Rachael Blackmore wins Grand National on Minella Times – as it happened

Here’s Greg Wood’s report from Aintree.

Here’s your final finishing positions.

1 Minella Times 11-1
2 Balko Des Flos 100-1
3 Any Second Now 15-2
4 Burrows Saint 9-1
5 Farclas 16-1
6 Blaklion 50-1
7 Discorama 16-1
8 Jett 80-1
9 Cabaret Queen 80-1
10 Shattered Love 33-1
11 Alpha Des Obeaux 80-1
12 Hogan’s Height 100-1
13 Acapella Bourgeois 20-1
14 Sub Lieutenant 50-
15 Class Conti 66-1

The news is that Bryony Frost has been taken to hospital after falling from Yala Enki. And that the Long Mile, ridden by Luke Dempsey for Philip Dempsey, sadly perished.

Fifteen horses finished the race in total but here’s where your money went.

• Ami Desbois brought down
• Anibale Fly pulled up
• Ballyoptic refused
• Bristol De Mai pulled up
• Canelo fell
• Chris’s Dream unseated rider
• Cloth Cap pulled up
• Definitly Red pulled up
• Double Shuffle fell
• Give Me A Copper pulled up
• Kimberlite Candy pulled up
• Lake View Lad fell
• Lord Du Mesnil pulled up
• Magic Of Light unseated rider
• Milan Native pulled up
• Minellacelebration unseated rider
• Mister Malarky pulled up
• Ok Corral pulled up
• Potters Corner pulled up
• Takingrisks pulled up
• Talkischeap pulled up
• The Long Mile pulled up
• Tout Est Permis pulled up
• Vieux Lion Rouge fell
• Yala Enki unseated rider

Receiving the prize for the winning owner, JP McManus, is AP McCoy, still fully involved in the operation and who won the race for JP in 2010 on Don’t Push It.

Henry de Bromhead, who trained the first and second, with Balko des Flos coming in at 100/1, speaks.

It’s just brilliant. A lot’s down to Rachael today, and I am just delighted. A super ride, she hardly left the rail and it’s brilliant to get tt for the McManuses. Balo was amazing, and Aidan [Coleman] was amazing. It feels amazing. It’s the stuff you dream of. She’s brilliant, isn’t she? They broke the mould when they made her. She’s brilliant.

Henry de Bromhead, the trainer of Minella Times, also won the Champion Hurdle, the Champion Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup at Cheltenham but that must have capped the lot.

Rachael Blackmore, the winning jockey, speaks.

I just cannot believe it He was an absolutely sensational. By god, what Henry de Bromhead does with these horses. I just can’t believe it. This is unbelievable. He was just incredible. I was trying to wait as long as I could. When we jumped the last and I asked for a bit, he was there. I don’t feel male or female, I don’t even feel human. I feel unbelievable.

Aintree 5.15 result

1 Minella Times (Rachael Blackmore) 11-1
2 Balko Des Flos (Aidan Coleman) 100-1
3 Any Second Now (M P Walsh) 15-2
4 Burrows Saint (Mr P W Mullins) 9-1

40 ran

The first ever female winner of the Grand National! And as it always is, that was such a well-judged race from Rachael Blackmore. After Cheltenham, and this, there can be no doubt that she is the best jockey in the business. Henry de Bromhead has also had a golden year.

Jett remains well clear with six to jump as he clears the Canal Turn. Cloth Cap asked to close him down. Sub Lieutenant is pulled up with four to jump. Jett still streaking clear.

Jett still clear by seven lengths from Cloth Cap and Burrows Saint after Becher’s. Bristol de Mai well back.

Jett is staging a break for the border, in the style of Crisp. Mister Malarky is pulled up at the back of the field just before the 18th, as is Taking Risks. Cloth Cap is in second.

Jett leads from Lord Du Mesnil after the 14th. Yala Enki is up there, too. Cloth Cap is still in there, with Jett miles clear as they take the Chair. Potters Corner makes a mistake as there are two fallers at the back.

