2015 Grand National

The 2015 Grand National (officially known as the 2015 Crabbie's Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 168th annual running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase took place on 11 April 2015, the final day of a three-day meeting. A field of 39 runners competed for a share of the £1 million prize fund, and all returned safely to the stables following the race.[1]

2015 Grand National
Grand National
LocationAintree Racecourse
Date11 April 2015
Winning horseMany Clouds
Starting price25/1
JockeyLeighton Aspell
TrainerOliver Sherwood
OwnerTrevor Hemmings
ConditionsGood to soft
External video
Full replay of the 2015 Grand National Racing UK, YouTube

The 2015 National was won by Many Clouds, ridden by Leighton Aspell and trained by Oliver Sherwood. This was Aspell's second consecutive Grand National victory, having won aboard Pineau de Re in 2014. Many Clouds is owned by Trevor Hemmings, who also owned the winners in 2005 and 2011.

The race was sponsored by ginger-beer producer Crabbie's for the second year. It was broadcast live on television by Channel 4, which took over the television rights after 2012; and on radio by BBC Radio, which has held the radio rights since 1927, and Talksport, which was covering the race live for the second time.

Race card

Entries for the 2015 Grand National closed on 3 February 2015 and 98 entrants were announced the following day, down from the record 115 that had been received for the 2014 race. Prior to the handicap announcement one horse was scratched, while another was ruled out as unqualified. Handicap weights were announced by the British Horseracing Authority in London on 17 February. A scratching deadline on 3 March saw the total number of horses reduced to 87; the second scratching deadline on 24 March reduced the field to 74. The five-day confirmation stage took place on 6 April and left 65 potential runners, reduced to 40 on 9 April.

One horse, number 14 Carlito Brigante, was subsequently declared a non-runner, reducing the field to 39 – the first time since 2004 that the maximum 40 did not start.[2][3]

No Colours Horse Age Handicap (st–lb) SP Jockey Trainer
1 Lord Windermere (IRE) 9 11–10 Brian O'Connell Jim Culloty (IRE)
2 Many Clouds (IRE) 8 11–09 Leighton Aspell Oliver Sherwood
3 Unioniste (FRA) 7 11–06 Noel Fehily Paul Nicholls
4 Rocky Creek (IRE) 9 11–03 Sam Twiston-Davies Paul Nicholls
5 First Lieutenant (IRE) 10 11–03 Ms. Nina Carberry Mouse Morris (IRE)
6 Balthazar King (IRE) 11 11–02 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs
7 Shutthefrontdoor (IRE) 8 11–02 Tony McCoy Jonjo O'Neill (IRE)
8 Pineau de Re (FRA) 12 11–00 Daryl Jacob Richard Newland
9 Ballycasey (IRE) 8 10–13 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins (IRE)
10 Spring Heeled (IRE) 8 10–12 Nick Scholfield Jim Culloty (IRE)
11 Rebel Rebellion (IRE) 10 10–12 Ryan Mahon Paul Nicholls
12 Dolatulo (FRA) 8 10–11 Dougie Costello Warren Greatrex
13 Mon Parrain (FRA) 9 10–11 Sean Bowen Paul Nicholls
14 Non-Runner N/A N/A N/A N/A
15 Night in Milan (IRE) 9 10–09 James Reveley Keith Reveley
16 Rubi Light (IRE) 10 10–09 Andrew Lynch Robert Hennessy (IRE)
17 The Druids Nephew (IRE) 8 10–09 Aidan Coleman Neil Mulholland
18 Cause of Causes (USA) 7 10–09 Paul Carberry Gordon Elliott (IRE)
19 Godsmejudge (IRE) 9 10–08 Wayne Hutchinson Alan King
20 Al Co (FRA) 10 10–08 Denis O'Regan Peter Bowen
21 Monbeg Dude (IRE) 10 10–07 Liam Treadwell Michael Scudamore
22 Corrin Wood (IRE) 8 10–07 David Casey Donald McCain
23 The Rainbow Hunter 11 10–07 David Bass Kim Bailey
24 Saint Are (FRA) 9 10–06 Paddy Brennan Tom George
25 Across the Bay (IRE) 11 10–06 Henry Brooke Donald McCain
26 Tranquil Sea (IRE) 13 10–05 Gavin Sheehan Warren Greatrex
27 Oscar Time (IRE) 14 10–05 Mr. Sam Waley-Cohen Robert Waley-Cohen
28 Bob Ford (IRE) 8 10–04 Paul Townend Rebecca Curtis
29 Super Duty (IRE) 9 10–04 Will Kennedy Ian Williams
30 Wyck Hill (IRE) 11 10–04 Tom Cannon David Bridgwater
31 Gas Line Boy (IRE) 9 10–04 James Best Philip Hobbs
32 Chance Du Roy (FRA) 11 10–04 Tom O'Brien Philip Hobbs
33 Portrait King (IRE) 10 10–03 Davy Condon Maurice Phelan (IRE)
34 Owega Star (IRE) 8 10–03 Robbie Power Peter Fahey (IRE)
35 River Choice (FRA) 12 10–03 David Cottin Richard Chotard (FRA)
36 Court by Surprise (FRA) 10 10–03 Richie McLernon Emma Lavelle
37 Alvarado (FRA) 10 10–03 Paul Moloney Fergal O'Brien
38 Soll 10 10–02 Tom Scudamore David Pipe
39 Ely Brown (IRE) 10 10–02 Jonathan Burke Charlie Longsdon
40 Royale Knight 9 10–02 Brendan Powell Richard Newland
  • Great Britain unless stated.
  • Amateur jockeys denoted by preceding title, e.g. Mr.

