2008 Grand National Winners

Comply Or Die

A horse that needed time off for ‘Leg trouble’ and a jockey who has come back from alcohol problems today put all the bad days behind them and soaked up the well wishes of so many people who love a happy ending. Comply Or Die today won the world’s greatest steeplechase and did so by having a great round of jumping. He hardly put a foot wrong in the whole race and stayed on like the true long distance chaser that he is. Team work is what it’s all about in racing but when it comes down to the line it is bravery, stamina and attitude which sorts out the wheat from the chaff and Comply Or Die had all of these qualities in spades today. Finishing the grueling four and a half mile marathon like the good thing that the betting market thought he was, the connections soaked up the cheers of the packed stands. A previous winner of the Eider chase, the connections could have been in little doubt that the horse would stay but there would always be a doubt about any horse handling this unique and quirky course but today this horse took to the course and seemed to be enjoying his ‘day out’. Already getting a favorite quote of 14/1 for next years renewal this horse does seem to have it all and who knows maybe with a good preparation and a reasonable hike in the weights he could be the first horse around 30 years to win back to back nationals.

David Pipe

Starting out on his chosen career David Pipe must have had more pressure than most new trainers. His father Martin was for so long the champion trainer breaking all records before him and was always going to be a tough act to follow. Even if you consider that he was lucky enough to have good owners like David Johnson giving him good horses he still had to go out there and do the job. So it is a remarkable achievement that he has done in his second season what it took his father 20 years to achieve and win The Grand National. David started out as a jockey but soon got the training bug and was a successful Point-to-point trainer sending out over 160 winners. His training credentials under rules are also solid, as he has spent time with Michael Dickinson in the USA and Criquette Head-Mareek in France before taking over from Martin at the yard. Clearly a man with a bright future in training, this success will breed more success for him and even at this early stage we see him merging quickly from the great shadow of Martin.

Timmy Murphy

One of the best jockeys around Timmy Murphy is well liked by the public and has managed to do what so many great jockeys fail to do and has won The Grand National. Second in the 2001 Grand National on Smarty he has gone one better today rounding off what has been a good year for both himself and the man who retains him, David Johnson. Having had problems with his binge drinking in the past he has got over this problem and today is on top of the racing world. Today he gave this horse a dream ride. Staying wide on much of the course, he allowed the horse to have a clear look at the fences and because of his good start to the race was able to give the horse plenty of time at the fences. Riding like the master he is he did not panic when he was in front after the last he just gave the horse enough encouragement to go on and win and should take a lot of the credit for this win today.

SECOND PLACE

King Johns Castle

Given a super ride from Grand National winning jockey Paul Carberry today this horse did little wrong. He took to the national fences well and ran a very good race but was just not good enough on the day. Today’s run was very good especially if you take in to consideration that this horse has never won at a distance greater than 2m 3f. Given that the horse did stay on at the end you could not say that he did not get the trip today even though he did not look like catching the winner on the run in. Having now tried this distance, he will be again laid out for this race and next year he could be a much better prospect for the race.

A.L.T.Moore

A well respected successful Irish trainer he has good horses in his charge. Arthur Moore prepared this horse to be spot on today by following the now traditional method of preparing Grand National runners by running in hurdle races. This was a good result from a trainer who has not had much luck in this race and he will be looking forward to a re-match next year.

P. Carberry

A master jockey from the Carberry dynasty. Paul who won this race in 1999, and who started the trend of Irish winners gave this horse a super ride today. Always having the horse in mid-division he produced the horse at the right time but was unlucky to come up against a good chaser. He said after the race that he thought he was going to “catch the winner on the run” in but today was not going to be his day. There will be other days for this jockey who will always be in demand by the best trainers in Ireland

THIRD

Snowy Morning

A one-time favorite for the race soon after the weights were published this horse ran a real cracker today. His fall from betting market grace came with a couple of lack luster performances but today he was right on song again. Never quite going to be the winner he did make a mistake at the last, which may have robbed him of second place. He is the type of horse who if laid out for the race next year could get a bit closer.

W. P. Mullins

Top Irish trainer who has good horses well prepared to take part in the big races in this country. Having won the race with Hedgehunter, who also ran well today, he is still hungry for another win at this great race, and looks like he has a real good horse to take over where Hedgehunter leaves off.

D. J. Casey

A top class Irish jockey David gave this horse a really intelligent ride today. Being positive on the horse seemed to give the horse more confidence and he got the best from the horse today. Quoted after the race as saying “When Hedgehunter won I'd schooled him round for Ruby the year before and the same might happen again." It would be a shame if that happened, as another jockey might not have got the tune out of the horse that he did today.

FOURTH

Slim Pickings

Third last year he has run a good race again today. Up 7 lbs in the weights, he probably did his connections justice again this year improving on last years performance if not improving his place in the result. He is just 9 years old and now has two great Grand National runs under his belt. He clearly likes the course and will be back next year, and with just a little improvement who knows what could happen.

T. J. Taffe

Past Cheltenham gold cup winning trainer Tom Taffe is well respected in his native Ireland. Sending this horse here to run with credit and he has been able to confirm that last years running was no fluke. Having him well prepared this year I would think he is already setting out the horses perspiration for next year.

B. J. Geraghty

Barry Geraghty is one of the top jockeys. Having won most of the big races here including the Gold Cup, Champion Chase and this race back in 2003 he knows what is needed to get a horse round. Barry gave the horse a great ride today producing him at the right time but the horse was just not good enough today.