Becher’s now, and they all clear it. Foinavon sees Jett lead them all out, and over Valentine’s, too. Cloth Cap is up there. Minella Celebration is a faller as is Double Shuffle and Any Second Now is badly hampered.

Lake View Lad falls at the first, and Cloth Cap is the early leader at the second. Annibale Fly is out the back. Magic of Light throws off her rider at the third.

The jockeys try to find their chosen starting position as the race nears. A few stragglers join the throng late on.

Here’s the National Anthem, sung by Laura Wright, up in the Lord Derby Stand.

The riders head out of the changing rooms, the Irish contingent led out by Patrick Mullins, who will be riding Burrows Saint for his father Willie as an amateur. Covid protocols mean the jockeys have to come from different dressing rooms, and then the photograph of all them is taken before they mount their horses in the paddock.

Three women jockeys in this race, Rachael Blackmore is on Minella Times, Tabitha Worsley rides Sub Lieutenant with Bryony Frost, who rode Frodon to winning this season’s King George, aboard Yala Enki.

For the record, JP McManus has seven runners in the race while the Gigginstown team of the O’Leary brothers have five.

5:15pm - Randox Grand National Handicap Chase odds

• Cloth Cap – 6/1
• Any Second Now – 10/1
• Burrows Saint – 11/1
• Minella Times – 12/1
• Mister Malarky – 14/1
• Takingrisks – 16/1
• Magic of the Light – 16/1
• Farclas – 18/1
• Kimberlite Candy – 20/1
• Potters Corner – 22/1
• Acapella Bourgeois – 22/1
• Discorama – 25/1
• Anibale Fly – 25/1
• Bristol De Mai – 28/1
• Defintly Red – 33/1
• Give Me A Copper – 40/1
• Shattered Love – 40/1
• Talkischeap – 40/1
• Yala Enki – 50/1
• Chriss Dream – 50/1
• Sub Lieutenant – 50/1
• Class Conti - 66/1
• Milan Native – 66/1
• Canelo – 66/1
• The Long Mile – 66/1
• Class Conti - 66/1
• Lord Du Mesnil - 66/1
• Lake View Lad – 50/1
• Double Shuffle – 66/1
• Sub Lieutenant – 50/1
• Milan Native – 66/1
• Cabaret Queen – 80/1
• Alpha Des Obeaux – 80/1
• Ok Corral – 80/1
• Ballyoptic – 80/1
• Jett – 100/1
• Balko Des Flos – 100/1
• Ami Desbois – 100/1
• Hogans Height – 125/1
• Tout Est Permis – 125/1
  
• Latest odds from Oddschecker

The horses are in the paddock, and with 40 runners the traffic is heavy as the horses circle. The tension and noise is not quite what it would be were racegoers allowed into Aintree.

Here’s the favourite, currently on offer at 6/1 and ridden bv Tom Scudamore. Jonjo O’Neill Junior rides Mister Malarky for Colin Tizzard, who saddles up his final Grand National horse before he hands over the reins to Joe, his son. It’s a family affair, this National Hunt game.

Greg Wood has been through all 40 runners.

And has tipped Ted Walsh’s Any Second Now to win.

The biggest story would undoubtedly be Rachael Blackmore following up her glorious Cheltenham with the biggest race of all.

The Guardian’s Tom Jenkins is at Aintree and has been capturing the action.

So, under 45 minutes to go until the big one.

Here’s the first Grand National I recall, not least because of the hitherto unheard and fruity language used by my father as Corbiere stormed home. Then, being packed into the car so that he could head down to the bookmakers on Sunderland Street, Macclesfield.

Such are the sweet memories that the world’s greatest steeplechase can conjure. Other great winners I recall fondly though backed only the last one, and the second time out: West Tip, Party Politics, Esha Ness (?!), Papillon, Don’t Push It and Tiger Roll.

