Mon, Apr 07, 2003 page20

• Monty's Pass captures Grand National

  GAMBLE PAYS OFF The Irish-bred horse took the flagship event at Aintree by six length to land his owners the prize money, plus a bit extra on the side

  • AP AND REUTERS
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  Irish trained Monty's Pass won the Grand National steeplechase by twelve lengths on Saturday under sunny skies at Aintree racecourse.

  Ridden by Barry Geraghty and rated at 16-1 in its first National, Monty's Pass was always in the lead pack. It pulled away from 40-1 shot Supreme Glory at the penultimate hurdle in front of a crowd of more than 65,000.

  

  Barry Geraghty on Monty's Pass, right, looks back to the rest of the field as he passes the pose to win the 2003 Grand National at Aintree, Liverpool, England, on Saturday.

  PHOTO: AP

  Amberleigh House, at 33-1, was two lengths back in third, with longtime leader Gunner Welburn fourth in the ?348,000 (US$543,000) race.

  

  Barry Geraghty holds up the Grand National Trophy on Saturday.

  PHOTO: REUTERS

  "He was dynamite. It was unbelievable how he could do it so easily," Geraghty said.

  "I had a lovely run, there was no real tactic to go in front. I had a dream of a run the whole way and he jumped unbelievable. It's a thrill to finish a National never mind to win one. It's hard to believe he could win so easily."

  Geraghty finished sixth in the race three years ago, but didn't race the past two years.

  Many of the favorites of the 40-strong field, including Tony McCoy's Iris Bleu, pre-races favorites Shotgun Willy and Ad Hoc and Youlneverwalkalone, the pick of local fans, all failed to finish the 30-fence race over 7.2km.

  Last year's winner, Bindaree, finished sixth.

  One horse died. Goguenard sustained a fatal injury from a fall, bringing the total number of horses killed since critics of the race began keeping records in 1945 to 33. Two died last year.

  Goguenard fell at the 19th hurdle on the second lap, but jockey Warren Marston was unhurt. However several other riders were injured.

  Timmy Murphy broke his nose and was concussed when Torduff Express unseated him at the fourth-last fence, while Gerry Supple broke his femur when Burlu fell at the 22nd fence.

  Alan Dempsey fractured a wrist when Robbo fell at the 19th fence and Brian Crowley sustained a broken collar-bone at the second fence when Bramblehill Duke fell.

  Youlneverwalkalone and Iris Bleu were taken to nearby Leahurst Veterinary Hospital as a precaution after both pulled up during the race.

  Only 14 horses from the 40 starters finished the race -- nine pulled up, eight unseated their riders, eight fell and one horse refused.

  Veteran trainer Ginger McCain had hoped Amberleigh House would provide his fourth win in the race. McCain, 72, trained the National's most famous winner, Red Rum, which won three times and had two seconds in five years between 1973 and 1977.

  Red Rum died in 1995 and his remains are buried beside the winning post at Aintree.

  Meanwhile, bookmakers ran for cover for a time Monty's Pass galloped to victory, landing some huge bets for his owners and their friends.

  But heads re-emerged soon afterwards as so many fancied horses failed to make the frame, saving leading bookmakers millions in place payouts.

  Mike Futter, head of the winning five-strong Dee Racing Syndicate, had told all his friends to back Monty's Pass at 33-1 and higher and plenty of them listened to his advice.

  London bookmakers William Hill were landed with paying out over ?400,000 (US$626,600) on two bets alone, their worst hit in Grand National history.

  Futter, 54, said he had cleared an estimated 800,000 pounds from Hills and other bookies after Barry Geraghty had ridden Monty's Pass to victory over 40-1 chance Supreme Glory.

  "I started backing him at at 66-1 before the weights came out," Futter said. "Then I backed him at 50-1 but then after he was tipped up in the [trade paper] Racing Post the price got shorter -- and then I had a bit more at 25-1.

  "The biggest bet was one of 10,000 pounds at 50-1. I reckon I have cleared 800,000 pounds. There are about eight bookmaking firms involved, including three or four of the top ones," he said.

  "I always say I like to see the whites of the bookies' eyes but there were so many people here today that I could not get close enough to do that," he said.
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