Robbie McNamara was due to ride Lord Windermere but withdrew due to injury.

Race overview
Winning jockey Leighton Aspell pictured in 2014 aboard Many Clouds

The race saw a larger than usual number of fallers on the first lap, including the favoured Balthazar King, whose fall at the Canal Turn led to the field being diverted around that fence on the final lap. Jockey Ruby Walsh (whose horse Ballycasey was brought down) helped stewards alert the field to the diversion.[4] Balthazar King suffered broken ribs in the fall.[5]

Many eyes were on Tony McCoy on the favourite Shutthefrontdoor on what was his last Grand National. He told the media he would retire immediately after the race if he won but his mount ran out of stamina on the home turn and eventually finished fifth.[6]

It was left to Many Clouds, ridden by Leighton Aspell, to come through to win the race.[7][8] Aspell became the first rider to win successive Nationals since Brian Fletcher rode Red Rum to victory in 1973 and 1974. Saint Are finished second, with Monbeg Dude third, and Alvarado fourth for the second time. Pineau de Re, the previous year's winner and now ridden by Daryl Jacob, finished 12th.[9]

Finishing order

Nineteen runners completed the course as follows:[10]

Position Horse Jockey SP Distance Prize money
1st Many Clouds Leighton Aspell 1025 25/1 Won by ​1 3⁄4 lengths £561,300
2nd Saint Are Paddy Brennan 1025 25/1 6 lengths £211,100
3rd Monbeg Dude Liam Treadwell 1040 40/1 ​3 1⁄2 lengths £105,500
4th Alvarado Paul Moloney 1020 20/1 ​1 1⁄2 lengths £52,700
5th Shutthefrontdoor Tony McCoy 1006 6/1 F ​2 1⁄4 lengths £26,500
6th Royale Knight Brendan Powell 1025 25/1 10 lengths £13,200
7th Tranquil Sea Gavin Sheehan 1033 33/1 ​2 1⁄4 lengths £6,800
8th Cause of Causes Paul Carberry 1014 14/1 14 lengths £3,600
9th Soll Tom Scudamore 1009 9/1 10 lengths £2,000
10th Chance Du Roy Tom O'Brien 1040 40/1 5 lengths £1,000
11th Mon Parrain Sean Bowen 1033 33/1 ​1 1⁄2 lengths
12th Pineau de Re Daryl Jacob 1025 25/1 6 lengths
13th Owega Star Robbie Power 1050 50/1 25 lengths
14th Spring Heeled Nick Scholfield 1025 25/1 ​2 1⁄2 lengths
15th Oscar Time Mr. Sam Waley-Cohen 1020 20/1 ​3 3⁄4 lengths
16th First Lieutenant Ms. Nina Carberry 1014 14/1 5 lengths
17th Rocky Creek Sam Twiston-Davies 1008 8/1 ​2 1⁄2 lengths
18th Night in Milan James Reveley 1020 20/1 ​3 1⁄4 lengths
19th Dolatulo Dougie Costello 1066 66/1 Last to complete