One of Harry Cobden’s relatives has been speaking about the injury he sustained in that earlier fall.

The stewards inquired into the disappointing performance of Paisley Park, the winner of the Grade One Long Walk Hurdle earlier in the season, who was pulled up entering the straight in the Ryanair Stayers’ Hurdle.

Emma Lavelle, Paisley Park’s trainer, said that she could “offer no explanation for the gelding’s performance, other than [he] ran flat”. The track’s veterinary officer also reported that a post-race examination of Paisley Park during routine testing “failed to reveal any abnormalities”.

David Bass, the winning jockey in the 4.15 speaks.

That’s brilliant for the team. This is a cracking little hose and he deserves that. I didn’t get there too soon for once. He jumped brilliantly. That was only his fifth run over fences. He’s so neat through the air. This is great for the owners. They’re really loyal to us.

Aintree 4.15 result

1 Happygolucky (David Bass) 11-4 Fav
2 Johnbb (J J Burke) 9-1
3 Spiritofthegames (Harry Skelton) 7-1

13 ran

4.15 Betway Handicap Chase

Kilfilum Cross and Lalor continue to lead them going into the final circuit and the back straight. Their leads slowly ebbs to the rest but at five out they jump clear. Top Notch is in fourth, and looking comfortable. Lalor leads with three to jump.

4.15 Betway Handicap Chase

Top Notch sits in midfield as Kilfilum Cross and Lalor lead. Johnbb is in fifth, with 11 fences to go. Cloudy Glen catches up the rest of the pack but is still the back marker with nine to jump.

4.15 Betway Handicap Chase

Over the fences they go, with HappyGoLucky and Johnbb taking it up after the first. Lalor and Johnbb share the lead after the third. Cloudy Glen sits all the way out the back. Kilfilum Cross is up there now.

Unfortunately, Sam Brown is a non-runner, having been stung by an insect on the ride to the track. The horse’s pilot was due to be Harry Cobden, stood down for the day after that earlier fall so that’s an ill-fated pair.

Nicky Henderson has been speaking about Shishkin after his win in the Maghull Novices Chase.

It’s always difficult after Cheltenham to know how much to do with them. Obviously they are fit, but the team have done great because they came here in pretty good nick. Both are very good novices though, they’ve had pretty nearly perfect seasons. Nico said he could have done with a lead for longer. Gumball usually goes a solid gallop, but he didn’t today. He’s a very laid-back horse and at home you don’t see the speed you see on track. He’s got a wonderful temperament and I suspect he was just getting lonely. Fair play to the second, though. It’s amazing how quick he gets to the other side of a fence, it’s a very effective technique but it is a bit unusual. He won’t go to Punchestown, doing the two is difficult, doing the three, you need to be Sprinter or something, who did it one year. You’d like to think it will be the normal two-mile route next year, and I’d like to think Altior is at Sandown in two weeks. If they meet next year, they have to meet. It’s amazing we’ve gone from Sprinter to Altior and this lad is going the right way the whole time.

4.15 Betway Handicap Chase odds

• HappyGoLucky – 7/2
• Top Notch – 8/1
• Spiritofthegames – 9/1
• Snow Leopardess – 10/1
• Fagan – 12/1
• Cloudy Glen – 12/1
• Hold The Note – 14/1
• Johnbb – 14/1
• Lalor – 18/1
• Ofalltheginjoints – 22/1
• Calipso Collonges – 28/1
• Mr Whipped – 40/1
• Kilfilum Cross – 40/1
• Latest odds from Oddschecker

3.35 Aintree result

1 Thyme Hill (T J O’Brien) 5-2 Fav
2 Roksana (Harry Skelton) 7-2
3 Thomas Darby (J W Kennedy) 28-1

15 ran

Emma Lavelle, Paisley Park’s trainer, told ITV just there that her horse is “absolutely fine”. He ran no sort of race but has had a hard season, and had a hard season last year. Thyme Hill looked the class horse in the race, with Roksana running a real cracker and unlucky to lose. Should they have risker her in the Stayers’ at Cheltenham? In hindsight, that looks a winnable race for her.

