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| 10 April 2005 | Sunday | 30 Safar 1426 |
Hedgehunter romps to Grand National glory
Second place went to 40-1 shot Royal Auclair, the mount of Christian Williams, who had a head to spare over 66-1 outsider Simply Gifted, partnered by Brian Harding.
Only 21 horses finished the race out of the 40-strong field.
The unlucky horse of the race was Tony McCoy’s mount Clan Royal who was hampered by two loose horses when leading at Becher’s Brook on the second circuit and was forced into the side of the fence and out of the race.
Champion jockey McCoy, who has still to win the race after 10 attempts, buried his head in his hands in the weighing room in huge frustration.
Hedgehunter, who fell at the last fence last year when still in contention for a place, took over after Clan Royal’s exit and galloped clear from the last fence.
Hedgehunter is trained in Ireland by Willie Mullins who was winning the race at his fifth attempt and it was 13th time lucky for owner Trevor Hemmings who has been trying since 1992.
Result
1. Hedgehunter 7-1 favourite (Ruby Walsh)
2. Royal Auclair 40-1 (Christain Williams)
3. Simply Gifted 66-1 (Brian Harding)
4. It Takes Time 18-1 (Timmy Murphy)
5. Forest Gunner 10-1 (Carrie Ford)
40 ran. Winning distance: 14 lengths
Winner trained by Willie Mullins and owned by Trevor Hemmings.—Reuters
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