditch) Baron Windrush Unseated
4th Ross Comm Fell
5th Ebony Light Fell
6th (Becher's Brook) Just in Debt Fell
8th (Canal Turn) Le Duc Unseated
15th (The Chair) Silver Birch Fell
Jack High Unseated
Heros Collonges Unseated
16th (Water Jump) Garvivonnian Pulled up
17th Lord of Illusion Pulled up
Iris Royal Pulled up
18th Shotgun Willy Pulled up
19th (open ditch) Cornish Rebel Pulled up
Le Roi Miguel Pulled up
Direct Access Pulled up
20th Haut De Gamme Fell
21st Amberleigh House Pulled up
22nd (Becher's Brook) Sir Oj Fell
23rd (Foinavon) First Gold Unseated
25th (Valentine's) Ballycassidy Fell
27th (open ditch) Therealbandit Pulled up
Native Upmanship Refused
Rince Ri Refused
Iznogoud Pulled up
Colnel Rayburn Pulled up
29th It Takes Time Pulled up

Aftermath

Winning jockey Niall 'Slippers' Madden said that he had been given a dream ride all the way but was not actually sure he had won until he crossed the line, despite believing that he would win a long way from home. The second, Ruby Walsh, third, Tony McCoy and fourth, Tom Treacy, riders all agreed that the rain the previous day had gone against their runners, despite all believing that they would win crossing the Melling Road to turn for the second last flight. Fifth-placed Noel Fehily also believed he was going to win on Risk Accessor crossing the Melling Road but confessed that his mount did not get the trip. Barry Geraghty felt that Puntal's chance went when hitting the 20th fence very hard, which winded him slightly before rallying to pick up stragglers late on. The other three riders to complete the course were all delighted to complete the race, while each stated that their mounts were well beaten by two fences out.

Of those that did not complete the course only one rider, Tony Dobbin, pulled up because the horse, Direct Access, was not enjoying it, while Jason Maguire was forced to pull up Lord of Illusion when the horse bled. J. P. McNamara felt he was unlucky to be unseated from Heros Collonges at The Chair because his horse was baulked while Andrew McNamara confessed that Rince Ri was stopped by a loose horse falling into the ditch in front of him rather than actually refusing. Leighton Aspell was the only rider to exit the race while lying in the first half dozen when long-time leader Ballycassidy fell but he stopped short of saying that he felt they would win, merely feeling that they deserved to get round after their front running performance.

Tyneandthyneagain continued riderless after falling at the first fence until he fell into the open ditch along the canal side. Upon being returned to the stables he was found to have a serious spinal injury and had to be euthanised. 2004 winner Amberleigh House was retired after the race.

Stephen Craine was taken to hospital with a broken collarbone after his fall from Ebony Light, while Paul Carberry suffered a sprained ankle after his fall from Sir Oj.[6]

Media coverage

The race was broadcast live on BBC television and radio. The television coverage was as a Grandstand special for the 47th consecutive year. Although BBC television would continue to air the race until 2012 this year's would end up being the final National in Grandstand as the programme would finish in January 2007. The televising of the race included cameras inside the first fence and three inside jockey's caps (Christian Williams on Royal Auclair, Leighton Aspell on Ballycassidy and Sam Thomas on Silver Birch). The programme was presented by Sue Barker and Clare Balding with summary from Richard Pitman, Peter Scudamore and Norman Williamson. John Parrott and Rishi Persad interviewed spectators and celebrity racegoers on course with Angus Loughran reviewing the betting market. The race commentary team was Ian Bartlett, Tony O'Hehir, Darren Owen and lead commentator Jim McGrath who called the runners home for the ninth year.

Prior to the race, nineteen leading racing correspondents were asked to pick their top four. Only one, the BBC website's 'Honest Frank' correctly predicted the winner.[7]

Jockeys

For the sixth consecutive year, Carl Llewellyn was the senior citizen of the weighing room, becoming only the sixth rider to weigh out for his 16th Grand National, including the void race of 1993 in which he took part. Llewellyn retired before the end of the year though he did briefly consider returning for a 17th crack at the race in 2008.[8]

Seven riders made their debut including Niall Madden who became the twenty-first rider to win the race at the first attempt as well as the first in the 21st century. Nina Carberry also completed the course while Stephen Craine, Sam Thomas, Liam Heard, Andrew McNamara and Keith Mercer all failed to reach the finishing post.

References
  1. Grand National runners and riders BBC Sport, 6 April 2006
  2. Aintree Result Racing Post, 8 April 2006
  3. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/4891344.stm
  4. Replay: The 2006 Grand National BBC Sport
  5. Grand National fence-by-fence analysis BBC Sport
  6. Aintree Grand National Result 2006 – NUMBERSIXVALVERDE WINS THE NATIONAL Racing Better
  7. Grand National top tips BBC Sport, 7 April 2006
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

Official BBC coverage of the 2006 Grand National

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