Winning jockey Tom O’Brien speaks.

This is a lovely horse for the Hobbs team. He didn’t make Cheltenham but Philip got him right for today, well done to him. He’s uncomplicated. I chatted to Richard this morning; he said there’s not a lot to say, other than to ride a simple race. He’s a lovely horse.

What a win for Tom O’Brien, riding for Philip Hobbs now that Richard Johnson has retired. We await news of Paisley Park who was never travelling.

3.35 Ryanair Stayers Hurdle

Thyme Hill is running OK, while Paisley Park drops to the back of the pack, and is pulled up. That’s sad. Plenty of chances with two hurdles to go.

3.35 Ryanair Stayers Hurdle

Vinndication keeps ploughing through the fences while Emitom sits off him. The lead is massive with six hurdles to go, 12 lengths. The pack closes in on Emitom. This a chaotic exhibition of frontrunning by Vinndication.

3.35 Ryanair Stayers Hurdle

Emitom and Vinndication take a huge lead over the chasing pack with ten hurdles to go, though there is a long way to go. It’s a quick pace, and surely unsustainable. Thyme Hill sits in seventh, just off Paisley Park.

3.35 Ryanair Stayers Hurdle

In pre-race, AP McCoy says Paisley Park is the best staying chaser out there, and looks in better form than at Cheltenham. Let’s see how the battle with Thyme Hill goes. If indeed this is a shootout between the pair. Over the first, Paisley Park rises in fifth place and moves closer to the front in fourth.

3.35 Ryanair Stayers Hurdle (Registered As The Liverpool Hurdle) odds

• Thyme Hill – 5/2
• Paisley Park – 10/3
• Roksana – 5/1
• Lisnagar Oscar – 11/1
• Diol Ker – 11/1
• Third Wind – 20/1
• Vinndication – 22/1
• If The Cap Fits – 25/1
• Thomas Derby – 25/1
• Indefatigable – 28/1
• On the Blind Side – 33/1
• Décor Irlandais – 33/1
• Emitom – 50/1
• William Henry – 50/1
• Call Me Lord – 80/1
• Latest odds from Oddschecker

My Drogo looks the pick of the British novice hurdlers after that impressive win at Aintree. His owners, interviewed on ITV Racing after the horse’s impressive success, said they will definitely send the gelding chasing next season. It would be no surprise to see him win the Marsh Chase at the Cheltenham next March and then be aimed at the Gold Cup the following year.

Aintree 3.00 result

1 Shishkin (Nico de Boinville) 1-8 Fav
2 Funambule Sivola (Charlie Deutsch) 14-1
3 Gumball (T J O’Brien) 16-1

5 ran

Shishkin’s jockey Nico de Boinville speaks, and it’s full steam ahead for next season’s Champion Chase

We were going very steady. The one thing is that he stays and I didn’t want to turn it into a sprint. He is doing everything we ask of him over two miles. Over a stronger gallop he will be better. The way the race was run at Cheltenham, that was him at his best. Today I had to do the donkey work and find the jumps. He was very slick.

3.00 Maghull Novices’ Chase

Shishkin speeds on, Gumball behind him. Nico de Boinville trying to keep a curb on him, and they take a huge jump over the fifth last. The lead is three lengths.

3.00 Maghull Novices’ Chase

And off they go. Gumball with the early pace, and Shishkin sitting wide and out of danger in second. He makes an almighty leap and then goes level with the leader. He does jump left a tad.

Shishkin time: a classic of the “this horse cannot lose” genre. There will be severe nerves in the Henderson camp, and Nicky Henderson really does get nervous when his horses are running. Once stood next to him at Sandown watching Might Bite ride at Haydock on the screens. There was a forcefield of “don’t come near me” around him.