Non-finishers
Fence Horse Jockey SP Fate
1 Ely Brown Brian Hughes 100/1 Fell
1 Gas Line Boy James Best 66/1 Fell
1 Al Co Denis O'Regan 18/1 Unseated rider
3 (open ditch) Rubi Light Andrew Lynch 50/1 Unseated rider
4 Corrin Wood David Casey 66/1 Pulled up
5 Unioniste Noel Fehily 16/1 Fell
6 (Becher's Brook) River Choice David Cottin 100/1 Fell
8 (Canal Turn) Balthazar King Richard Johnson 17/2 Fell
8 (Canal Turn) Ballycasey Ruby Walsh 25/1 Brought down
19 Court by Surprise Richie McLernon 33/1 Pulled up
25 (Valentine's) Across the Bay Henry Brooke 33/1 Pulled up
25 (Valentine's) Super Duty Will Kennedy 66/1 Pulled up
25 (Valentine's) Lord Windermere Brian O'Connell 33/1 Pulled up
26 The Rainbow Hunter David Bass 33/1 Fell
26 The Druids Nephew Aidan Coleman 10/1 Fell
27 (open ditch) Rebel Rebellion Ryan Mahon 33/1 Pulled up
28 (ditch) Portrait King Davy Condon 50/1 Fell
29 Godsmejudge Wayne Hutchinson 18/1 Pulled up
29 Wyck Hill Tom Cannon 66/1 Pulled up
29 Bob Ford Paul Townend 50/1 Pulled up

Broadcasting and media
They make the long run-in now, and Many Clouds still out in front by two or three lengths to Saint Are. Monbeg Dude still stays on, then Shutthefrontdoor. A furlong left to go, passing the elbow. Many Clouds by three lengths to Saint Are. Many Clouds is getting tired. Saint Are stays on down the outside. Many Clouds by two lengths, by a length and a half! Here comes the line, it's Leighton Aspell! Back to back Grand Nationals, he wins on Many Clouds! Many Clouds has won the National.

Channel 4 lead commentator Simon Holt describes the climax of the race.

With Clare Balding unavailable to present Channel 4's coverage, due to her BBC commitments as The Boat Race was unusually held on the same day, Nick Luck therefore led the coverage, being the first male lead presenter of the race since 1999.[11] Luck's usual role of anchoring the event from the trackside studio was filled by Emma Spencer, supported by Jim McGrath and Graham Cunningham. Reports were provided by Mick Fitzgerald and Alice Plunkett and betting updates by Tanya Stevenson and Brian Gleeson. To broaden the scope of its coverage, flat racing jockey Frankie Dettori joined the team as a guest reporter for race day and more emphasis was placed on style and fashion of racegoers and celebrities, with fashion expert Gok Wan presenting segments on both race day and the preceding 'Ladies Day' on the festival meeting.[12]

The commentary team was by Richard Hoiles, Ian Bartlett and Simon Holt, who called the winner home for the third time. Following the race, Spencer, Fitzgerald and Hoiles guided viewers on a fence-by-fence analysis of the race.[12]

Further Channel 4 programming in the build-up to the race included special editions of chatshow Alan Carr: Chatty Man and Sunday Brunch, the latter being shown under the title of Weekend Brunch, with segments of the programme coming direct from Aintree.[12]

The BBC continued an unbroken run of 83 consecutive renewals of the race to be broadcast live on radio, dating back to 1927. The race was part of its 5 Live Sport broadcast, presented by Mark Pougatch with pre-race build-up from former National riders Andrew Thornton and Luke Harvey. Cornelius Lysaght interviewed connections in the ring and Rob Nothman provided market updates. The commentary team for the race itself was Malcolm Tomlinson, Darren Owen, Gary O'Brien and John Hunt, who called the finish.[13]

See also

References
  1. "Order of Running". The Crabbies Grand National. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  2. "Grand National 2015: Horses, owners and trainers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  3. "Carlingford Lough and Lord Windermere top weights for 2015 Crabbie's Grand National". The Crabbies Grand National. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  4. "Ruby Walsh to the rescue after Balthazar King's Grand National fall". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  5. "Grand National 2015: Balthazar King 'steady' after breaking ribs". BBC. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  6. Wright, Chris (8 April 2015). "AP McCoy on first Grand National memories, his involvement at Aintree and more". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  7. Tyers, Alan (12 April 2015). "Grand National 2015 winner and results: Many Clouds triumphs at Aintree". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  8. "Grand National 2015: as it happened". BBC Sport. 12 April 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  9. "Many Clouds gives Leighton Aspell back-to-back Grand National wins". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  10. "Results From The 4.15 Race at Aintree | 11 April 2015". Racing Post. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  11. "Channel 4 Racing confirms Nick Luck will anchor Grand National broadcast". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  12. Grand National (TV production). Channel 4. 11 April 2015.
  13. Grand National 2015 (TV production). BBC. 11 April 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.