The news on Harry Cobden is not good, he’s been taken to hospital and stood down for the day. That’s desperate luck, and Sean Bowen will now ride Give Me A Copper for the Paul Nicholls team. Jonjo O’Neill Jr will be OK to ride Mister Malarky after being involved in that fall during that last hurdle race.

3.00 Doom Bar Maghull Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) odds

• Shishkin – 1/7
• Funambule Sivola – 16/1
• Gumball – 18/1
• Elvis Mail – 18/1
• Longhouse Sale – 33/1
• Latest odds from Oddschecker

2.25 Aintree result

1 My Drogo (Harry Skelton) 5-4 Fav
2 Minella Drama (B S Hughes) 12-1
3 Guard Your Dreams (Sam Twiston-Davies) 28-1

12 ran

Harry Skelton speaks, after that win on My Drogo.

We’re a long way off, but he is a horse with a lot of ability; he’s progressed all year. The owners want him to be the best possible chaser. It’s quite remarkable what he’s done. Keeping the lid on him is the main thing.

That closes the the gap in the jockeys’ championship to two between Harry Skelton and Brian Hughes. We await news of Harry Cobden and Jonjo O’Neill Jr after that heavy fall. Both ride in the National later.

2.25 Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle

Ballyadam continues to sit off the front. My Drogo sitting back and wide, seemingly waiting to pounce. Rachael Blackmore struggling to stop Ballyadam taking it up. Lucky One falls, and takes down Harry Cobden and Jonjo O’Neill Jnr.

2.25 Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle

They get under way over their 11 hurdles for the 2m 4f race. Llandinabo Lad takes up the early pace. Pipesmoker starts like a train yet drops all the way back. Ballyadam is towards the front with My Drogo sitting well back.

For this 2.25 novice hurdle, the favourite, My Drogo, in the Skelton team almost certainly took his name from Game of Thrones. Ballyadam, ridden by Rachael Blackmore, was a distant second in the Supreme at Cheltenham and is second fav.

PA Media report on that opening race.

Hometown Boy overcame a bad mistake at the last flight to win the opening race on National day, the EFT Systems Handicap Hurdle. It was a victory which completed a notable feat by trainer Stuart Edmunds, who had also won the final race on Friday with Rowland Ward. Hometown Boy very nearly fluffed his opportunity - because having taken up the running in the back straight and moved clear of a hugely competitive field, he dived at the final hurdle and stumbled on landing.

But Jockey Ciaran Gethings was alert to the danger, picking his mount up to win by three lengths as the 6-1 favourite - from 11-1 runner-up J’Ai Froid and Tea Clipper in third.

Edmunds, who had taken the last race on Friday with Rowland Ward, said: “To be fair this was a long-term (plan). We wanted to come here, but wanted a prep run so went to Kempton beforehand.

“It was a bit of a gamble as he was also in over two and a half-miles, but we thought there were one or two more speedier types in there. He galloped through the line, though, and he couldn’t pull him up.

“I couldn’t repeat what I was thinking at the last! If he was a tired horse his legs would have gone to jelly.”

He added: “There’s nothing else for him this season and I think he’ll be a nice novice chaser next season - he’s schooled plenty over fences at home.”

2.25 Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) odds

• My Drogo – 13/8
• Ballyadam – 11/4
• Deal Deal – 6/1
• Minella Drama – 12/1
• Pipesmoker – 18/1
• Llandinabo Lad – 20/1
• Adrimel – 25/1
• Jay Bee Why – 28/1
• Guard Your Dreams -33/1
• Straw Fan Jack – 40/1
• Lucky One – 50/1
• Striking a Pose – 66/1
• Latest odds from Oddschecker

Result in the 1.45 at Aintree

Hometown Boy (C Gethings) 6-1 Fav
J’Ai Froid (M Kendrick) 11-1
Tea Clipper (Rachael Blackmore) 8-1
14-1 Ashtown Lad 4th

19 ran

1.45: EFT Systems Handicap Hurdle

Barnavidduan continues to lead them out into the last ten furlongs, with Hometown Boy in close order, and then One Night In Milan. Ten lengths covers a tightly packed field.

1.45: EFT Systems Handicap Hurdle

Some late money comes down for Hometown Boy who goes off at 6/1. At the first hurdle, Kid Commando takes a tumble, ditching Aidan Coleman with him. Vision des Flos is out the back early on. Barnavidduan leads them out in the preliminary stages and past the stands as they pass them for the first time.

The first race is preceded by two minutes of silence for Prince Philip. The flags at Aintree are at half-mast.

EFT Systems Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) odds

• Come on Teddy – 6/1
• Tea Clipper – 8/1
• Champagne Platinum – 8/1
• Hometown Boy – 9/1
• Barnavidduan – 10/1
• Jai Froid – 11/ 1
• Whirling Dervish – 11/1
• Ballybegg – 12/1
• Ashtown Lad – 14/1
• Kid Commando – 20/1
• Stoney Mountain – 22/1
• Reserve Tank – 25/1
• Tommy Rapper – 33/1
• Uknowhatimeanharry – 40/1
• Vision Des Flos – 66/1
• Earlofthecotswalds – 66/1
• One Night In Milan – 66/1
• Latest odds from Oddschecker

And good luck as they cross the Melling Road and I hand over to colleague John Brewin ...

Will those of us who have resisted backing the favourite Cloth Cap look silly around 5.30pm when he romps home. He’s clearly the best-handicapped horse in the race but no one in the tipping brigade wants to back the market leader in the Grand National and that’s why none of the newspaper tipsters are putting him up today. Timeform ratings give Cloth Cap a clear edge and what’s more he’s the safest jumper on their stats too ...

We’re doing everything virtually these days ... and that means you can pick up your Grand National day racecard even though you’re not at the track ...

It couldn’t happen could it?

The late Rose Paterson has been remembered at the track this morning. Paterson has been inducted as an Aintree Legend, joining distinguished figures from the jump racing world including Ginger McCain, Sir Peter O’Sullevan and Jenny Pitman. Aintree’s late chairman was honoured in a short ceremony at the racecourse on Saturday morning. Rose’s family were joined by those in attendance at Aintree for Randox Grand National Day outside ‘McCoy’s’, where a plaque bearing her name was unveiled in the Hall of Fame. Rose had a longstanding presence at Aintree, serving as Chairman from 2014 before her death in June of last year.

The big story out of today’s race would be a win for a female jockey, and Cheltenham Festival champion rider Rachael Blackmore in particular. It’s been fascinating watching the price of her mount contract. Available at 40-1 when the weights came out in February, Minella Times was 14-1 at the beginning of the week and has been clipped regularly since it was confirmed thee jockey of the moment would ride. The Henry de Bromhead-trained runner is now clear 9-1 second favourite and Rupert Adams of William Hill spoke for all the betting firms when he said in the Sun this morning: “The bottom line is if Minella Times get beaten we will be set for a good National.”

Bryony Frost is riding Yala Enki in the race while Tabitha Worsley is on Sub Lieutenant and a grandnational.org.uk spokesperson said: “It’s the ladies supporting the ladies as 70% of bets placed on one of the three women jockeys riding in the National are placed by female punters.”

Intriguingly without the shops being open this could be the biggest betting day ever for the National. A BritishGambler.co.uk spokesman said: “If predictions are correct, this weekend’s Grand National will mark the most bet on horse race on record and in the last 48 hours, an impressive 38.6% of wagers have been on Rachael Blackmore.”

If you fancy Definitly (sub’s nightmare) Red for the National ... take note ... he’s got a new man on top ... one with a great Aintree pedigree as Ryan Mania won the big race on Auroras Encore in 2013